The Beatles' Impact on America

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The impact of the Beatles in America was not only a musical revolution, but created a phenomenal social and cultural change. Although the Beatles were British, their image was guided by American values. “Compared to Britain, America was modern, romantic, and sexy, - and so were the Beatles.”₁ The Beatles stepped on American soil on February 7th, 1964. They set the musical and popular culture agenda for the next decade. America would never be the same again. “The Beatles buoyant melodies, playful personalities, and mop-topped charisma were just the tonic needed by a nation left reeling by the senseless assassination of its young president, John F. Kennedy, two months earlier.”₂ From the beginning with their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, the Beatles brought so much raw talent and change to a new generation of teenagers, and young adults. It was apparent that in the early years, the Beatles' influence kept many teenagers off the street. Many adolescents were spending Friday and Saturday nights rehearsing in garage bands instead of roaming the streets and getting into trouble. “On the night of the Beatles' famous performance on the Ed Sullivan, 45 percent tuned in to watch the most talked about group of the day. As the story goes, not a single juvenile or petty crime occurred [that night], illustrating their influence on American Youth.”₃ The initial American reviews of the Beatles were mixed. There were some newspapers that stated that their name sounded...

Submitted by: bliebman75
Date Submitted: 10-20-2011
Category: History
Words: 1448
Pages: 5.79