M02 Writing Assignment (1)
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English
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Dec 6, 2023
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Cesia Eves
LEGS 124
M02 Writing Assignment
Were the Beatles the Best Band of All Time?
The Beatles, undoubtedly among the most influential bands of the 20th century, have
made an enduring imprint on the realm of music. Their far-reaching influence, from their
inception to their enduring relevance today, sets them apart. However, crowning them the "best"
band is a subjective statement, one I challenge. It becomes apparent that the title of the "best"
band is not a one-size-fits-all label but a dynamic concept that resonates differently with people
based on their cultural backgrounds, generational influences, and personal tastes.
The Beatles emerged from the friendship and musical collaboration of John Lennon and
Paul McCartney, both hailing from Liverpool, United Kingdom. Their shared love for American
rock and roll was the foundation for their partnership. The duo added George Harrison in 1957
and Ringo Starr in 1962, making the group complete. In 1961, Brian Epstein became The
Beatles' manager, leading to a recording contract with George Martin at Parlophone Records.
Their rapid rise to fame, known as "Beatlemania," made them a global phenomenon with
unprecedented influence.
Between 1965 and 1967, the Beatles' music evolved significantly. The band moved from
pop and rock to more cryptically sophisticated and psychedelic compositions, exploring various
genres and themes. Their innovative sound pinnacled in the 1967 album "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely
Hearts Club Band." In 1968, the Beatles shifted from live performances to focus on recording,
leading to a period of creativity and experimentation. However, personal disputes and the strain
of their symbolic role as idols of a carefree youth culture began to take a toll. The band officially
disbanded in 1970.
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From their start to their finish, The Beatles maintained high relevance, and their enduring
popularity can be partly credited to their distinctive and innovative sound, which continues to
resonate in the present day. They had creative ways of making themselves stand out. EMI
engineer Ken Townsend developed a method to make John Lennon's voice thicker, resulting in
artificial double tracking or flanging, a prominent feature on "Revolver." Ringo Starr's use of tea
towels and a sweater in his drums became standard recording practices used even today.
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The Beatles were early pioneers of music videos, recognizing the creative and
promotional potential they held. Their videos disrupted the norms of the era by incorporating
unconventional visuals and ideas. The quartet made creative music videos for songs like Hello
1
Miller, J. E. (1999, November 8). Beatles. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Beatles
2
6 ways the Beatles changed the world of music forever: Sound of Life; Franke, J.D. (2022, March 25)
https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/mixtape/6-ways-the-beatles-changed-the-world-of-music-forever
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Cesia Eves
LEGS 124
M02 Writing Assignment
Goodbye, Paperback Writer, Strawberry Fields Forever, and Penny Lane after they stopped
touring. The group's decision to stop touring was partly due to the increasing difficulty of live
performances amidst the overwhelming Beatlemania. The fact that their complicated sound was
tricky to replicate live contributed to this as well. Their growing desire for greater creative control
in the studio further encouraged their shift from live shows to studio work.
The Fab Four attained many significant milestones, including receiving 10 Grammy
Awards, securing an Oscar for their exceptional work in the documentary “Let It Be”, and
establishing themselves as the best-selling band in history, with more than a billion units sold
globally.
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Despite these remarkable accomplishments, I still challenge the idea that they are the
best band of all time simply because of one factor: personal opinion. One cannot deny that they
were a successful and talented band, but the case for being the best band is easily refuted.
When determining the best band, culture stands out as a pivotal influence on personal
opinions. Culture is a culmination of factors, such as communication, generational context, and
personal experiences, and it significantly shapes musical preferences. Music's inherent cultural
subjectivity means that what resonates with one person may not have the same effect on
another. Cultural communication styles affect interpretation, which determines music taste. In
America, we are known as a low-context culture, which relies on explicit, clear, and direct
communication. People of this culture tend to be more individualistic and put less emphasis on
tradition. A high-context culture relies on indirect, nuanced, and implicit communication. In
China, personal music choices may be influenced by these high-context communication styles,
where the meaning goes beyond the surface and is intertwined with cultural and social nuances.
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Music is a reflection of the culture from which it emerges. It's important to acknowledge
that even though music is often considered a universal language, it can be interpreted quite
differently across the globe due to the influence of various cultural communication styles.
Consequently, someone from a high-context culture might not enjoy the loud, direct, and
expressive American-style rock and roll music.
The generation one belongs to profoundly shapes musical preferences. “The music
tastes of each generation are shaped by what genres are popular during youth.”
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This quote
3
Anirudh. “Beatles | 10 Major Achievements of the Rock Band | Learnodo Newtonic.” Learnodo-
Newtonic.com, 12 Sept. 2018,
https://learnodo-newtonic.com/the-beatles-achievements
.
4
Adler: Interplay. (2020, p. 62)
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https://culturecase.org/research/2022/02/music-tastes-each-generation-are-shaped-what-genres-are-
popular-during-youth/
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Cesia Eves
LEGS 124
M02 Writing Assignment
highlights the powerful influence of generational context on the type of music one enjoys.
Research suggests that musical preferences evolve over a lifetime, and adolescence marks a
distinct phase in this journey. During this period, adolescents are drawn to the quest for self-
discovery, and “music is a cheap, effective way" to discover oneself. People tend to have a
special connection with the music that was popular during their formative years. Nostalgia for
the songs of one's youth can lead to a deep attachment to certain bands.
Each generation is shaped by its unique cultural and historical events and music is
written to reflect these events. We can look back on music from the previous eras and learn a
lot about what was going on at the time. The Beatles songwriting addressed contemporary
events and societal issues from their time. They wrote about the social and political context of
their era, as well as explored psychedelic and surreal themes in their songs. Those who lived
through this era can often connect more deeply with their music due to their personal
experiences with the events of that time.
While someone not born in this era might still like their
music, they won’t have the same connection to it as those who lived through Beatlemania. This
shows the highly subjective nature of music preferences and the varied factors that shape one's
musical tastes. Cultural and contextual differences may seem unimportant, but they create a
huge gap in relatability, influencing one's opinion on what might make the best band.
While The Beatles undeniably stand as one of the most influential bands of the 20th
century, the title of the best band remains a subjective and highly personal judgment shaped by
cultural backgrounds, generational influences, and individual tastes. The Beatles' enduring
impact on the world of music is unquestionable, but whether they are the absolute best is a
matter of diverse perspectives, reflecting the rich tapestry of culture and history in which each
person is embedded.
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