Log In
Register
10.18pm
9 March 2017
Offline
I think there needs to be thread where we label The Beatles by genre.
For me, I will do an album by album analysis, although specific songs will occasionally be mentioned, note that I consider some songs to be multiple genres:
Merseybeat
Merseybeat
Merseybeat, Folk Rock (“I’ll Cry Instead “)
Folk Rock, Merseybeat
Folk Rock, Rock, Baroque Folk Pop (“Yesterday “)
Folk Rock, Rock
Psychedelic Rock, Rock, Folk Rock (“Yellow Submarine “), Pop Rock (“Good Day Sunshine “, “Got To Get You Into My Life “), Baroque Pop (“Eleanor Rigby “, “For No One “)
Psychedelic Rock, Baroque Pop (“Fixing A Hole “, “She’s Leaving Home “), Music Hall (“When I’m 64”)
Psychedelic Rock
Only A Northern Song : Psychedelic Rock
All Together Now : Psychedelic Rock, Folk Rock
Hey Bulldog : Rock, Psychedelic Rock
It’s All Too Much : Psychedelic Rock, Rock
Rock, Blues Rock, Psychedelic Rock (“Glass Onion “, “Wild Honey Pie “, “Revolution 9 “), Folk Rock (“The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill “, “Rocky Raccoon “, “I Will “, “Cry Baby Cry “), Pop Rock (“Martha My Dear “), Baroque Pop (“Good Night “), Avant Garde (“Revolution 9 “), Music Hall (“Honey Pie “), Ska Pop (“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da “), Garage Rock (“Helter Skelter “)
Rock, Blues Rock, Pop Rock (“Here Comes The Sun “, “Golden Slumbers “, “Carry That Weight “), Progressive Rock (“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”, “Because “), Folk Rock (“Here Comes The Sun “)
Rock, Roots Rock, Pop Rock (“The Long And Winding Road “), Folk Rock (“Two Of Us “, “Across The Universe “, “Maggie Mae “), Blues (“For You Blue “)
Disc 1: Merseybeat, Rock
Disc 2: Rock, Psychedelic Rock (“Rain “, “The Inner Light “, “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)”)
The following people thank Dark Overlord for this post:
The Hole Got FixedIf you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
11.11pm
11 November 2010
Offline The Beatles’ genre is music.
The following people thank Necko for this post:
Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, Starr Shine?, WeepingAtlasCedarsI'm Necko. I'm like Ringo except I wear necklaces.
I'm also ewe2 on weekends.
Most likely to post things that make you go hmm... 2015, 2016, 2017. 
12.11am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline
The label “British Invasion” means nothing. Do you think those of us in the UK have ever referred to “British Invasion” music? Especially as it involved many different genres of music, from the Chicago-based R&B of the Stones to the comedy-pop of Herman’s Hermits and the diva ballads of Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield.
Most of your labels are retrospective, rather than considering what they were at the time.
Please Please Me and With The Beatles , for instance, were I forced to put genres on them, they would include Merseybeat, Rock and Roll, Girl Groups, Motown/R&B.
You often make your labels of things too wide, and ignore the view of the time.
“Rock” as a separate genre didn’t start until the mid-’60s, while “Classic Rock” wasn’t a term that started being used until 20-25 years later.
If you want to attach realistic genres to their music, you have to look at the labels of the time, and you cannot make them US-centric.
The Beatles NEVER recorded “British Invasion” music, that is merely a US term to describe the influx of acts from the UK who recorded many different types of music.
The following people thank Ron Nasty for this post:
The Hole Got Fixed, Flyingbrians, Ahhh Girl, Dark Overlord, Evangeline, Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars, Martha"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
To @ Ron Nasty it's @ mja6758
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
9.34am
9 March 2017
Offline I know that British invasion and classic rock aren’t proper genres but rather refer to an era of music but then again that’s what music genres are, labels referring to specific type of something, often referring to a specific era as well.
I refer to many British bands as British Invasion bands such as The Beatles (early on), The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals, etc., although each band has it’s own unique style, I refer to all of them as the same genre because they have a very similar sound, saying that She Loves You isn’t a British Invasion song would be like saying The Number Of The Beast isn’t a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal song.
When I refer to Classic Rock as a genre rather than a simplified term or era, I am referring to bands like The Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, and The Beatles final 3 albums.
As for your genre labeling of Please Please Me and With The Beatles , I can perfectly understand Merseybeat and Rock And Roll, but referring to albums made entirely by men as Girl Groups I would have to disagree with, as well as that referring to them as Motown/R&B isn’t fair because Motown is just like British Invasion and Classic Rock in that it isn’t a proper genre, but a label (in this case, a record company that makes pop songs).
But you know what, if you guys want me to use more proper genres, although I won’t be editing my first post, I will provide a very basic list here:
Please Please Me , With The Beatles , Long Tall Sally , A Hard Day’s Night , and related songs:
Merseybeat
Beatles For Sale , Help !, Rubber Soul and related songs:
Folk Rock
Revolver , Sgt. Pepper ‘s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour , Yellow Submarine , and related songs:
Psychedelic Rock
The Beatles, Abbey Road , Let It Be , and related songs:
Rock
I hope you guys enjoyed the previous list as well as this list.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
9.52am
19 January 2017
Offline Dark Overlord said
but referring to albums made entirely by men as Girl Groups I would have to disagree with
When @Ron Nasty said this i’m pretty sure that he meant that their early music was directed and enjoyed largely by girls; therefore it has nothing to do with the fact that the Beatles were a male group.
In their early work they specifically wrote songs to appeal to their female fanbase (this is mentioned, for example, in the Eight Days A Week film).
