Are the Beatles overrated?

Answer 1

Never; the influence they've had in music over the years can't be measured.

Answer 2

Yes. Now hear me out. The beatles were hugely influential on music, and still have a great influence today.. But the music wasn't all that great. They had a lot of brilliant songs, which is why Lenno and McCartney get so much credit as songwriters, but they also produced a lot of pop (lets not forget the true definition of pop music now. That is, popular music, and indeed it was back in the sixties). People today think that because of the enormous success of the beatles and the influence they had and are still having, we can classify these pop songs as great. The number of records sold has no effect on the greatness of a song. That comes with it's ability to stand the test of time, both lyrically and musically. There are indeed a number of beatles songs that do this, which they should earn due credit for. But people take it over the top. Not evry beatles song is a "great" song, just because it is a beatles song. I read rolling stone magazine's list of top 500 songs and found about 10 beatles songs in the top 50, a large proportion of which were pop songs. Some people told me this list was partly based on record sales. Even so, they should not have been ranked above songs that have lyrically stood the test of time. These songs got in the list solely on the basis of the beatles reputation. To think musicians used to aspire to be on the cover of this magazine.

Anyway, i've had my say. The beatles, definately worthy of praise but by gosh we like to heap it on, don't we.

Answer 3

For kids today, they have no concept of the development of rock and roll and also little musical sophistication.

Assuming you're not in that category, then in some respects, the Beatles may sometimes be given too much credit. Like anyone else, they borrowed ideas from other artists before them and contempary with them. But there were aspects in which they were innovators and indeed were gifted songsmiths.

Answer 4

They exposed the world to musicians who actually wrote their own music, to different cultural aspects - Transcendental Meditation, etc., were unafraid to speak their minds politically, and moved rock music away from the likes of Teddy Bear (& I like Elvis) to Revolution.

They came in the door w/the British Invasion - David Bowie, the Yardbirds, Rolling Stones, Small Faces - the list goes on and on. They aren't my favorite group - that would be the Stones - but I must add that rock music would simply not be the same w/o the Beatles.

Answer 5

As compared to what? Their importance to rock-and-roll? How much their contribution will matter to the human race a thousand years from now?

Whether you like their music or not, they contributed greatly to rock-and-roll and popular music. They aren't overrated in this respect.

But time is the true test. We'll likely be listening to Mozart and Beethoven a thousand years from now. Will any Beatles music survive that long? Who knows?

Answer 6

Not a single band today at their peek (not even U2, Coldplay or whoever) holds a candle to the Beatles on one of their bad days. Lennon/ McCartney were pure musical geniuses. Paul specially could (and still can) write melodies to die for in his sleep.

The best bands of today have what Vertigo as their best song?!

Answer 7

NO! If you only hear what is on the radio then you might think so, but if you listen to everything they ever did they were F-amazing!
You must remember that nobody was doing what they were doing, i.e. they did allot of awesome creative stuff first.

Anyone who does not respect them does not know diddly about music, it's like saying Mozart is overrated.

Answer 8

Of music from the 60s, I much prefer The Who, The Kinks and Leonard Cohen. Some of the stuff by The Beatles is all right; I wouldn't choose to listen to it, but it's good to hear now and then.

Answer 9

No i dont think so, i belive that their status as one of the greatest bands ever suits them just fine : )

Their music was very.. druggy, to be honsest, but it made it something that cant really be explained with words...its too magical : )

Their lyrics in some of their songs were beautiful poetry, woven in great powerful folds, full of hidden energy and frightening wonders..
there. a completely non-sencial, but beautiful statement. Totally describes the Beatles

Answer 10

Nope. Even now that music has moved on and evolved, The Beatles are still fantastic.

Answer 11

No. In fact, I believe that they are underrated for being thought of by some as overrated... if that makes sense.