It is obvious just by listening to the music that the Beatles influenced
many of the bands that are famous today. Sometimes they even make it
painfully obvious.
Lets start with Oasis. This British rock band made a huge splash in
1994 with their album titled �Definitely maybe�. Although they had gotten
into several name calling sprees with the late George Harrison, the Beatles
influence in their music can not be denied.
OASIS
They even mention the Beatles in several of their songs. For example
in �Wonderwall� (which also happens to be the name of a film that George
Harrison appeared in) they say �all the roads we have to walk are winding)
this refers to the song �The long and winding road�. One member of the band
named Noel Gallagher even had this to say: �its beyond and Obsession. It�s
an ideal for living. I don�t even know how to justify it to myself. With
every song I write, I compare it to The Beatles� (Glassman, 3).
Next, BUSH. One of the more popular British bands of the 90�s
BUSH
In their song �Glycerine� there is a line that says: �You live in a wheel
where everyone steals�its like Strawberry fields�-Referring to the
songs �Strawberry Fields Forever" from the 1967 Beatles Album �Magical
Mystery Tour�.
Or how about Veruca Salt, another offbeat group of the 90�s. In their
song �Volcano Girls� they say: �I told you about the Seether before, you
know the one whos neither or nor. Well here�s another clue if you please,
the Seethers�s Louise� This is obviously a direct reference to the
song �Glass onion� from 1968�s �The Beatles� (otherwise known as �The White
Album�).
VERUCA SALT
In the song �Glass Onion� the line goes: �I told you about the walrus and
me man, you know that we�re as close as can be man, well here�s another
clue for you all, the walrus was Paul�.
(�Is Imitation�, 1&2)
So now we know how many bands put references to the Beatles in their songs,
or even indirectly copy their lyrics, but how about the people who re-make
Beatles songs? If I were to make a list of all the people who have re-made
Beatles song it would take up another 10 pages. Paul Mcartney�s
classic �Yesterday� has been remade over 2000 times all by itself ("A
Beatles Story"). I thought I would take this opportunity to mention some of
my favorite remakes, because not everyone can do The Beatles justice.
did a crazy version of �Ob-La-Di, Ob la Da� titled �Why don�t you get a job on
their album �Americana�
One of my favorite singers Fiona Apple did an awesome version
of �Across The Universe�
for the soundtrack to the 1998 Movie �Pleasentville�
Finally I thought I would mention the soundtrack to the 2002 movie titled �I am Sam�
This soundtrack
consists of popular artists of today singing classic Beatles songs. Among
them is a beautiful version of �Blackbird� sung by Sarah Mclachlan.