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The Beatles are overrated, enough said

By Matthew Stephens on September 9, 2009 2:00 am in VIBE / 320 comments

 

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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  • Brad

    Well it was just a rambling Blog really.

    Anyway, one could argue till the cows came home about the “talent” of the Beatles. Problem is, some people overvalue musicianship and undervalue song-writing. It’s alot harder to write a catchy song and add lyrics than it is to learn to play an instrument.
    The Beatles were great songwriters and average musicians. That doesn’t make them over-rated at all. THe ability to write a song that sticks in peoples heads is far more important than being able to lay down an awesome guitar solo. Our memories are far more tied to lyrics and catchy riffs and that triggers our emotions.
    Any band that can have 45 songs on a disc that everyone is familiar with has to be considered one of the greatest bands of all times. Even if some of there earliest tunes were fairly simple, they definitely grew as a band musically and certainly were influential. Hell Nirvana was very influential as well and none of their music was overly skillful. But both the Beatles and Nirvana changed things up and struck a chord with the populace. If you look at what was popular when the Beatles hits were out, their sound was nothing like what everyone else was doing.
    Well, he got what he was hoping for. Response. This sort of thing is nothing new, though, nor is it unique to him. Every generation has people who try to kill the previous generation’s idols. It’s what separates the good from the great and the ordinary from the legendary.

  • http://yourartclesucks.net Dick Johnson

    Sounds like this guy has never been laid! And probably never will be!!

  • http://phantasytour.com Bashido

    I bet you listen to bands that don’t even exist yet.

  • Matthew

    Take a deep breath. Relax.

    Now, take one day go and listen to Beatles albums in order.

    Then, form an opinion.

  • anon

    Sucks that you don’t get the Beatles.

    PS – Shave. Now.

    PPS – Now that you are done shaving, you may KYS.

  • graig

    thanks for the laugh Matthew Stephens

  • Jeri

    Boy, I’m no a huge fan of them, but I think you are such an idiot. In first place, if you write this in a serious way, the first thing you should have done is knowing well of what you are going to write, and after reading you, It’s clearly for me you haven’t done your homework boy.
    Your comments of beatles facts, shows you are so closed-mind to see why almost millions of people say that THE BEATLES are the best band of the history. Do you Know anyhing from that period, or the music that was sounding in that decade?I’m refering to making music, not picking a song other guy write, and played it, and sold it. It’s not so easy.
    They changed so much things in all the music business, from the beginning (start writing)to the end (videos, Lps, shows, movies!)they changed the way of making music.I believe almost all the people of the world would be capable of whistling at least, one of their songs, and there have been Big bands and singer after them, but I don’t think this could happen with britney spears, don’t you?
    Don’t you seem a little strange that you say something against million of opinions?be smartier boy, took perspective and think maybe you’re wrong. Or missinformed. I can understand all people could not love Beatles songs, but saying what you’ve said just put you in evidence.
    If you only were trying for a bit of attention…well, you’ve done it. But The prize has been beeing such a retarded young boy to all people that have read this. Congrats
    PD: Took a good faith advice: the next time you write something, try to argue things with something in your hand, not only your opinion. If you don’t do it…It’ll be like a child could say about, I like it, or I don’t like it ;)

  • MrMan

    Haha. Laughing my a$$ off at the poor lil’ boy and his childish rant about what other people like.

    You don’t like The Beatles, fine, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. To paraphrase you lil’ one, “Nothing is more annoying than someone tyring to convince me The Beatles weren’t the most innovative and influential band ever.

    The Beatles get exactly the recognition they deserve. Enough said.

  • Cody

    Hey, idiot. You don’t have to be the best guitarist to make good music.

  • West Archer

    I just lol’d; Lou, you mentioned that The Beatles broke the 2:50 mark? To what extent? By making their songs 3:30? Do some research kid. The Beatles were innovative at practically nothing except for making rock music more marketable.

  • West Archer

    Bradley (lol), your logic is very weak.

    Richard Nixon influenced a whole generation after his term, but that does not make him a great musician.

    Given the subjectivity of this debate, it is quite humorous that you are trying to logically prove that The Beatles are the greatest band by referring to “45 singles” on one album. Also that you cite such another lousy band, Nirvana, to prove your case is so faulty in argument that there really is no point in responding to your demands.

    Plus, how do lyrics promote good music over the actual sound? This isn’t rock literature; this is rock music. If you were trying to compare their lyrics to say-classical poets- their lyrics would be too obscure and strange to actually have any artistic quality.

    It is unfortunate that neither of us can win this debate considering it is all formed on opinion. However, the fact that you Beatlesfanatics get so upset (like a stubborn German) makes me giggle.

