I don't dispute the songwriting prowess of messrs Lennon & McCartney, but I couldn't choose the Beatles if I was allowed to listen to only one band for the rest of my life. They taught me how to write songs in as much as I learned nearly every single one in my late teens, but I have grown a little tired of their music on the whole, and perhaps more importantly, I feel it's lost some of its relevance. I really wonder how well they'll stand the test of time. My nieces are 11 and 17 and I honestly don't know if they've ever heard of the Beatles, let along know any of the music. They've heard of Elvis though (I hate Elvis btw).
I'll try to illustrate this point with an example. Sgt Peppers/ I am the walrus/ Drive my car/ Strawberry Fields - all great songs, but of their time. They grow weaker with time. Although some McCartney songs are a bit more timeless, I'm thinking Eleanor Rigby/ Long & winding rd/ let it be - but the Beatles to me are summed up by the 60s. Take someone like Paul Simon - his songs have a certain sound, but I don't think they struggle to be relevant today. They're more human I think - and talk about things any generation can relate to. Of course, you could pick holes in these arguments quite easily because there's such a wide variety of songs to choose from, but I think there's a good point in there somewhere.
Sorry if this thread is going wildly off topic, but it struck me as interesting, and I got to thinking about who from the late C20th will still be relevant and popular in the middle of this century.
I also think context is very important. Andrew Lloyd Webber is more likely to stand the test of time than the Beatles in my opinion, because his music is built around a performance that doesn't require his presence or direct input. The Beatles died with John Lennon, but I bet the phantom of the opera or Evita will still be playing in the west end in 30 years time (I hate Lloyd Webber also btw :p )
Similarly, I think our assimilation of American culture since the 1980's puts the Beatles at risk of falling off the map. They were huge in the states, but they're not part of US history or culture, and only a nationalist movement could ever bring them back into focus the way they deserve. When Macca dies, they're likely be a small revival, but I wonder how quickly they'll disappear from the mainstream, and become songwriting legends like Cole Porter or Irving Berlin. Genius songwriters, but no-one listens much to their songs anymore.
The thought has occurred to me - does anyone really care about songwriting any more? I mean, listen to the music that's being pushed by the media and the industry, and it's all focused on sales. The songs are written to make money, not to be good. I'm not saying none of these songs are good, but on the whole, they're utterly forgettable, and will be forgotten quickly. The songwriter is a dying breed with no real mandate any more. Take Rufus Wainwright as an example. The man is a songwriting genius, but he's marginal in terms of success. I don't think any of his songs has ever been in a chart, and he's rarely played on the radio or tv.
I'm rambling now, so I'll stop! But it definitely warrants some discussion. What do you all think?