Would the Beatles still shake the music scene if they came out today?

I would like to put out a challenge that if the Beatles came out today, like they did back in 1963, they would still kick everbody's butts musically.

any takers?

While the Beatles were highly sucessful, there musical ability pales in comparison to several bands now and in the post-Beatle past.

No Beatle could attempt to rival modern musicians. Modern musicians play faster and more complex pieces. I can name a laundry list of bands that can just straight up out play the Beatles, instrumentally. Led Zeppelin is one I would personally note.

Just listen to a Beatles song and compare the musicianship with a talented band of your choice from the post-Beatles era and the difference is clear.

Not until the Beatles hit the hippy phase did their song writing become anything worth noting. None of the Beatles had any song-writing talent with the exception of John Lennon, and that was way after '63.

I don't see anyway in which The Beatles could compete musically with most bands. While I like them personally, I don't see how anyone can argue that they are somehow more musically talented or advanced. The Beatles inspired the work of countless bands after them. So, it would follow that those bands built on The Beatles ground work.

I'm not really sure exactly what you are arguing, but I'll just await your response. Thanks and good luck.

I thank you for your answer. I must also say that the Beatles did not become the greatest band in the world for nothing. There are countless bands back then and now, that would not have existed if not for the Beatles. the Rolling Stones, The Byrds, bands more recent that cited the Beatles as their inspiration, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Radiohead etc. They not only influenced music, but fashion, thinking, and the ability to sing about anything in life and make it with a sound EVERYBODY could listen to. All 4 of them had hit singles while they were the Beatles, I challenge you to find any band where each member of a group had a # 1 single while still in the same band. They broke boundary's nobody thought was possible and bands still copy them today.

After your rebuttal, I will tell you how.

thank you.

I don't know how the topic of debate shifted so dramatically. I am not arguing the profound impact of the band. That can't be doubted. Your opening argument and the topic of the debate was "if the Beatles came out today, like they did back in 1963, they would still kick everbody's butts musically."

I don't see how The Beatles undoubtedly profound impact on the world has any relevance to the topic at hand. I argue that The Beatles pale in comparison to bands now MUSICALLY.

No doubt The Beatles where insanely popular, but that does not equate to musical ability. People like Jay-Z and 50 Cent sell more records than most bands. Would we call them more musically talented?

Again, the fact that each member had a hit single is irrelevant. Popularity and musical ability are not analogous. If it were, pop culture would most certainly be worshipping a different group of stars.

I'm not arguing that the Beatles are god-awful. I actually like their music. But, bands now and moreso after The Beatles, are more musically talented. The Beatles sound is simple and melodic, on the whole, which is why it served such a broad audience. Musicians now are simply better instrumentally and vocally.

So, I urge you to migrate back to the topic of the debate in your next round and prove that the Beatles are more MUSICALLY talented than bands that followed or bands now. You haven't given me any reason thus far to think that is the case, other than their immense popularity.

What I was trying to do, was tie everything together into a neat package. Listen even you must admit that the quality of music has gone wayyyy down in the past couple of decades. I guarantee you that, if the Beatles came out today, there would not be a band that would come even close to their unique talent. Even if you do manage to find any, there is no way they would have even the slightest impact the Beatles did. The Beatles were one of a kind, which is a reason they are STILL more popular than these bands today.

So go ahead and name bands that would have even been in the Beatles shadow today. Since you already stated that bands nowadays sound better than the Beatles did, you don't have to worry about naming any other 60's, 70's or maybe even 80's bands.

thank you.

I agree. The quality of music has gone down in recent times. But, that doesn't mean The Beatles would compete today.

The Beatles were groundbreakers. But, that was in the sixties. They inspired decades of rock because of their unique talent. But, there talent is no longer unique. The Beatles could never play as fast or as intricately as hardcore musicians today. Look at the tabs to a Beatles song and compare them to the tabs from a Muse song and tell me any of the Beatles could play it. They were groundbreakers in the day, but music has evolved and bands now play faster and more intricately.

I don't argue the Beatles weren't revolutionary or extremely popular. But, they are in no way musically comparable to bands that followed them. None of the Beatles could play like musicians today.

If The Beatles appeared now, without their prior success, they would be a dud. Their slow pace and melodic sound would be laughed out of popular culture, sad to say. It has been said that if the Mona Lisa walked into a modeling agency, she would be sent to a plastic surgeon. The same is true of The Beatles. Perhaps it is due to their profound inspiration so many decades ago, but bands now have progressed farther, MUSICALLY, than the Beatles.

Again, this isn't an argument over their popularity and impact, but musicianship. Musicians now, while nowhere near as popular, are simply better musicians, instrumentally, lyrically and vocally. Your arguments are ones of popularity and notoriety, rather than musicianship. The Beatles sound was unique then, but wouldn't catch the ear of people now.