Which Band Was the American Beatles?
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Did the Monkees write some of their own songs? The Beatles wrote all of theirs. And weren't deliberately "manufactured" for a zany t.v. show (granted the show was based on "A Hard Day's Night"!). Assembled on a cattle call. Michael Nesmith could always play and write songs, right? Did the Monkees have any rock songs or were they all pop songs? They're able to carry on touring now even without Davy Jones, because Mickey Dolenz sang lead a lot. He had a good singing voice. How about "America" produced by former Beatles producer George Martin! They didn't put out a whole lot of albums, did they and most of their songs were folk rock or country rock? Neil Young and Crazy Horse? a little? Tom Petty and his band, a little?
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SusyLuvsPaul:
How about "America" produced by former Beatles producer George Martin! They didn't put out a whole lot of albums, did they and most of their songs were folk rock or country rock?
While America is a great band with great music, they aren't 'American' per se. More 'English-American' as the band was formed in London while 2 of the founding members (Beckley and Peek) were born in the US but moved to England, while Bunnell was born in England (all 3 were children of born of British mothers with American military personnel fathers stationed in London). The band growing, playing and rising in England (with later albums recorded in the US). so they don't qualify as 'American'
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maybe Nirvana (in Terms of cultural Impact)... but really, i think there was never ever an american beatles
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SusyLuvsPaul:
Did the Monkees write some of their own songs? The Beatles wrote all of theirs. And weren't deliberately "manufactured" for a zany t.v. show (granted the show was based on "A Hard Day's Night"!). Assembled on a cattle call. Michael Nesmith could always play and write songs, right? Did the Monkees have any rock songs or were they all pop songs? They're able to carry on touring now even without Davy Jones, because Mickey Dolenz sang lead a lot. He had a good singing voice. How about "America" produced by former Beatles producer George Martin! They didn't put out a whole lot of albums, did they and most of their songs were folk rock or country rock? Neil Young and Crazy Horse? a little? Tom Petty and his band, a little?
At first The Monkees did not write all their songs, though Nesmith did from the beginning. Then from Headquarters on they forced the record company to let them record their own material. They took it into their own hands and did their best work. They learned that from The Beatles too. Yes, they were picked to be "Monkees" by TV executives but they rebelled and tried to be their own men. You have to at least hand it to them for that. Cool
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WixRocks!:
beatlesfanrandy:
WixRocks!:
beatlesfanrandy:
Good topic! I'd say The Monkees were the American Beatles, since their whole existence was based on The Beatles in A Hard Day's Night.
Yes but...they didn't actually do anything...
ops:
They were the top selling group in the world in 1967, sold millions of records, incited Monkeemania on tour to rival Beatlemania, and made a hit TV show to boot. That it only lasted 3 years is beside the point. Their records still sell now, and they still have a huge following.
It's only comparable to The Beatles because it tried to recreate The Beatles. It was manufactured, not natural.
Nobody said the group couldn't be "manufactured!" Look at One Erection er...Direction. Weren't they manufactured too?
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Isn't Mike Nesmith that guy who was the son of the woman who created liquid paper?... Yeah, I've heard of him.... Apparently, he was in The Monkees too... Wouldn't want to be buying shares in an "email" generation, but they must have cleaned up at the time. Big.
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toris:
Isn't Mike Nesmith that guy who was the son of the woman who created liquid paper?... Yeah, I've heard of him.... Apparently, he was in The Monkees too... Wouldn't want to be buying shares in an "email" generation, but they must have cleaned up at the time. Big.
Yes, Mike's mom invented liquid paper and made a fortune. He's coming to my neck of the woods to do a concert tonight! And yes, he was a Monkee.
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Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young? They didn't put out many albums, though. Not many at all.
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although CSN (&Y) is 'American' as a unit/band, Graham Nash is English
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I'm with Wix on this one, The Monkees are a somewhat acceptable comparison on the surface but that was because they were manufactured to appear like The Beatles. Underneath the surface they aren't even similar. It's a rather superficial and shallow comparison to make.
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How about The Knack? Remember them anyone? Or The Shoes? Named after John and Paul's answer about how the band got its name. JOHN: "It means Beatles, doesn't it. But that's just a name, you know, like shoe." PAUL: The Shoes, you see? We could have been called The Shoes for all you know."
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cfergoid:
I'm with Wix on this one, The Monkees are a somewhat acceptable comparison on the surface but that was because they were manufactured to appear like The Beatles. Underneath the surface they aren't even similar. It's a rather superficial and shallow comparison to make.
Just to be clear, I was actually kidding when I wrote their name down, hence the
after my post.
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I know. I thought you
were funny and clever, Nancy
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Anyone would think the Beatles were American, the way some claim them as their own!
I honestly don't think that any band, American or otherwise, have come close. There have been some bands with massive followings, but it's evident that The Beatles are unique in terms of talent and universal popularity. Bands who have come closest, however, are probably The Beach Boys (in terms of creativity) and The Eagles (in terms of sales and universal international popularity). If there was any other band close, in terms of talent and popularity, it would be other UK bands, either The Rolling Stones or Queen. It's clear, though, that The Beatles really were a one off.
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I was going to agree with The Monkees answer but then Davy Jones not being originally from America kinda makes me think The Beach Boys is more of an answer to the question.
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simplyrahil:
although CSN (&Y) is 'American' as a unit/band, Graham Nash is English
Which doesn't even matter. They are no where near the Beatles.
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Jeff Lynne's Beard:
Anyone would think the Beatles were American, the way some claim them as their own!
I honestly don't think that any band, American or otherwise, have come close. There have been some bands with massive followings, but it's evident that The Beatles are unique in terms of talent and universal popularity. .... It's clear, though, that The Beatles really were a one off.
Nuff said.
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oobu24:
simplyrahil:
although CSN (&Y) is 'American' as a unit/band, Graham Nash is English
Which doesn't even matter. They are nowhere near the Beatles.
exactly
was just highlighting that in response to:
SusyLuvsPaul:
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young? They didn't put out many albums, though. Not many at all.
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simplyrahil:
oobu24:
simplyrahil:
although CSN (&Y) is 'American' as a unit/band, Graham Nash is English
Which doesn't even matter. They are nowhere near the Beatles.
exactly
was just highlighting that in response to:
SusyLuvsPaul:
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young? They didn't put out many albums, though. Not many at all.
So was I.
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