From an American perspective, were the Beach Boys better than the Beatles?

Question

Speaking as a Brit, I think Brian Wilson is a genius. What do you think? Were the Beach Boys as great as the hype of the time suggests?

I agree about 'Pet Sounds' The perfect album. Does the body of work compare though. Or should quality prevail over quantity?

Answer 1

i can't stand the beach boys

Answer 2

It's a daft question - How can anybody state one group of musicians at the top is any better than another. Both bands inspired and respected each other. Back in the USSR from the Beatles white album was a parody of the Beach Boys Californian Girls. Brian Wilson was* indeed a genius as was John Lennon and Paul Mac. Personally I thought Dennis Wilson's music and lyrics were inspired.

Markinprovidence - Brian Wilson released Smile in 2004 - not the Beach Boys, but almost :o)

* Musical genius is transient.

Answer 3

I've always preferred The Beatles; I'm an American,born in 1958, so both bands were all over the charts when I was growing up; The beach Boys always seemed to be tied to a mythical Southern California landscape that the rest of the country couldn't relate to directly, whereas The Beatles were the leading citizens of a new world which they had invented, and in which we all seemed to live. Also, The Beatles never suffered any critical or commercial failures; they started here at the top of the charts and left the same way. Finally, everyone could sing along with The Beatles, whereas nobody could sing along with The Beach Boys without demonstrating their own lack of vocal ability.

Answer 4

From a strictly cultural & influential standpoint, I'd have to say the Beatles had more global impact. The Beach Boys were more indicative of a specific place and time (Southern California, late 60's). The Beatles had more universal appeal.

Musically I'd say they were both very innovative, so it's a draw there. The Beach Boys, though were around as a unit a lot longer.

Personally, I have fond memories of the Beach Boys because when I was really little, a favorite aunt used to babysit me and she played Beach Boys 45's on the 'Hi-Fi' (Good Vibrations was one she played a lot).

So I'd go with the Beach Boys, until you consider one other factor: Kokomo. That's a deal breaker, and Beatles win by default.

Answer 5

This is an intriguing question and not as simple to answer as one might think.

I was inclined to answer "no," but upon further reflection I would answer "yes."

The Beatles were undoubtedly more popular and had an undeniably greater impact on their generation than did the Beach Boys. The early Beatles wrote some incredible love songs, while the later Beatles experimented and took pop music in an entirely different direction. However, does that make them better? If you base "better" on record sales, the aforementioned generational impact and the number of times their songs have been recorded by others, then the answer is "no."

However, as others have noted, if you base "better" on quality and the fact that Brian Wilson produced the Beach Boys whereas the Beatles did not produce themselves then the answer is "yes." Another factor, and this one is strictly personal, is that I find a good portion of the Beatles music to begin to sound dated whereas the Beach Boys' music -- to my ear -- is timeless: the essence of youth captured in all its enthusiasm and hope and optimism. However, the Beach Boys' music is NOT necessarily naive and blind as much of 60s pop can be. It's heartfelt.

I enjoy listening to the Beatles -- I Feel Fine, Paperback Writer, Revolution, Abbey Road, Let It Be, etc. but the Beach Boys take me to a different place.

Answer 6

Intriguing question... I think both bands have been influential in different ways.

From a musical standpoint (harmony, song structure), I rank the Beach Boys as stronger. I agree with you - Brian Wilson is a genius. He achieved some of the highest standards in pop music composition.

On the other hand, I think the Beatles had a greater influence on their generation, and the culture of their time.

Today I vote Beach Boys. But the choice is so hard, that my vote changes day by day...

Answer 7

One of those "Depends" questions.

Both sides undoubtedly had great talents, but I'd give the edge to the Fab 4.

Wilson was arguably really the only force behind his band, (though Carl was a very strong writer too) while the Beatles had Lennon, McCartney & Harrison.

The Beach Boys lasted long enough for them to run out of steam, while the Beatles went out pretty much on top.

So it depends on what we're basing "better" on. Overall popularity? The Beatles. Larger count of memorable songs? Beatles.

Most of the BB's memorable work was done in the early - mid 60s & their more adventurous (& WAY cooler work, IMO) was done in the late 60s- mid-70s....& it's unfortunately never on the radio.

You be the judge....

Answer 8

The Beatles

Answer 9

The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds" album was a huge influence on The Beatles and pushed them to be more experimental in the studio themselves. Plus, Brian Wilson not only wrote all the stuff, he produced it single-handedly too. The Beatles didn't produce their stuff, but the quality of the Lennon-McCartney-Harrison dream team takes some beating.

Answer 10

Pet Sounds inspired Sgt. Pepper. Smile would have been the crowning achievement for The Beach Boys, alas it was never finished and the band all but gave up on creativity.

It was a could have been a historic moment, passed to The Beatles

Answer 11

I prefer the songs done by the Beach Boys, and was never a fan of the Beatles.

The only thing I ever knew Ringo Starr for was reading the Thomas The Tank Engine stories for CITV.

However, the Beatles were the most successful group ever in the UK. They would have been huge in the US if it wasn't for the "We're more popular the Jesus" remark. The Beatles never recovered from this in the States.