A Vaccine for Beatlemania
With all the recent hoopla surrounding the releases of The Beatles Rock Band video game and the Fab Four’s re-mastered back catalogue, you would think that every single breathing soul alive worships at the altar of John, Paul, George and Ringo.
However, according to a Zogby Interactive survey conducted last week, about one in five people actually say they do not like The Beatles. OK, so maybe that’s not an earth-shattering number, but still it’s substantial enough to warrant a closer look. Just who are these blasphemous people that don’t dig peace, love, and reenacted acid trips? I had to find out.
Well, I suppose we should start with the obvious. Republicans and Conservatives (30% each) are the two most likely groups to say they do not like our beloved Beatles, whereas Liberals (9%) and Democrats (14%) are among the least likely to say so. Maybe if we asked about Ted Nugent or the Charlie Daniels Band things would have shaken out differently.
It should come as no surprise that the Woodstock generation (18%) is the least likely age cohort to say they don’t like The Beatles, but I found it somewhat surprising that the Privates (25%) and the Nikes (25%) were dead even in their disdain, and that First Globals™ were not far behind (23%). Perhaps, as the decades roll on the band’s influence on the younger generations has waned a bit, or maybe the cynicism of said generations has run so amuck that they can’t even deem it cool to call themselves fans of probably the greatest band that ever existed.
Another semi-obvious tidbit, at least to me, is that college graduates (18%) are less likely than those without college degrees (25%) to say they like The Beatles. Because I mean really, if you weren’t actually alive during the comeuppance of The Beatles, chances are you discovered them in some black light illuminated dorm room whilst having your mind blown by “Across the Universe.”
In keeping with The Beatles theme of world-wide harmony, respondents who consider themselves residents of the planet earth (11%) are much less likely to say they don’t like The Beatles than are those who identify their residence as their city or town (24%) or America (25%), but the lads’ message doesn’t appear to translate evenly among the races, as we find that African-Americans (28%) and Hispanics (24%) are more likely than whites (20%) and Asians (16%) to not dig the vibes the band is laying down.
And finally while those who practice Transcendental Meditation were admittedly underrepresented, we find that Protestants (24%) and Catholics (22%) are more likely to dislike The Beatles than are Jewish respondents (12%) and followers of other religions (15%), as are Born Again Christians (28%) vs. Non-Born Again Christians (20%). Must have been all that satanic backwards message stuff.
- Post contributed by Phil Vanno, a Writer/Editor at Zogby International who once listened to “Strawberry Fields Forever” 50 times in a row and considered walking down the aisle to “All You Need is Love.” Phil’s opinion in no way represents that of Zogby International.
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The last sentence is baloney. I bet Phil’s opinion actually represents that of Zogby International.
This Nike generation member is a Beatles fan due to the influence of her Woodstock generation mother. Mom would spend countless hours making us listen to classic rock and oldies stations. My sister grew fixated on Elvis, but for me, it was, and still is the Fab Four! I even followed their solo material, with maybe the exception of Ringo. I could sit and listen to Imagine, Instant Karma or Watching the Wheels by John Lennon a million times. I love Paul McCartney and Wings. I love Something and Here Comes the Sun when George sings.
Since 9/9/09, the Beatles Anthology 2 has been in the tape deck in my car. Yes, I said tape deck. LOL We, Nikes, had trips to the mall to spend our allowance on tapes, as CDs were about $30 at the time. LOL Anyway, I have hit rewind on the thing so much, I think I will break it. I must have listened to Taxman, Help!, Yesterday and many others 50 times in a row. There is even a full orchestra, no lyrics of Eleanor Rigby!
I have seen the Linda McCartney Story. I remember the day John Lennon was killed, and I was only 5. I tune in to VH1 Classic hoping for old Beatles movies. I need to hear Birthday by the Beatles on my Birthday, every single Birthday! I am hoping to read Beatles biographies. I am thinking maybe I was born in the wrong era. Music today, most of it is just noise! I will listen to the Fab Four over modern music anytime. Just sorry I missed the Philharmonic playing Beatles songs!
I will never bury Paul! I will be in the Strawberry Fields forever!
Excellent blog. Who is this Phil Vanno? He deserves a raise and a promotion! You can find me with the fool on the hill.
Raise and promotion are a great idea!
And here’s a Beatles question for the next survey: Who has more musical talent, Ringo Starr or an actual Beetle?
How about, is Paul really Paul?
Sorry to say but, this is a ridiculous poll. It would be shady to think you could get an accurate reading of who likes and doesn’t like The Beatles, inferring that political leanings could imply the public feeling of the Beatles. With politics, almost everyone has some kind of an opinion. But, releasing a poll that would say more Liberals said they liked The Beatles than Conservatives. It strains credibility. Entertainers appeal Generally, crosses party lines. You could make a poll and find that almost everyone likes a song the Beatles did whether they were a true fan or not. Because the poll should distiguish, whether people like them as individuals or as great song writers. I think you would get a different result. People could be influenced to give a certain result based on the Beatles own Political Leanings. That would be very different. But, one has nothing to do with the other. There are many entertainers whose art one could like But, not their politics. We live in very politically driven times. Lets’s not drive a wedge any deeper than it already is. Beside there wouldn’t be enough Liberals to support the Beatles if this poll were believable.
@Tony So, Tony, are you saying survey researchers can’t bring a little fun and levity into their work? All work and no play makes Jack the research analyst a dull boy…