Led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, the Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over three years from 1960, initially with Stuart Sutcliffe playing bass. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers, eventually settling with Pete Best in 1960, who played with them for two years before being replaced with then Rory Storm & The Hurricanes drummer Ringo Starr in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein molded them into a professional act and producer George Martin guided and developed their recordings, greatly expanding their domestic success after their first hit, "Love Me Do", in late 1962. As their popularity grew into the intense fan frenzy dubbed "Beatlemania", the band acquired the nickname "the Fab Four", with Epstein, Martin and other members of the band's entourage sometimes given the informal title of "fifth Beatle".
By early 1964, the Beatles were international stars, leading the "British Invasion" of the United States pop market and breaking numerous sales records. They soon made their film debut with A Hard Day's Night (1964). From 1965 onwards, they produced increasingly innovative recordings, including the albums Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966) and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), and enjoyed further commercial success with The Beatles (also known as "the White Album", 1968) and Abbey Road (1969). In 1968, they founded Apple Corps, a multi-armed multimedia corporation that continues to oversee projects related to the band's legacy. After the group's break-up in 1970, all four members enjoyed success as solo artists. Lennon was shot and killed in December 1980, and Harrison died of lung cancer in November 2001. McCartney and Starr remain musically active.
The Beatles are the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of 600 million units worldwide. They hold the record for most number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart, most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and most singles sold in the UK. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, and all four main members were inducted individually between 1994 and 2015. In 2008, the group topped Billboard's list of the all-time most successful artists on the Billboard Hot 100. The band received seven Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score for the 1970 film Let It Be) and fifteen Ivor Novello Awards. Time magazine named them among the 20th century's 100 most important people.
Former Rolling Stone associate editor Robert Greenfield compared the Beatles to Picasso, as "artists who broke through the constraints of their time period to come up with something that was unique and original "... In the form of popular music, no one will ever be more revolutionary, more creative and more distinctive ..." The British poet Philip Larkin described their work as "an enchanting and intoxicating hybrid of African-American rock-and-roll with their own adolescent romanticism", and "the first advance in popular music since the War".
They not only sparked the British Invasion of the US, they became a globally influential phenomenon as well. From the 1920s, the US had dominated popular entertainment culture throughout much of the world, via Hollywood films, jazz, the music of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley and, later, the rock and roll that first emerged in Memphis, Tennessee. The Beatles are regarded as British cultural icons, with young adults from abroad naming the band among a group of people that they most associated with UK culture.
Their musical innovations and commercial success inspired musicians worldwide. Many artists have acknowledged the Beatles' influence and enjoyed chart success with covers of their songs. On radio, their arrival marked the beginning of a new era; in 1968 the programme director of New York's WABC radio station forbade his DJs from playing any "pre-Beatles" music, marking the defining line of what would be considered oldies on American radio. They helped to redefine the album as something more than just a few hits padded out with "filler", and they were primary innovators of the modern music video. The Shea Stadium show with which they opened their 1965 North American tour attracted an estimated 55,600 people, then the largest audience in concert history; Spitz describes the event as a "major breakthrough ... a giant step toward reshaping the concert business". Emulation of their clothing and especially their hairstyles, which became a mark of rebellion, had a global impact on fashion.
According to Gould, the Beatles changed the way people listened to popular music and experienced its role in their lives. From what began as the Beatlemania fad, the group's popularity grew into what was seen as an embodiment of socio-cultural movements of the decade. As icons of the 1960s counterculture, Gould continues, they became a catalyst for bohemianism and activism in various social and political arenas, fuelling movements such as women's liberation, gay liberation and environmentalism. According to Peter Lavezzoli, after the "more popular than Jesus" controversy in 1966, the Beatles felt considerable pressure to say the right things and "began a concerted effort to spread a message of wisdom and higher consciousness".
Other commentators such as Mikal Gilmore and Todd Leopold have traced the inception of their socio-cultural impact earlier, interpreting even the Beatlemania period, particularly on their first visit to the US, as a key moment in the development of generational awareness. Referring to their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show Leopold states: "In many ways, the Sullivan appearance marked the beginning of a cultural revolution ... The Beatles were like aliens dropped into the United States of 1964.
In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The Beatles won the 1971 Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for the film Let It Be (1970). The recipients of seven Grammy Awards and fifteen Ivor Novello Awards, the Beatles have six Diamond albums, as well as 20 Multi-Platinum albums, 16 Platinum albums and six Gold albums in the US. In the UK, the Beatles have four Multi-Platinum albums, four Platinum albums, eight Gold albums and one Silver album. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
The best-selling band in history, the Beatles have sold more than 800 million physical and digital albums as of 2013. They have had more number-one albums on the UK charts, fifteen, and sold more singles in the UK, 21.9 million, than any other act. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Beatles as the most significant and influential rock music artists of the last 50 years. They ranked number one on Billboard magazine's list of the all-time most successful Hot 100 artists, released in 2008 to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary. As of 2017, they hold the record for most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with twenty. The Recording Industry Association of America certifies that the Beatles have sold 178 million units in the US, more than any other artist. They were collectively included in Time magazine's compilation of the 20th century's 100 most influential people. In 2014, they received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
There are two holidays celebrated for the Beatles: Global Beatles Day on 25 June each year. On that date in 1967, the band performed "All You Need Is Love" on television. In 2001, UNESCO created World Beatles Day on 16 January each year. This date has direct relation to the opening of The Cavern Club in 1957.
