The British invasion of 1964?

[Dongie]

Beatles landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport on February 7, 1964, amidst a huge crowd of fans and media.
John Lennon, age 16, met Paul McCartney, age 15, at a church gathering in 1957.
Later, adding George Harrison, then a great drummer, Ringo Starr filled out the band.
They conquered America and opened the door to many great British bands to come.
https://youtu.be/Yjyj8qnqkYI?si=SVPGUWr5yREJDra6

https://youtu.be/yqrYUORgY-s?si=1zrFCfB4NiyzUu-D

I wonder if technology had been what it is today , would their arrival been so intense. What do you think?

Updates

6 mo

Back in 64 everybody was so anticipating their arrival. Girls were freaking crying at seeing them. 😥😭😱

[Lliam]

I can't think how technology would have made a difference. What do you mean, higher quality or more sophisticated recording technology or higher tech promotional opportunities?

I think the recording technology of the day made the Beatles sound more genuine, like live performance. Slick recording techniques might have made them seem more like slickly produced products instead of talented kids who formed a band and gained a following. It might have made them seem less organic.

As far as promotion is concerned, TV, radio, records and word of mouth seemed to work quite well.

I just think the timing was right for their music. And the fact that they were British probably helped with U. S. audiences. Plus, they were kind of smart alecky and rebellious, which appealed to the boomer generation.

The thing about the Beatles was, their sound was unique. Their amazing harmony vocals capitalized on the popularity of folk and vocal groups that were popular at that time. But Paul's screams were something new and exciting. The fact that it was a four man (cute boy) band that all played instruments while singing was different.

And there was the beat. It was exciting and energetic. There hadn't been anything like it. It was rock and roll with a new sound. There had been predecessors like Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Fats Domino, etc, but they were all individuals with back up bands.
The Beatles made high energy rock and roll mainstream, but they could also do romantic, teen ballads.

Plus it was a guitar band - electric guitars. They had good arrangements and used some unique chords. All of a sudden, every guy wanted to become a guitarist.

The song "I Saw Her Standing There" typifies what The Beatles first brought to the world of music. Girls lost their shit.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/oxwAB3SECtc

[Dongie]

I think with all of the technology from day one, they'd have seen so much of them that their coming would have not been as spectacular. Think about how the reaction was. Kids went nuts. With England so far away then as to now.

[Lliam]

So you think they would have been over-commercialized?

[Dongie]

Yeah, that's a good description.

[exitseven]

@Lliam Today we have more choices for entertainment and we have DVRs and other devices so we do not get that shared experience that kids got in the 60s and 70s.
Back in the day probably every kid in high school was tuned into Ed Sullivan on that particular Sunday night and it was all anybody talked about the next day,
Technology has made that obsolete.

[Dongie]

Precisely

[bddddd]

I think the impact of live performance has grown. Taylor Swift's Eras tour... which my daughter attended two nights in a row ... for example. Live sports too. There is not a lot of money in recorded music. Amy Winehouse died with a 3 million pound estate despite having two of the best recordings of her generation. People like Taylor Swift, Dave Grohl and Elton John that have practically been performing live continuously are worth between hundreds of millions and a billion dollars US.

[Dongie]

Yo-k!

[bddddd]

I can't even begin to tell you how much work went into securing her those tickets. 7 devices would be a conservative estimate.

[Dongie]

I guess you have to work for it more.

[AI Opinion]

The Beatles' arrival in 1964 was monumental, even without today's technology. Their talent and charisma captivated audiences worldwide. If they had emerged in today's digital age, social media would have amplified their impact further, potentially leading to even quicker global fame. However, their timeless music and the cultural shift they inspired would've remained significant, transcending the power of technology. The Beatles had an unparalleled blend of charm and creativity that made them legendary. 🎸🌟

[Dongie]

But their American debut wouldn't have been as monumental.

[exitseven]

British invasion rock was awesome, Not just the Beatles but also the Dave Clark 5, Herman's Hermits, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Rolling Stones, and duos Peter and Gordon, and Chad and Jeremy. And we cannot forget this classic.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zx06XNfDvk0

[FunkyMonkee]

I think what they had then had to be there to make them who they were. It WOULD'VE been interesting to see what they could've done with today's tech.

[WonderingManII]

Now days we take things for granted. However I think when it comes to music, it is whoever gets the best promotions.