The Beatles - As an influence

[not darth]

I was reading another thread here and was struck by a member's non-knowledge of the Beatles' song, Mean Mr. Mustard; not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just that The Beatles have been part of my life since I was in diapers and it was a bit of a reality check to read that not everyone is familiar with every one of their songs. 
Then that got me to thinking about how The Beatles and each member has influenced my relationship with music and my interest in guitar.

I could probably ruminate about this for hours, but two songs in particular easily come to mind as having early-childhood significance.

When I was very young I remember hearing Good Day Sunshine being played over and over, one of my older brothers had received a neato tape deck as a gift and nearly wore out the cassette that they were given with it.  That opening "Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba BA BA BA, GOOD DAY SUNSHINE, DA DA DA, GOOD DAY SUNSHINE!!!" just makes me smile no matter the mood or the setting.  One of the greatest feel good songs of all time. 

The other is Here Comes the Sun, every time I hear that it takes me back to a specific road trip we took from our home in SE MN to our relative's family farm in far SW MN in our robin's egg blue Plymouth Volare sedan, and later the maroon '77 Impala wagon.  All six of us crammed into a car, loaded with luggage and a styrofoam cooler that squeeked constantly, no A/C, elbowing my brothers the whole way because they were always on my side, and of course clinking the ashtrays in the door handles open and shut over and over until Dad demanded that we hand them over.  Those were the days.

Nowadays, when I can produce a sound from my guitar that sounds like something I've heard on a Beatles album, my heart smiles.
It may sound corny, but The Beatles really are the soundtrack to my life.

-K

[Strumming Fool]

Couldn't agree more...we take the Beatles for granted, because they have become the soundtrack in our lives - lots of great music that almost goes unnoticed these days as it has become intertwined in our culture on many levels. The Beatles are the reason I first took an interest in the guitar.  I think I'll go go play one of their albums right now ...so many choices!

[mgap]

As I sit here listening to the Revolver album I am smiling,  The Beatles are a part of my life sound track.  To say that they are taken for granted I would agree with, but, when I listen to a album I am always amazed at the quality and diversity of their music. 

I feel blessed to have this standard of music to grow up with, as opposed to what children in the last 10-20 years are consuming in the name of music.  Rap, screamo, etc... is a national disgrace, I remember as I was walking to school (3 miles ) in 2 feet of snow how much better life was............

[Steve]

As an influence, the Beatles were a non-player for me. I was far more enamored with the likes of CSN, Harry Chapin, America, James Taylor and Neil Young.

As for what counts as music these days, well, it is what it is. It's reflective of the people who listen to it. I raised my daughter to have an appreciation for everything from Handel to Zeppelin. She has little interest in music currently being produced and, if there is something she likes, it's more along the lines of what she grew up listening to...

[Cindy]

I was reading another thread here and was struck by a member's non-knowledge of the Beatles' song, Mean Mr. Mustard; not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just that The Beatles have been part of my life since I was in diapers and it was a bit of a reality check to read that not everyone is familiar with every one of their songs. 

LOL! That was my comment, and I'm not afraid to admit I'm not familiar with too many of the Beatles' songs. When I think of Beatles music, Come Together, Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be, and I Want to Hold Your Hand are the most popular titles that come to mind. If anyone is wondering why Eleanor Rigby, it was a popular song when I was in high school, and we played it in one of our high school band concerts.

My parents were not too thrilled with the Beatles' long hair and rock n'roll style of music so as I kid, I wasn't allowed to buy any of their music. Besides, I played and listened to more classical music (not my parents' idea of fun either) as well as folk music and musicians such as John Denver and The Carpenters. And even now as an adult, I don't think I've ever owned any Beatles audio music although I do have a songbook and a score of some of their music.

I will certainly admit the Beatles had a HUGE effect on music at that time which paved the road for rock and roll and they are worthy of all the credit they've received! I think Yesterday is my favorite song, and I'll have to see about getting an mp3 of it.

[Scriptor]

Music is one of those things that seem to tie to events and seasons of life ... so, it's not just the music, it is the memories that go with it ... good music is always good music, but the dimension of tying to memories makes one song impactful to one person but just OK to another ... I am sure our children will remember some music of their teenage years in the same way we do ... we might debate which artists/music were/are better but the tie-in is every bit as important as the music itself (to us personally that is) ... Beatles, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, John Denver, Kansas, Yes, Jethro Tull, Neil Young etc. etc. etc. etc. ... the music of these artists and many more have special tie-in's with me and key seasons of my life and approach to music in general ...

[Captain Jim]

The key word being left out when mentioning a sound track to our life is personal.  Music affects each of us differently... "our song", the music that was played when our daughter got married, the first song that we learned on a guitar... SO MANY different perspectives.  There are a lot of Parrot-heads out there that say the same thing about Jimmy Buffet music.  And remember what our parents said about... "that rock 'n roll music." 

