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2.26am
17 March 2012
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I have just discovered that Big Time Rush, a popular “boy band” now a days, has been covering Beatles songs. Apparently they say they love the Beatles, but comments on YouTube say otherwise.
2.47am
19 September 2010
Offline Actually, I think the quality of the covers needs be viewed in relation to everything else of today, not the original. But I think that if a band advocates for a listen of the original, then I’m fine. In live concert, do they acknowledge that it’s a Beatles song? If so, I respect that. But, there is a downside, that is if someone hears the Big Time Rush version of a song, they might rule out that song for good, and even maybe the Beatles for good, merely because BTR likes them. You never know.
Also, this generation has plenty of good music – go and find it. Don’t write us off because of Bieber, count us in on Florence and the Machine.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
7.01pm
13 November 2011
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Thank John, someone else did this before me! I heard the covers in a commercial, and I saw the band walking across the street with their legs swaying in unison, sound familiar…. maybe Abbey Road ?
"Time wounds all heels."
-John Lennon
7.02pm
13 November 2011
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I forgot to make it clear that I think they have ruined the songs, which I thought was next to impossible. I hate this band and basically all others of this era, and this is my generation.
"Time wounds all heels."
-John Lennon
10.02pm
7 November 2010
Offline Not Big Time Rush, but I know there are similar points to be argued about One Direction. They’re being mentioned as “the next Beatles”; young British boyband, have posed on a zebra crossing, say they’re Beatles fans, etc.
But in a recent interview, Paul said:
“(That’s the) kiss of death. So many bands, they all get called the next Beatles. It puts an awful lot of pressure on them to be the next Beatles. Oasis were the next Beatles once, if you remember. It’s pressure because suddenly you have got to live up to all the things that we did. It was a different time back then. So let’s just call them the next terrific band.”
That’s why I don’t get annoyed at this sort of thing. The Beatles set the benchmark for what a band can achieve, and they continue to have an effect on the music industry, yet neither of these bands, nor any other, will be able to surpass the impact that The Beatles made. Comparisons with these younger bands are kind of inevitable, but kind of pointless.
And covers don’t really bother me either. IMO, the originals will always be the best, but it’s always nice to hear another musician’s take on a song. If Big Time Rush doing covers means that a new fan base are listening to The Beatles music, then that has to be a positive. And as I say, The Beatles continue to have an influence in nearly every genre of music, so of course people are going to want to make tributes to them. I know that if I was a musician, I’d want to cover The Beatles. (Although my complete lack of musical ability will prevent that from ever happening, I’m sure.)
I think it's great you're going through a phase, and I'm awfully glad it'll all be over in a couple of days
2020
10.51pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Nearly every band that has had any big success has been labelled ‘the next beatles’ or some such tag. Quite simply they are not. One Direction will be gone and forgotten in 4/5 years (young girls will be trying to hunt me down and set about me). Remember Westlife? Once being hailed and have something like 13 #1’s, now gone and forgotten by many. Take That are another, admittedly still together and performing but nowhere near as big as they once were and little impact outside of their fanbase. Its pure hype.
I fall inside the ruining beatles songs camp and ask that the covers, of which 98% are dreadful, are outlawed with the sentence being a week of listening to failed auditionee’s tapes. Im all in favour of covers by artists who know the songs and listen to the acts but not shows where they are given a cd the week before and have to go listen and learn the song before tearing it to shreds and making the song beg for mercy and dear life.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
11.11pm
23 October 2011
Offline Who knows, someone may listen to them, say “I love these songs!”, then listen to the original. But… do they say they didn’t write them? Oh no oh no oh no, I’m imagining a bunch of teenagers going “Wow! These songs are amazing! I love Big Time Rush!” because they don’t realize those songs are Beatles songs…! 
I am very happy, and one reason is because I have The Beatles. Thank you!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
12.45am
13 November 2011
Offline RevolvingPiggies said
Who knows, someone may listen to them, say “I love these songs!”, then listen to the original. But… do they say they didn’t write them? Oh no oh no oh no, I’m imagining a bunch of teenagers going “Wow! These songs are amazing! I love Big Time Rush!” because they don’t realize those songs are Beatles songs…!
