How did the Beatles 'change the world'?

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How did the Beatles 'change the world'?
Topic Started: Jun 18 2009, 04:35 PM (198 Views)
Mr.Mustard	Jun 18 2009, 04:35 PM Post #1
Posts: 769 Group: Members Member #645 Joined: March 20, 2009	or did they 'change the world' at all. I've heard this said here and there quite a lot. I think it's true in some ways but it's also ridiculous to say that they had any real impact in China. The worst thing is about this kind of sloppy commentary/opinions etc. is that the people who say meanit. They changed the cultural world of the most countries in 'the west' undoubtedly but even saying that there was a hell of a lot of artistic people doing what they were doing before the Beatles. Anyone else got any ideas?
	onoooshheeeJedgue dubludegghe she does!


billyshears	Jun 18 2009, 09:00 PM Post #2
18th on the all-time post list Posts: 5,971 Group: Members Member #222 Joined: August 29, 2006	They were the first band with songs longer than 2 minutes... :P
	Bronze Strawberry for the 'Broken Pencil' award for pointlessness, SF Awards 2006


Deleted User	Jun 19 2009, 07:58 PM Post #3
Deleted User	They influenced other artists, they changed the music scene of their time but they didn't change the world. Don't expect to go to the country side of Brazil and listen to folkloric music with a touch of the Beatles. It will never happen. If you're talking about rock/pop, they "changed the world" but the world is not made of pop/rock songs only.
Deleted User


beatlechick	Jun 20 2009, 01:13 AM Post #4
In Paul's Arms! Posts: 6,692 Group: Members Member #29 Joined: May 8, 2006	As most of you know I, along with many others here, are what is known as 1st generation Beatles fans. I can tell you that they changed a lot in this world. Not only did they change the dull world of music but they also changed what people wore. So many people focused on their hair. Well that was only a small part of it. They brought about a huge recognition of what has become known today as hippie fashion. Well guess what? That fashion is still here. Some 40 years after the peace movement started, which The Beatles also helped to mold, the fashion is still with us. I am wearing a tie-dyed peace tshirt that I bought about 10 years ago. I still see lots of tie-dyed clothing being worn but not just the people of my generation but the very young as well. They were one of few artists of any kind to be able to reach behind what was known as the red curtain. See back in those days, Russia was the USSR. The United Soviet Socialist Republic. They clamped down on what they termed as any propaganda from the West. Officially, The Beatles were banned music. Unofficially they were the most popular group in the USSR. People illegally bought jeans and tie-dyed clothing. clothing that was banned because that was a bad influence on the Soviet population, because they saw The Beatles wearing it. Long hair in the USSR was banned but many a Soviet teen risked being jailed to have long hair. A lot of people, worldwide, learned English from their recordings. An ex-boss of mine is an Armenian from Iran. Western music was highly frowned upon. He told me that ships would come in and give away Beatles records, or allow people to listen to their music. He told me that The Beatles made him want to leave his home. They showed him that you can live your life without so many restrictions and possibility of death for thinking against the way the powers that be wanted you to think. He also learned English by listening to The Beatles. They also helped to change the political landscape of many people. They brought to mind to many that you can change your world. You can start a peaceful revolution. So it wasn't just being able to hear a Beatles song, it was a lot more than that. They influenced to many people to think outside the box.



Deleted User	Jun 20 2009, 08:34 AM Post #5
Deleted User	Changing the world and being influential are different things, in my opinion. I learned English because of them but I didn't become a British.
Deleted User


Bill	Jun 20 2009, 09:37 AM Post #6
Posts: 9,565 Group: Members Member #6 Joined: May 7, 2006	I agree. The Beatles might have made learning English more desirable but it wasn't exactly an obscure language previously. Naturally being the most famous band in the world is going to seem like some kind of world-changing event, but it's drawing a pretty long bow to suggest that history would have been significantly different had the Beatles not existed. John in particular realised that he had a platform that few others would ever have, and he tried his best to use it for good. What kind of impact he had, is debatable. John and Yoko weren't the first to protest the Vietnam war. But when they did start promoting peace in 1969, it only took another six years for the war to end. Read into that what you will. That's not to minimise his efforts, just trying to keep some perspective. As John himself said, "We were just a band who made it very, very big. That's all."
	Put a puppet on it.


beatlechick	Jun 20 2009, 03:42 PM Post #7
In Paul's Arms! Posts: 6,692 Group: Members Member #29 Joined: May 8, 2006	I really don't care what John says. There were so many changes that did happen, influence or not due to The Beatles. Michelle, where did I say that learning English because of The Beatles made anyone English? That just doesn't make any sense.



