The Beatles

[Ken Cheng]

OK. I want you to watch this video and then tell me again that the Beatles were "soft."

[RongYingMin]

That clip is very cool, , I've almost heard the Beatles' songs in CDs before, so I don't know much about their performance.
Anyway, many of my favorite songs of the Fab Four are soft.

I like them both, but I have more favorite McCartney songs than I do Lennon songs.

In fact, even though I prefer Paul's songs, I'm a bit of dislike him. His music is great but the way he bullied his wife, Helther Miller, that makes me quite disappointed.
It's quite strange, when the Beatles was still not broken up, even John was always considered to have more talent in music, Paul's songs seem to be more famous than John's. Amongst the 20s hits of the Beats, there are more than a half of those were written by Paul.
After the Beats separated, I like John more, he looked handsome and rakish , he loved peace and his songs written after the separation of the band are great, such as: Imagine, Jealous guy, Woman,...
Paul's musical career after the Beatles' time seems to not have much interesting. I don't know any song of him during this period. I only know that he even wrote some symphonies. I haven't heard them, but I bet they can't compare to those of Bach's, Mozart's, Vivaldi's...

[Ken Cheng]

In fact, even though I prefer Paul's songs, I'm a bit of dislike him. His music is great but the way he bullied his wife, Helther Miller, that makes me quite disappointed.

Based on Paul McCartney's known personal history, especially his very long and stable relationship with his first wife, Linda Eastman (who died of cancer in 1998 after having been happily married to McCartney for 28 years), most of the public (including yours truly) doesn't believe Heather Mills' claims of spousal abuse. Of course, none of us really knows what happens behind closed doors, but spousal abuse is so unlike McCartney's previous behavior that it would be shocking if it were true. As is, I'd take it with many grains of salt. I believe that Ms. Mills is looking for a settlement that could make her one of the most independently wealthy women in Britain aside from Queen Elizabeth II and J.K. Rowling (author of the HARRY POTTER books).

Paul's musical career after the Beatles' time seems to not have much interesting. I don't know any song of him during this period. I only know that he even wrote some symphonies. I haven't heard them, but I bet they can't compare to those of Bach's, Mozart's, Vivaldi's...

His best decade musically after the breakup of the Beatles was the 1970s, in which he was a huge superstar as the leader of the band Wings. They racked up almost as many hit singles and hit albums during the 1970s as the Beatles did during the 1960s, and Wings' 1976-1977 North American concert tour was one of the most successful rock tours of the 1970s. McCartney's big hits during this decade included "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Band On The Run," "Live And Let Die" (the theme song of the James Bond film of the same name), "Jet," "Listen To What The Man Said," "Silly Love Songs," "With A Little Luck," and "Coming Up," among others. All were huge, huge hits in the 1970s.

During the 1980s, McCartney had a few more hits on duets with Stevie Wonder ("Ebony and Ivory') and Michael Jackson ("The Girl Is Mine" and "Say, Say, Say"), but these are not held in as high esteem as McCartney's 1970s work.

He hasn't had many hits during the 1990s and 2000s as a solo artist, although his concert tours are still very well received.

[pemberly]

In fact, even though I prefer Paul's songs, I'm a bit of dislike him. His music is great but the way he bullied his wife, Helther Miller, that makes me quite disappointed.

you're actually the first person i've ever heard in defense of heather mills. you have to remember that her accounts of spousal abuse are just that. what proof does she have? this is just her word, and she has hundreds of millions of dollars to gain by putting paul mccartney in the worst light possible.

and paul mccartney has always been known as a nice guy. he's not one of those celebs that have raging alcohol problems and are known to have violent fits of anger. he was married to his previous wife for decades, literally til death do them part, and never spent more than a few days away from each other. she loved him enough to leave her whole fortune to him.

[Canuck21]

It's likely you're right to a certain extent.
At least now I don't see many people who is around my age listen to the Beatles' songs. Even if they do, they often only listen to the hits.
Ha ha, I like some of the non-hits even more than the hits. For ex: She's leaving home, I'll follow the sun, Across the universe, Blackbird, Anna, Here There n Everywhere, etc.

