# The Beatles Are The Best. Yes or No ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521 "2010-11-22T05:22:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/21 "2010-11-22T15:24:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Best musical entity of the modern era. I’d have a hard time claiming they were better than Bach or Mozart. This is what I was thinking when I clicked “yes” on the poll before reading the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/22 "2010-11-22T15:26:34Z")
I’m a huge Beatles fan, and have loved them all my life\*, but even I wouldn’t call them the “best”–if only because there’s no such thing as the “best” in music. You may take the obligatory Pete Best joke as read. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/23 "2010-11-22T15:45:17Z")
Shoot, I missed the whole “in the history of all music” thing. No, they aren’t better than Beethoven. They are the best rock band, though. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/24 "2010-11-22T15:46:09Z")
The Beatles are one of the worst abominations ever to fall upon the world of music. I hold them most responsible for turning the music industry into what it is today, where so much quality music gets overlooked for monotonous radio-friendly garbage. Yes, they had some catchy tunes and moderate talent, but their musical and lyrical “genius” is so far beyond overrated that the English language lacks the word to describe it. Unfortunately, they just happened to be in the right place at the right time and, had they not risen to prominence, another nearly identical band would have have done so. So, yeah, I voted no, for lack of a third option that expresses my contempt for their existence. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/25 "2010-11-22T17:38:38Z")
Best? I don’t even particularly LIKE them. How in the hell does HALF of the dope think they’re the best??? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/26 "2010-11-22T17:54:36Z")
I voted “yes” figuring there would be tons of backlash, even though my opinion basically accords with many others… best rock/pop band ever, not better than Mozart. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/27 "2010-11-22T17:55:21Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Best? I don’t even particularly LIKE them. How in the hell does HALF of the dope think they’re the best??? they vote for whatever makes a good race. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/28 "2010-11-22T17:58:15Z")
Well, based on records sold and number one hits the rest of the planet apparently agrees. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/29 "2010-11-22T18:11:04Z")
The Beatles are the best and always will be. The universe is such as it is in order for the Beatles to have existed. This is know as the MopTopThropic Principle. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/30 "2010-11-22T18:17:36Z")
No. Elvis Presley was. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/31 "2010-11-22T18:24:59Z")
In what way were they the best? I can think of songwriters as influential, performers who were better, others who were more innovative. Put them in a collective, but not above. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/32 "2010-11-22T18:27:18Z")
I just tipped it back to the “NO” side. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/33 "2010-11-22T18:38:47Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Just another thing the babyboomers cram down our throats that we’re supposed to like. We crammed them down our parents throats and our grandparents throats too. And we’ll be damned if we don’t cram them down your throats and your kids’ after that. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/34 "2010-11-22T18:43:27Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > Just another thing the babyboomers cram down our throats that we’re supposed to like. I’m not even close to being a baby boomer, but I voted “yes” in this poll. However, that “yes” was based on the question I had in my head, not the question in the poll, so I might have to change the answer. I do think they are the best best popular music act of the rock era and beyond. But best musical act anywhere, anytime, any genre? That’s an impossible question to answer. I would vote “no” for that, but I would vote “no” for any possible musician or group of musicians suggested. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/35 "2010-11-22T19:04:51Z")
Hell yes. Wow, that was easy! As much as I love Mozart and Beethoven and Bach, the Beatles are my personal “best in show” as far as enjoyment and variety. Not a baby boomer, btw. I wish people would stop assuming that those who disagree with them are being deluded or sold a bill of goods. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/36 "2010-11-22T19:08:51Z")
They aren’t my personal favorite band. But I’m not passionate enough to argue with anyone who wants to claim that the Beatles were the best band of many generations. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/37 "2010-11-22T19:12:49Z")
I personally prefer The Rolling Stones, or Led Zepplin, or The Who, or Pink Floyd, or U2 to the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/38 "2010-11-22T19:17:12Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > In what way were they the best? > > I can think of songwriters as influential, performers who were better, others who were more innovative. Let’s hear some names. I’d say “best” for rock/pop, but Louis Armstrong was easily the most important musical artist of the 20th century. And as others have mentioned, music didn’t start there. ---
**Author:** ![vdgg81](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@vdgg81](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vdgg81)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/39 "2010-11-23T17:46:35Z")
I voted “yes” but stand along with all the other people who had reservations. They’re IMO by far the best thing in the pop/rock genre, but I wouldn’t know how to compare them to Miles Davis, Tom Jobim, Duke Ellington, Bach, Mozart, Verdi, etc… So… they’re the best in what they did, but not in the whole of music. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521/40 "2010-11-23T20:23:52Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > The Beatles are one of the worst abominations ever to fall upon the world of music. I hold them most responsible for turning the music industry into what it is today, where so much quality music gets overlooked for monotonous radio-friendly garbage. Yes, they had some catchy tunes and moderate talent, but their musical and lyrical “genius” is so far beyond overrated that the English language lacks the word to describe it. Unfortunately, they just happened to be in the right place at the right time and, had they not risen to prominence, another nearly identical band would have have done so. > > So, yeah, I voted no, for lack of a third option that expresses my contempt for their existence. Who do you vote for, then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-the-best-yes-or-no/561521.md?page=3)