  • http://www.brianmanzullo.com Brian Manzullo

    Before this comments section continues, let me clarify a few things.

    1) This is not an article. It’s a column – an opinion. Some people were questioning why CM Life would run this as news, when it is not. It is simply somebody’s opinion acting as a counterpoint to The Beatles’ legacy. Hence, why it ran with the main Campus VIBE package, “Re-meet The Beatles.”

    and

    2) Many are asking “Why would CM Life ever run something like this?” Campus VIBE is an off-beat section of the newspaper and is not treated like a normal news section. It is a place for our writers and editors, at our discretion, to publish opinion pieces such as this one, when they package well with centerpieces such as The Beatles.

    Whether you agree or disagree with Matthew is completely up to you. I happen to like The Beatles. But I thought I would defend Matthew with people calling his and CM Life’s journalistic qualities into question.

  • Han Daimond

    How come an unprofessional, unresearched and unintelligent article like yours is posted online?

    I suggest you to get a life.

  • Mike Ellis

    Matt’s a great photographer and a smart guy, so I’m going to go at it on his turf.
    Big point is that his contention is that X sucks but he only goes about proving that X is over rated.
    Here’s how Matt did it and in () why his arguments fail:
    Ansel Adams sucks.
    How can a guy who thought color was not real photo art be considered the greatest photographer ever? (Making assumption that everything that is not greatest therefore sucks, as well as admitting that conventional wisdom holds something is the greatest that you contend sucks)
    Without him we wouldn’t have to suffer Annie Lebowitz’s Lavazza glossies. (Why does Lebowitz’s on and off work depend on Adams, like there wouldn’t have been others?)
    Adams reprinted Moonlight, New Mexico and a few others for the last 20 years of his life, he could have added to his art, met his followers or produced more work. (Even artists have to pay the bills and I find inspiration to be fleeting so it follows that aging or tired artists would be less productive than hungry ones)
    Adams had collaborators and promoters and connections that drove his fame as much as anything else. Fred Archer did as much to develop the zone system, Adams’ most famous technical achievement, as Adams did. (How does a lack of credit for Archer take away from Adams and promoters promote that because that’s what promoters do, give credit to the talent and cash that check)
    For every great Adams print there is another boring, composed-by-numbers piece in some museum. (Duh, most artists make alot of crap but when you become famous people dig through your crap and like it or at least pretend to)
    Adams preached environmentalism and conservationism (But he also advocated for 1940/50s suburban sprawl and had several houses, produced tons of toxic materials in his labs).
    Sure Adams took some good pictures but he was not the best at evoking emotion, Henri Cartier-Bresson bested Adams there.
    Statistically speaking, Stiglitz is the most important photographer by surveying textbooks. (This is just throwing out a survey that may prove that Adams isn’t the best but there are suckage surveys if that was really to be proved.)
    Experiment over.
    While a lot Ansel Adams’ work is tedious, he was ahead of his time, and much of his work is timeless, visionary, technically years ahead of its time and still influential. (Sound like I’m making a point?)
    You can’t give Adams any points for environmentalism if you deny it to the Beatles for their hippy-dippy ways.
    You can’t give him influence on others or ground breaking or innovative if you deny The Beatles that. His work holds up as well as The Beatles. George Martin isn’t as obscure as you seem to think he is, but Archer is.

  • Mike Ellis

    I would certainly second Brian’s point. I’ve worked with Matt and he does lots of great journalism at the paper, which itself does some of the best college newspaper work in the country. This column is one small part of one issue, if you disagree with this please read some more because there’s plenty of good stuff here.
    I disagree with Matt’s logic and conclusion in this column but think he came at it in a fun and challenging, albeit ultimately poorly argued way. I think he hit two of those three marks of good journalism right on the head.
    At the end of the day, it’s Matt’s opinion and I doubt that my post or any of yours will sway him.
    But I enjoyed getting fired up for a lengthy response (now two responses) and I think I wasn’t the only one.

    - Mike Ellis
    former CM Lifer

  • Chris

    The Backstreet boys were revolutionary but the Beatles were not?? How was this artical even published. This is a disgrace.

