Archive for year 2010

The Beatles

The Beatles are possibly the most popular band in history with the greatest and most diverse musical legacy. The influence of The Beatles has been felt literally all around the world. They made more than music, they made statements. Not only were they brilliant song writers and entertainers they always broke paradigms within the music industry and within culture. They challenged the status quo on regular basis. They were also innovators in music recording and technology.

I remember when I heard “Let it be” for the first time. I was pretty young but  for some  reason the lyrics resonated with me;

“And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be. Yeah

There will be an answer, let it be.”

-Let It Be (The Beatles)

I think it was the hope these lyrics presented.  A hope for people. Pretty bold message in a world that focuses on the “hopeless” state of humanity. A humanity that can’t be trusted and is completely dis-functional, but yet McCartney and Lennon thought differently and wanted others to know that. Pretty sure this song is my favourite.

They were truly a great band. I don’t really see the genius in anyone because I think genius is overrated and should be accredited only to God, however, I do believe in “beauty” and I think these guys looked at the world through rose colour glasses. They saw beauty in the people around them and wrote about them. Their ideas were not often popular with the “status quo” but the records sales would say their message resonated deep within the hearts those who listened. By 1964 they had sold over 80,000,000 records worldwide and according to wiki, The Beatles have sold over 1 billion units to date. That is 1/6 of the world population!! I would then conclude that their message has resounded with every generation since.

Now with Apple (which didn’t come easy) finally releasing the first digital catalogue of The Beatles music, a whole new generation can listen and be inspired, as I was, by great songs that had changed the way a generation looked the world.

-k