Can you think of anyone in the world who hasn’t heard of The Beatles ? With dozens of classic songs and the rise of vinyl sales among young people, they’ve stayed on our record shelves for decades now. There are some main facts we already know (ahem, Yoko), but there are also life lessons to take away. These five lessons are ones you can take with you to the bank.
#1 Push Through Negativity
If you didn’t already know, The Beatles didn’t have the smoothest start. Like seemingly every successful band, they had humble beginnings filled with their fair share of failures. Perhaps one of their more notorious bombs was with Decca Records. McCartney understood that their audition could have gone better while Lennon said that Decca should have recognized their potential.
Additionally, while on with Graham Norton , McCartney revealed that they were also beat out in their early days by a woman who played the spoons. During early day talent shows, this older woman would consistently win over the crowd. Imagine going from that to being called one of the best rock bands of all time.
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#2 Stick to Your Beliefs
There was a time when their producer, George Martin, wanted to cash in on the music industry’s whims. When The Beatles were picking up steam, bands typically had a notable frontman, but they rejected the idea. Martin tried to encourage a name change (“John Lennon and The Beatles”) but they turned down the suggestion and remained united.
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#3 Stand Out Among Others
The Beatles became popular at a time when a lot of other musicians and bands were covering other people’s work. While covering songs isn’t a new concept, the foursome didn’t follow the crowd. They continued to write their own music regardless of any potential backlash they may have faced.
They also created their own sound. At the time, pop music was much more upbeat-sounding. But when The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, music reporter Neil McCormick called it pop music’s “big bang moment.” They then went on to have a massive influence over pop culture.
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#4 Welcome Others
John Lennon was probably looked at as the frontman of the band, even if they didn’t want to be seen that way. However, when Lennon saw what George Harrison and McCartney could bring to the band, he didn’t let his ego stand in the way. He welcomed their opinions and wasn’t afraid to give them a voice. In the end, I think it’s safe to say that it was a good call on his end.
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#5 Practice Makes Perfect
We obviously know that practice makes perfect, but The Beatles took that to a whole new level. The notoriously-mentioned Hamburg visit is often looked at as a standout time in their career. At the time, they played in clubs that were famous for violence, ladies of the evening, or overall debauchery. They weren’t particularly well-paid for their time and were sometimes asked to play 90-minute stretches of one song. When they returned to Liverpool and continued their career, long-time fans noticed the difference in their sound, and it was for the better.
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