  • Erockus

    I read this last night and I was surprised at how much this “article” got to me. I was mulling it over as I tried to fall asleep and my initial reactions were that Matthew wrote this simply because he knew it would get people all fired up and that somewhere in this town this young man was giddily giggling at all the attention he is getting. I understand that this is an opinion piece in the vibe section where rebellious young writers can spew hip and un-hip thoughts alike, but this day, this opinion is wrong and ignorant. You don’t have to like the Beatles, you don’t have to like their music. There is however a basic respect and understanding one must grasp as to where their legacy is in the scheme of popular music and rock ‘n’ roll. Schooling you in simple terms of music revolution might be beyond the scope of what your closed mind is willing to accept right now. Backstreet Boys revolutionary? How? Ironically one could argue The Beatles started the “boy band” craze and lets not forget The Jackson 5 and The Osmonds. You shouldn’t have to be sold on the fact the The Beatles promoted love and peace as much as it promoted Helter Skelter. There comes a point in any human’s life who has tremendous influence where their message becomes bigger than themselves. Greed, in-fighting, and jealousy will of course come with the territory, it’s rock ‘n’ roll and they are human. You can’t ignore “Give Peace a Chance” was sung by a quarter million Vietnam protesters in D.C. in 1969. Put yourself in the context of the sixties and imagine how immensely powerful that must have been. The Beatles were fortunate enough to have the greatest record producer of all time. You can argue what would have happen had he not be there but your point is null considering Martin WAS there and part of the package which help solidify The Beatles role in music history. Like Bobby Dylan, the Beatles were not the best at what they did, they were the only ones. Like Booby Dylan, there is a reason musicians cover great songs and make them “better” or “theirs”, it’s because those were the songs that spoke to them and help them discover what it is about the music that moves them. I would encourage you to take a walk over to the music department and stop anyone who is still breathing and ask them how they were influenced by the Beatles and I challenge you to go an entire day without seeing something in music, advertising, headlines, or idle conversation that doesn’t reference the Beatles in some way. I would also encourage you to do some research into how innovative they were in the studio. Technology became an instrument. Hopefully some basic “Google-ing” isn’t overrated in your eyes.

    I also think the Rock Band game is silly but that’s just my opinion.

  • Seth

    They stopped doing concerts so they could focus on what bands are supposed to do: Make music.

    I know it’s the beginning of the semester and you want to get right out there and shock some people with your uncompromising journalism, but you just listed a bunch of minor complaints and then blew them out of proportion.

    Are they the greatest band ever? No, The Beach Boys are… but still, the effect that The Beatles had on music and culture are so rediculously huge and undeniable that it’s laughable that anyone would question it, regardless of whether they like the band or not.

    Also, people always make it sound like George Martin was some sinister invisible hand pulling along the band by their puppet strings. He was a producer, not a dictator. If he mixed a song, and it didn’t sound like Lennon (as an example) had imagined (lol!), John Lennon is going to tell him it sucks, and give his input. There might not be many Beatles albums without Martin’s fingerprints on them, but there are plenty of songs.

  • Matt

    Well great job at saying absolutely nothing intelligent. You have the right to your own opinion, but, to say that the Backstreet Boys were even remotely revolutionary makes you an idiot with an opinion. The Beatles stopped playing live shows because it was too loud to hear the band playing and they weren’t getting any better. Even just a little research would’ve made this “article” much more factual.

  • Laff7

    this sucks you have no idea what youre talking about

  • RMThompson

    What a horribly written article. Seriously, have you ever heard of a freaking paragaph? It doesn’t bother me that you don’t like The Beatles, even if you are wrong about their influence, but it bothers me that you have no clue how to write a proper article.

    I also find it ironic that someone who hates The Beatles so even knows who George Martin is, and even has a “favorite Beatle song”. That’s a bit like me saying “OH I hate McDonalds, but Ray Kroc is a marketing genius and a Big Mac is my favorite burger there.” Or saying “Oh I hate Starbucks, but geez those three men knew what they were doing when they made my favorite drink, a caramel non fat frappucino”.

    As to the statement that The Beatles aren’t the greatest band of all time, just freaking READ something why don’t ya? You quoted Rolling Stone, yet you failed to mention that they have 4 BEATLE albums among the top 10 of all time, and 8 in the top 100.

    Oh, since it’s obvious you don’t do any RESEARCH, here is a quick snippet from RS for you to read:

    “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most important rock & roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology by the greatest rock & roll group of all time.”

    I’d love to see who you consider the greatest rock and roll group of all time…. care to share?

  • YoungPike

    Matthew Stephens: I can’t tell whether your article is an attempt to provoke people and thereby make a name for yourself, or you’re an idiot. I hope it’s the latter, because the rest of us can take comfort in the fact that a man who writes such an ill-conceived article that doesn’t contain even a scintilla of irony is an idiot; nothing more, nothing less.