Exactly what I was thinking. And because the fangirls are too busy screaming to actually listen to these guys, even if they acknowledge that it’s a Beatles song, the fans wouldn’t be paying attention.
"Time wounds all heels."
-John Lennon
4.01am
7 November 2010
Offline meanmistermustard said
I fall inside the ruining beatles songs camp and ask that the covers, of which 98% are dreadful, are outlawed with the sentence being a week of listening to failed auditionee’s tapes. Im all in favour of covers by artists who know the songs and listen to the acts but not shows where they are given a cd the week before and have to go listen and learn the song before tearing it to shreds and making the song beg for mercy and dear life.
Is it just me, or are mmm’s metaphors getting a lot more graphic recently?!
I think it's great you're going through a phase, and I'm awfully glad it'll all be over in a couple of days
2020
6.44am
1 May 2010
Offline I can’t say that I’ve heard any of these covers, but I’m sure they’re pretty awful. Still, I think the question is interesting because it’s almost like what’s the price we have to pay (figuratively) to bring these songs to a new generation? Music is an evolution, the greatest songs of all time have already been written. I just can’t see any songs coming along nowadays that have the same melodic perfection as a Stardust or Georgia on My Mind or the lyrical tapestry of a Just Like a Woman or the Boxer. Certainly great music can and is still being made, but the rules and the game have changed. Melody and lyrics aren’t valued by the younger generation and really haven’t been valued since maybe the 60’s. The only way that this generation can change the music scene is by looking back and also looking in other cultures. I’ve been working out a lot of Scottish and Irish songs on guitar recently and they have some of the richest and most fulfilling melodies I’ve ever heard.
But to the point, the greatest songs have already been written and it’s the duty of every musician to keep these songs alive, whether they are a concert pianist or a boy band member. You can’t really cover the Beatles perfectly, you’re never going to duplicate the magic of Strawberry Fields, but you can put you’re own spin on the song and maybe that will trigger something in the listeners brain. Every time a new song comes out, an old classic is forgotten which is a shame because the truly great songs need to be preserved. Won’t you help to sing? Bob Marley said it best.
So I guess I have a conflicting view, yes the songs need to be kept alive, but at what price? Some lame boy band doesn’t necessarily need to be at the front of the pack in terms of artists covering songs. I think remixes are interesting, I recently listened to a Billie Holiday remix cd that was pretty inventive but at the same time a bit lame because it was done exclusively by DJs and you know how DJs get but I thought the intentions were still good. I really think there’s a lot of room for creativity using that sort of electronic format with some of these great songs which would serve the dual purpose of keeping the integredy of the song but also bringing a song up to speed with some of the cool stuff going on now. I’d take the band Ratatat as a template because they have really gorgeous melodies that they fit into these electronica type songs which is really really interesting. Ah well, looks like I’m rambling.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
10.47pm
7 November 2010
Offline GniknuS said
I can’t say that I’ve heard any of these covers, but I’m sure they’re pretty awful. Still, I think the question is interesting because it’s almost like what’s the price we have to pay (figuratively) to bring these songs to a new generation?
TBF covers aren’t the only way to bring the music to a new generation. The September ’09 reissues and Rock Band game did exactly what they were intended to do. I know a lot of fans around my age who started getting into them around that point. And in the last few years I’ve heard Beatles songs increasingly in TV shows and movies. I think their music is still very much in the public conciousness.
I think it's great you're going through a phase, and I'm awfully glad it'll all be over in a couple of days
2020
7.24pm
1 December 2009
Offline 
I have to say I deliberately misread this thread title as “I hate Rush big time for ruining Beatles songs!”, a misread which Mr. Sun King (if no one else) should find amusing.
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
7.48pm
1 May 2010
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Hahahaha you were not the only one LOL!!
Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……
Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…
Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.
