Personally, I like Queen better
According to the official UK charts company, Queen have sold more albums than The Beatles from 1955-2005 in the UK. Queen's Greatest Hits (5,407,587) has sold a little over half a million more copies than The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (4,811,996), and almost 2 million more than Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (3,781,993). (This is taken from Songfacts link
John Lennon once said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus.
According to the sales and several votes, Queen is more popular than the Beatles.
So, what does that make Queen?
Well globally The Beatles are more famous. They came at a time when there were very few rock groups whereas when Queen did they were numerous others (e.g. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Rolling Stones, etc.). The older the group the more likely they will have sold more copies because there were less records there are to chose from.
Queen are hugely successful in the UK because they have hugely well known songs. As a kid of the 21st century, I always knew several Queen songs at a young age (e.g. Don't Stop Me Now, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, etc.). But I didn't know a Beatles song until long after I heard several Queen songs. I think the first Beatles song I heard was the 'na na' part of Hey Jude but when I first heard it, I didn't know it was The Beatles.
I think this sums it up why Queen are more popular now than The Beatles - many kids can't think of any or only very few of their songs. Whereas Queen songs are so distinctive and memorable which is probably why Queen are more popular but this probably only applies in the UK.
I agree that the Beatles were a very talented group, but like you said, Queen was able to stand out among all these rock bands in the 70s and 80s. I'm also born in the 21st century, and while I didn't listen to many Beatles songs, I'm pretty sure everyone's heard of We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions, even if they don't know exactly which band did it. Queen is recognizable, and their music can withstand the changes in styles. And masterpieces like Bo Rhap only come once in a lifetime.
A bunch of the records set by the Beatles in the 60's have been broken by silly novelty records and boy/girl groups since then. Sales don't mean anything. A comparison is stupid and just embarrassing, fawning fandom.
The Beatles recorded for 8 years and changed everything. Not just music but popular culture.
Well, the Beatles have set marks which no-one has never set before. Without the Beatles Queen would have never been what that band was. No doubt Queen was/(is?) a most popular band standing out with somewhat great songs. But when you look at the Beatles' last 2 or 3 years ... they've done more progressive stuff than any other band would ever able to deliver. More than that a person like John Lennon was political active. And he was not in rescuing animals (which is great)... but he used his popularity to set marks trying to take influence on most basic ideas which has had influenced a LOT of people. Queen indeed were/are great on what they did in the studio. Artistically. They progressed the idea of producing music. The Beatles were more like a phenomenon.
plz discuss!
It's all about your perspective really. Elvis was a phenomenon before the Beatles and popularised music that wasn't in the mainstream before they did. I'm not saying you're wrong, just there are historic levels of where music went and what being in a band meant.
mooghead wrote:
A bunch of the records set by the Beatles in the 60's have been broken by silly novelty records and boy/girl groups since then. Sales don't mean anything. A comparison is stupid and just embarrassing, fawning fandom.
The Beatles recorded for 8 years and changed everything. Not just music but popular culture.
Correct.
Also - the population is now double what it was in 1965. Of course records will be broken. It has nothing to do with quality.
The Beatles are without question the most significant entertainers of the 20th century. They changed everything.
Top level:
Beatles
Stones
Hendrix
Dylan
Second level
Led Zep
Queen
The Who
Bowie
Third level
ELO
The Doors
Black Sabbath
Deep Purple
Fourth level
Puppet Show
Spinal Tap
Fifth level
Queen+