Arguably the greatest musical phenomenon of the last half-century, the Beatlesque era of the sixties has left an indelible mark on pop culture. What made the Beatles irresistable to those who heard them? Why do Beatles songs still play in the hearts of music fans today, more than any other band of the time? While numerous theories abound, all in relation to aspects of the band other than the music itself, I decided to try and find an explanation in their songs.
I think the most important reason for their success in drawing loyal fans is that the Beatles didn't ever have any major lineup changes. It was always John, Paul, George and Ringo. And, like the smart boys they were, they decided to end the band altogether at the first signs of infighting. Paul went on to form the Wings, John and George had successful solo careers and Ringo, I presume, went on to live a happy family life somewhere. My point is that the Beatles, as a group, is separate from its individual members. So when I think of the Beatles, I think of that golden period when the four were creating musical history together.
It is for this reason that the music of the Beatles has a very specific sound. This sound is consistent in all their albums, from their very first release (Please Please Me, 1963) to their last (Let It Be, 1970). To a fan, the sound of a band is of utmost importance. Many bands take great pride in diversifying their musical sensibilities and exploring new sounds. While it is a commendable endeavour no doubt, creative pursuits like this often lead to inconsistency in a band's sound. Let me explain further. For this purpose, I am compelled to compare the Beatles with one of their biggest contemporaries, Pink Floyd.
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| Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967) |
Pink Floyd started off playing the UK underground circuit in the sixties. Their lead singer at the time was Syd Barrett, with a very distinctive songwriting style. I shall call the early years the "Piper" era. Barrett left the band while it was yet to peak. Understandably, the rest of the members had great ambitions for the band and Roger Waters (bass) decided to take matters into his own hands. Lead vocals were thereafter shared between him and David Gilmour (guitar), with Rick Wright (keyboards) pitching in with backing vocals where required. I shall call this the "Dark Side" era.
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| Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) |
Gilmour and Waters soon decided they couldn't be in the same band anymore and Waters bid adieu to the others. Around that time, the world of music was undergoing what I like to call its own version of an 'industrial revolution'. From then on, the band's sound became harder and more progressive, with cleaner guitar and keyboard arrangements. Gilmour, Wright and Mason (drums) made up what would be the final leg of the band's career, the "Divison Bell" era.
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| The Division Bell (1994) |
As a result of these three mutually exclusive periods of musical creativity, any Pink Floyd Greatest Hits compilation sounds like a mix cd of songs by more than one band. Now, certain connoisseurs of classic rock (like yours truly) still love Pink Floyd in all its three avatars. However, to an ardent fan of, say, the "Piper" era, the music of Pink Floyd's later years must sound like quite a rude deviation. Similarly, to a fan of the clean-edged guitar lines of the "Division Bell" era, the almost 'quirky' arrangements of the band's early years must sound like some kind of a joke.
A fan of the Beatles, on the other hand, will most probably like all of the band's recorded music, or at least not be averse to any of it. Whether it's the boyish tune "P.S. I Love You" or the edgy protest song "Get Back", the sound of the Beatles runs at the core of their entire catalogue of songs, and it is for this reason, above all, that their fans have stayed loyal all these years.
