Editing Beatlesque

{{Short description|Resemblance to the English band the Beatles}}
[[File:Beatles ad 1965 just the beatles crop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[The Beatles]], 1965]]

"'''Beatlesque'''" ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|iː|t|əl|ˈ|ɛ|s|k}}) or "'''Beatles-esque'''" describes a musical resemblance to the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Beatles]]. The term is loosely defined and has been applied inconsistently to a wide variety of disparate artists.<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/>

==Definitions==
To better explain what the word might mean, eight possible answers were formulated by radio producer Kevin Howlett, music professor [[Rob Bowman (music writer)|Rob Bowman]], and [[Klaatu (band)|Klaatu]] drummer Terry Draper:
* "[[Penny Lane]]"-style piano [[tone cluster]]s (also heard on "[[Getting Better]]" and "[[With a Little Help from My Friends]]")
* "the big ending", as in "[[It's All Too Much]]"
* [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]]-influenced [[close harmony|close harmonies]], using [[fourth (interval)|fourth intervals]]
* "[[I Am the Walrus]]"-inspired cellos
* the stylistic contrast between [[Lennon and McCartney]]
* the left-handed, right-handed drumming; referencing [[Ringo Starr]]'s habit of playing right-handed [[drum kit]]s despite being left-handed
* when audiences feel that the band is a continuation of the Beatles, as was the case for Klaatu
* a [[simulacrum]] of the Beatles' reputed sound that ultimately means nothing ("a copy without an original").<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque>{{cite news|last1=Sakamoto|first1=John|title=What do we really mean by 'Beatlesque'?|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/11/01/what_do_we_really_mean_by_beatlesque.html|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=1 November 2013}}</ref>

The ''[[Toronto Star]]''{{'}}s Jack Sakamoto has commented: "[Some people's] notion of that sound includes everyone from [[Panic! at the Disco]] to [[Billy Joel]] to the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]]. With those reference points, it's debatable whether the Beatles themselves would qualify for the adjective their music has spawned."<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/> ''Culture Sonar''{{'}}s Scott Freiman argued that anyone who is "Beatlesque" has "got to be a band – not just a singer/songwriter with a backing band ... [but having] multiple songwriters and multiple vocalists".<ref name=Sonar>{{cite web|url=https://www.culturesonar.com/beatlesque-bands/|first=Scott|last=Freiman|publisher=CultureSonar|title=15 Bands Following in the Beatles' Footsteps|date=12 November 2016|access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>

Writing in 2017, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[Rob Sheffield]] identified [[Paul McCartney]] as the Beatle whose character best fitted the term "Beatlesque", adding: "If you dislike the Beatles, it's because you dislike Paul. If you love them despite their flaws, you mean Paul's flaws ..."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/04/books/review/rob-sheffield-dreaming-beatles.html|first=John|last=Williams|title=The Inexhaustible Four|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=4 May 2017|access-date=10 July 2019}}</ref>

==Associated artists==
'''Notable acts described as "Beatlesque"'''
[[File:Elo 27041978 04 800.jpg|right|thumb|ELO, 1978]]

[[File:Oasis Liam and Noel.jpg|thumb|Oasis, 2005]]

