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3.00am
16 August 2012
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Before I ask, I know the answer will be a resounding ‘No’… But I ask hypothetically anyway:
Are we, as Beatles fans, a dying breed?
I ask because I spent some time with some 20-somethings this week, and I was amazed at how completely ignorant they were to who the Beatles were. Even the very basics, like who Paul McCartney is and what John Lennon did other than ‘Imagine ‘.
Now I know that your average 20-something today is a completely narcissistic dimwit with zero understanding of the world outside of the view through their smartphone, but I always thought the Beatles transcended that.
On the other hand, maybe they need to be “discovered” by people, and therein lies their value.
Look at Elvis: He’s ubiquitous as an icon, but he basically exists as the punchline to a joke. Everybody knows who Elvis is, but nobody really cares anymore, because he never grew as an artist, never “created” a defining album as an artistic statement and let his career devolve into a horrible mess. Even his biggest fans are stereotyped as fat, semi-literate hicks.
So when I check in on this forum and I hope that after 24 hours I’ll see 30 threads updated and 25 new threads, and I find it’s closer to 3 or 4 total… Is that a good thing? A bad thing? Is it even a thing?
I know this is sort of rambling, but I guess we can use it as a springboard for a discussion on the relevance of a band that split up over 40 years ago in the context of the modern musical and cultural climate.
E is for 'Ergent'.
3.36am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline To me there is still a massive beatles undercurrent but it goes in waves of openness. In the 70’s there was the half-hearted view of them being old fashioned and mayors tried to ban any sign of them in Liverpool but then it would explode in little pockets. Now they are a part of music, kind of like the seabed, so much other stuff is going on above but dive thru it all and its whats holding everything up. Many of the big artists of today hail their influence (and i dont mean U2 and Oasis) and that passes down to their fans who’ll go and pick up some of the albums and give them a listen. Some of those will take the bits they like from the main albums, others will dig down, find Beatles For Sale and become big fans (should that be the other way round – become big fans and then discover BFS?).
There was little going on on the surface before Live At The BBC and the Anthology series in the 90’s but then it got insane, same happened in 2000 for 1 and then in 2009 (albeit there was a lot of hype). Its still there and folks still know which beatle is which, so it depends who you ask. Good music lasts and spreads – it gets into the nervous system and takes a hold that doesnt depart. Maybe it should be more of a surprise that a band that are about to celebrate the 50th anniversay of their first single being released are still so heavily influential in current music and continue to sell impressively.
As for the forum and unread posts im more expecting 3 – 4 posts being around the normal number when i check in after say 7/8 hours and am amazed when there are 12 – 13. Some times the place is incredibly busy and at times its not, its the same for most forums i go to with a specific theme. Compared to some places, even other Beatles sites, its actually quite active.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
4.09am
24 August 2012
Offline SatanHimself said
Now I know that your average 20-something today is a completely narcissistic dimwit with zero understanding of the world outside of the view through their smartphone, but I always thought the Beatles transcended that.
I couldn’t agree more and it completely sickens me to know that I, at 19, am part of the generation that is completely ignorant about pretty much everything. I definitely feel like a bit of an outsider since I know of more Beatles songs than “Hey Jude ” and “Here Comes The Sun .” not saying they’re bad, but they’re definitely the most popular Beatles songs.
All I can hope is that I can do is stay true to who I am in the midst of a self-centered and ignorant generation and hope that I can show others that there is so much more to music than teenybopper jams and things like that. if that makes sense!
You make your own dream.
4.30am
23 January 2011
Offline I think there will always be Beatles fans and classic rock fans in general. I didn’t “discover” them until I was 21, so you never know. The Beatles are part of the world’s psyche, and who cares if there are only a few of us who are obsessed to the hilt.
In other new, Paul’s album Kisses On The Bottom made it to number two on the Amazon records chart today, just behind Bob Dylan’s new album, so I’d say we’re not quite a dying breed.