Thank you so much, S M.

But that cannot deny the fact that the Beatles' music is already quite dated n quite soft to nowaday liking. Find several songs of Linkin' Park, Limp Bizkit, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, you'll see.

Most teenagers don't go crazy on classical music, yet classical music didn't disappear didn't it? I think teenagers tend to listen to hits and rarely older songs but believe me, taste changes thought the ages. When I was a teenager, I listened to the radio and MuchMusic a lot. I was very much in tune with what was popular but now that I'm an adult, I don't care about that anymore. I listen to whatever sounds good no matter the song's time line, if it's good, it's good. This is where you realize which singer and band are special and which are not. Bands like the Beatles last through time while others will be forgotten.

[RongYingMin]

- I expressed my idea a bit unclearly.
I'm not totally in defense of Heather Mills. I don't believe in every words she said that Paul'd often beaten her black n blue. But I think Paul would have treated her somewhat rudely while they had arguments with each other.
- When you're teenage, it'd be a big problem if you don't fancy what your friends like because you'd not be able to integrate into the community of your friends. Even I don't really like nowaday hits I can't help listening to them.

[Ken Cheng]

- I expressed my idea a bit unclearly.
I'm not totally in defense of Heather Mills. I don't believe in every words she said that Paul'd often beaten her black n blue. But I think Paul would have treated her somewhat rudely while they had arguments with each other.

Well, when people have arguments, some nasty things will be said. That kind of goes with the territory.

When the Beatles broke up, McCartney, Lennon, and Harrison (not so much Starr) had plenty of nasty things to say about each other for a while.

I don't believe that McCartney physically assaulted Mills at any time. Each of the Beatles renounced violence of all kinds by the end of the 1960s.

- When you're teenage, it'd be a big problem if you don't fancy what your friends like because you'd not be able to integrate into the community of your friends. Even I don't really like nowaday hits I can't help listening to them.

I know where you're coming from, but an important part of transitioning into adulthood is to stop caring about what other people want you to like and deciding for yourself what *you* want to like. Once you've learned how to do that, you've taken a big step towards being an adult.

The same goes for what we tell you here: if you like the Beatles, like them because *you* want to like them, not because we're telling you they were the greatest band of all time (even if it is probably true).

[Ken Cheng]

For those still wondering what the big deal was about the Beatles, here's a whole bunch of their classic songs and videos (they were called "films" back then) courtesy of Youtube.

I Want To Hold Your Hand

Twist and Shout

Please Please Me

She Loves You

All My Loving

This Boy

I Saw Her Standing There

I Should Have Known Better

And I Love Her

If I Fell

I Need You

You're Going To Lose That Girl

Yesterday

I'm Down

Day Tripper

Paperback Writer

Strawberry Fields Forever

Penny Lane

All You Need Is Love

I Am The Walrus

Hello Goodbye

Hey Jude

Revolution

Get Back

Don't Let Me Down

I've Got A Feeling

The Long and Winding Road

Let It Be

And that just scratches the surface of what made the Beatles the greatest band ever.

[Ken Cheng]

A couple of days ago (June 1) was the fortieth anniversary of the Beatles' SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND album. Many music fans and scholars consider this record *the* most important album of all time. When it was first recorded, it was considered the cutting edge in terms of both recording technology and musical content.

Forty years on, the album does sound a bit dated, but it captures the spirit of those times very well. At least half the tunes are still (typically) very catchy and memorable as well, especially the title song, "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," and "A Day In The Life."

The Fab Four forever!

[kanman]

Beatles have a good case for best band of all time, but best rock band has to be Led Zepplin. Beatles have too many pop songs while Led Zepplin is all rock. Suprisingly, I looked at top 100 selling albums in the US according to wikipedia and both bands have 5 in the top 100, with Led Zepplin's top 5 slightly outselling the Beatles.

[Ken Cheng]

Beatles have a good case for best band of all time, but best rock band has to be Led Zepplin. Beatles have too many pop songs while Led Zepplin is all rock.

That kind of depends on how broadly we define "rock." Certainly, Led Zeppelin was the megaband of post-1960s *hard* rock, but the Beatles were more eclectic and appealed to a wider audience overall.

