Yes, The Beatles were technically good, even great, musicians, particularly Paul McCartney on bass, but their genius lay more in songwriting, creativity, and innovation, often prioritizing the song over instrumental flash, though they developed exceptional skills, with Ringo Starr's unique feel, George Harrison's tasteful guitar, and John Lennon's solid rhythm work shining, making them a cohesive, groundbreaking unit.
Without a doubt Paul McCartney is one of the most skilled and versatile vocalists and musicians in rock history. He certainly redefined the role of bass in rock music, and, as has been pointed out, he's an outstanding keyboardist, guitarist and drummer, and the greatest harmony vocalist in rock music.
The music blew off the stands. The musicians (except for Paul and Ringo) clearly didn't know what they were doing. The audience booed. They booed the Beatles at Woodstock.
“John Lennon was definitely my favorite Beatle, hands down,” Cobain told Rolling Stone in January 1994, three months before his death by suicide. “I don't know who wrote what parts of what Beatles songs, but Paul McCartney embarrasses me.
In fact, though not confirmed, it is thought that Lennon's IQ was way into the 150s, surpassing the 140 benchmark considered to be genius level.
Lady Gaga's IQ is widely rumored to be around 166, placing her in the "exceptionally gifted" or genius category, though this is an estimation often cited in celebrity lists, not a officially verified number from a public test. This high estimate is supported by her early academic achievements, like attending a summer program for the top 1% of students, and her demonstrated creative and musical genius as a composer and performer, notes Us Weekly and Brainmanager.io.
Jagger watched it all unfold from his spot with the Stones. "The Beatles were so big that it's hard for people not alive at the time to realize just how big they were. There isn't a real comparison with anyone now," he said.
Many have speculated about who made the decision to reject the Beatles. While various accounts of the audition have been published, most agree that it was either Dick Rowe or Mike Smith.
"Bands I hated" - Paul McCartney
John Lennon refused to sing lead vocals on his own song, "Good Night," a tender lullaby written for his son Julian, ultimately giving the part to Ringo Starr because he felt it wasn't his style and might be too "soft" for his public image, despite singing it beautifully during teaching sessions, as noted by Paul McCartney, and Far Out Magazine,.
George Harrison's last words to Ringo Starr, as recounted by Ringo in the documentary George Harrison: Living in the Material World, were a poignant offer of support: "Do you want me to come with you?" when Ringo was leaving to see his daughter in Boston, who had a brain tumor. Despite being very ill himself, Harrison's concern for his friend's family demonstrated his incredible spirit, even as he was lying down, unable to move.
These artists declined an invitation to perform at Woodstock for a variety of reasons (some were already booked, some thought it would be chaotic, some had personel issues and some had personal issues) : The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa, Procol ...
🎙 Frank Zappa on The Beatles — Unfiltered “I didn't hate them. I actually like two or three of their songs. I just thought they were ridiculous.
According to Stanley, the band provided a sense of liberation for fans of both sexes, in that "The boys could make as much noise as possible; the girls had something with dirt under its fingernails they could scream at." The Beatles began their third nationwide tour on 18 May, the bill this time headed by Roy Orbison.
Formed around the nucleus of Lennon and McCartney, who first performed together in Liverpool in 1957, the group grew out of a shared enthusiasm for American rock and roll. Like most early rock-and-roll figures, Lennon, a guitarist and singer, and McCartney, a bassist and singer, were largely self-taught as musicians.
He claimed: “The influence wasn't the Beatles. They were great for what they did, but I don't know how that would hang today. The cover art came about because I thought people were tired of looking at me. Who wants another picture of him?
The tag line "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah" was an expression used by Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott-Emuakpor, an acquaintance of McCartney.
The Beatles didn't attend Brian Epstein's funeral at his family's request to prevent a media circus, as their presence would have turned the solemn event into a chaotic spectacle of fans and press, overshadowing the family's grief. They were devastated by his death but chose to honor him privately, later attending a memorial service at the New London Synagogue where they could express their respect more appropriately.
During his 1968 “Comeback” Special, Elvis made a rare public statement about The Beatles. “I really like a lot of the new groups—The Beatles, the Beards, and whatever,” he said.
Queen Elizabeth II reportedly avoided personally knighting Mick Jagger in 2003 due to his anti-establishment image, past criticisms of the monarchy (calling her the "chief witch"), and alleged involvement with her sister Princess Margaret, instead having Prince Charles perform the ceremony while she had knee surgery, though some claim the surgery was a convenient excuse. While the government recommends honors, the monarch traditionally bestows them, and the Queen's reluctance was noted by royal aides and the press.
When Lennon was murdered, McCartney was devastated by the loss of his former bandmate, friend, and creative partner. However, McCartney was prevented from attending the funeral due to his strained relationship with Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono.
Marilyn Monroe was more than a glamorous icon—she was deeply intelligent and loved literature and philosophy. She reportedly had an IQ of 168, even higher than einstein's estimated 160.
Although IQ can change for an individual, across a population it is well established that IQ is stable across the lifespan. This does NOT mean that our abilities do not change as we age. IQ (as the name indicates) is a QUOTIENT, i.e., your score is calculated relative to persons of your age.
Snoop Dogg has publicly stated he has an IQ of 147, a score that falls into the "highly gifted" or "genius" category, much to his own surprise given his self-described average school performance (straight Cs). While this self-reported score suggests exceptional intellect, IQ tests measure specific cognitive abilities, and success in life and business (like Snoop Dogg's multifaceted career as a rapper, entrepreneur, and media personality) reflects a broader range of intelligence and skills.