When live in the world of grief There will be an answer. Let it be. Twist and Shout When live in the world of grief There will be an answer. Let it be.

Paul McCartney John Lennon George Harrison Ringo Starr

City of Liverpool Region: North West England

In the 1960’s, four young men from the working class city of Liverpool invented a new sound in pop music. Soon after, teenagers throughout England and the rest of the world heard this sound played over and over again on their radios and in their dance halls. The popularity of the music spread quickly, and with it came huge record sales and concerts full of screaming fans. The music world had never seen such an enormous impact made by one band. The band was called “The Beatles” and they were about to become the greatest pop music band in history.

The Beatles were actually normal young men from working class families The Beatles were actually normal young men from working class families. What made them standout was that they were all brilliant musicians. John Lennon played the guitar, Paul McCartney played the bass guitar, George Harrison played the lead guitar and Ringo Starr played the drums. All four members of the band sang although most of the singing was shared between John and Paul. They all wore fashionable clothes, grew thick black hair and portrayed an image to the public to being friendly young men. But when it came to music, there was no other band that could match their songs and success. By 1964, John, Paul, George and Ringo were the most famous entertainers in the world. Everywhere they went, they were followed by thousands of screaming fans. It was a phenomenon that became known as “Beatlemania.”

1. impact n.  The book made a great impact on its readers. 2. band n. 樂團  The band played several marches. 3. standout a. 卓越的 4. brilliant a. 聰穎的  He’s a brilliant basketball player. 5. bass a. 低音的  He has a fine bass voice. 6. fashionable a. 新潮的  She often wears a fashionable hat. 7. portray v. 扮演  He portrayed the king in the play. 8. entertainer n. 演藝人員  She’s a great entertainer. 9. phenomenon n. 現象  The unemployment is a city phenomenon. 10. beatlemania n.披頭熱潮

Early Beatles songs had popular melodies and lyrics that were mostly about love. Many of these songs became instant hits such as “Twist and Shout,” “Love Me Do” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The Beatles were also the first English band to have major success in the United States. In April 1964, the Beatles held the top five spots on the American charts and had twelve songs in the top one hundred. No band before or after the Beatles has come close to matching this success. As the band progressed through the sixties, their style became more experimental and artistic. Yet despite this change, their music remained the most popular and influential in the world. Songs like “Hey Jude,” “All You need is Love” and “Yesterday” are typical of their later style.

1. melody n. 旋律  The melody is beautiful. 2. lyrics n.歌詞  She wrote the lyrics for the song. 3. hit n. 成功 3. chart n. 圖表  The chart shows the rapid growth of the company. 4. progress v. 進展  The boy has progressed in his studies. 5. experimental a. 實驗的  This is an experimental form of teaching. 6. artistic a. 藝術的  He knows the artistic value of this painting. 7. influential a. 有影嚮的  He has influential friends.

Between 1962 and 1970, the Beatles released ten records Between 1962 and 1970, the Beatles released ten records. They also released many songs as singles and made three movies. In fact, the Beatles were so popular and famous that they became the number one symbol of the sixties for many people. These days Beatles music is till popular with young people. Many songs by the Beatles are just as well known today as they were when they first came out. The image of John, Paul, George and Ringo remains clear in the minds of most people and their pictures can often be seen in music stores and magazines. Their music was so innovative and influential that the Beatles style can often be heard in many kinds of modern pop music today. Quite simply, the Beatles were the greatest pop music band ever. 1. release v. 發行  They just release their new album. 2. record n. 唱片  The record is really amazing. 3. innovative a. 創新的  What they have done is innovative.

The End

Who played bass guitar in The Beatles? Which musical instrument did Ringo Starr play? Who took charge of the most singing?

Find out three hits of The Beatles! What songs are typical of The Beatles’ later style?