And I quite resent the fact that you think today’s youth are so dimwitted. I’m sure yours wasn’t much better. It’s more highlighted today because we are all connected via the internet. I find there are plenty of highly intelligent, thoughtful, and kind people in my age group.
Also, if you want to find a young Beatles contingent, go to tumblr. They’re everywhere. Tumblr is a weird place, though, and you might not like it.
"You can manicure a cat but can you caticure a man?"
John Lennon- Skywriting by Word of Mouth
6.08am
14 February 2012
Offline Judging by the sheer number of posters on a Beatles forum who are 20-somethings or below (myself included), I don’t think you have anything to worry about, Satan. 
However, I have to agree with Kedame about this:
kedame said
And I quite resent the fact that you think today’s youth are so dimwitted. I’m sure yours wasn’t much better. It’s more highlighted today because we are all connected via the internet. I find there are plenty of highly intelligent, thoughtful, and kind people in my age group.
in response to this:
SatanHimself said
Now I know that your average 20-something today is a completely narcissistic dimwit with zero understanding of the world outside of the view through their smartphone, but I always thought the Beatles transcended that.
People tend to better notice the negative images associated with a particular group: these negative images are otherwise referred to as stereotypes. Stereotypes lead to prejudice, which leads to oftentimes false assumptions. One of those false assumptions is that people my age are dimwitted narcissists: the fact that Kedame, a “20-something”, has managed to be accepted into and attend medical school disproves that notion. The fact that I don’t even own a smartphone (and quite frankly lack a desire to) serves the same purpose. I really respect and admire your opinions, Satan, but please try to avoid such negative remarks so obviously directed at a specific group–a specific group that just so happens to occupy a significant demographic on this forum. 
"I'm not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything. I've always been a freak. So I've been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know? I'm just one of those people."
6.26am
14 December 2009
Offline
I think new young Beatles fans will keep sprouting up for awhile yet. How many 20somethings (or younger) owe their newfound Beatles discovery-and-fandom to RockBand primarily? Must be plenty!
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
11.54am
19 September 2010
Offline Satan, Satan, Satan… do you have any idea how wrong your view of my generation is? Do you? I mean, there are some narcissistic dimwits in my generation, yes. However, there are plenty of narcissistic dimwits in your generation, as well. And, before you make broad generalizations about any specific demographic, realize who you’re saying it to.
As to the point: The fact that the two top posters on this forum are under 20 tells you there’s no room for concern.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
12.26pm
3 May 2012
Offline I think there has been a surge in popularity of 60´s music recently, including The Beatles. I mean how many people do you see out with tops on or whatever that say The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Loads. I know that doesnt mean that everyone likes them but I think there are more fans than we think.
And as for the thing about the young people, yeah, there are plenty of idiots. Visit any local high school and you´ll see them all huddled together gossiping or doing whatever they do. That doesn´t mean that everybody is like that though.
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
8.31pm
16 February 2011
Offline Well, I am twenty myself. And I am concerned. I talk about him 
and her 
and him 
and them all the time with my friends, and then ouf of the blue, I might say something like “Paul Mccartney is having a bd this week” “Paul who?” I show his picture, like I have done so many times, still no recognition. Then, I mention the name Beatles, that he was a part of it. And only then will their faces light up. 
And I keep repeating the same pattern over and over again…
However, I’m positive that at the university I am there are a lot of Beatles fans out there. I have seen their badges, even if I didn’t dare to talk to them…
And generally, most of the young people I know are quite smart and friendly; they drink too much, definitely, but that’s a problem with the elderly 30 somethings, too.
8.50pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline minime said
they drink too much, definitely, but that’s a problem with the elderly 30 somethings, too.
I’m almost 50 – if 30 something is elderly, I’d better get my affairs in order as I am not long for this world.
To answer the original question, no Beatles fans are not a dying breed. More of them are being born every day – they just don’t know they are fans yet.
