# Last American Idol's 'pop-single' Better than the Beatles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218 "2003-01-22T15:10:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/1 "2003-01-22T15:10:36Z")
The Question says it all. I flipped back and forth last night between American Idol - I like how vulgar and rude Simon is to some of the Auditioners - and some discovery program. But at the end they did a expose on Kelly, last years American Idol Winner. They said that her single went from 53rd to first in under a week. They went on to say that her single was more popular than the Beatles music when they were climbing the charts. To me this poll is bogus. It is most likely correct, but they negated to say that in the 60’s when the Beatles debuted there were fewer people in the USA and fewer still with media sources to hear the music. So that poll was bullsh\*t, and at the same time true. There are just more people, population wise, now in the USA and a lot more listening to the radio or watching TV… But when all s said and done, the Beatles are of course much more famous than Kelly - whatever her last name is. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/2 "2003-01-22T17:30:39Z")
They’re not saying Kelly Clarkson\>Beatles (which reminds me of when John Lennon said more people had heard of the Beatles than Jesus). They’re saying Kelly can jump higher than the Fab Four. In 1964, _Can’t Buy Me Love_ jumped from Number 27 to Number 1 in a week. _A Moment Like This_ jumped from 52 to 1 in a week. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/3 "2003-01-22T17:32:37Z")
Look, it’s not as if they lied. Kelly’s record DID move up the charts faster than any Beatle record did. That doesn’t prove she’s better or more popular than the Beatles were in their prime, obviously, so there’s no reason for you to get so outraged. Things change. Popular tastes change. Conditions in the marketplace change. Today, Americans go to the movies far less often than they did in 1939. Look, if you measured sales and box office receipts in constant dollars (allowing for inflation) and adjusted for the increased U.S. population, it’s entirely possible you’d find that “Gone With the Wind” was a much bigger hit than “Titanic.” Or you might find that Elvis Presley’s debut album was more popular than “The Eagles’ Greatest Hits.” Heck, if you adjusted for the way the game of baseball has changed, you might even find that Babe Ruth’s 60 homers in 1927 were far more impressive than Barry Bonds’ 70 two years ago. But the fact remains: “Titanic” is the #1 grossing movie of all time, “The Eagles’ Greatest Hits” is the top-selling album of all time, and Barry Bonds holds the all time record for homers in one season. And Kelly Clarkson’s single shot up the Billboard charts faster than any Beatle single. Those are facts. They may or may not mean much. Take them for what they’re worth. ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/4 "2003-01-22T19:05:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > **…if you adjusted for the way the game of baseball has changed, you might even find that Babe Ruth’s 60 homers in 1927 were far more impressive than Barry Bonds’ 70 two years ago.** Bonds hit 73 homers. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/5 "2003-01-23T04:12:36Z")
I believe _Gone with the Wind_ is at the top of the list for tickets sold. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/6 "2003-01-23T05:07:47Z")
Mobo85: “A Moment Like This jumped from 52 to 1 in a week.” Kelly Clarkson sang that song? I thought Mariah Carey did. Oh my… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/7 "2003-01-23T12:37:58Z")
Yeah, and Ford sold more Pintos than Checrolet did Corvettes. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/8 "2003-01-23T14:04:16Z")
The real question is: Has she sold more records than Slim Whitman? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/9 "2003-01-23T15:26:38Z")
The counterpoint is that singles were much, much more popular in the Beatles era. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-american-idols-pop-single-better-than-the-beatles/150218/10 "2003-01-23T17:28:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jurhael \* > \*\*Kelly Clarkson sang that song? I thought Mariah Carey did. Oh my… \*\* Nope. _A Moment Like This_ and _Before Your Love_ were specifically written for _American Idol_. On the final episode, both Clarkson and Justin Guarini sang them plus another song as the final chance to let the people decide which one would become the winner.