The Beatles ♬
Four boys from Liverpool with exceptional hairstyles started a band. The Beatles not only revolutionized music but also the whole pop industry. Their manager claimed that they were the second largest, right behind Elvis.
Four boys from Liverpool
Many young people today think of football when they hear of the city of Liverpool. But the city is also known for one of the world’s biggest rock bands – The Beatles. The band members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They only played together for ten years but made music that never will be forgotten.
Did you know…?
The Beatles had 17 number one songs in the United Kingdom and 20 top positions on the Billboard list in the US. This is still the record for any rock band.
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The Beatles ankommer USA, Kennedy Airport 1964
From average to breakthrough
The Beatles’ first single, “Love me do”, came out in 1962. It wasn’t a big hit at first, but it showed that the band had something special. The single “Please Please Me” took them to the top of the lists in England in 1963. Rock’n’roll star Little Richard became a big fan. He said that he had never heard that kind of sound. If he hadn’t seen them, he would have thought that the band was African-American.
Did you know….?
“Please Please Me” was meant to be on the B-side of their debut single, “Love Me Do.” If it had been such, it would probably never have become such a hit. It became the breakthrough song of The Beatles.
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Platespiller
A recipe for success
The band name, The Beatles, and their sound attracted attention. Their unique sound wasn’t something people expected to come from Liverpool. They created a special look with the Beatles hairstyle and wearing suits. They had a great manager named Brian Epstein.
They worked a lot creating their own music. It was a way of life for them, not just a job. They could play for ten hours straight when recording.
«Please Please Me» fra 1963.
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The Beatles, Wellington flyplass i 1964
Beatlemania
In the summer of 1963, The Beatles played in Merseyside, Liverpool. It was really hot, and the temperature of the music rose along with the temperature of the room. Some girls fainted and needed medical attention. People screamed and shouted. The boys in the band found it all a bit overwhelming, but they were also thankful for being so popular.
Did you know…?
After the gig at Merseyside, the band drove to the nightclub The Blue Angel and was pulled over by the police. Even The Beatles need to keep to the speed limit!
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The Beatles ankommer Schiphol flyplass, 1964
The American Dream
The Beatles went straight to first place in the US with their song “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in 1964. People loved them, and welcomed them as kings. Thousands of fans flocked around them.
The Beatles needed police escort when they went on and off stage. Even on stage, the police needed to take care of hysterical fans. There was a lot of screaming and shouting. People copied their hairstyle and threw candy at them on stage. They played on the Ed Sullivan Show in front of over 70 million viewers.
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The Beatles med Ed Sullivan, 1964
Music videos and revolution
The Beatles liked more than making music. Their musical comedy film “A Hard Day’s Night” is about a typical day in the band’s life. “Help” is about a ring with magical powers. Their music developed all the time, and they weren’t afraid to explore new ways in music.
With their album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, they made something really big. They mixed pop, Indian, and psychedelic music.
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Sgt. Pepper's 50 års jubileum i London
The beginning of the end
The album “The Beatles” in 1968 was the beginning of the end of the band. The album includes 30 songs and is joyful, with no sign of a band in crisis. The album was called “The White Album” because it is completely white.
One thing that made it difficult for the band to work together was John Lennon’s girlfriend, Yoko Ono. Girlfriends and friends usually weren’t allowed in the studio. But Yoko Ono was there when they recorded “The Beatles.” She had opinions on the recording and it created a bad atmosphere. Ringo Starr decided to leave the band.
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The Beatles, The white album
Abbey Road
The Beatles made one of their best albums in 1969, but now it was close to the end. The record was meant to be called “Everest”, but they changed their minds. Instead, they took a picture at the crosswalk outside their studio and named the album after the street, Abbey Road. The cover became legendary and there were many discussions about what it really meant.
There is no name of the band or the album on the front cover. John Lennon is dressed all in white. Paul McCartney is barefoot with a cigarette in his hand. A white Volkswagen Beetle has a number plate that states 28IF. This might mean that McCartney would have been 28 years old if he was alive at this point. The album cover created speculation about whether he was alive or not.
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The Beatles Abbey Road
Let It Be
In January 1970, The Beatles played together for the last time in a studio, but it was without John Lennon. The album “Let It Be” was supposed to be a patchwork of earlier recordings. Phil Spector was a friend of Lennon and was the producer. Lennon said in an interview that Spector “was given the shittiest load of badly recorded shit with a lousy feeling to it ever, and he made something out of it. He did a great job”. McCartney didn’t know this and was really angry. The album got bad reviews, and it was a sad ending to a great adventure.
Platespiller
John Lennon
John Lennon’s personal goal in 1963 was to become rich and famous. He disliked people that weren’t smart but loved jelly. He played the guitar, the harmonica and the piano.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney’s professional goal was to make The Beatles’ sound popular. He disliked shaving and loved to watch TV. He played the bass, the drums, the piano and the banjo.
George Harrison
George Harrison’s personal goal was to design a guitar. He disliked getting haircuts and loved to drive a car. He played the guitar, the piano and the drums.
Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr’s real name was actually Richard Starkey, and his personal goal was to be happy. He did not like Donald Duck but loved fast cars. He played the drums.
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The Beatles med navn
Sources:
- Bergan, Jon Vidar; Forsgren, Arne: The Beatles i Store norske leksikon på snl.no.
Hentet 18. februar 2021 fra https://snl.no/The_Beatles
- Den komplette guiden til The Beatles (2020)
Orage Forlag AS
- Ultimate classic rock (01.09.2022): How Phil Spector turned The Beatles “get back” into “Let it be”
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/phil-spector-let-it-be-beatles/
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