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The Beatles are overrated, enough said

By on September 9, 2009 2:00 am in VIBE / 301 comments

 
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The Beatles suck.

How can a band who stopped playing live shows in 1966 and started making just studio albums be ‘the greatest band ever’?

Nothing is more annoying than somebody trying to convince me The Beatles revolutionized music and, without them, we would not have (insert band here).

That argument is weak and false.

I wish this statement was true because, if it was, we wouldn’t have pop sensations Britney Spears, T-Pain or American Idol.

The Backstreet Boys were revolutionary. But they sucked, too.

And don’t even attempt to sell me on fact The Beatles were about love and world peace.

John Lennon and the rest of the band preached love and tolerance, yet hatred and jealousy among band members tore them apart.

The Beatles supposedly quit playing live shows because crowds were getting out of control?

Unruly concertgoers never made The Who, The Clash or AC/DC hang up what they did best.

But you know what bothers me the most? The fifth Beatle no one talks about.

Wait, there is a fifth Beatle?

Yes, George Martin.

Who’s George Martin?

He is the greatest Beatle (if there is such a thing) and he is to The Beatles what Rick Ruben is to Metallica, The Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Weezer and every other band he has had his hands on. But you know so much about music, you probably already knew that.

Martin is responsible for the making of every Beatles album except for one. Without him, The Beatles would still be in a basement doing drugs and trying to make albums.

The George Martin Band would have been a better fitting name than The Beatles.

But someone will still argue George Harrison was the best Beatle because he was an amazing guitarist or Lennon was the best because of his lyrics. The problem is they may be the best Beatles to some, but they aren’t the best at what they did.

Take, for example, my favorite Beatles song, ‘Hey Jude,’ and compare it to Wilson Pickett’s version. Listen to how much more emotion and energy comes through in the lyrics and guitar.

It should also be noted guitarist Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band sat in on the studio session of this song. He also is ranked second on Rolling Stones list of 100 great guitarist of all time. George Harrison is ranked 21st.

Sure, they made some good music, but it was not because they were the best at what they do.

Jimi Hendrix had more talent in his left hand than the Fab Four combined.

Apparently none of this matters though. For some reason, people still buy into the hype of Beatlemania.

 

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002370742380 Dana Matthews

    The Beatles are one of the greatest bands ever to play, the earned their fame. They spent so much time practicing and started from the very bottom and was able to get to the top. They are very funny and talented, and with this day and age you cant find many people who are good because they normally use electronics. You need to know whats good, they all had a very good range in vocal, they wrote great music that lots of people love, and they did it with hard work and confidence. They are a great band, they are still loved to this day, and will always be a legend in music history.

  • Jhrunion

    i KNOW what’s good and what isn’t. i WAS previously a beatles fan from ’74  -’83. i know all about them. then, i did some research and discovered who the true innovators were. beatlemania was created. it was all hype. a bunch of young americans bought into it. then, rolling stone magazine keep the brain washing going a few years later.

  • Jhrunion

    i KNOW what’s good and what isn’t. i WAS previously a beatles fan from ’74  -’83. i know all about them. then, i did some research and discovered who the true innovators were. beatlemania was created. it was all hype. a bunch of young americans bought into it. then, rolling stone magazine keep the brain washing going a few years later.

  • Tatteredsatindoll

    And please, let’s not forget the success Mr. Hendrix enjoyed from covering “Day Tripper”. But I’m sure for the sake of your opinion ridden narrow minded “article”, his was better, right?

  • Tatteredsatindoll

    And please, let’s not forget the success Mr. Hendrix enjoyed from covering “Day Tripper”. But I’m sure for the sake of your opinion ridden narrow minded “article”, his was better, right?

  • Tatteredsatindoll

    Absolutely. He was so much a fan he owned almost more of their rights than the families and 2 remaining members.

  • Tatteredsatindoll

    Absolutely. He was so much a fan he owned almost more of their rights than the families and 2 remaining members.

  • Fishbone7373

    is anyone on here that could tell me the thickness of the mattress in the dorms and the height of the box spring, I am building a loft

  • Lbsteve89

    The Beatles are good, but I agree that they are not the best. The only thing I would say they really revolutionized is the mass commercialization of the music industry. Other than George Harrison, the other Beatles were not outrageously great musicians… there are MUCH better instrumentalists and singers. Look at how The Beatles got famous… off of mostly 13 and younger little girls creaming themselves in Shea Stadium while obnoxiously screaming their head off… I personally like music with balls and I definitely am more of a Rolling Stones fan.
    I’d also like to state that it’s pretty sickening reading some of the rude posters here. If you think The Beatles are overrated you have a right to think that, same goes for the people who think they are great. It’s an opinion and that’s it. Don’t be an intellectual midget and start name calling like your in the 3rd grade.

