The Beatles were an English rock band, with members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They never stay stuck with one genre. What is mesmerizing about them is that they experimented with several genres, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. Listening to Beatles records in comparison to other records made in the same era (referring here especially to the ‘65-’70 period) is what really blows each one of our minds as to how good they truly were. An ingenious band, I must say.
Here are ten reasons why The Beatles is one of the best bands ever.
1. The Beatles have sold over 1 billion records
That’s right, one BILLION. That by itself shows the number of fans they have in the entire world and how darn good their skills are.
2. Changed the way studio dynamics worked:
Before The Beatles, it was common to have a band record their songs live in the studio and release it as mono. When they started experimenting in the studio in the mid-sixties, they recorded in stereo and added more blends of sound than had previously existed in popular music. As mentioned before, by adding these new instrument sounds together, they moved the rock and roll genre out of purely dance music and made it a spectacle of its own.
3. Best songs ever.
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, Hey Jude, And I Love Her, A Day in the Life, Strawberry Fields Forever, Here Comes the Sun, Dear Prudence, and I’ve Got a Feeling…these songs speak for themselves.
4. Three songwriters
While most bands had only one or two songwriters, The Beatles had three. Paul McCartney and John Lennon combined were producing great songs at a better rate than any other group in history. George Harrison later took a while to develop his writing skills and produced great songs that rivaled the other two.
5. They went head-to-head with some of their greatest competitors.
They had to face some of the greatest musicians as competition: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Coldplay, The Black Keys.
6. They invented the hidden track.
A common occurrence at the end (or sometimes the beginning) of albums today is the inclusion of an extra track an act has made that is on the disc itself but not mentioned in the track listing. This song is known as a “hidden track.” On their 1979 final album, “Abbey Road”, The Beatles included a studio outtake, “Her Majesty” at the end of the album. The track was hidden well because it wasn’t mentioned on the back cover and was obscured by a long bit of silence following the album’s final track-listed song, “The End.” Pink Floyd followed suit.
7. One of the best producers ever.
The Beatles were also blessed with a producer, George Martin, who realized their talent and was happy for them to capture even their most ambitious visions. He brought out the best in the Beatles and was a true collaborator.
8. They held the top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart on April 4, 1964.
The chart had 12 Beatles songs overall but these held the top five spots: “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Twist and Shout,” “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me.”
9. Their influence outside of music was powerful.
From their famous hairstyles to the collarless jackets, their fashion influence was immense. At least two Midland businesses — Sgt. Pepper’s and Strawberry Fields Cafe — have Beatles-inspired names
10. The Beatles helped create the concept album.
A concept album is an album where each track follows a continuous story line or common theme. Although it’s true that none of The Beatles albums definitively fit this description; their album, “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,” was originally planned to be one. This album, in its released state, does show signs of this plan. Due to that record’s widespread acclaim and influence, it’s not too difficult to see that The Beatles laid the ground work for the first real concept albums to come in the 1970’s from bands like Styx and Pink Floyd.
The Beatles were thus a magical combination of absolutely talented musicians, inclusive of the “fifth Beatle” George Martin. One of the most appealing features of their music was the sheer joy, the sheer enthusiasm for their music that their recordings project. They didn’t do it for the money, or for fame or for notoriety; just for the sheer heck of it, and that shows in almost all of their music.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Divya is an enthusiastic blogger and speaker. She is constantly looking for new interests to explore into. She currently lives in Bangalore, India. She wishes to dedicate this particular article to someone called Vidhur.
Source: https://www.icytales.com/the-beatles-is-one-of-the-best-bands-ever-heres-why/