*'''[[Badfinger]]'''<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/><ref name=Sonar/> – The first artists to sign with the Beatles' [[Apple Records]]. Their songs "[[Come and Get It (Badfinger song)|Come and Get It]]" (1969), "[[No Matter What (Badfinger song)|No Matter What]]" (1970) and "[[Day After Day (Badfinger song)|Day After Day]]" (1971) were produced by McCartney, Beatles road manager [[Mal Evans]], and [[George Harrison]], respectively.
*'''[[Big Star]]'''<ref name=Sonar/><ref name=Guardian/> – Although the American band attracted critical acclaim for its Beatles-influenced work in the 1970s, its life proved contentious and short.  They earned critical acclaim and a cult following despite the lack of commercial success.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123270136 Big Star: The Unluckiest Band In America : NPR]</ref>
*'''[[The Byrds]]'''<ref>{{cite book|last=Inglis|first=Sam|title=Neil Young's Harvest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MqrNBDssP1wC&pg=PT12|year=2003|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4411-8896-0|page=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kemp|first=Mark|title=Dixie Lullaby: A Story of Music, Race, and New Beginnings in a New South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JdMX9tbWdEMC&pg=PA27|year=2006|publisher=University of Georgia Press|isbn=978-0-8203-2872-0|page=27}}</ref> – Sometimes regarded as the "American Beatles".<ref name=Sonar/> While their long-term influence has proven to be comparable to that of the Beatles in terms of sound and style, the Byrds failed to match their contemporaries' record sales.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Schinder|first1=Scott|last2=Schwartz|first2=Andy|title=Icons of Rock|url=https://archive.org/details/iconsofrockencyc0000schi|url-access=registration|year=2008|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33846-5|pages=[https://archive.org/details/iconsofrockencyc0000schi/page/257 257]–258}}</ref>
*'''[[Cheap Trick]]'''<ref name=Sonar/><ref name=Axs/> – Also sometimes known as the "American Beatles".<ref name=Axs>{{cite news|url=https://www.axs.com/cheap-trick-s-five-most-underrated-songs-68456|publisher=[[Axs.com]]|title=Cheap Trick's five most underrated songs|first=Joe|last=Szczechowski|date=21 October 2015|access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref> In addition, the group's 1980 album ''[[All Shook Up (Cheap Trick album)|All Shook Up]]'' was produced by longtime Beatles producer [[George Martin]], and the group's live performance of Beatles songs culminated with a full orchestra-backed live album, titled ''[[Sgt. Pepper Live]]'' (2009).<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/album/sgt-pepper-live-mw0000829202 SGT. Pepper Live – Cheap Trick|AllMusic]</ref>
*'''[[Electric Light Orchestra]]'''<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/><ref name=Sonar/><ref name=Guardian/> – Formed explicitly with the intention of "picking up where the Beatles left off", the outfit has proved one of the few Beatlesque groups to achieve sustained commercial success. In addition, frontman [[Jeff Lynne]] began a musical collaboration with George Harrison in the late 1980s that led to him working on several [[Jeff Lynne and the Beatles|projects related to the Beatles]]. In the early 1970s, [[John Lennon]] praised ELO as "sons of Beatles" and cited their 1973 song "[[Showdown (Electric Light Orchestra song)|Showdown]]" as a personal favourite.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|title=ELO: The band the Beatles could have been|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2008/oct/16/elo-better-than-beatles|access-date=9 December 2014|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=16 October 2008}}</ref>
*'''[[Elephant 6]]''' – Not a band, but a collective of them. The collective is famously inspired by [[psychedelic pop]] of the 1960s, including the Beatles and [[The Beach Boys]], with bands like [[The Apples in Stereo|The Apples In Stereo]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apples Joyfully Hop on Beatles Bandwagon {{!}} Arts {{!}} The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1997/11/21/apples-joyfully-hop-on-beatles-bandwagon/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=www.thecrimson.com}}</ref> and [[Of Montreal]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-26 |title=of Montreal = The Beatles + David Bowie? {{!}} of Montreal Live Review {{!}} The Social Orlando {{!}} January 16 2015 ⋆ Shows I Go To |url=https://showsigoto.com/of-montreal-the-beatles-david-bowie-of-montreal-live-review-the-social-orlando-january-16-2015/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Shows I Go To |language=en-US}}</ref> gathering comparisons to the Beatles.
*'''[[Harry Nilsson]]''' – During a 1968 press conference, [[the Beatles]] were asked what their favorite American group was and answered "Nilsson". Sometimes known as "The American Beatle",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fennessey |first=Searn |date=August 6, 2013 |title=Deconstructing Harry |url=http://grantland.com/features/the-legacy-harry-nilsson/ |website=Grantland}}</ref> he was close friends with both [[John Lennon]] and [[Ringo Starr]].
*'''[[Klaatu (band)|Klaatu]]'''<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/> – Falsely rumoured to be the Beatles themselves, re-formed.<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/> The band are sometimes known as the "Canadian Beatles".<ref name=":0">[https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5839-the-sepultura-ep/ North of America The Sepultura EP Review|Pitchfork]</ref>
*'''[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]'''<ref name=SakamotoBeatlesque/><ref name=Sonar/><ref>{{cite book|last=Young|first=Clive|title=Crank It Up: Live Sound Secrets of the Top Tour Engineers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9a3apj_GsyIC&pg=PA167|year=2004|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-1-61774-510-2|page=167}}</ref> – Their Beatles influence was labelled as an "obsession" by British media.<ref>{{cite news|last=Glassman|first=Julie|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1452393.stm|title=The Beatles' musical footprints|work=BBC News|date=30 November 2001}}</ref> During their 1991 to 2009 career, the band's widespread success in terms of culture and social reach caused it to be possibly the most popular band since the Beatles.<ref name=Sonar/>
*'''[[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]]'''<ref name=Sonar/> – The British band's songwriting pair of [[Chris Difford]] and [[Glenn Tilbrook]] has attracted comparisons to the Lennon–McCartney partnership.<ref name="chicago tribune squeeze">{{cite journal |last1=Kot |first1=Greg |title=Fresh Squeze |journal=Chicago Tribune |date=Nov 17, 1989 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1989-11-17-8903100638-story.html |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="nyt squeeze">{{cite journal |last1=Holden |first1=Stephen |title=Pop: Difford and Tilbrook |journal=The New York Times |date=3 August 1984 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/08/03/arts/pop-difford-and-tilbrook.html |access-date=5 September 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="yahoo squeeze">{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Lyndsey |title=Two side story: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook reflect on 45 years of Squeeze |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/two-side-story-chris-difford-and-glen-tilbrook-reflect-on-45-years-of-squeeze-190344154.html |website=Yahoo Music |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref> Both Difford and Tilbrook have acknowledged the influence of the comparison on the band's catalogue.<ref name="yahoo squeeze" />

