[Midas]

'How the Beatles Destroyed Rock 'N' Roll' by Elijah Wald

Say You Want a Revolution…
The British Invasion that began with the Beatles' record-setting American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show not only transformed rock 'n' roll but in some ways marked the end of pop music as it had existed for the previous seventy years

Wald explains that the Beatles did in fact destroy rock 'n' roll by creating a schism between white and black music that's only grown farther apart in the decades since the dawn of Beatlemania (see: disco, soul, hip-hop). Like many early rock bands, the Beatles were rooted in the music of Chuck Berry and Little Richard. As the band found its creative voice, its members abandoned their early influences. The results included "the effetely sentimental ballad" "Yesterday," a song that Wald claims "diffused" rock's energy and opened the door for milquetoasts such as Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Billy Joel and Elton John. With the "Sgt. Pepper" album, the band draped their music "in a robe of arty mystification, opening the way for the Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, Yes, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer."

"Rather than being a high point of rock," he continues, "the Beatles destroyed rock 'n' roll, turning it from a vibrant (or integrated) dance music into a vehicle for white pap and pretension." And what, again, was so revolutionary about Pat Boone.

Do you think they destroyed Rock and Roll? Well my opinion of course not they actually saved it.

[RFNAPLES]

Yes, to a degree The Beatles closed the chapter on the Rock & Roll/Roots style but seeded the evolution of Alternative/Indie-Rock, Art Rock/Experimental, Dance, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock, Punk/New Wave, Soft Rock, Psychedelic/Garage, Europop, and British Invasion styles.
_________________
Top 100 Greatest Music Albums by RFNAPLES
Bubbling Under The Top 100 Greatest Mus...y RFNAPLES

[Charicature]

Rock & Roll destroyed itself by stagnating, but also by inspiring a later generation of more creative artists. It was a new art form in the 50s, but lack of creative room caused it to produce a lot of sound-alike music by the end of the decade. The world was ripe for The Beatles...although it must be pointed out that their original creative influences were Buddy Holly and the Crickets (from whence came the inspiration for "The Beatles" name) and U.S. country artists like Buck Owens, as well as traditional R&B artists (real rhythym and blues, incidentally, not the pop they've called R&B since the 80s) like Berry.

The Beatles were the big draw, but they weren't the only show in town with a new, non-"black" sound. The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five...these weren't really old style rock and roll. Simon and Garfunkel, incidentally, were already performing together prior to the Beatles, having debuted as "Tom and Jerry" in 1957 and scoring a minor hit.

Really, all the Beatles did was make people much more open to different sounds, ostensibly...but I'd argue that people were already craving it by that point.
_________________
<(: @ >

[Elston]

Wow, this Mr. Wald has some stunning theories.

[bc1991]

Nothing like gross generalizations, inaccurate descriptions and color stereotyping.

[Elston]

Amen!

[maxperenchio]

Ripping on the Beatles is probably the easiest way to get people all worked up enough to read more worthless music criticism.

[40footwolf]

So what Elijah is saying is pretty much that the Beatles destroyed rock music by being white people.

That is LITERALLY one of the craziest things I've ever heard.
_________________
I love all music. It makes you feel like living. Silence is death.

-John Cassavettes

[purple]

Listen to Helter Skelter and then tell me that the Beatles destroyed rock, no doubt they were psychadelic bitches of the 60s, but you have to give them credit for their experimentation

[GARY]

Piss on Elijah Wood!He can just go f*^k himself! Just another jealous no tallent fool craving attention and in a pathetic attempt to get that attention bashes the Beatles.What a lowlife!
_________________
.
I owe $100,000 and wasted 4 years of my life.

And all I got was this silly hat



.