Mr.Mustard	Jun 20 2009, 04:04 PM Post #8
Posts: 769 Group: Members Member #645 Joined: March 20, 2009	Bill Jun 20 2009, 09:37 AM I agree. The Beatles might have made learning English more desirable but it wasn't exactly an obscure language previously. Naturally being the most famous band in the world is going to seem like some kind of world-changing event, but it's drawing a pretty long bow to suggest that history would have been significantly different had the Beatles not existed. John in particular realised that he had a platform that few others would ever have, and he tried his best to use it for good. What kind of impact he had, is debatable. John and Yoko weren't the first to protest the Vietnam war. But when they did start promoting peace in 1969, it only took another six years for the war to end. Read into that what you will. That's not to minimise his efforts, just trying to keep some perspective. As John himself said, "We were just a band who made it very, very big. That's all." slightly off topic. i rember that john quote it's from his RStone interview in 70. I remermber thinking john lennon (well the othr beatles too) who can say we became very very big and actually still be making an understatement!! as for you point that the vietnam war stopped 'only' 6 yrs. later...well, that's sarcasm or somthing, yeah?
	onoooshheeeJedgue dubludegghe she does!


Mr.Mustard	Jun 20 2009, 04:07 PM Post #9
Posts: 769 Group: Members Member #645 Joined: March 20, 2009	I think one thing is true about this kind of thing. The Beatles were unique in the way they came to symbloise the changes brought about by the 60's and the loosening up of society.
	onoooshheeeJedgue dubludegghe she does!


Deleted User	Jun 20 2009, 04:09 PM Post #10
Deleted User	beatlechick Jun 20 2009, 03:42 PM I really don't care what John says. There were so many changes that did happen, influence or not due to The Beatles. Michelle, where did I say that learning English because of The Beatles made anyone English? That just doesn't make any sense. How can you be a fan of the Beatles and don't care about what he said and then say that he changed things. Isn't it contraditory? What did he use to "change" things? A bomb or words? Action happens first as a thought than as a word. He thought about something, he spoke his mind and then he protested. I didn't say you said anything. Quote: Changing the world and being influential are different things, in my opinion. I learned English because of them but I didn't become a British. Did you read what Bill wrote? He just interpreted what I meant. Read again if you want. Quote: The Beatles might have made learning English more desirable but it wasn't exactly an obscure language previously.
Deleted User


Deleted User	Jun 20 2009, 04:11 PM Post #11
Deleted User	Mr.Mustard Jun 20 2009, 04:07 PM I think one thing is true about this kind of thing. The Beatles were unique in the way they came to symbloise the changes brought about by the 60's and the loosening up of society. They were the right people in the right place and the most important thing:with the right producer. George Martin changed something, for sure.
Deleted User


beatlechick	Jun 20 2009, 04:48 PM Post #12
In Paul's Arms! Posts: 6,692 Group: Members Member #29 Joined: May 8, 2006	Love Sculpture Jun 20 2009, 04:09 PM beatlechick Jun 20 2009, 03:42 PM I really don't care what John says. There were so many changes that did happen, influence or not due to The Beatles. Michelle, where did I say that learning English because of The Beatles made anyone English? That just doesn't make any sense. How can you be a fan of the Beatles and don't care about what he said and then say that he changed things. Isn't it contraditory? What did he use to "change" things? A bomb or words? Action happens first as a thought than as a word. He thought about something, he spoke his mind and then he protested. I didn't say you said anything. Quote: Changing the world and being influential are different things, in my opinion. I learned English because of them but I didn't become a British. Did you read what Bill wrote? He just interpreted what I meant. Read again if you want. Quote: The Beatles might have made learning English more desirable but it wasn't exactly an obscure language previously. John has said many things. You CAN be a fan and not care what was said. Do you agree or care what people you know and love say all the time? I don't but that makes me no less a lover of that person if I did. All I know is what I have lived through. I saw the changes that were going on. I'm 53 years old and lived through that period. I experienced what some of you have heard about in history. I also know that there are very few artists that have made it in history books both in literature and scholastic books. There are college courses on The Beatles. A nursing student that I know is using them for her growing old class dissertation and presentation.



BeatleBarb	Jun 20 2009, 10:44 PM Post #13
Posts: 7,816 Group: Members Member #100 Joined: May 18, 2006	Influence effects change and the Beatles were certainly an integral part of what transpired in the 60s and beyond.



beatlechick	Jun 20 2009, 11:52 PM Post #14
In Paul's Arms! Posts: 6,692 Group: Members Member #29 Joined: May 8, 2006	Nicely said, Barb! :clap:



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