1.59am
19 September 2010
Whether or not your friends are “fans” is a meaningless statement that serves no purpose. And, who are we to look dismissively at people as not being “real fans”? Anyone who insults a fellow Beatles fan as less of a fan than you are needs to remember that you were, I can guarantee you, in the same “don’t know all their music and still figuring out who’s who” mode. The first time I saw A Hard Day’s Night , I had 4 albums (PPM , WTB, AR, LIB ), and I couldn’t tell John and George apart. To say there are no “real fans” is beyond mean.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
2.11am
23 July 2012
2.11am
16 August 2012
2.52am
5 November 2011
No need to apologize, FlyOn. You said there are people who like them, but not any real fans. There is a difference. I like The Pumpkins, but I would not call myself a fan. I have heard a lot of their music, and I have a few songs of theirs on my iPod, but I would not call myself a fan. I know what you meant by that.
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
5.25am
24 August 2012
I agree with unknown. It’s like that with a lot of bands, and it’s always been something that annoyed me. I realize I was slightly over-emotional in my earlier post here (it was 1 am my time, who can blame me?) but I do hope that the numbers of Beatles fans continues to grow.
While some discovered the Beatles through Rock Band, I saw Across The Universe my freshman year of college, and that’s what did it for me. I wanted to know so much more about what inspired the songs for the movie and six months later, I’m still learning new things every day. I see kids at my school wearing Beatles or Beatles-inspired shirts and I know that there are other people my age and around the same age as many of the members here, who have allowed the Beatles to influence them. I don’t think that the Beatles are going anywhere
You make your own dream.
10.46am
23 July 2012
10.31pm
9 May 2012
annab93 said
I agree with unknown. It’s like that with a lot of bands, and it’s always been something that annoyed me. I realize I was slightly over-emotional in my earlier post here (it was 1 am my time, who can blame me?) but I do hope that the numbers of Beatles fans continues to grow.While some discovered the Beatles through Rock Band, I saw Across The Universe my freshman year of college, and that’s what did it for me. I wanted to know so much more about what inspired the songs for the movie and six months later, I’m still learning new things every day. I see kids at my school wearing Beatles or Beatles-inspired shirts and I know that there are other people my age and around the same age as many of the members here, who have allowed the Beatles to influence them. I don’t think that the Beatles are going anywhere
The Beatles and RS shirts are more of a fashion, at least that’s how I see it. In last 2 months Beatles shirts expanded, and especially the RS ones (as they have cool logo). If you asked them to name 10 RS/Beatles songs, I bet they wouldn’t know.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
12.28am
24 August 2012
Long John Silver said
annab93 said
I agree with unknown. It’s like that with a lot of bands, and it’s always been something that annoyed me. I realize I was slightly over-emotional in my earlier post here (it was 1 am my time, who can blame me?) but I do hope that the numbers of Beatles fans continues to grow.While some discovered the Beatles through Rock Band, I saw Across The Universe my freshman year of college, and that’s what did it for me. I wanted to know so much more about what inspired the songs for the movie and six months later, I’m still learning new things every day. I see kids at my school wearing Beatles or Beatles-inspired shirts and I know that there are other people my age and around the same age as many of the members here, who have allowed the Beatles to influence them. I don’t think that the Beatles are going anywhere
The Beatles and RS shirts are more of a fashion, at least that’s how I see it. In last 2 months Beatles shirts expanded, and especially the RS ones (as they have cool logo). If you asked them to name 10 RS/Beatles songs, I bet they wouldn’t know.
wahh, that’s probably true. However, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. also, could you clarify what RS stands for?
You make your own dream.
2.11am
23 July 2012
3.26am
24 August 2012
12.57pm
26 March 2012
I hate to turn to YouTube, land of loopies and loonies, to corroborate a point, but I think if there’s any evidence that Beatles fans are not a dying breed then it’s there. Practically every video which is anything to do with the Beatles has 100+ comments, and the vicious debates and arguments which often break out there, while often perpetuated by morons, proves that these people feel they know what they are talking about when it comes to Fab lore. I’m also guessing a good percentage of them are fairly young. If fans of the band were indeed a “dying breed” then I don’t think there would be so much invested interest in being RIGHT about the Beatles on the internet.
Secondly, although I haven’t actually played Beatles: Rock Band, and for a reason I can’t quite place have mixed feelings about its existence, it did help to bolster Beatles fandom in a way that hadn’t really been replicated since the Anthology and Paul, George and Ringo’s reunion in the 1990s. There was a period of what felt like several months, in England at least, where you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the band being promoted or merchandised in some way: t-shirts, mugs, posters, albums on both CD and vinyl, and radio play were in staggering abundance. I’m willing to bet that the marriage of great music and the technological subculture that occurred with Rock Band, and the subsequent shockwave of publicity and merchandise, created even more young fans of the band.
Thirdly, consider how popular Paul’s concerts are (and Ringo’s, to a lesser extent). There will undoubtedly be some people in those vast, roaring audiences who aren’t entirely familiar with the material, or are just going along to accompany a friend or a relative- but I’m willing to bet the majority of the audience know every word to every song, and which album each song is on.
