Let it Be: The Beatles Legacy

"And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree , there will be an answer, let it be..."

Let it Be, one of the most renown rock album , was released May 8th 1970 shortly after one of the greatest English rock bands broke up, The Beatles. From their beginnings in Liverpool in 1960 to becoming the Fab Four, The Beatles grew to become one of the most cherished and popular bands in music history. When someone mentions The Beatles, songs like Let it Be, Hey Jude, or Yesterday play in people's minds. Whether one is a fan or not, one can attest that The Beatles have their own place in music history and have changed the way people perceive music.

The Beatles started off as a five man band with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best, playing in clubs in Hamburg and Liverpool. Soon the band got reformulated with the addition of Ringo Starr replacing Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe leaving them, thus becoming the Fab Four.

Slowly but surely, The Beatles became an international hit and Beatlemania was running rampant. Their music started off in 1950s style rock and roll but as they progressed their style changed as well. They experimented with different cultures and incorporated various styles of music ranging from classical music to psychedelic rock.

Amid their success, The Beatles faced some controversies, such as John Lennon's statement that they were " more popular than Jesus" and drug references in their songs. Yet their successes in music outshine their mistakes. For instance, their album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, is ranked as number one out of the 500 Greatest Albums in Rolling Stone.

Although the band broke up, their music still continues to inspire their audiences. Even after the deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison, the spirit of The Beatles continues to live on from generation to generation.

"And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me. Shine until tomorrow, let it be ..."