That is one thing that tends to get overlooked a wee bit. The Beatles music is so good it transcends age boundaries. In this Forum alone we have teenagers and 20 somethings all the way up to senior citizens ready for the dirt nap like me. When we old puree gummers play our music on the old phonograph, the kiddies seem to like it as well. They then go out and buy their own acetates…albums?…eight tracks?…cassettes?…CD’s? What the Hell is an MP3?
Elderly my ass.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
9.13pm
12 April 2012
Offline 
I’m 13 and the beatles are one of my favourite bands and many if my friends like them too. About the solo beatles: the only lennon song most of my friends know is happy xmas (war is over) (they don’t even know imagine) and the songs they know by mccartney are wonderful christmas time and Live And Let Die (not counting the songs I played to them)
Once there was a way to get back homewards. Once there was a way to get back home; sleep pretty darling do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby
10.06pm
4 December 2010
Offline mr. Sun king coming together said
As to the point: The fact that the two top posters on this forum are under 20 tells you there’s no room for concern.
That only tells you that younger people are more likely to post more, it doesn’t tell you much about numbers.
As it just so happened, today at school I had a conversation about music with someone. They asked me who my favourite artists were, someone said “he loves the Beatles” and the two of them broke out into Yellow Submarine . Then I was persuaded to list songs by the Beatles while the first one tried to sing them. He managed Hey Jude , Let It Be , Here Comes The Sun , Come Together and I Want To Hold Your Hand , but that was all- to be fair I forgot to mention Help !, which most people my age know.
I think most people my age would struggle to name a song by any “classic rock” band aside from The Beatles and Queen though. This guy maintained he couldn’t name a David Bowie song, for example, which is ridiculous when you think of how many iconic songs he has.
In fairness, he started naming songs by skrillex, and I sang “wub wub wub wub wub wub wub DROP THE BASS” for all of them.
Erm… no, we’ll tick along quite nicely. People will generally have some knowledge of Beatles songs but this will decrease over time until nobody who isn’t a fan will know one other than Yellow Submarine .
I told her I didn’t
10.21pm
26 July 2011
Offline My quick answer to this question is: NAWWWWWW!
I’m old enough that I’ve seen interest in The Beatles wax and wane as new trends appear…. “they’ve been going in and out of style” as the man sang all those years ago…. but The Beatles are evergreen and they’re always being rediscovered by a whole new generation of music fans. In the 1980’s the CD Revolution came along and suddenly The Beatles were on the charts again. In the 1990’s, ANTHOLOGY was released and a whole bunch of new fans were born. Then the new millenium began, and “1” was number 1! Now we have Rock Band and iTunes, and kids are tuning in to “Here Comes The Sun ” and “Come Together “.
Nope — Beatlemusic will continue to enchant and entertain music fans long after us folks here are around to ask about it. Give your young friends a bit of time…. you’ll sing about the girl who was 17, and they’ll KNOW what you mean!
I've got nothing to say, but it's okay..
GOOD MORNING!
GOOD MORNING!!
GOOD MORNING!!!
10.34pm
16 August 2012
Offline I like how all the 20-somethings here got so offended, when the fact that they’re here on this forum means that they automatically don’t qualify as ‘dimwits’, by my highly scientific standards.
What does need to be admitted though, is that a large majority of people in their mid-20s and under have very little appreciation for the true value of good music. Most of them (outside of the real music fans, which exist in all age brackets) grew up in a world where music was free and sampled bit-by-bit, instead of listening to full albums.
It’s nice to see your responses otherwise, especially about the cyclical nature of popular appreciation for the Beatles.
E is for 'Ergent'.
10.49pm
5 November 2011
Offline We’re definitely not a dying breed. Weren’t The Beatles the best selling artist of the 2000’s? At my High school, there are a lot of Beatles fans, and not just people who wear the shirts because they like them. I think the remasters, Rock Band and them going onto iTunes got them many new younger fans. As long as there are Beatles fans in this generation, then I think there will be in the next one. There are many kids who listen to what their parents listen to, and that’s why I’m a Beatles fan. My first concert was Paul when I was five, and my sister’s a baby and she likes The Beatles (though she has a greater affinity for Pink Floyd).
