Global Beatles Day - 25th June

Global Beatles Day is observed annually to pay tribute to the principles of The Beatles and to remember their iconic performance of All You Need Is Love on the BBC show Our World in 1967, which was broadcast to viewers worldwide. As an avid music enthusiast, I have always had a special place in my heart for The Beatles so I jumped at the opportunity to write about them for our blog. When I was much younger I was fortunate enough to hear The Beatles on rotation at home and in the car along with some of the other of my childhood favourites (AC/DC, Queen, Guns N Roses and more) and I always feel a sense of nostalgia whenever I hear one of their numerous hits. Although my tastes may have changed as I got older I always enjoy revisiting The Beatles discography as they were my gateway to many other great genres and bands.

The Beatles influence cannot be overstated, our favourite artists past and present may not be around if not for The Beatles trailblazing in the 1960s. For example, the song Helter Skelter from The White Album has inspired countless musicians across various genres, not just in rock and metal but also in alternative, punk, and even electronic music. It’s influence can be heard in the distorted guitars and primal energy of bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and The Stooges, who helped define the sound of hard rock and heavy metal in the 1970s. Bands such as Oasis, Nirvana, King Crimson, Pixies, and The Flaming Lips can all owe a lot of their sound to The Beatles as they have been influenced one way or the other by their music (especially Oasis.)

In their early years, The Beatles were known for their catchy melodies, tight harmonies, and energetic rock and roll tunes; their irreverent public personalities were considered a breath of fresh air in the music industry compared to the other popular musicians at the time. This led to the cultural phenomenon of ‘Beatlemania’ which was the name given to the female-led pandemonium surrounding the group whenever they played in front of a live audience. John, Paul, George and Ringo were met with a horde of banshee-like screams every time they played together on stage (I can only imagine how irritating this was for people who did not like The Beatles at the time!). However, as flattering as this must have been for the four, it had its downsides such as the roars from the frantic crowd being so overwhelmingly loud the band couldn’t even hear themselves playing. The band eventually stopped touring in 1966.

As The Beatles musically matured, they started implementing more complex music arrangements in their albums, this is most prevalent in the albums Rubber Soul and Revolver. These albums featured more experimentation than earlier releases using more innovative production techniques in their recording, a perfect example of this is the song Tomorrow Never Knows which was recorded using tape loops. This was done with tape machines stationed across different studios within the Abbey Road building and was overseen by technicians; each technician was responsible for monitoring a specific machine, pushing tension by manually holding a pencil within each loop.

No longer having a hectic tour schedule allowed the group to focus more on their music. The Beatles continued to push musical boundaries with albums like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The White Album. At this point in their career the band where heavily influenced by Indian classical music after visiting the country to practice transcendental meditation (Ringo left after 10 days), these influences can be found throughout this era. Sgt Pepper’s is one of my favourite Beatles albums due to a love for psychedelic rock and this album is one of the blueprints for the genre, although I am hesitant to say it’s the best!  Songs like A Day in the Life and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds blew me away when I first heard them as they are a huge left turn stylistically from the teenyboppers produced in the early 60s. Abbey Road stands out as one of the most pivotal moments in The Beatles illustrious career. Released in September 1969, it marked their 11th studio album and is regarded as a masterpiece, featuring timeless tracks like Come Together and Here Comes the Sun. For me, Abbey Road represents a culmination of The Beatles' musical journey and is my personal favourite Beatles record.

Beyond their music and style, The Beatles embodied the spirit of the 1960s counterculture. The 1960s was a time of massive upheaval, seeing a rise of new movements that rejected the traditional norms and values of the time. The Beatles were at the forefront of this, famously advocating for peace and love, and their music became anthems for this new generation. As I mentioned earlier, World Beatles Day commemorates the performance of All You Need Is Love on the BBC show Our World in 1967 and this is the perfect moment to look back on when celebrating The Beatles as it encapsulates everything the band was about. The performance occurred during the height of the counterculture movement and the Summer of Love in 1967. The message of love and unity resonated strongly with the values of the time and became emblematic of the era. The song itself was clearly not meant to be taken too seriously as a music piece but it’s simple and universal message still resonates even today. In my personal opinion The Beatles are the most important group in music history and I think their achievements will live on forever.

I would absolutely recommend The Beatles music to anyone, no matter who they are or what they like, their sound is accessible but yet so versatile that I believe there is something for everyone among their catalogue. I think despite my tastes evolving throughout the years, I will always have time for The Beatles as they are truly timeless and the music I love now would not exist without them. That’s what makes The Beatles such a great band, dare I say, the greatest of all time.

For further reading, take a look at these books about The Beatles which I think fans of all ages will enjoy.

Dan, Marketing team