Suprisingly, I looked at top 100 selling albums in the US according to wikipedia and both bands have 5 in the top 100, with Led Zepplin's top 5 slightly outselling the Beatles.

Led Zeppelin also broke many of the Beatles' attendance records for rock concerts. The Beatles had set that record in 1965 when around 50,000 people attended their concert at Shea Stadium in New York. Sometime in the 1970s, Led Zeppelin broke that record with a bigger show (I think maybe at the same venue, but I'm not sure).

It's tricky to compare 1960s record sales to 1970s record sales, because the music industry was bigger (i.e. more consumers) in the 1970s than it had been during the 1960s. There were just more people buying records in general in the 1970s than in the 1960s.

Also, you would need to factor in that the Beatles operated in an era that was still mostly dominated by singles (although the Beatles themselves were instrumental in ushering in the album rock era). Led Zeppelin didn't do singles: they were an albums band, and would naturally sell more albums than a 1960s singles/albums band.

[pemberly]

there has been talk of a special yellow submarine ipod to be released, fully loaded with every beatles album.

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i don't think it looks so pretty, but it's cool how it'll come with all the beatles albums. i wonder how it'll be priced.

rolling stones

[Ken Cheng]

there has been talk of a special yellow submarine ipod to be released, fully loaded with every beatles album.

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i don't think it looks so pretty, but it's cool how it'll come with all the beatles albums. i wonder how it'll be priced.

rolling stones

They should have made it psychedelic.

But loaded with all the Beatles' albums? That'll make it a hit right away. I bet the tracks have been digitally remastered too.

Ths is not only the 40th anniversary of SGT. PEPPER; I believe that it's *also* the 50th anniversary of John Lennon meeting Paul McCartney. What a fateful meeting that was for the history of modern popular music.

[pemberly]

are you going to buy one?

[Ken Cheng]

are you going to buy one?

Depends on the price. There's no arguing that the product itself is definitely worthwhile.

[Ken Cheng]

In case you missed it, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on LARRY KING LIVE back in late June.

[GuGu]

there has been talk of a special yellow submarine ipod to be released, fully loaded with every beatles album.

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i don't think it looks so pretty, but it's cool how it'll come with all the beatles albums. i wonder how it'll be priced.

rolling stones

Ewwww! That looks ugly! Should of had made it pink.

[Ken Cheng]

During the 1960s, the Beatles helped to pioneer the development of the music video, which MTV would truly take to a different level a decade after the Fab Four's demise.

The film footage that has generally been broadcast of the Beatles tends to depict them as living legends...timeless icons. This rarely seen outtake video for "I Feel Fine" humanizes the band greatly, reminding everyone that even the greats need to feed their faces just like the rest of us.

[Ken Cheng]

Yesterday's LOS ANGELES TIMES featured an article that indicates that the new movie ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is winning a new generation of Beatles fans among the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL/HANNAH MONTANA crowd (i.e. teenaged girls). Usually, I'd cheer anything that introduces the younger generation to the music of the Beatles, but I'm not so sure in this case. The Beatles covers in this film are...well, kind of lame and sappy. This might win the Beatles yet another generation of fans, but it's not going to do much for the Fab Four's reputation as a *rock* band.

If it were up to me, the Beatles would be remembered like this, this, this, and this...NOT this and this.

[Ken Cheng]

Although John Lennon and Paul McCartney dominated the songwriting output of the Beatles, one should not overlook George Harrison's contributions to the band not only as an excellent guitarist, but also as a songwriter in his own right. He might not have had as many great songs as Lennon and McCartney did, but his best ones were easily the equal of anything Lennon or McCartney ever wrote. Among Harrison's best work with the Beatles are "I Need You," "If I Needed Someone," "Taxman," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Here Comes the Sun," and "Something"...rock classics, each and every one of them. After the Beatles broke up, Harrison had a few more hits on his own with "All Things Must Pass," "My Sweet Lord," "Got My Mind Set On You" (although this was a cover of an old R&B song), and, with the Traveling Wilburys, "Handle With Care" and "End of the Line."