  • Alex

    anyone who likes the beatles is an idiot.. period.. Put any rolling stones song to the beatles and the stones would win, They are the greatest band of all time

  • Matt

    Hey Alex look I can do it too,

    anyone who likes the Rolling Stones is an idiot.. period.. Put any Beatles song to the Rolling Stones and the Beatles would win. They are the greatest band of all time

    No I don’t really think the Rolling Stones are bad I just hate it when people try to assert their OPINIONS as facts. Those are two wildly different things and most people on the internet aren’t intelligent enough to discern the difference.

  • steve

    Okay Matthew. i guess whatever underground holier than thou band you listen to, somehow makes you the god of music.
    Every idiot who picks up a guitar thinks they can rate past bands with some kind of insider insight. Some simple facts for you and the unfortunately possibly mentally deficiant, west archer person.

    1. No band in the history of the WORLD has ever been covered BY PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS , more than the beatles. ( that should tell you enough, but hey your ignorant anyway so ill continue)

    2. here are some quotes by some people maybe you will know.

    All you could do was to see them. We were backstage when the Beatles were on and you could just about hear a noise. It was just literally screaming. They were the greatest there ever was.
    Roger Daltrey

    Almost everything The Beatles did was great, and it’s hard to improve on. They were our Bach.
    T-Bone Burnett

    And I said, ‘Why not? It’s the truth! Why can’t I say I’m a Beatles fan?’ I used to get criticized for that. But I am and always will be a fan, they are what we all aspire to be.
    Buck Owens

    From 1962 to 1965, the guitar became this icon of youth culture, thanks mostly to the Beatles.
    Pat Metheny

    I don’t think anybody comes close to The Beatles.
    Brian May

    I just got into the Beatles a couple years ago, you know, I like it, they are great.
    Ziggy Marley

    you can say all guitar bands after the Beatles were just a waste of time because the Beatles were the best.
    Stephen Malkmus

    My favorite artists have always been Elvis and The Beatles , they were the greatest , and they still are!
    Johnny Ramone

    So whenever I hear The Beatles I always feel I’ve got a lot in common with everybody else.
    Robyn Hitchcock

    I went through a lot of musical phases, and one was when I’d learn everything that The Beatles ever recorded. After I started drums, I fell in love with their music so much that I just wanted to learn everything.
    Eric Carr

    You can’t beat The Beatles, you join ‘em.
    Peggy Lee

    You know, I was such a big Beatles fan, and when I’d buy a new album I’d invariably hate it the first time I heard it ’cause it was a mixture of absolute joy and absolute frustration. I couldn’t grasp what they’d done, and I’d hate myself for that.
    Andy Partridge

    i could go on for days.
    i guess thousands of professional musicians, artists, rock and roll hall of fame members, from a wide range of genres all are just lying, just to upset 20 year old know it all’s like you.

  • found another dumb one

    What kind of comments did you think you were gonna get when this was posted. Your only talking about the greatest band in history. And by the way,when you try to compare the backstreet boys to the beatles, you are basically kicking the beatles in the balls. Horrible, horrible comparison on your behalf. You have to realize that the backstreet boys had a real live faggot in their band…that fucks it all up for your little gay theory. You are basically trying to compare the greatest song writers ever to some fucking faggots.

    p.s.
    Whether you want to believe it or not, The Beatles are the greatest band in the world. No band was ever as big as the beatles and no band will ever be as big as the beatles.

  • Nico

    Yes! I am not the only one! I just can’t stand The Beatles. I read this blog a few days ago who were actually bashing The Beatles in a humoristic kinda way. It was funny, informative and contained facts. I don’t know if you accept URLs in your comments, but if you do, here it is: http://www.whythisblogsucks.com/

  • Michael

    I’m sick of this argument. Especially when you’re just trying to get views.

  • Andy

    Its true what they say, opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got one, and they all stink.

    This is the most piffy dribble I’ve read on the internet, do some research, The Beatles quit touring because they were receiving death threats after the John Lennon vs. Jesus fiasco. Also they received death threats from Japanese concert goers for having a concert in the Budokan.

  • Theotilda IV

    That guy looks like Layne Staley. lol

  • badillin

    You should read this Article: “The night Jimi Hendrix played tribute to The Beatles”
    http://www.nme.com/news/jimi-hendrix/28660

    You should try to stop getting your “facts” out of some magazine.

    And as the Wilson Pickett’s version of “Hey Jude”… well he didnt compose the song did he?? so your argument is irrelevant, you are just dumb :)

  • Dana

    To “found another dumb one” – seriously, get your facts straight before you comment – Not only was your language crude and dim-witted, the Backstreet Boys did not have a “real live faggot”, as you so elegantly put it. It was Nsync’s Lance that announced he was gay a few years ago.