As for defining the genre of the Beatles, I think that it’s a pretty fruitless exercise. The majority of their work is so unique and vaired that there really isn’t much point. If somethings good and you enjoy listening to it then leave it at that.
The following people thank Flyingbrians for this post:
William Shears Campbell"And life flows on within you and without you" - George Harrison
10.19am
Reviewers
17 December 2012
Offline The reference to Girl Groups, @Dark Overlord, is a reference to the amount of songs they recorded that were originally done by Girl Groups. With Boys they didn’t even bother changing the gender! And while Motown is a record label, it is also regarded as a genre. Because of the use of a house band, The Funk Brothers, Motown had a very distinctive sound. Though it is true The Beatles very much Anglicised it.
Now, those are fair to argue over, but the flaw I pointed out in your labelling is still valid: the need to be more specific and not use labels that make sense to you but not others. You also need to research genres more. For instance, you refer to Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da as folk rock in your first list. It just isn’t. It’s based on early reggae coming out of Jamaica and highlife coming out of Ghana. Has nothing at all to do folk rock.
The following people thank Ron Nasty for this post:
Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars"I only said we were bigger than Rod... and now there's all this!" Ron Nasty
To @ Ron Nasty it's @ mja6758
The Beatles Bible 2020 non-Canon Poll Part One: 1958-1963 and Part Two: 1964-August 1966
10.56am
9 March 2017
Offline I don’t really listen to reggae, so I assumed that it was more of a folk rock song.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
11.33am
9 March 2017
Offline I decided to edit my first post, mainly because I didn’t get a single thanks, which is sad, hopefully you like my edited post.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
12.15pm
1 November 2013
Offline 
Please like, if I get 20 likes, I’ll sing a song and recorded it then upload on da forum.
The following people thank Starr Shine? for this post:
Necko, Evangeline, Beatlebug, The Hole Got Fixed, WeepingAtlasCedars, William Shears Campbell
1.00pm
14 February 2016
Offline
Dark Overlord said
I decided to edit my first post, mainly because I didn’t get a single thanks, which is sad, hopefully you like my edited post.
There’s more to posting than just getting thanks. You may not have got any on that post, but you started a conversation, which in my opinion is better than a billion thanks.
Besides, if you’re only posting for thanks, what’s the point?
The following people thank Evangeline for this post:
Starr Shine?, Dark Overlord, Beatlebug, BeatleSnut, WeepingAtlasCedarsI am you as you are you as you are you and you are all together.
2.16pm
9 March 2017
Offline Good point. While we’re here, I thought I’d explain why I consider Helter Skelter to be Garage Rock instead of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal.
It’s quite simple actually, Helter Skelter involves Paul and the gang playing their instruments as loudly and aggressively as possible, The Beatles are doing this so well that when Paul strums the E chord during the verses, it slightly raises pitch. This is something that garage rock bands would do, MC5 comes to mind, most known for their 1968 garage rock classic Kick Out The Jams, which reminds me of Helter Skelter due to the aggressive playing of the instruments, heavy metal is not known for this, instead being more known for it’s intricate and precise instrumentation, a band like Judas Priest or 80’s Metallica wouldn’t be just bashing on an E chord very aggressively.
Also, Helter Skelter includes piano, trumpet, and saxophone, which although would be fine in a garage rock band, those instruments pretty much never appear in a heavy metal band.
The following people thank Dark Overlord for this post:
Von Bontee, BeatlebugIf you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
5.33am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Dark Overlord said
I decided to edit my first post, mainly because I didn’t get a single thanks, which is sad, hopefully you like my edited post.
Why do you care about getting ‘thanks’? Post as you have something to say not to get applause or appreciation.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Necko, Beatlebug, WeepingAtlasCedars, BeatleSnut"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
8.28am
9 March 2017
Offline I guess so, it’s just that I really thought I did a good job on this post but you’re right, it’d be stupid of me to post just to get thanks, that’d make me a sellout.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
10.42am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Dark Overlord said
I guess so, it’s just that I really thought I did a good job on this post but you’re right, it’d be stupid of me to post just to get thanks, that’d make me a sellout.
It’s not about being a sellout, just don’t live for others approval.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Evangeline, Dark Overlord, WeepingAtlasCedars, BeatleSnut, Martha, Beatlebug"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
11.38am
14 December 2009
Offline Dark Overlord said
Good point. While we’re here, I thought I’d explain why I consider Helter Skelter to be Garage Rock instead of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal.It’s quite simple actually, Helter Skelter involves Paul and the gang playing their instruments as loudly and aggressively as possible, The Beatles are doing this so well that when Paul strums the E chord during the verses, it slightly raises pitch. This is something that garage rock bands would do, MC5 comes to mind, most known for their 1968 garage rock classic Kick Out The Jams, which reminds me of Helter Skelter due to the aggressive playing of the instruments, heavy metal is not known for this, instead being more known for it’s intricate and precise instrumentation, a band like Judas Priest or 80’s Metallica wouldn’t be just bashing on an E chord very aggressively.
I largely agree w/this (and posted something similar once). There were a number of 1968 bands playing variations of excessively loud, often blues-derived, music on overdriven guitars and drums: MC5, Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, the “Helter Skelter ” Beatles. And they’d all be lumped together under the HM umbrella years later, when the term began to be recognized, as pioneers (or at least precursors) in the genre, even as the genre itself morphed into something more formulaic. A listen to Motley Crue’s (terrible) cover of “Skelter” is illustrative.
The following people thank Von Bontee for this post:
BeatlebugPaul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
1 Guest(s)