― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:25 (twenty years ago) link
― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:25 (twenty years ago) link
I like them, and somewhat revere them; for which no apologies.
I think that Tim H has hated them in the past. Possibly in the future too.
― the pinefox, Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:29 (twenty years ago) link
― Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:30 (twenty years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:30 (twenty years ago) link
I like a lot of what I've heard (two albums plus the 'red' comp).
mark s you like everything.
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:31 (twenty years ago) link
that sort of fascism makes me WANT to hate the beatles, but i actually like quite a lot of their songs.
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:31 (twenty years ago) link
― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:34 (twenty years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:35 (twenty years ago) link
I don't mind the music but the it is overshadowed by the myths, the stories, the blah blah blah blah.
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:37 (twenty years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:39 (twenty years ago) link
bob i agree with you about the kinks, but i think thats cos i went through a religious beatles phase at 12 and burned myself out on them somewhat.
― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:39 (twenty years ago) link
― David. (Cozen), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:46 (twenty years ago) link
― bnw (bnw), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:46 (twenty years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:46 (twenty years ago) link
if you have the records around i'm sure you'll get round to pulling them out someday kilian. its what having a record collection does to ya!
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:48 (twenty years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:51 (twenty years ago) link
*shrug* So people go on and on and on about them. I also happen to adore with the biggest passion groups that the music press either elects to ignore or openly reviles, such as my beloved Duran Duran, so I feel it's all a matter of feeling (</reference="corny" classification="fannish">) here.
― Legendary Nothingness (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:54 (twenty years ago) link
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:55 (twenty years ago) link
― Clare (not entirely unhappy), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:57 (twenty years ago) link
― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 2 October 2003 11:58 (twenty years ago) link
PF I think you've misread me. I was saying that people who like everything the Beatles did are mentalists, not that you had to like everything they did to like them. I like them and I think they made some quite bad records.
The mythology/context thing cuts both ways. Some people hate the Beatles because of what they have come to stand for critically, yes - these people can't listen to the records 'objectively' but who can or would want to listen to any records 'objectively'. But lots of people who love the Beatles love them because of the idea of what they achieved and what they were first to do - surely as valid/invalid a reason as hating them because of context.
If the Beatles' records have a certain 'Beatlish' quality (I'm not sure they do, I don't know all of them) which makes people like them then surely other people might dislike that quality too.
― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:08 (twenty years ago) link
People who dislike the mythology of the Beatles could well be Beatles fans, I think I'd be wary of anyone who bought into it really.
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:08 (twenty years ago) link
Contra-dick-shun time:
I have like 10 Beatles albums but never listen to any, however. There's too much baggage there for me to even casually enjoy them without feeling the iceberg of their history-legacy breathing down on my neck, making me pressured to feel as if I should pay more attention to the lyrics/music/whatever, since its so "important." Listening to the Beatles is a ponderous task these days - shame on the mythologers!!
― Vic (Vic), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:10 (twenty years ago) link
Also this is kind of off, the Beatles are not the tastes of society anymore. They are a historical event recorded in a specific way, over and over again.
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:16 (twenty years ago) link
Nowadays, though, you hardly ever hear about them, even in the music press its all Ramones and Velvet Underground and Television and so forth, which I suppose reflects the guitar music of its day just as the Beatles did in 1995-96. But does anyone out there (except possibly the Pinefox) really think they were the best band in the world ever? When was the last time any of you put their records on? Do the people out there really put Beatles records on as much as we are led to think they do?
I don't own any Beatles records... it feels like walking into a record shop and buying Revolver would be like admitting defeat, like admitting there's NOTHING else I want to buy in the entire shop. And it's a completely irrational feeling (like buying girl's drinks in the pub, heh heh).
― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:17 (twenty years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:21 (twenty years ago) link
― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:22 (twenty years ago) link
― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 2 October 2003 12:32 (twenty years ago) link
But part of the reason why I asked it that way is that when I've run into people that say they hate the Beatles, they say it in an insistent way, like they're trying to lure someone into an argument. It didn't even really come up in conversation, they just kind of said it.
― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 2 October 2003 13:47 (twenty years ago) link
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 2 October 2003 13:51 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 2 October 2003 13:55 (twenty years ago) link
Matt I last put a Beatles record on on Wednesday. It was Abbey Road: I didn't enjoy it much.
― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:06 (twenty years ago) link
A few years ago, as others have noted above, they seemed inescapable and the heavy rotation of their classics drove me crazy. I now find the Beatles thoroughly escapable and I have grown much more interested in actual 60s melodic pop (as opposed to 60s inflected melodic pop).
I quite like some of Revolver.
As PF says, maybe I'll work up a little hate in the future. It seems a bit pointless now.
― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:08 (twenty years ago) link
I think one of the best 15 bands maybe. But I think most of the general public think that they're the best band ever.
**When was the last time any of you put their records on?**
Sunday - Anthology III to hear 'Come And Get It'. I ended up playing the whole of both CDs
**Do the people out there really put Beatles records on as much as we are led to think they do?**
Yes.
I don't think there's anything wrong with being suspicious of them because of the whole mythology, or anything wrong with trying them and not liking them. But I am quite staggered that so many folks here have such a *thing* about not even trying them out. Especially people with an ear for pop. I just don't understand it. Just grab a copy of Abbey Road/Revolver/Help/White Album - no-one will laugh at you, and it's not compulsory to buy the anthologies on DVD as well - just treat them like any other artist. For me,I admit I love them the mythology is optional; there are times when I've immersed myself in it, but mostly they're just *there* along with Abba, King Tubby, Chic, Joy Division, The Supremes..... all fucking great.
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:12 (twenty years ago) link
1. I do2. Most weeks, I'm afraid3. Why not?
― freedom dupont, Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:18 (twenty years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:20 (twenty years ago) link
This is different from what you then said, which was, um: "I was saying that people who like everything the Beatles did are mentalists, not that you had to like everything they did to like them."
I expect you can see the difference. But OK, it is not worth either of our precious times to bother about this point anymore. We both like the Beatles, anyway. Hooray.
I like the Doc's post too. And Tim H's, though he is saying something different.
― the pinefox, Thursday, 2 October 2003 14:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:04 (twenty years ago) link
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:15 (twenty years ago) link
― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:18 (twenty years ago) link
Let's take sides: is that a valid or an invalid opinion? It seems bogus to me, more or less because, listening to the Beatles while reading the I-Mac book a few years ago this was really how I heard them.But the effects of the book wore off, and there was no emotional connexion with these songs left over. So: claiming to hate them is a bit much, but certainly not dud.
― Enrique (Enrique), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:20 (twenty years ago) link
― the pinefox, Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:23 (twenty years ago) link
― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 2 October 2003 15:40 (twenty years ago) link
I really need to go long stretches of time without hearing the Beatles to appreciate them. They've been way, way too overplayed. And I think that's why I'd tend towards saying that I'm not much of a fan. Because I really do like a lot of the songs that you rarely hear or that aren't particularly iconic ("Only A Northern Song", "Blue Jay Way", "Dig A Pony", etc.).
Except for "Strawberry Fields". I really do love that song, no matter how many times I hear it.
― Deric W. Haircare, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 22:59 (sixteen years ago) link
I've never personally known anyone who claimed to HATE the Beatles, though I've known many to be bored or indifferent.
I've only encountered die-hard haters on the internets, and they don't seem like proper people.
― Bob Standard, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:02 (sixteen years ago) link
we had a drummer once said he hated the Beatles. He also thought U2 had a a great rhythm section. We fired him.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:04 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't hate the Beatles, I just don't listen to them.
― Jordan, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:06 (sixteen years ago) link
I can't say I hate them yet, but their cuter stuff irritates the shit out of me now.
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:07 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't listen to them all the time or anything - easy to get overexposed to them and not always in the mood - but man, what really gets me about them is their harmonies. I r a sucker for vocal harmonies.
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:09 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah. Is beautiful. Then again, I love the Star Club stuff, too.
