delos Angeles 1

Myrene delos Angeles Professor Plauche Music 125 8 Dec 2008

The Beatles were one of the most influential music groups of the rock era. They were able to conquer and influence pop culture with their music. Initially they affected the post-war baby boom generation of Britain and the W.S. during the 1960s, and later the request of the world. Certainly they were the most successful group, with global sales exceeding 1.3 billion albums. During the sixties, The Beatles using revolutionary ideas in their music inspired a generation of young adults across the globe to look at life from their perspective. The Beatles are rocks classic act, in the fullest sense of the term. Their music has spoken not only to its own time, but also every generation since. They remain more widely known than any other band of the rock era, and maybe of any era. While they were originally famous for the light-weight pop music, their later works achieved a combination of popular and critical acclaim perhaps unequaled in the 20th century. Eventually, they became more than recording artists, branching out into film and particularly in the case of John Lennon political activism. They achieved an iconic status beyond mere celebrity, with far reaching effects difficult to exaggerate. The group consisted of four Englishmen: George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. Starr was the drummer and the others usually played electric guitar. All of the Beatles sang occasionally. They became knows as the Beatles in 1960. During the sixties, the Beatles recordings topped both the singles and album charts. With the Beatles, albums became rock milestones. Before, rock records were promoted mainly as singles. Record sales were only one dimension of their popularity.

delos Angeles 2
When their career really took off, Beatlemania consumed everyone, including the western world. At concerts, fans would cry and scream so loud the group could not be heard. The Beatles toured the United States in 1964 and created mayhem everywhere they preformed. Fifteen thousand Beatle wigs were sold daily. The Beatles use of drugs made them cool with their adoring fans. Among these groups were The Monkees and The Byrds. No artist or group has come close to matching the variety of styles and sounds present in their music. Many American groups sprung up due to the enormous impact of the Beatles. The Beatles starred in two popular movies A Hard Days Night and Help! A full length cartoon, Yellow Submarine featured the songs and characters of the Beatles. Over 73 million Americans tuned into the show. The Beatles were also the inspiration for Scottish singer Donovan Leitch. The Rolling Stones, a fellow Britain rock group, recorded songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Their recordings, not the sheet music, documented the songs. Their music is both simple and sophisticated. The Beatles had a major impact on the world, and how it is today. They brought the love of British rock and roll to the American public and after them many other British groups became famous in the United States. It is sometimes called "The British Invasion." at a hard time. The Beatles were famous during the time of the Vietnam War, and they used their lyrics to express their political, social, and spiritual beliefs. This music brought an entire generation together. They changed the way people dressed, the way people looked, and the way people felt about one another. And in the end, that is what music is all about. The members of the Beatles continue to influence the world today. For example, the tragic death of John Lennon taught people how truly important

delos Angeles 3
life is, and how people think differently. The remaining three Beatles still write and perform their music, and are among the most respected artists in music. Just listen, and you can still hear their influence today. Another reason why the Beatles can be seen as the last pop explosion in the world lies in the fact that the energy associated with Beatlemaina is credited to the Beatles alone. They were easily copied by many bands of their time and, more importantly, they still influence musicians today. Many bands have been lauded as the "next Beatles" and undoubtedly, many strive for such recognition. MacDonald states, "Purely in terms of pop, they invented the idiom as later generations came to know it, revolutionizing pop songwriting, studio production, video promotion, general presentation and instrumental styles." The Beatles were more than a rock group; they were innovators that were at the right place at the right time. They were not afraid of change.