Blog Entry #1 (British Musical Experience)

Blog Entry #1 (British Musical Experience):

I think the Beatles had a strong influence on the music culture first in Britain and then in America in the early 1960’s. In the 1960’s British music went global for the first time with the ‘British Invasion.’  The original look and sound of beat groups like The Beatles, R&B bands like The Rolling Stones and female singers like Petula Clark took America by storm and were met with massive fan hysteria and huge record sales.

As the British economy recovered from post-war conditions, pop, fashion and youth culture moved into a period of change.  The Beatles’ influence on rock music and popular culture was huge.  Their success started an almost immediate wave of changes—including a shift from US global dominance of rock and roll to UK acts, from soloists to groups, from professional songwriters to self-penned songs, and to changes in fashion.

The most popular rock and roll artists were fading out for one reason or another (Elvis was in the Army, Little Richard became a preacher, Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash), or were not able to keep up with the revolution in music that was taking place.  So the timing was perfect for The Beatles.  Listed below are some of the changes that The Beatles affected:

1.       The Beatles changed music forever.  They were classed as ‘respectable’ and although they were as interested in sex and drugs as most other bands, they kept it quiet and were therefore highly regarded by both parents and teenagers.  They had a clean and neat appearance recommended by their manager Brian Epstein. Most of their hits were written by Lennon and McCartney, who became two of the most famous songwriters in history. With the release of the Beatles’ Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club’ album, songs were extended past the three minutes mark.  Thei r songs contained thoughtful messages and were recorded with different instruments such as the Indian sitar and an orchestra.  The Beatles paved the way for many other popular British bands like the Rolling Stones, The Who, the Kinks and the Animals.

2.       The Beatles influenced Album format and covers:  previously record albums were of secondary consideration to singles (“45s”) in the recording industry.  However, The Beatles started producing albums with more enjoyable songs rather than two hits and the rest fillers. The album covers were more interesting and colourful.

3.       Music Videos:  The Beatles began filming promotional music videos like A Hard Day’s Night (1964) and Help! (1965) which they would send to television networks in lieu of appearing in person.  Richard Lester received praise and respect for his revolutionary camera techniques used in his directing of both films, which lead the way to the modern rock video.

4.       Live Concerts:  The Beatles were the first group to stage a large stadium concert.  At Shea Stadium in New York City on Sunday, August 5, 1965 the group opened their 1965 North American tour to a record audience of 55,600. It was the first concert to be held at a major outdoor stadium  demonstrating that outdoor concerts on a large scale could be successful and profitable.

5.       Hair:  The Beatle haircut, known as the mop-top because of its resemblance to a mop, is a mid-length hairstyle named after and popularised by the Beatles. It is a straight cut, collar-length at the back and over the ears at the sides, with straight bangs.  They adopted it from someone they saw in Hamburg while hitchhiking to Paris.

6.       Fashion:  In the early years The Beatles would wear black and later grey, Edwardian collarless suits.  This style of suit was adopted from the Mod youth cult, then at its peak in the UK. These suits (instead of leather trousers, plaid shirts and slacks) became extremely common for new bands to wear after 1964. Later, during the psychedelic era of 1967-1968, The Beatles popularised bright colours and wore paisley suits and shirts and trousers with floral patterns.  By the late 1960s, The Beatles wore more casual fashions, with t-shirts, blue jeans and denim jackets. Then John started wearing white suits. This mixture of casual wear and unconventional formal clothing could be seen in The Beatles’ later years as they grew beards and drifted towards more hippie and Indian clothing.

I was in my late teens when The Beatles invaded American and I can remember the boys started wearing their hair longer and wearing the Beatle boots that were tight-fitting, Cuban-heeled, ankle-length with pointed toes.  The girls including myself started wearing short, simple, geometric dresses of the mod look modelled by Twiggy. They were mini dresses and some wore heavy mascara (called Panda eyes) similar to Petula Clark that became the look of the 1960’s.

Yes, the American people were influenced by The Beatles almost as much as the music industry.  We just thought they had ‘the look.’

Nina Adams

06.18.11