Introduction
Undoubtedly, The Beatles are considered to be one of the greatest, most popular and revolutionary bands in the history of music. They were depicting the new era of music, changing the approach and attitude to a pop-singer. Their influence on music is perceived differently by critics and fans – from destroying rock and roll completely to shaping the future of this musical genre. However, their contribution to rock and roll is undeniable, and probably the most powerful compared to the impact of other bands.
The end to American’s domination in rock
To begin with, the effect of The Beatles’ music on rock and roll in the world was drastic. In 1962 the American “Hot Ten” contained only two English plates, in 1964 there were already 32 of them – English rock has spread over the globe (Pascall 10). This had become possible due to numerous changes The Beatles had made to performing and writing songs, although the most significant fact is that they have brought England the world’s dominance in rock music.
Changes to the approach to music
The Beatles differed from other bands notably, presenting a new image of a music band. For instance, members of the band instead of choosing a vocalist often shared the vocal parts with each other, creating an ensemble image (Pascall 15). Combined with lyrics written by themselves, reflecting the inner world and views of life of the musicians, their songs created a fully new feeling of each song’s individuality for the listener.
Another important change was that The Beatles have made a role of a lyrics author prestigious. They have changed the way things were before, when the producers decided on every detail of the bands’ new songs (Pascall 29). Thus, talented young authors appeared on the scene, writing songs for their bands, expanding the poetic demands to an average pop-song filling. This way The Beatles have practically shown other young musicians that they can do more than it is conventional.
Changing pop music
Rock and roll has become more serious in the eyes of music critics. Its pop component was not anymore so important and attractive. People had learnt how to listen to more complicated music with deeper lyrics and more sophisticated presentation of songs. Consequently, the whole English music scene was altered, as well as the world’s rock and roll scene, because the popularity of The Beatles spread far wider than the Britain’s territory.
Setting trends: experimenting
The Beatles have set musical trends that are still popular and find their followers. Their tendency to stretch the boundaries of pop music allowed them to create a unique music genre. They have proved that experimenting with music can bring adorable results. For instance, the grim song “Eleanor Rigby” by Paul McCartney, which differed drastically from the spirit of the band’s songs the audience was used to, beat the British charts (Edmonds, Digital Media Academy). The song also contains some musical experiments, such as using a cello, violas and violins as an accompaniment. As a result, The Beatles have shown the public that there are practically no limitations to the context and spirit of pop songs.
The experiments were not only about the lyrics and the choice of instruments. They were also connected with changing the sound in different ways. For example, John Lennon’s vocal was doubled in the song “Tomorrow Never Knows” and ran through a spinning speaker to obtain an “odd, wobbly sound” (Edmonds, Digital Media Academy). The uniqueness of the song was also because 16 six-second-long tape loops of various sounds were interspersed through the song. As a result, the song sounded like nothing the band had recorded before.
Beatlemania
In addition to musical changes to the rock and roll scene, The Beatles have also altered the way the musician is perceived. They have triggered the appearance of a completely new phenomenon, which is now called Beatlemania. This unique phenomenon could be explained by the fact that the Beatles had some unusual qualities that their younger fans found appealing. For instance, from the outset, they acted and behaved just as they saw themselves—as a tightly-knit group (McMillian, The Daily Beast). Previously, in both England and America, most successful pop and rock acts highlighted individuals: either those who performed solo, like Elvis Presley, or who fronted a backing band. However, when the fans were introduced to the Beatles, they saw an indivisible group in which each member nevertheless had distinctive attributes.
Cinema
The influence of The Beatles was not limited by the scene. They have made changes to the whole cultural context of the sixties. For instance, they broadened the impact of rock and roll to cinematographic use and altered the approach to music films. The movies The Beatles made have predetermined the appearance of future blockbusters (Chilton, Discover Music). Therefore, the band can be referred to as a founder of a new cinematography line.
Conclusion
Obviously, the influence of The Beatles on pop and rock music is wider than explained above, but these aspects are considered to be the brightest. Although the attitude of the public towards The Beatles was not only positive, their impact is undeniable. In consequence of their existence the world has seen the full power of rock and roll, the diversity of the performers, lyrics authors and singers. The Beatles have surely contributed to the improvement of pop and rock genres, and general musical development of the world.
Works Cited
Chilton, Martin. How The Beatles’ Movies Influenced The Future Of Cinema. Discover Music, 2021.
Edmonds, Kemp. How The Beatles Changed Music. Digital Media Academy, 2016.
McMillian, John. What Made The Beatles so Big? Diagnosing Beatlemania. The Daily Beast, 2017.
Pascall, Jeremy. The Illustrated History of Rock Music. Hamlyn, 1978.