Five asteroids, 4147 Lennon, 4148 McCartney, 4149 Harrison, 4150 Starr and 8749 Beatles are named after the Beatles.
Something / Blue Jay Way
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos me
I don't want to leave her now
You know I believe and how
Somewhere in her smile she knows
Something in her style that shows me
I don't want to leave her now
You know I believe and how
You're asking me will my love grow
I don't know, I don't know
You stick around, now it may show
I don't know, I don't know
Something in the way she knows
And all I have to do is think of her
Something in the things she shows me
I don't want to leave her now
You know I believe and how
He's a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
The first two verses of "Something" explore the deep attraction and connection the singer feels toward his lover. The lyrics suggest that there is a certain quality in the way she moves and woos him that sets her apart from any other lover he has known. It's a magnetic force that draws him in and makes him want to stay with her. He expresses his unwavering belief in their relationship and his hesitation to ever leave her. The beauty in her smile and her unique style further captivates him, making it clear that he doesn't need anyone else. The repetition of "you know I believe and how" emphasizes the strong conviction he has in their love.
The bridge, with its questioning lyrics, adds an air of uncertainty to the song. The singer admits that he doesn't know if his love will grow, indicating a certain level of doubt about the future. However, he urges his lover to stick around because perhaps, over time, his feelings will become clearer. The repetition of "I don't know" highlights this ambiguity and internal conflict within the singer.
The third verse continues to highlight the captivating nature of the singer's lover. There is something about the way she knows things that fascinates him, and he only has to think of her to feel her presence. It is as if she possesses an innate understanding that transcends words. Again, he reaffirms his desire to stay with her, emphasizing his unwavering belief in their relationship.
The shift in lyrics to "Blue Jay Way" introduces a new character, a "nowhere man" who is trapped in his own isolated existence. This section takes on a more subdued tone, contrasting the previous verses. It portrays a sense of emptiness and aimlessness, as the nowhere man makes plans that seemingly have no purpose or impact on anyone. The contrast between the vibrant and intense emotions of the previous verses and the desolation of "Blue Jay Way" adds depth to the song, serving as a reminder of the singer's commitment to his lover and the importance of love amidst the chaos of life.
Overall, "Something / Blue Jay Way" delves into the intense attraction and connection the singer feels for his lover, while also touching on themes of uncertainty and isolation. The use of vivid imagery and emotional sincerity allows listeners to explore the complexities of love and human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Something in the way she moves
There is a captivating quality about the subtle gestures and mannerisms she possesses
Attracts me like no other lover
Her allure and charm surpass that of any previous romantic interest
Something in the way she woos me
Her ability to enchant and captivate me is beyond comparison
I don't want to leave her now
I have no desire to part ways with her at this moment
You know I believe and how
I am wholeheartedly convinced and confident in my feelings for her
Somewhere in her smile she knows
There is a depth of understanding and awareness reflected in her smile
That I don't need no other lover
I have no requirement for anyone else as a romantic partner
Something in her style that shows me
Her unique way of expressing herself reveals aspects of her character to me
You're asking me will my love grow
You're inquiring if my love for her will continue to develop
I don't know, I don't know
I am uncertain about the future progression of my emotions
You stick around, now it may show
If you remain with us, the answer might become evident
I don't know, I don't know
Again, I reiterate my uncertainty about the path my love will take
Something in the way she knows
There is a profound understanding she possesses that resonates with me
And all I have to do is think of her
Merely contemplating her is enough to bring me joy and contentment
Something in the things she shows me
The aspects of herself she reveals to me hold a special significance
He's a real nowhere man
He is a genuine individual without a clear direction in life
Sitting in his nowhere land
Existing in a state of stagnation or aimlessness
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
Formulating strategies and goals that ultimately have no purpose or audience
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Mother Nature's Son
A really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Night Before
A really splendid Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on P.S. I Love You
Now this is a really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on There's a Place
A seriously underrated Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Do You Want to Know a Secret
A fantastic song by The Beatles.
Philip Kassabian
on When I'm Sixty-Four
A very tuneful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
An excellent Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm Looking Through You
A beautiful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Honestly The Beatles can't stop producing good songs.
Philip Kassabian
on Michelle
A fantastic Beatles song and absolutely beautiful.