  • Tanner

    After playing The Beatles: Rock Band, I must say, they are a completely UNDER rated band!

  • JP

    This should be in print,in my bathroom,so I could wipe with it.

  • Kevin

    Shame on the Editor for letting this article get published. This has no facts and is nothing but a childish rant.

  • James

    I can’t help but think that you don’t knw anything about the band and that all your info was taken from a quick google search of ‘The Beatles’.

    This is a child ranting because he wants to get noticed. Good job, Editor.

  • Brian Cagle

    I believe this video best shows my feelings towards this article.

  • Nellie

    I would say they influenced almost every genre of rock music. Prog, metal, pop rock, everything. I can’t think of any rock band (to a respectable level) that would say something bad about the Beatles. They are a huge influence on music in general and most influential popular act in the last 50 years.

    Bob Dylan

    “They were doing things nobody was doing. Their chords were outrageous, just outrageous, and their harmonies made it all valid. They were pointing the direction music had to go.”

  • Michael

    Basically lifted from here…

    http://www.virginmedia.com/music/pictures/toptens/beatles-over-rated.php?ssid=1

    so much for journalistic integrity

  • David

    Saying you don’t like the Beatles is like saying you don’t like music….

    They were and are a cultural phenomenon , a phenonemon which absolutely transcended popular music….

    Listen,do you want to know a secret? ….If, anything, the Beatles legacy is UNDER rated…

  • YoungPike

    I think you should ask for police protection. Seriously! Beatles fans are zealots, and you know what zealotry leads to!

  • BSF

    Effin’ A, Matt! You are so right. Motley Crue is the greatest band ever and anyone with taste knows it.

  • YoungPike

    Motley Crue? Motley fuckin’ Crue? I hope you’re joking BSF. If not, maybe you should ask for police protection along with your soulmate Meathead Matt.

  • http://cmulife.com lorie

    YOU YOurself are a product of your own generation . Those millions of baby boomers out there who appreciate all the BEATLES did for thier own generation…DO THINK THEIR ALL THAT! YOU ….. Think that the new music is all that too! Its all in the new music thats out there to be discoverd in the future. Your kids will beleive that YOUR music of your generation will SUCK!

  • Mike

    Although the argument may be weak in the article, the author is right. The Beatles are not that great. They have been overhyped for four decades. Sure, they made some good stuff, but when it comes down to it the reason they have such a huge following today is because of all the media outlets that inflate them so much. Face it, the millions of twenty somethings who claim the Beatles as their favorite band and the founders of all things musically great would say the same thing about Right Said Fred if Rolling Stone and every other music magazine kissed his butt as much.

  • Ryan

    i think its funny how people voice their comments about the Beatles as if they were even alive when the Beatles played. this piece is clearly an opninion, which is ok to have. but please people, most of you not agreeing with the writer’s opinion doesnt make him wrong any more than you being write. NONE OF YOU WERE AROUND IN THE 1960′s, so really your opinions on the Beatles successes are irrelevant, seeing that all the opninions are in retrospect to the actual time period.

  • David

    Huh? So I’m not allowed an opinion on Beethoven or Mahler because I did’nt witness them composing and preforming?

    In 40 years time they will still be discussing the Beatles like this….but they won’t be discussing any of the acts around now…

  • EnglishMan

    What a tosser!

  • Jason

    “Face it, the millions of twenty somethings who claim the Beatles as their favorite band and the founders of all things musically great would say the same thing about Right Said Fred if Rolling Stone and every other music magazine kissed his butt as much.”

    Mike, wtf are you even talking about? Rolling Stone touts the greatness of every single album Dylan or Springsteen puts out, but they don’t have anywhere naear the fanbase that the Beatles do, especially amongst the younger crowd. And millions of young people were running out to buy Beatles Rock Band on opening day just because news outlets told them to.

    In short, your argument- just like the argument in the article by Matthew- is weak. We get it. You don’t like the Beatles. We get it. But you guys need to stop coming up with these asinine arguments to support your ridiculous contention that the Beatles weren’t good.

  • Joey

    I know responding to this is exactly what drives you to be a total douche, but screw it I’m doing it. I’m not a big fan of The Beatles, but just because YOU don’t like a certain band or genre of music, that doesn’t mean it’s instantly terrible. I really love intense death metal, but do I expect anybody else to like it? Hell no. I’m really just interested in why you (and Central Michigan newspaper for that matter) think your opinion on a band that DID change music, matters so much. I bet you’re an absolute nightmare to have an intelligent argument with, you make me and so many other people sick.

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