Are you a real Beatles fan?
by Sarah Schoonhoven

John, Ringo, Paul, and George took America by storm when they made their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in February 1964. Image courtesy of Amazon.com

Recently, I noticed that a lot more people than I would have expected listen to the Beatles. This may not seem like a big deal, as the Beatles are one of the most revolutionary musical groups in the last century, but considering that half of the band is deceased, and that their heyday was in the 1960s, it felt like quite a feat for them to still be drawing in listeners.

Do not take me wrong: I have loved the Beatles since first grade, when I first heard “Love Me Do” at a school assembly. But it seems to me that, as time goes on, more and more teenagers are turning away from current music, at least partially, and nodding to the past. I have no problem with this; this music has defined generations, and that cultural difference between those generations and ours is something to be explored, for sure. Yet I can’t help but feeling that some people just listen to the Beatles to earn themselves musical “brownie points” in order to make themselves appear more cultural and intelligent when it comes to music.

Therefore, I propose a test. Not a difficult test, but a very revealing one. If a person can pass this test, he/she officially listens to the Beatles, but and to some of the best bands of the past. This passing person can officially be titled a person with good taste in music. So, what would it take to pass the test?

Firstly, does the person listen to Justin Bieber or the Jonas Brothers? This is generally the first sign of a lost soul. I am sure that there is a Bieber/Beatles fan somewhere in the world; but other than that person, generally speaking, the two categories do not mix. The differences between the Rock-n-Roll that created most of today’s modern music and a group of brothers that have very little talent at all are great, and most people, whether they want to admit it or not, see that.

Secondly, what other older artists does the person listen to? If they cannot identify Queen (“Bohemian Rhapsody,” any song from “Tommy”), The Who (“Teenage Wasteland,” “Who Are You”), or Led Zeppelin (“Immigrant Song,” “Stairway to Heaven”), they are clearly a poser. However, if they listen to the Rolling Stones (“Red Door,” “Angie”), the Cream (“Sunshine of Your Love,”, “Pressed Rat and Warthog”), Journey (“Don’t Stop Believing”), or the Doors (“People are Strange”), then they probably will pass the test.

A poster of one of the Beatles’ iconic album covers. Image courtesy of Amazon.com

Finally, what is the person’s favorite Beatles song? If they choose an over popular title like “Hey Jude” or “Let it Be,” then they do not earn any points. But if they choose a song like “I Will” or “Till There was You,” they stand a chance. If they choose something from the “White Album,” such as “Piggies,” “Honey Pie,” or “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill,” they are on the cusp. But if they reply that they could never choose a favorite Beatles song, because they vary so greatly that they should not even be compared with one another, then you have on your hands a great Beatles fan.

What if your answers prove you to be less than a Beatles fan? Have no fears. There is still time to truly discover one of the best bands of all time. The music selections above should give any listener a good taste of the Beatles and leave him asking for more. So take the challenge, and become a better Beatles fan; an entire generation before us will thank you.