'''Other'''
{{div col}}
*[[Bee Gees]] (early years)<ref>{{cite book|last=Crouse|first=Richard|title=Who Wrote the Book Of Love?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OyZyWKcmRhEC&pg=PT108|year=2012|publisher=Doubleday Canada|isbn=978-0-385-67442-3|page=108}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=George|first=Nelson|title=The Death of Rhythm and Blues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgHIe-GFjZUC&pg=PT165|year=2003|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-101-16067-1|page=165}}</ref>
*[[Chris Hillman]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|author-link=Richie Unterberger|title=Eight Miles High: Folk-rock's Flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock|url=https://archive.org/details/eightmileshighfo00sanf|url-access=registration|year=2003|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-743-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/eightmileshighfo00sanf/page/39 39]–}}</ref>
*[[Marshall Crenshaw]]<ref name="wapo crenshaw 1">{{cite news |last1=Sasfy |first1=Joseph |title=Marshall Crenshaw |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/06/25/marshall-crenshaw/ea1a15b0-5e39-4b9f-9733-b87805b745db/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=25 June 1982}}</ref><ref name="wapo crenshaw 2">{{cite news |last1=Harrington |first1=Richard |title=Marshall Crenshaw: Bringing It All Back Home |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/06/24/marshall-crenshaw-bringing-it-all-back-home/19af45f2-1b6c-432c-b529-6dd930358559/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=5 September 2022 |date=24 June 1982}}</ref>
*[[Fountains of Wayne]]<ref name=Sonar/>
*[[The Knack]]<ref name=Sonar/>
*[[The La's]]<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Likely La's |author=David Giles |url=http://www.geocities.com/the_las/lamerseybeaks.html |journal=NME |date=14 November 1987 |location=United Kingdom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026154010/http://www.geocities.com/the_las/lamerseybeaks.html |archive-date=26 October 2009 |access-date=1 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Side Lines">{{cite journal |author=Bob Stanley |author-link=Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) |date=10 June 1989 |title=Side Lines |journal=[[Melody Maker]] |location=United Kingdom |url=http://www.geocities.com/the_las/lammjune89.html |access-date=1 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026154005/http://www.geocities.com/the_las/lammjune89.html |archive-date=26 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Los Shakers]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/por-favor!-mw0000102599|title=Por Favor! - Los Shakers|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|author-link=Richie Unterberger|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=May 10, 2017}}</ref>
*[[Panic! at the Disco]] (''[[Pretty. Odd.]]'' album)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Let! Them Be |journal=SPIN |date=April 2008 |page=92 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-mtlg-iLEtAC&dq=panic%21&pg=PA92}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Panic At The Disco: We're Inspired By The Beatles |url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/41095/ |website=Gigwise News}}</ref>
*[[The Sea Nymphs (band)|The Sea Nymphs]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kane |first=Jack |date=April 2003 |title=Label of Love |work=[[Record Collector]] |url=https://cardiacs.org/record-collector-cardiacs-article/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914221710/https://cardiacs.org/record-collector-cardiacs-article/ |archive-date=14 September 2014 |via=Cardiacs.org}}</ref>
*[[The Smithereens]]<ref name="Riley2002">{{cite book|last=Riley|first=Tim|author-link=Tim Riley (music critic)|title=Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary|url=https://archive.org/details/tellmewhybeatles00rile|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0-306-81120-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/tellmewhybeatles00rile/page/340 340]}}</ref>
*[[Tame Impala]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cosmicmagazine.com.au/news/tame-impalas-kevin-parker-on-the-beatles-abbey-road/ | title=Tame Impala's Kevin Parker on the Beatles' 'Abbey Road' }}</ref> 
*[[XTC]]<ref name=Sonar/><ref>{{cite book|last=Johnston|first=Richard|title=How to Play Rhythm Guitar: The Basics & Beyond|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=evf8OMnRpqMC&pg=PA63|year=2004|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-811-7|page=63}}</ref>
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==See also==
{{wiktionary}}
* [[Cultural impact of the Beatles]]
* [[The Beatles#Musical style and development|Musical style and development of the Beatles]]
** [[List of the Beatles' instruments]]
** [[The Beatles' recording technology]]
* [[Pop rock]]
* [[Power pop]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{The Beatles main}}
{{Rock}}
{{Pop rock}}

[[Category:The Beatles music]]
[[Category:20th-century music genres]]