― Bob Standard, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:11 (sixteen years ago) link
Just for the teenage bashing, I mean.
the Beatles are probably going to go by the wayside a tad now that the boomers aren't foisting them on their kids anymore. they're not hard or ironic or fearful enough for youth of today. I don't listen to them much, but I'm glad they're there. I bought Magical Mystery Tour today.
chaki otm
― gabbneb, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:13 (sixteen years ago) link
there's loads of irony in the Beatles
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Dude, kids are ALWAYS talking about the goddamn Beatles, which is why I (partly) understand the pointless revulsion listed upthread. Beatles, Zep, Floyd -- these bands are the holy trinity for a certain kind of sincere youth. They will never die.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:14 (sixteen years ago) link
no, they are 100% ingenuous
― gabbneb, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:15 (sixteen years ago) link
these sincere guitar-playing kids will buy charts to "Stairway to Heaven" and "She Said, She Said" forever.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:15 (sixteen years ago) link
I think the Beatles and Zep and Floyd appeal do very different flavors of youth
rock school franchises will make sure of it
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:16 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, twelve-year-olds and fifteen-year-olds
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:17 (sixteen years ago) link
I really dislike the early Beatles quite a bit though. Isn't that more common?
― humansuit, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:17 (sixteen years ago) link
Yesterday afternoon I actually snapped at a student for going, "DUDE, Zep ROCKS. `Stairway' is such a guitar anthem!" I gently tried to explain why you shouldn't assume anything, how it's not the conclusion that matters but the argument, etc etc until I heard myself sound pedantic and shut the fuck up.
The point is, I'm more apt to snap at a student for loving Zep and his malformed arguments for loving them than the Beatles, just because the latter have more of an emotional range. Whatever.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:18 (sixteen years ago) link
I actually said, "`The Rain Song' is better than `Stairway'!" and while that's probably true, it reminded me of those lit guys who say Marlowe's Edward II is better than Macbeth.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:19 (sixteen years ago) link
The Rain Song is WAY better than Stairway
― Hurting 2, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:20 (sixteen years ago) link
its okay Alfred cuz you were right
― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:24 (sixteen years ago) link
being familiar with www.ilxor.com means you know where all the Beatles haters are.
― will, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:30 (sixteen years ago) link
even so, I can go years and not hear a Beatles song and not feel incomplete or anything. Or I could, if such a thing were possible.
― will, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:31 (sixteen years ago) link
that's true...than I hear an obscurity like "All I Wanna Do" or "And Your Bird Can Sing" and remember.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Lennon apparently grew to hate hearing Beatles songs as they had bad associations for him (though he was proud of them).
I like the story of a flunky being despatched to find out who it was repeatedly playing Beatles records in the Dakota appartment block that was driving him mad.
― Bob Six, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:34 (sixteen years ago) link
I don't like "Stairway," but it ain't no thang, y'know
― Curt1s Stephens, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:35 (sixteen years ago) link
But, really, the question comes down to: if you're a professional music critic how much older favorites do you have to time to hear? I'm always hearing laments on how that Sharrock, Miles, Aretha, or Eno album never gets the attention it deserves because there's simply too much new shit to assess. I've heard enough Beatles in my lifetime to never hear another note, yet will sing or marvel anew when a song plays on a jukebox or friend's car.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:37 (sixteen years ago) link
Yeah, there again: love me some Led Zep, can't stand "Stairway". Blame classic rock radio. And the 15-year-olds.
― Deric W. Haircare, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Alfred OTM for like 10 posts in a row.
― Bob Standard, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 23:40 (sixteen years ago) link
Anthony Burgess, in an essay on Marshall McLuhan:
"His adoration of the Beatles (always, to me, an index of intellectual unsoundness) is based presumably on their having become priests of electronics."
― Ward Fowler, Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:01 (five years ago) link
Typical jealous Manc.
― Scottish Country Twerking (Tom D.), Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:31 (five years ago) link
let us all stand in awe of the intellectual giant who wrote the screenplay for jesus of nazareth
― liberally social (darraghmac), Thursday, 16 August 2018 15:03 (five years ago) link
I like his work but yeah he does have the classic autodidact attitude problem. Looking forward to reading the Roger Lewis bio.
― Blecch, where is thy Zing? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 16 August 2018 15:20 (five years ago) link
Brb petitioning to change my job title to Priest of Electronics
― faculty w1fe (silby), Thursday, 16 August 2018 15:40 (five years ago) link
Burgess was a devotee of symphonic and chamber music and he wrote many pieces which were never popular, even among classical musicians and audiences, but thank god at least they were intellectually sound. This was one of his more twatish pronouncements and being a twat was one of Burgess's great talents.
― A is for (Aimless), Thursday, 16 August 2018 20:55 (five years ago) link
Technically correct: the best kind of correct.
― faculty w1fe (silby), Thursday, 16 August 2018 20:57 (five years ago) link