The Beatles

[flip-flop]

I am in my mid 30s and have a fairly eclectic taste in music across pretty much all genres (C&W aside which I can't stand): I have 60s all the way up to the present day, from rock and roll through to the latest dance, and in between I love the Stones, Floyd, The Clash, Jazz, soul, rock, prog rock, indie etc etc etc....basically, I pretty much like most music and I think my 30,000+ collection of vinyl and CDs is testament to that..................................However, I just simply don't 'get' the whole Beatles thing, their music, all of it, leaves me cold. I'd describe it as rubbish, but how can that be given their success.

So, am I missing anything???

[Champagne]

Can you honestly say that you've listened to all their music? There's plenty of Beatles songs that I don't like. But 'All You Need Is Love' is a quality song. The Beatles played this for the first time on the "Our World" project, the first worldwide TV special. Broadcast in 24 countries, the show was 6 hours long and featured music from 6 continents. The Beatles represented England and it was a very cool moment indeed; with some of the biggest stars of the time sitting in the audience swaying along.

My other fave is 'Come Together'. The lyrics alone crack me up! I have no idea what they were on when they wrote it. :o}

[BigDogsWang]

I wouldn't call them 'rubbish'. Overrated yes. They were the original 'boy band', who hit the drug trail and ended up writing some pretty trippy stuff.

Can you imagine Take That doing the same :o)/

[flip-flop]

Perhaps overrated is a more apt description: I certainly haven't listened to everything they've done, but I've listened to bits from the beginning of their career, the middle and the end, and none of it has appealed - which is unusual for me becuase I can usually find something good about most artists - just not The Beatles!

[andy-hughes]

The point about The Beatles is to view them in context.

Leaving asidde the merrits of their music, they spearheaded the notion that a group could write and perform their own songs, and be a massive worldwide success - something unheard of before they did it.

In addition, the cultural impact of The Beatles is unparalled in the 20th century - they spearheaded a sea change in youth culture that has never, nor will ever, be repeated.

For people like me - I was 9 in 1963 - The Beatles form part of the fabric of my upbringing, and it is impossible to try and adequately explain just how massivev they, and their impact, were. It's true to say that without them, none, and i mean none of the current bands would sound the way they do - because of either direct, or indirect influence.

if you don't like thier music, fine, but for millions, it was the first, and best, proper 'pop' music ever.

[kingrat]

i was 14 in 1963 and listened to the beatles for the first time it was brilliant, i didnt think it could get any better then came the Stones and the Who and that was it for me goodbye beatles and hello r 'n' b. as for now in my late fifties i am listening to the beatles back catalogue all over again and i must say that most of it is still as fresh as back in the sixties my favourite album is revolver truly a classic album.

Life in the past lane.

[Stevee]

Like Andy I was 9 in 1963 and can only agree with him. The cultural impact of the Beatles was part of life they didn't just appeal to an age group. Their appeal was to young and old, and in a time before every genre of music was classified transcended everything.

The catalogue of the Beatles is extensive and very varied they influenced evry facet of music wrote for many popular groups of the sixties including the Stones, not forgetting Joe Cockers seminal song.

Sgt Peppers literaly changed the face of music and how it was percived. Undoubtedly within your 30,000 you have Beatles music. Rubbish - Snobbery more like.

[Gef]

Yes you are missing the brain cells that recognise good music. Sorry , only joking. You must remember that like most groups the Beatles released singles which thought most likely to be a commercial success -and most were. However, I believe that many of their best songs are the "unknown" ones especially from the earlier albums.

Rubbish? Definitely not! We all have our own tastes in music.

[flip-flop]

Its hardly snobbery is it? How can it be when I'm prepared to 'get on board' with most music. I just simply don't particularly like them. I can't help that!

[robbo82]

I can't comment on the cultural impact of the Beatles in the 1960s, as I wasn't around, but, musically and lyrically, they have never been, nor probably ever will be, surpassed. Like you, flip-flop, I am into all sorts of music, but the Beatles will always rank as the greatest band for me. No-one else has been quite so influential, experimental or revolutionary.

[Keeprockin]

In nmy opinion the culteral change had occurred way before the beatles,thanks to the likes of Little Richard,Jerry Lee and Elvis to name a few. While the Beatles made some reasonable stuff,i'll never forgive them for helping in the demise of Rock & Roll. The same argument about likes and dislikes could be put about numerous singers. My dislikes would be people like Sinatra,Bassey and any boy/girl band but then again some have passed the test of time so they must have some magic ingredient