This topic is quite coincidental, actually: only a few weeks ago I was told that the Beatles were becoming less relevant to the modern generation by an old man begging for change outside a supermarket, who gruffly said to me: “are you wearin’ that jumper because you like the Beatles, or are you just wearin’ it?” I verbally illustrated all of the above points to him, which I think changed his mind about “the kids of today” knowing nothing about the Fab Four.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
5.11pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Ben Ramon said
This topic is quite coincidental, actually: only a few weeks ago I was told that the Beatles were becoming less relevant to the modern generation by an old man begging for change outside a supermarket, who gruffly said to me: “are you wearin’ that jumper because you like the Beatles, or are you just wearin’ it?” I verbally illustrated all of the above points to him, which I think changed his mind about “the kids of today” knowing nothing about the Fab Four.
That man got more than a handful of change – I would have loved to witness that conversation.
Well done.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
5.53pm
19 September 2010
Another reason it won’t die – how many bands and artists openly acknowledge to being Beatles fans? Or cover Beatles songs? Or get Paul to play on their songs? I’m listening to Arcade Fire right now, and whenever I hear Wasted Hours, I think Revolution 1 . A band cannot die if so many bands consider them influences.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
8.49pm
26 March 2012
Zig said
Ben Ramon said
This topic is quite coincidental, actually: only a few weeks ago I was told that the Beatles were becoming less relevant to the modern generation by an old man begging for change outside a supermarket, who gruffly said to me: “are you wearin’ that jumper because you like the Beatles, or are you just wearin’ it?” I verbally illustrated all of the above points to him, which I think changed his mind about “the kids of today” knowing nothing about the Fab Four.That man got more than a handful of change – I would have loved to witness that conversation.
Well done.
Thanks! I also sang a brief rendition of Norwegian Wood with him once we had sorted out our differences.
SHUT UP - Paulie's talkin'
10.02pm
3 September 2012
There are some people at my school who are complete idiots about them. Most of them likely assume the only song people like from them is I Want To Hold Your Hand , and continue to have terrible taste in music; although most people that listen to music other than what’s on the radio (meaning those heavy metal people, or those all-music people) acknowledge them at least a little bit. I have friends that do like them, don’t like them, and don’t know them. I would bother introducing them but those of them that don’t know them don’t listen to music at all. I have, in fact, been introducing them to some family people that know some of their good songs. That being said, I don’t think it is. The Beatles have almost 30,000,000 likes on facebook, and almost 100,000 people are “talking about them”. Considering the morbid amount of people that don’t use facebook, you could add all those to that list and the people who haven’t edited their interests on it yet. People are being introduced to them every day as well, by friends or family. They will probably be remembered forever considering how highly most people consider their impact on music. I remember watching the Olympic opening and they were talking about legendary Brits because they were honoring them and all; it was listing some Renaissance folks, and they put Lennon and McCartney right next to them. They wouldn’t have done that if they weren’t any other musician.
Please don't wake me, no don't shake me, leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping~.
12.13am
16 August 2012
To relate to what you’re saying, when I went to high school (1988-1990) it was a very DARK time for music. Hair metal, bad early rap and r&b and wussy boy pop.
The metal fans were the crowd I sort of ended up with, and because of their generally accepting misfit natures, they listened to all sorts of music. So while some dude would love Metallica and Iron Maiden, he would also love Black Sabbath, AC/DC and Alice Cooper. But then he also liked a lot of stuff by the Beatles, and Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.
It was those types of people who turned me on to so much music that I never would have been exposed to, I had been more popular, or at least ran with other crowds.
Even today it warms my heart to see the kids at the high school down the street in denim and leather with rock logos on their clothes. For me, they’re the ones who help keep the cycle repeating.
And if you’re in high school right now: You could do worse than to show the metal kids a bit of kindness and understanding. A lot of them are intelligent, interesting and caring people. They’re passionate about music, and that really isn’t such a bad thing.
E is for 'Ergent'.
1.35pm
20 January 2012
Steve Earle covered “I’m Looking Through You ” on his Train a Comin’ album back in 1995 or so. In the album liner notes, he made a comment about the Beatles that has stuck with me since I first read it: “the stuff I cut my teeth on—Middle Class White Boy Roots Music.” I’m around the same age as Earle, so it’s a little tough for me to wrap my head around the idea of the Beatles as “roots music,” but given their huge influence over both their comtemporaries and the musicians who came after them, who can argue the point?
Dying breed? Not yet, IMHO. But I have to say that I’m still completely surprised whenever I run into someone who doesn’t know the Beatles’ music — in my gut it just seems so obvious to me that everyone knows about these guys. Intellectually I do understand that in actuality not everyone does, so I’m equally surprised when I run into someone in the under-30 set who’s a fan.
It’ll be interesting to see how all this plays out as the first wave of Beatles fans literally does die off: when the last of us who loved them when they were Fab is gone, what then?
Well ok, that took a morbid turn. Sorry, folks!
It's gotta be rock and roll music if you wanna dance with me
4.57pm
16 February 2011
6.28pm
20 January 2012
Thanks so much minime!
My question had less to do with the “last” Beatles fan as it did the last group of folks who became Beatles fans while the band was still in existence…those of us who were privileged to experience Beatlemania while it was happening.
Has the torch been passed to subsequent generations in manner that’s sustainable?
Judging by what I read in these pages, I’d say that the answer is YES.
It's gotta be rock and roll music if you wanna dance with me
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