OK. let's go ahead and say that there was "op music" before the Beatles.
Let's even admit that they were admitted to fame because they played bad covers of Black Music in the beginning,which is another way of saying they stole R & B.
Let's even grant that their legacy is indeed one of the most abused in history, from Noel Gallagher to Commericals.
I will agree to all of those things.
However, what the Beatles have two things that keep them current:
One :Their influence is still very much felt. From Africa to the Americas to Asia and Australia, there are still musicians being influenced by the Beatles. Whether it is Harmonized chorus, or a catchy line that can be dissected into different layers to get different meanings, bands are still following the Beatles lead. It is as current if as if they were still around.
Two: Innovation. What sets the Beatles apart is that, while they set many of the templates that are in use, they also broke them, even when money was at stake. From throwing in Psychedelic elements, to orchestral elements, to electronics, the Beatles showed how to break past your own template to achieve excellence. Now, many artists have tried to "reinvent" themselves,it is almost mandatory to do so to be considered a serious artist, but the Beatles were the first to show that yes, you can make new music without destroying what made you great.
Granted, the way the legacy was abused is awful,especially "imagine." Yes,I realize it is a leading candidate for "atheist equivalent to a Hymn" as it does not have the Soviet baggage of "the Internationale." However, we all know that John Lennon would have been leading the protests against the security measures. Hell, can you imagine on 9-12-01, when rockers were either signing sad dirges or patriotic war hymns, if he just got out his Guitar and sang "Give peace a chance?"
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