  • Lbsteve89

    The Beatles are good, but I agree that they are not the best. The only thing I would say they really revolutionized is the mass commercialization of the music industry. Other than George Harrison, the other Beatles were not outrageously great musicians… there are MUCH better instrumentalists and singers. Look at how The Beatles got famous… off of mostly 13 and younger little girls creaming themselves in Shea Stadium while obnoxiously screaming their head off… I personally like music with balls and I definitely am more of a Rolling Stones fan.
    I’d also like to state that it’s pretty sickening reading some of the rude posters here. If you think The Beatles are overrated you have a right to think that, same goes for the people who think they are great. It’s an opinion and that’s it. Don’t be an intellectual midget and start name calling like your in the 3rd grade.

  • Salshaker64

    Not to boost or make myself seem like I know what I’m talking about but I do. just because the only thing going on in my life is 60′s music and culture… I dress the part, have alot of records and only cut my hair because if I didnt I would loose my job… but thats besides the point. What I wanted to say is that beatles arent the best there was… yes they’re good but just like jimmie hendrix, the doors and all other american bands at the time where nothing but commercial gimmicks. I wouldnt compare them to todays music, except for the marketing, they did have decent music but there where 1000s of way better bands all over the world, specially in Latin america and Scandinavian countries. They did not represent the UKs music scene at all. The UK is without doubt much better than america music wise because they actually did something with the blues except let it die like the u.s did. And the beatles had nothing to do with the blues, they where more of a sell out rockabilly gimmick in the beginning and later struck gold with their haircuts. Anyways long story short theyre good, but not that good. Neither are the beach boys, jimmy hendrix, the doors, led zeppelin and most bands people still listen to today becasue they actually got that commercial and sold out to that degree. I mean theyre better than the stuff from nowadays but same basic concept

  • Pithusuril

    Other than to clearly demonstrate that you didn’t actually read or understand what I wrote, do you have a point?

  • Jim

    Right handed guitarists strum with their right hand so Jimi strummed with… see where I’m going here?

  • Kinko

    As a Kinks Fan, I agree with you hands down.

  • Zoe

    You’re wrong.

  • Eddie

    Kanye West DOES put together his own “trash” by himself. He’s a Grammy-winning producer.

  • Jen

    Oh yes, the Beatles is overrated! Big time!

  • jim

    i agree with you on that james

  • Ssj3alok

    I agree with you Stephens. The Beatles are overrated in the sense that they are thought to be absurdly perfect. While albums like Revolver and Rubber Soul are indisputably revolutionary, Albums like Sgt.Peppers and the first few albums are way overrated. However even though Jimi Hendrix was much more musically/sonically perfectionist than the beatles, the beatles revolutionised rock and roll music in a new way like Elvis Presley by making their music more socially concerned. And i would prefer jimi hendrix’s music over beatles anyday cause jimi’s musical improvisations wre more emotional sounding than the beatles. However Jimi Hendrix is more important than the beatles cause there were lot of similar bands like beach boys before the beatles, but no Jimi Hendrix before Hendrix. And remember Jimi Hendrix was the soul of The Experience(songwriter, lyricist, singer, even as a bassist) – He had more talent than any one individual Beatle. But still Jimi idolised the Beatles, So their influence cant be disputed.

  • Mike

    All I can say is that I am 27, I enjoy modern / popular music. I didn’t grow up with the Beatles and my parents never listened or talked about them, however time and time again I would hear a song by them and enjoyed every one of them so I eventually started looking into them and they are now one of my top 3 favorite bands (maybe number  1 or 2). I have absolutely no reason to love the Beatles besides the fact that they make amazing music.

  • ashley

    “Overrated” and “bad” are two completely different things. Just because they are talked about a lot doesn’t mean they suck. Even if you don’t like them, that doesn’t mean they are even remotely bad. 

  • CookieYum3000@aol.com

    Im 13, and if you think The Beatles are “bad” or “overrated” , its not that hard.. keep it to yourself!!! I sure think you should try it someday! They were PHENOMINAL singer! I mean, sure better than todays crap. They had SOO many songs, I cant even count.. wrll somewhere near 200+! and the hits.. there isnt ONE bad song.. except Revolution 9… i my opinion because its creepy. I mean, did you NOT see the crowds back then. They have movies (i have all), clothes (i have 7), cups, posters, shoes, dang PLENTY of memorbilla! But the whole point of this was they were like unforgetable and none of your  words will EVER change anything. so, i dont really care what you say, they sing exceptional and god word cant describe them.. so… dont say that about them again.