You can't realistically expect everyone to have been moved the same way as you by the same music, because we all came here from different paths.  For me, the Beatles were a big influence musically and emotionally: I remember seeing all the screaming girls on the Ed Sullivan show when the Beatles were on, and I said to myself, "I want that!"

Shortly after that, I got my first guitar.    And I still play some Beatles music.

Best wishes,
Captn Jim

[mgap]

I remember seeing all the screaming girls on the Ed Sullivan show when the Beatles were on, and I said to myself, "I want that!"

ditto Captain Jim

[Strumming Fool]

I agree with much of what has been said. I'm going to expand on my "taken for granted" comment earlier, because it's more than what we liked as kids, as opposed what our parents liked, as opposed to what our kids may like as it relates to the connection with memories and specific experiences. The Beatles had a global effect on music in general; their trail-blazing during the tumultuous sixties (for which their music was partially responsible, by the way) created an environment in which many other talented people, such as those previously mentioned in this thread, were able to emerge and thrive. Perhaps, you had to be there....

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Certainly, the Beatles had an indirect influence on me growing up. It was 1969 and I was in the 3rd grade. My older sister played nothing but the Beatles, while I was discovering the likes of Led Zeppelin II  and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Second Helping".  I fell in love with guitars long before I ever played one.

 



 

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Yeah, I have to say I didn't care much for the Beatles growing up - could not stand their music and it seems like it's all that was ever on the radio.  My likes were more Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd - and other southern rock groups, Sweet, Nazareth, Ted Nugent, Foghat, Traffic, but also James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Seger, Doobies, Kiss - yes Kiss (loved Paul) and lots of others in the late 70s/early 80s.  Heck, I even liked disco..........Bee Gees anyone? 

However, I have noticed as I gain experience (read - get older) although I still don't care for the tunes as such when I hear them, when I really listen I find the structure of the music fascinating.  So for me, the Beatles are more of an influence on me now.

[Saxacat]

I have mixed feelings regarding the Beatles. I was born in Liverpool in 1955 and grew up there until I left in1974. I’ve not lived there since, but still consider it to be my home.

I bought some of the Beatles singles in the 60s, but that was about it. At school I had some friends who lived and breathed them; I remember one classmate being ecstatic over The White Album, and whilst I liked some tracks, others (most of sides 3 and 4) didn’t do anything for me. All my albums were by Motown artists; by the start of the 70s I was buying albums by the Moody Blues, Yes, and ELP. The only Beatles album I ever bought was Abbey Road.


Rant coming on.
What really gets me now, is when I go home it’s like Liverpool only exists because of the Beatles; Beatles Tours, Beatles heritage routes, Beatles this and Beatles that. They even named the airport after John Lennon, who actually preferred New York to anywhere in the UK.
Rant over, sorry 

The 60s and 70s for me was a fantastic time for music; so many new and varied sounds from many great bands and artists, too many to mention, but mostly from the UK and US. It was a great time to be growing up and yes, the Beatles were part of that for me, but not a huge part. They were a good band and I think they did have an important influence on popular music; but, I also think if they hadn’t been there, the world would have fixated on another group and we would still be listening to great music today.

[Scriptor]

The 60s and 70s for me was a fantastic time for music; so many new and varied sounds from many great bands and artists, too many to mention

I agree with this.  It was a time of more creative freedom and less control by record companies ...

I would agree that the Beatles had a huge influence on music (although they certainly had their influences as well).  They helped set the table and many groups came behind who provided their own kind of meat, potatoes, veggies and desserts ...

[not darth]

Very interesting replies!
Seems like in one way or another, The Beatles have touched us all, even TP516 and Saxacat.  I can totally understand how the airwaves were probably over-saturated with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Penny Lane" and the like during the sixties, much like how today only one or two 'radio ready singles' from most albums ever get played on the radio from current artists.  The 'deep tracks' just don't get much rotation, which is lame.  Some of my favorite Beatles' songs are ones like "Blue Jay Way" or "Glass Onion" and really, at least now, I never hear them played on the radio.  [Which could easily lead into a whole 'nother topic on how radio sucks, in general...]

It's also too bad that Liverpool is now known for nothing but The Beatles; of course, without them, Liverpool wouldn't be globally-known at all so... 
But, I feel the same way about my state in general and town in particular. 
"Oh, you're from MN?  How about them Vikings?" 
I don't follow football, it just doesn't matter to me. 
"Oh, you're from Northfield?  Jesse James and St Olaf, right?" 
Well, yeah, but JJ was a hundred and thirty plus years ago and I didn't go to St. Olaf. 
But I don't get offended, people are just making connections and conversation and that's what social creatures do. 

Many of the other bands you all mentioned are definitely in my life as well, some nearly as much as The Beatles.  Others I'm less familiar with and am just now discovering as new!  Music is such an amazing journey!

-K