The legacy of the Beatles remains prevalent worldwide, with the band being a household name for many.
Heralded as one of the most iconic bands in history, their work has shaped a lot of the music which we listen to today. Their full catalogue of music is thought to be worth over $1 billion, and has sold more than 2.25 million copies, but despite these promising figures, there still manages to be section of the population (particularly young people) who don’t know quite exactly who the Beatles are or appreciate their impact on modern music.
Here are some of the artists, and music genres which the band has influenced.
Rock
The Beatles’ influence on British rock is one of the clearest links we can see. From Oasis to the Jam to Kasabian, each of these band’s frontmen have stated that they are indebted to the Beatle’s.
Noel Gallagher even claims it was “embarrassing” for Oasis to be compared to the Beatles as they were “nowhere near as good as them”. Paving the way for experimental rock, their eighth studio album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band Club” allowed musicians to bend the rules within the genre of rock. For example, the Flaming Lips often credit the album for their psychedelic influence.
Women in pop
The Beatles’ influence doesn’t just stop at all-male rock bands. Pop princess Lady Gaga has credited the band for being responsible for the sexual revolution in women and integrating pop culture and art, thus bringing into the mainstream.
This has been integral for artists like Gaga, who’s image can be described as avant-garde as they demonstrate their versatility in the music industry.
Rap and hip hop
It may be difficult to see the common ground which the Beatles and rap and hip hop share, but the diversity of the Beatles (which goes beyond their mainstream work) means they have been easily integrated into the genre.
The iconic collaboration between Rihanna, Kanye West, and band member Paul McCartney for “Four Five Seconds” is an excellent example of that. Other rappers such as Mac Miller have also stated that they are a big fan of the band, with references to The Fab Four present in his lyrics and not to mention his “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” sample.
The Beatles legacy is largely incomparable, and it’s predictable that they will continue to shape future manifestations in a variety of music genres.
We are seeing the re-release of many of the Beatles albums on vinyl so you can get the authentic experience of their music, in the way it would have been played back then.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