  • Anonymous

    They sucked, are totally overrated and you’ve been brainwashed. Your moron opinion means nothing to true musicians. 

  • Anonymous

    They sucked, you are the fool that bought into a made up story. Its like believing zeus throws lightning bolts. Some tool told you, another tool, that this tool band is the best ever. And you believe it. Musically they were no talent robots. 

  • Anonymous

    They are bad. Their “sound” sucks. I would be quite a bit that Beatle’s supporters listen to a LOT more stuff every day on the ipod/walkman/car radio/home . In fact, if you could find the play rates of beatles music on itunes you would find it sucks. Its crap. Its replay value is low. Its whiney, stupid, simplistic and the musical talent is bad. 

  • Anonymous

    You clearly have terrible taste in music. I’ve listened to Beatles stuff two to three times each and every track. I never want to hear their crap garbage again. EVER. You lie anyways, you rarely listen to them you just talk about it. 

  • Anonymous

     McDonald’s is popular, and its crap made from crap. The beatles, same thing, just because moron lemmings like you like them, doesnt mean they dont suck. They do. Please note their garbage music and its style have been relegated to the dust bin of history. Good bye and good night, Beatles trash. Its so bad, its not even copied.

  • Anonymous

    I never hear it. Maybe parties for fat sexless losers and burn outs from the past play it. I NEVER HEAR their GARBAGE at parties. Liar. 

  • Anonymous

    You are a microcephalic. 

  • Anonymous

     I’ve listened to each and every beatles track 3 or more times. If I could press a button and erase all and every known copy of that garbage, I WOULD PRESS IT. Its crap.

  • Tez Bridge

    what the hell would you know about music ??…… what a knob you must be….. get a life .    stop going on web sites writeing nasty useless crap to get a bit of  attention off people … because you probably dont have freinds….   .ps so what mosic do you actually like???  since to you the beatles are so bad …what you listen to must be something else ?… 

  • Jimbo 1234

    what a knob you are ….  stop makeing nasty comments to everyone about things you dont have a clue about ..just to get some attention ..  because your a saddo and dont have a life or any freinds … prick

  • Jemba

    what a nasty piece of crap you sound like… i bet you.ve never even been to a party … you just do not have a clue what your talking about .. mickrussom.. more like mick the dick

  • Peace551

    well, i saw Paul and Ringo live, so what if the Beatles didn’t go on tour together, they created music that wouldn’t even be able to have been played in shows. And now Paul and Ringo are back touring playing some beatles stuff. and they are amazing just like they always were.

  • Peace551

    well, i saw Paul and Ringo live, so what if the Beatles didn’t go on tour together, they created music that wouldn’t even be able to have been played in shows. And now Paul and Ringo are back touring playing some beatles stuff. and they are amazing just like they always were.

  • Peace551

    oh my god, just leave and stop trolling people’s comments! if you have nothing nice to say about the best band ever, don’t say it at all, us fans don’t want your opinions, becasue we have made our own, and so what if we don’t agree with you, we are all humans, with our own thoughts and feelings, go somewhere else wherre your opinions “are cared about” becasue they aren’t here.
    and how do you know if hes lying? DO you know him enough to say it?

  • Peace551

    oh my god, just leave and stop trolling people’s comments! if you have nothing nice to say about the best band ever, don’t say it at all, us fans don’t want your opinions, becasue we have made our own, and so what if we don’t agree with you, we are all humans, with our own thoughts and feelings, go somewhere else wherre your opinions “are cared about” becasue they aren’t here.
    and how do you know if hes lying? DO you know him enough to say it?

  • Peace551

    I’m 14 and absolutey crazy for them, and i really despise people who talk crap about them, and I can’t help but to fight for them.
    and they are just to much for words. <3

  • Peace551

    I’m 14 and absolutey crazy for them, and i really despise people who talk crap about them, and I can’t help but to fight for them.
    and they are just to much for words. <3

  • Peace551

    you are crazyyyyyy sure those men are great but do they still have it now like Paul? go see him in concert, and trust me, you’ll change your mind, he sounds exactly the same on the records. and not to mention i saw him in 2010 and so he was 68, and jeez, that man played fr 4 hours straight, no starting band, no intermission, would those people be able to do it and sound the same? nope… and btw i love Mick Jagger but still….and Freddie Mercury <3