Beware of Darkness…
9.08pm
23 October 2011
Offline kelicopter said
TBF covers aren’t the only way to bring the music to a new generation. The September ’09 reissues and Rock Band game did exactly what they were intended to do. I know a lot of fans around my age who started getting into them around that point. And in the last few years I’ve heard Beatles songs increasingly in TV shows and movies. I think their music is still very much in the public conciousness.
True! Just yesterday I heard Good Day Sunshine on a commercial, forgot what for… my brother started screaming and dragged me over while I was in the middle of baking Yellow Submarine cookies
I am very happy, and one reason is because I have The Beatles. Thank you!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
1.15am
19 September 2010
Offline Von – if only!!! Thank you for that – great laugh!
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
1.44am
17 March 2012
Offline Big Time Rush’s covers definitely did not live up to my expectations; I was hoping they would stay truer to the originals, but they took the tempo of Revolution , one of the FASTEST Beatles songs, and practically DOUBLED it. I could barely even tell what the man was saying!
I agree with you Mr. Sun King Coming Together, that there is GOOD music to this generation, but most of my peers are oblivious to it, that was my point. Most people in high school and college listen to bands like Florence + The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, and Arcade Fire, etc., but the kids in my grade listen to Justin Bieber and Mindless Behaviour.
By the way, most bands say they love the Beatles just to seem legitiment, but I would say a good half of the younger bands have never even heard I Want To Hold Your Hand!
2.55am
23 October 2011
Offline LennonCloset said
Big Time Rush’s covers definitely did not live up to my expectations; I was hoping they would stay truer to the originals, but they took the tempo of Revolution , one of the FASTEST Beatles songs, and practically DOUBLED it. I could barely even tell what the man was saying!I agree with you Mr. Sun King Coming Together, that there is GOOD music to this generation, but most of my peers are oblivious to it, that was my point. Most people in high school and college listen to bands like Florence + The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, and Arcade Fire, etc., but the kids in my grade listen to Justin Bieber and Mindless Behaviour.
By the way, most bands say they love the Beatles just to seem legitiment, but I would say a good half of the younger bands have never even heard I Want To Hold Your Hand!
maybe, if so I feel sorry for them! I saw a picture of JB with a Beatles sweater, and one of him and Ringo and some blonde girl I don’t know…
I am very happy, and one reason is because I have The Beatles. Thank you!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
11.11pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I think my opinion has changed somewhat over this. Whilst the covers are more than likely dreadful with zero soul or emotion these bands are getting the beatles out to the kiddies which can only be good. Even if just now its just another song the name beatles will come up and the song will remain in their heads. Later on they start seaching itunes, youtube or wherever, come across beatles make the connection and off they go simply from curiosity. And then the quality of the beatles music kicks in.
Big Time Rush even had a film with an agent called Penny Lane and something about a beetle (thanks wiki). Its just insane that this kind of thing is getting into youngers lifes at such a young age.
Its actually a very clever cunning strategy, one that Clang would have very proud of.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
11.22pm
16 August 2012
Offline I just asked my kids who the hell Big Time Rush are. They have no clue.
I don’t think that whatever this pseudo boy band is, is going to sway any 12-year-olds’ opinion about the Beatles or anything else for that matter. It’s inconsequential fluff with zero nutritional value, no matter what classic acts they cover.
I’d suggest we don’t go looking for the magic bullet of musical appreciation here, folks. It’s not like the 16-year-old dummies who liked the atrocious auto-tuned “Across The Universe ” movies became hardcore Beatle fans…
E is for 'Ergent'.
11.48pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I dont think it sways them at 12, at that age i doubt they will care, but later on in their lives beatles will come up and then the connection is made. They might not be hardcore but thats not the big end game; its getting their music known and passing it on down the line so its still listened to. However some will.
I’ve never heard of Big Time Rush and it was wiki that brought their name up under its entry for I Want To Hold Your Hand but the beatles music is getting out there, into the ears of teens and younger albeit covers. I dont think that should be underestimated or passed off as insignificant, one of those things. As i have done. Not that i think the covers are any good but then its thankfully not aimed at me.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
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