THE BEATLES

''The Beatles- An American love affair''



''The Beatles- An American love affair''

Introduction

Rock 'n' roll may have been born in the 50's in American, but in 1960 the genre was just reaching Britain. The rock and roll style was being brought of by North American sailors who would travel to and from Liverpool. Much like America at the time, Britain was experiencing a youth culture, faint as it was. Short hair and obedience were expected of the youth, and with them turning more and more towards rock music, they found it easy to feel rebellious. It took several years before they were recognized, but Britain soon introduced a number of bands that would shock the world, even in the foreign country of America. Two bands that stand above the rest were the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, both groups would go on to influence and inspire the youth generation of America. During the 1960's America faced a wide range of experiences including social unrest, civil rights movements, violence both at home and abroad, and the youth generation, or counterculture, was their to see it all. Even though this new group wanted to break away from the older generation, they still needed guidance, which they found in the form of music. With music they were able to let go and feel free while listening to others spread their ideas to the world. This exposure would soon bring them face to face with the Beatles and Rolling Stones and would forever change American music. (Beatles, 2000 25)

In the coming years, Presley would find it harder and harder to find lyrics that the younger generation could relate to, and passing the mantle on to younger voices, Elvis Presley “retired” as the king of rock and roll. Elvis Presley would never truly be replaced, but in his stead came several new artist that would change the world in their own way.

British Invasion

During the 1960's the youth were starting to lose faith in the leaders of their country, and found it easier and easier to accept outsiders. Then came the British. During this time America saw a new wave of music, beat, hairstyle, and fashion and these new trends led the counterculture. They did not however originate in America, but in Great Britain, Liverpool specifically, and would soon be called the beat boom. Though the Beatles were easily the most recognized, other British bands were making their voices heard as well, none more so than the band that many would refer to as the “Anti-Beatles”, the Rolling Stones.

The Rolling Stones

The two most recognized members being the only constants of the Rolling Stones were Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who wrote the majority of the bands hit songs. Jagger, Richards, and another musician friend by the name of Dick Taylor attended a popular Jazz club where they witnessed Charlie Watts on drums and Brian Jones play slide guitar. Weeks later the group had joined together and started playing music in ...