Social and Historical Context

The first years of the band

The band was officially formed in 1960; however, it did not publish its first album until 1963. During these three years, the components of the band (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best) travelled from Liverpool to Germany searching an opportunity in the musical scene.

During their stay in Hamburg, the band played in many pubs and clubs obtaining a success increasingly higher. The first appearances of the band on the stage were described by some critics as wild or chaotic because the members of the band do not follow any kind of rules: they ate, smoked or drank in the stage which was something not seen until that moment.

However, the songs of the band had an undeniable quality and their popularity increased. TheBeatles’ songs were pervaded by Beat Music that is characterized by a strong and marked rhythm in the melody. They also adopt a characteristic style in their hair and clothes that made them recognizable from other bands. 

In 1963, after the leaving of Stuart Sutcliffe and Peter Best and the incorporation of Ringo Starr as drummer, the band released its first album Please, please me. Their music caused a great impact on the youngest people because it supposed a break point in the musical styles of that moment. Those facts joined to their unexpected image provoked that many people recognize in them an icon.

The songs of the first album became hits in UK so the manager of the band decided to release the band in the United States.

“British invasions”

The popularity of The Beatles increased enormously in UK as in US so the band travelled to the United States. A huge number of fans were waiting for the band since they landed in the airport, and that great number of fans was increasing as they offered different concerts or interviews.

Its CD’s occupied the first positions of the best seller albums and their success was so enormous that thousands of fans followed them wherever they go. It started what nowadays known as Beatlemania.

Beatlemania

In 1964, after the massive attendance to their contexts, the media began to name that fan phenomenon as Beatlemania.

The band filled stadiums in their concerts and they became famous around the world. That success wherever they go promoted an international tour that consolidated them as one of the greatest bands of that moment being.

The Beatles in cinemas

The Beatles continued taking advantage of their fame and in 1964 they filmed their first motion picture, named “A hard day’s night”. The film helped to reinforce their youngish and not-worried image so characteristic. 

The Beatles’ criticism from US

However, not all the critics to the band were positive. In 1966, John Lennon’s declaration about their popularity was severely criticized, especially in US. He said “We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity" caused a great impact and provoked that many conservative people promoted a campaign against the band, convincing people of do not buy their albums.
Finally, that negative criticism stopped without major consequences.

Summer of love

It was an important hippie festival that took place in San Francisco. The importance of the festival was the social movement that it represented; it surged as a counterculture movement against the war conflicts of that moment. The Beatles was one of the bands that played in the festival becoming their songs and music as hymns of freedom and love.

The last stage of the band

Due to the uncertain conditions of their concerts, The Beatles decided to focus on their studio albums instead of their massive actuations. From 1966, the band began to record its last albums, experimenting with new sounds and styles. In 1970, Paul McCartney announced the end of the band due to the discrepancies that the members of the group had. 

Other influential British bands: “The Rolling Stones”

It is undeniable the debate about which band was more relevant at that time and the belief that the styles of the two bands were antagonists. 

“The Beatles” and “The Rolling Stones” share many similarities that it is inevitable to compare them. 

Whilst the first ones had the image of “good boys”, “The rolling stones” represent the wildest part of the Rock ’n’ Roll. The debate about which band was better has arrived until our days, although there is not a clear response to that question.

Works Cited 

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“The Beatles | Biography.” AllMusic. N. p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. 
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“50 Years Since Beatles Tour.” Zak, Dan. dailyrecord. N. p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. 
Cohen, S. “More Than the Beatles: Popular Music, Tourism and Urban Regeneration.” (1997): 71–90. 
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“The Beatles Bible - Live: International Amphitheatre, Chicago.” The Beatles Bible. N. p., n.d. Web. 20 
Mar. 2014. 
 “The Beatles Vs. the Rolling Stones - Classic Rock’s Greatest Debates.”Ultimate Classic Rock. N. p., 
n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. 
“The Pop History Dig » Beatles American Concert Tour 1964.” N. p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. 
“Summer of Love Concert Features Popular Tunes from 1967-69.”Atria, Richard. Gainesville.com. N. p., 
n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.