Music - impact for different generations

[Omegstrat6]

It's been fashionable at different times to slag the Beatles off for being over hyped but whilst some of their output was relatively poor or derivative there really is no one who comes close to them in terms of their songwriting and innovations over such a short period of time. How far they progressed (admittedly with the help of George Martin) in just 7 years between 1962 and 1969 is truly remarkable. Anyone who plays a musical instruments will benefit from learning some of their songs with their use of melody, counterpoint, chord progressions/ modulation etc. (and some of their lyrics weren't bad either!)

Personal taste comes into it of course but I really don't think you can deny generally how good they were even if you are not enamoured by a lot of their stuff. For anyone interested, Ian Macdonald's "Revolution in the head" is a good place to start as a critique of their output.

Guess the ultimate proof of their ability is how different generations continue to find them both relevant and enjoyable.

[Dubbag]

Never had much interest in pop music.
Beatles music passed me by. Funnily enough and with out knowing much about them, I always liked Slade......
But for me local traditional music from around the world has always attracted me tho.
North African rhythm fused into Southern European culture has given rise to a fantastic new music genre in itself....
Music transcends culture as well as makes culture.....so rhythm and beat cross languages without necessarily understanding what is been sang.

[Omegstrat6]

So many big hits are really quite simple musically, complex songs are not easy for people to hum and sing along to themselves. There is a sort of ‘formula’ that so many hit songs have used, and of course there are many exceptions but I V m6 IV is your starting point for a hit song. I am no expert on music theory but if you try to play music, you can see this in so many hits, the First, Fifth, minor sixth and Fourth from any scale; it works!

Yep the famed I , V vi, IV progression (e.g. D, A, Bm, G) as used by the Axis of Awesome in their musical routine to prove how you can use just 4 chords to play most pop songs. If I wasn't so c rap at technology I'd post the you tube link of them😞😁

[mickd1961]

Slightly out on your dates I think Phil.

Elvis was 56, The Beatles were 63.

The first Punk single was “New Rose” by The Damned in 76.

The New Romantic era was in full swing in late 1980 and certainly into early 81 when Duran Duran and The Human League had hit after hit during that year.

The “New Wave” stuff that sort of coexisted with the New Romantic era probably saw its first hit in 78 when the early Human League had “Being Boiled” at number 6, this was pre adding the girls to the group.

In 79 you had Gary Numan and Tubeway Army with “Are Friends Electric which really powered Electro Pop/New Wave into public consciousness.

By 1987 the mentioned in your post, the New Romantic Era was actually over and most of those bands had stopped having hits.

1979 saw the first Rap singles chart with The Gap Band and The Sugarhill Gang, the mid to late 70’s was probably the biggest era for new genres of music.

For me, post 84 it’s become a wasteland apart from Grunge/Garage type music of Nirvana and Green Day and bands of their ilk.

That said I am now old so who am I to judge?

The 70’s and early 80’s were an amazing time to be a t e e n ager and in your early 20’s though.

[Leicesterbaggie]

It wasn't just the music that made the Beatles so influencial. Their haircuts, the clothes, the culture were all inovative and something that we hadn't experienced before. Someone at the time described them as 'other worldly' which I thought was a very apt description.

As for the music itself, I personally preferred the earlier stuff. People raved about Sgt. Peppers but I thought that it was the worst album that they released up until that point. I wasn't a fan of psychedelia myself. There were some good tracks on the latter albums but also some very ordinary ones.

All in all, it's fair to say that the Beatles influenced a generation more than anyone else has and much of their music will be listened to and appreciated by future generations.

[phild]

Slightly out on your dates I think Phil.

Elvis was 56, The Beatles were 63.

The first Punk single was “New Rose” by The Damned in 76.

The New Romantic era was in full swing in late 1980 and certainly into early 81 when Duran Duran and The Human League had hit after hit during that year.

The “New Wave” stuff that sort of coexisted with the New Romantic era probably saw its first hit in 78 when the early Human League had “Being Boiled” at number 6, this was pre adding the girls to the group.

In 79 you had Gary Numan and Tubeway Army with “Are Friends Electric which really powered Electro Pop/New Wave into public consciousness.

By 1987 the mentioned in your post, the New Romantic Era was actually over and most of those bands had stopped having hits.

1979 saw the first Rap singles chart with The Gap Band and The Sugarhill Gang, the mid to late 70’s was probably the biggest era for new genres of music.

For me, post 84 it’s become a wasteland apart from Grunge/Garage type music of Nirvana and Green Day and bands of their ilk.

That said I am now old so who am I to judge?

The 70’s and early 80’s were an amazing time to be a t e e n ager and in your early 20’s though.

I was simply picking years out the air really but my point was musical cultural revolutions come and go and change music mainly for the better but sadly since the late 80s I would have to say no real musical revolution as occurred. Still at least I lived through the 70s and 80s and agree with you that those were the greatest eras. Loved Gary Numan Are Friends electric? one of the greats!

[baggieal]

It wasn't just the music that made the Beatles so influencial. Their haircuts, the clothes, the culture were all inovative and something that we hadn't experienced before. Someone at the time described them as 'other worldly' which I thought was a very apt description.

As for the music itself, I personally preferred the earlier stuff. People raved about Sgt. Peppers but I thought that it was the worst album that they released up until that point. I wasn't a fan of psychedelia myself. There were some good tracks on the latter albums but also some very ordinary ones.

All in all, it's fair to say that the Beatles influenced a generation more than anyone else has and much of their music will be listened to and appreciated by future generations.

Preferred the Hollies to the Beatles and in my view were so under rated and their songs better. Allan Clarke was an absolute super star and what a great voice! The Hollies looked cooler too which perhaps appealed more to the girls!

[Leicesterbaggie]

As I think I've stated before, I was also a big fan of the Hollies whose harmonisation was second to none. However, I still think that the Beatles made a greater impression on a generation for the reasons I stated in the earlier post. You are are correct though, musically they were at least the equal of the Beatles.

[Omegstrat6]

I agree there must be something in the composition
And I know certain sounds, visuals etc are more pleasing to us innately but I don’t know why or if someone can explain this

To someone who knows nothing about music composition it amazes me really, why us some classical music just more engaging than other classical music there must be something in it

I'm certainly no expert but check out "7 super common chord progressions and why they work" on YouTube by David Bennett Piano (sorry, don't know how to post the link!) which might be of interest

[soulman101]

I'm certainly no expert but check out "7 super common chord progressions and why they work" on YouTube by David Bennett Piano (sorry, don't know how to post the link!) which might be of interest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyc8lezaa9g