  • Peace551

    you are crazyyyyyy sure those men are great but do they still have it now like Paul? go see him in concert, and trust me, you’ll change your mind, he sounds exactly the same on the records. and not to mention i saw him in 2010 and so he was 68, and jeez, that man played fr 4 hours straight, no starting band, no intermission, would those people be able to do it and sound the same? nope… and btw i love Mick Jagger but still….and Freddie Mercury <3

  • Zfzzf

     you are right. people just because the beatles sold 1 billion record doesnt mean that they are GODS OF MUSIC? they sucks

  • Unclesandwitch

    Pretty funny and totally uniformed. A total troll article. It’s the equivalent of someone bashing Shakespeare or Mozart. I feel sorry for you if you don’t get it, but mostly likely you are trying to get a rise out of people. What’s next? Did the Godfather suck as a film too?

  • http://www.facebook.com/metalgod86 Dustin Dc Cowles

    you look at the bands that were going at the time of beatle mania andthen tell me they arent over rated .

  • Unclesandwitch

    Check out Strawberry Fields Forever , A Day In The Life or I Am The Walrus. Those songs are incredibly creative. The psychedelic production is second to none. It still amazes me that those songs were created at any time – especially the 60s. Their earlier stuff was cute, nice pop music, but the later material was amazing. They changed modern pop music. People are still influenced by them to this date. Where there better musicians? Sure, but they we great songwriters and a very tight band. The music is timeless and still very well produced by todays standards. Abby Road and The White Album sound great. 

    Some people get it and some don’t. The Beatles were brilliant and ahead of their time.

  • Mr.Henrybemis00

    Has no one mentioned Bob Dylan? By far the greatest popular “Artist” to come out of the sixties and still going strong to this day. 

    The Beatles were not artists by any means in my opinion. Sometimes I feel we get lost in the true meaning of what art really is.. Although pop rock is some kind of art, Nothing to scream about. Pop never fails to deliver the same message over and over again. Kinda gets boring. Plus their lyrics were simply weak, And unless you’re English you may find it hard at times to understand some songs.. 

    And when It comes to the rock side of the equation, Give me The Velvet Underground instead, Now they were a band ahead of their time. They produced more material out of their few albums than the Beatles did their whole career… It was all about timing for the fab plain and simple. You could even make the same case for Dylan, But If only the Beatles could write half the songs Dylan (one man, for the most part) wrote.

    I’m not really hating on the fab, They made some good songs. Just making my case that they were a good band, Not the greatest ever.. 

    If anyone is interested in an A-Z guide from 1963-1977 of Psychedelic, Folk, Acid rock bands etc. I urge you to check out an excellent book by Vernon Joynson titled Fuzz, Acid & Flowers Revisited.

  • Kylie

    It’s all just a matter of opinion. Your opinion (and mine as well) doesn’t make a difference because The Beatles will always be a huge part of music history. In my opinion, they are the best band ever. Millions of people like them for their music, not the hype. Do you like your favorite musician because of the hype? (I don’t think so)
     Sure, not all of their songs were great. But they were human too, yunno? I don’t think you could make everyone happy with something that you wrote. Peace, love, and respect.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ian.zulick Ian Yanne Zulick

    THANK YOU!!!  They have got to be the most overrated and misunderstood band in history.  Their popularity was a result of the age in which they lived, and of circumstance.  They’re decent at best.  The Allman Brothers had the most creative music in the history of Rock n’ Roll, period.  No one will ever be able to compete with their unique fusion of musical elements.  The beatles ripped off existing styles and never deviated from their base formula.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/bconnor3 Bryan Connor

    Where is your head at??? For the most part Lennon was the one who sung about love and peace,especially post beatle.
    Part of the reason they stoped touring was because all of their fans,(especially the girls),weren’t listening to their music thet were yelling about them (esp.Paul) because of their good looks.
    George Martin was BRILLIANT.
    Brian May said that he would never been anywhere near the great guitar player he is if it wasn’t for George Harrison,May considered Harrison a hero.
    Lennon was the only performer,that through his music was willing to show the world what a vunerable human being he was.Please listen to Double Fantasy.Through everyone of the songs he wrote you knew where he was in his life.Even in his songs as a member of The Beatles (Help,Norweignwood,etc) his life was an open book.I don’t know of any musician (including McCartney) who didn’t mind showing his vunerable side.
    Jimi Hendrix,no doubt the greatest guitarist EVER.But song writing,please leave that to the
    the two greatest song writing geniuses EVER==Lennon and McCartney.
    I am soooo glad that you represent about 0.1% of fans that think your way. 

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