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The Effects of The Beatles Legacy

Decent Essays

America in the 50’s and early 60’s was a conservative country having recently been involved in World War II and the Korean war, and now facing the rising tide of communism. Americans were missing that little bit of excitement in their lives and people were very inhibited. They needed an outlet to let their suppressed feelings out. Then came four lads from England that would soon shock the world, who called themselves the Beatles. The Beatles in the 1960’s positively impacted America by changing the music industry and American youth culture, so that young people became more politically involved, freethinking, and independent. The Beatles legacy continues to affect society today by giving the young people a voice to be heard and influencing the way they live and view society today.

Before the Beatles, music and television were heavily censored. There was still segregation in many parts of the country, and rock and roll music was in its infancy. The Beatles admired their mentor Bob Dylan and were little known in America. The critics called them the “ Yeah, Yeah, Yeah boys”(Hill) to mock them and make fun of them. The Beatles got no more than decent reviews from other countries they played for. Just before the Beatles came to America, critics and other professionals were not impressed. They believed the Beatles would only last a few months before turning into another Failed band. Newsweek magazine reported in late 1963 that the Beatles music was “A near disaster” and their

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