And for solo music, what else would they know other than Imagine ? If they’re not fans they’re not going to listen to his music. They probably know Happy X-Mas (War Is Over), but it doesn’t seem like too many people know that’s him. It’s like that for a lot of Paul songs and a few George ones; everybody knows the song, but they don’t know who it is.
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
10.52pm
9 May 2012
Offline Even though I understand your worries, you have to understand that band doesn’t exists for many decades, and a lot of younger people who are not much into music (just listen what is on top charts) don’t really care that much. That was the case for every generation, not only this. As for teens who are into rock usually know Pink Floyd, Beatles etc songs.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
11.27pm
4 December 2010
Offline SatanHimself said
What does need to be admitted though, is that a large majority of people in their mid-20s and under have very little appreciation for the true value of good music. Most of them (outside of the real music fans, which exist in all age brackets) grew up in a world where music was free and sampled bit-by-bit, instead of listening to full albums.
This is, unfortunately, true. Too many people are willing to download a great debut album for free rather than support the artist, and then describe themselves as a “music fan”.
I told her I didn’t
12.39am
16 August 2012
Offline I’m trying to offset their musical “carbon footprint” by only buying my music on vinyl now, whenever possible. I too fell prey to the lure of easy discographies and free advance copies of new music.
But after a while I started to lose my excitement for my music. Gone were the days when I had a paper route which afforded a bus trip to the city every two weeks, where I could comb through the bins of my favourite record store.
Everything just because faceless, jumbled files. I’d listen and delete, or just grab a few tracks and chuck the rest of an album.
Then a couple of years ago I hit the wall. I was blindly downloading albums and songs and I just stopped caring.
So I took a deep breath, and told myself that downloading would be saved for mobile copies of things I already owned. New music was to be taken on as a risk, and I’d do it on vinyl, in order to force myself to be immersed in the moment.
…And it worked! And as a bonus, the Baby Boomers and their oldest kids are now unloading their vinyl en masse and the thrift shops are starting to see less Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow and more Monks, Stones, Zeppelin and (occasionally) Beatles.
And now I can share it with my kids (7 and 9), who see vinyl as one of a few regular music formats in their lives. Hell, every weekend we have what I call “2-Minute Dance Party”, where we spin nothing but 45s all night.
So to answer my own question: We are only a dying breed if we let it happen.
E is for 'Ergent'.
1.35am
16 August 2012
Offline (Side note…)
…and then I watched this video, the AMAZING anime intro the Beatles Rockband game. And even though I don’t normally do it, I started to read the YouTube comments.
And something about them made me realize that there are kids and teenagers and adults who right at this very moment are suddenly *getting* the Beatles for the first time…
(Another side note… This post needs to be cross-referenced with the “Altered” thread, because I am. But at least you get a little peek into the emotional revelations…)
… There’s some comment asking what the song at 1:55 is, and someone responds that it’s “I Am The Walrus “… And I can see that kid hearing that full song for the first time and the little *boing* that goes off in his/her brain as they begin a lifelong love.
E is for 'Ergent'.
1.42am
23 July 2012
Offline Yeah, we’re a dying breed! Being a, quote-on-quote, “Young Adult”, not one of my friends is a real Beatles fan. There are kids who like them, or admire their music, but never any REAL fans. Not that long ago, one of them was singing Imagine to herself for a week, and then asked me who John Lennon was after mentioning him in passing.
I wish I was kidding, but I’m not. 
I’m hoping the few of us that are left can try to pass it on to the next generation. I plan to pass it on to my kids when I’m older, and they’ll pass it on to their kids, and so on. Like Satan said earlier: It only dies if we let it.
“I was special. I always have been. Why didn't anyone notice me?"
-John Lennon
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