This isn't about the rampant child abuse (we'll save that for another thread) but for absolving the Beatles. Particularly this part:
Fuck you, you fucking fucks. Let's break this down so I can really get to the source of my rage.It's true they took drugs, lived life to excess because of their success, even said they were bigger than Jesus and put out mysterious messages, that were possibly even Satanic.
1) While I can't say there were never any secret messages in Rock and Roll, I can say there were never any secret messages in Beatles music. Satanic messages? Really? I know Paul was raised Catholic, and I know that George embraced eastern philosophies and became extremely spiritual, but that is the extent of my knowledge about their religious beliefs. Why? Because they never talked about it. They never made an issue of it. John's "Bigger than Jesus" comment was misconstrued (though he was entirely accurate with what he said) and he had a good time committing blasphemy and poking at the "establishment" with a stick, but that has more to do with who John was, and not his feelings on religion in general.
My point is that their music is areligious. The only people who invest any sort of religious meaning (or Satanic interpretation) are the fucking Catholics.
2) "We think you're a bunch of satanic sinners but we forgive you anyway" is a pretty shitty message. I would have liked to see "We're sorry we're a bunch of cunts who willfully misinterpreted your songs and your purpose. In hindsight, that was pretty stupid of us. Actually, we really dig that "All you need is love" thing. Jesus would have found that pretty groovy."
3) "It's true the put out "possibly" Satanic messages but definitely "mysterious" messages? It's true. I know the Catholic church has a strained relationship with the truth, but do they even care what the word means anymore? I guess that's true in the sense that it's "true" that all Catholics secretly support the Pope's decision to cover up sexual abuse.
Um, what? So, the church itself claims the Beatles are guilty of drug abuse, gluttony, blasphemy, and working for the devil (I'm assuming that's what Satanic messages are) but they're not the worst example for the youth of the day? Who the fuck was? The Rolling Stones because they have "sympathy for the devil"? (I doubt the Catholic church is aware that it's just a song and doesn't actually imply sympathy for Lucifer or act as a binding contract to serve His Darkness). Look, all I'm saying is that this is one hell of a mixed message. If you condemn somebody for going against God's will, the fact that they wrote some pretty great songs shouldn't necessarily absolve them from that, right? I mean, doesn't it imply that as long as you do something good, your actual crimes aren't that important? (I leave as an exercise to the reader to figure out why the Catholic church might have a vested interest in creating this sort of dynamic).They may not have been the best example for the youth of the day but they were by no means the worse. Their beautiful melodies changed music and continue to give pleasure.
Um, yeah, that's true. That was true 40 years ago. Why are you even saying it? If this sentence showed up in my students' work, they would definitely lose points on the assignment. Why? Because it's stupid, redundant, and pointless.'Thirteen albums changed the history of popular music and there is little else to add. The Beatles were the most famous and acclaimed band in the world.'
Bullshit. Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. John Lennon knew what he was saying and he knew what he was feeling at the time. BTW, for anybody who doesn't know the full quote, here it isTwo years ago the Vatican forgave John Lennon for saying The Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ, saying it was the 'boasting of an English working-class lad struggling to cope with unexpected success'.
Does that sound like a man who is a "lad struggling to cope with unexpected success"? No. John was actually a pretty smart guy who had been reading up on religion at the time, and he reached the same conclusion that many people reach (and certainly was not uncommon in Europe in the 60s)."Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."
I wish George was still alive for this. He'd have a perfect, dry, exasperated comment, probably no longer than a sentence, that would summarize the ridiculousness of the situation. Ringo has already given one:
I hope if Paul responds, he points out what bullshit it is. Sometimes, he does. Sometimes, he tries to be more diplomatic.But Starr told CNN: "Didn't the Vatican say we were satanic or possibly satanic -- and they've still forgiven us? I think the Vatican, they've got more to talk about than the Beatles."