The Beatles

» hoopstar - The Beatles Overrated?

Beatles Overrated?

It has always baffled me when someone claims The Beatles were overrated. Not liking them is one thing. As is being saturated with them. But the interest and praise surrounding The Beatles is/was commensurate with their greatness.

Consider these three points:

1. For lyrics alone there are only a few that can be considered in the same class as Lennon/McCartney. Paul Simon, Dylan, maybe Springsteen on his best day. It seems easy cause they did it so well. Simple yet poignant songs that connected and expressed what you felt so eloquently it was almost like someone was reading your mind. Without preaching, The Beatles could challenge ignorance, prejudice and have you considering an alternate perspective in the space of a 3 minute song.

2. Change. How many other bands can change and evolve, remaining a vital focal point of their time? Most bands just keep on doing the same old thing. The ones that do change often lose their fan base and fall out of favor quickly. The fact that the Beatles could take risks, change and remain on top for so long is amazing.

3. Longevity. The Pop highway is littered with the carcasses of one hit wonders and the roadkill of the next big thing. Many bands have 1-2 years on top and it's over. Even great ones like Mamas and Papas, Doors, Simon and Garfunkel, Creedence, Prince, Beach Boys, etc. (the list goes on and on) weren't consistently creatively viable for very long.

Don't get me wrong, There are many reunion acts still around that hit the road to rehash their old songs with or without the original line up. But their heyday is long since over. Aren't The B52s playing a retirement home somewhere near Hoboken?

Any act that can remain both popular and at or near their creative peak for 10 concecutive years is a marvel. Try counting them. Stones, Zep, The Boss, Elvis, Elton John, Madonna, MJ, Sting, James Brown, Bowie, Bob Seeger, U2, REM, Metallica, Aerosmith, The Beatles and a very few others. And this is after practically 50 years of since the start of the rock/pop era.

Using the criteria above, I'd be interested in hearing what rock acts could be put on par or above The Beatles and why.

-- posted by hoopstar

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