Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>DJ</b><p>For the sake of this argument, the only way to truly judge one over the other is to have experienced both. To be around in the 1920-1930's and to be around in the 1960's. To say "The Beatles craze was amazing" and not being around when the Bambino was all the rage isn't fair. I'm in my thirties and the only "craze" I ever experienced was maybe Michael Jackson. <br /><br />It's amazing how watered down talent is today as the Beatles, Elvis, Bob Dylan have been replaced by the likes of Ashlee Simpson, Britney Spears and annoying Hip-Hop (the Ying Yang twins....). What do you expect? We make celebrities out of normal people for the sake of entertaining normal people in reality TV.<br /><br />DJ

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Buddy Holly will be still be remembered long after John Lennon<br />fades away. Simply because Buddy died suddenly at a very<br />young age, and we would never know what could have been.<br /><br />Just like Lou Gehrig, John F. Kennedy, James Dean, Roberto<br />Clemente, Thurman Munson, and more who have been immortalized<br />due to their untimely deaths while still relatively young.<br /><br />By 1980 Lennon's creativity had more or less come to an end.<br />In 1959 Holly's creativity in the music world looked like it had<br />no end. And then...."the Music Died"....if I might quote some<br />well-known artist.<br /><br />I listen to a lot of "golden oldies" radio stations and I have<br />noticed recently, that Buddy Holly's music is out-playing the<br />Beatles songs. I am not sure what this indicates; but, it might<br />be a trend or just a phase. And, don't get me wrong, I've always<br /> enjoyed the Beatles music. <br /><br />And, as long as there are Fathers and Sons, Babe Ruth will<br />live forever in American folklore. Ruth will be remembered<br />a 1000 years from now when America enters the 4th Millenium.

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>Glenn</b><p>I think Lennon wrote many of his best songs in 1980.

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Have to disagree- the Beatles music will be played and cherished forever, and John Lennon will forever be an icon. They will just be looked at differently, once this generation is gone and they become historical figures instead of contemporary ones. Same with Dylan, Elvis, Babe, and others who transcended their times. Dylan lyrics will be studied in literature classes, Beatles in 20th century pop culture classes, etc. We live in a society that documents everything, and none of these figures will ever be forgotten. They will just be evaluated in a different light than they are today.

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Barry<br /><br />I fully appreciate your view of the Beatles sound, it was just<br />starting when you were entering your teens. Ten years before<br />in (1954), as I was entering my teens Bill Haley and the Comets<br />introduced the "Rock" sound to a larger part of the American<br />public with "Rock Around the Clock". This song was an instant<br />success as it was the theme song of the very popular movie....<br /> "The Blackboard Jungle".<br /><br />Then Elvis and the Platters and Buddy Holly, and too many to<br />mention here, brought us teenagers some really great sounds in<br />the '50s. The point I am trying to make is that everyone one of us<br />will be biased on this subject based upon what we first heard in<br /> our young and impressionable youth.<br /><br />It's like the very 1st BB cards that we collected are usually our<br /> favorites since we seem to a clearer memory of them than our<br /> subsequent cards.<br /><br />

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Ted- I agree that we all have a special affinity for the music we grew up with. Nevertheless, in the pantheon of artists some have clearly made greater contributions than others. To put the Beatles and Platters on equal footing would be silly. I'm not talking about who you like better or who you remember as a kid, but who will have the greater impact on future generations. You might think that Johnny Lindell was a nicer guy than Barry Bonds or that you remember Lindell from when you were a kid, but it would be foolish to say Lindell will be remembered and Bonds will soon be forgotten (let's leave the steroid controversy out for the moment). Why is Walt Whitman still cherished more than a century after his death, and lesser poets forgotten? Because there was something intrinsic in his life and poetry that transcended its time. I believe the Beatles in their own way will be equally revered. The Platters- great voices, fond memories, but not in the same category, and not even close.

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Barry<br /><br />In no way am I comparing Tony Williams and The Platters with the Beatles.<br />However, it was the "Rock Sound" of the '50s that influenced the Beatles to<br />greatness. If I recall correctly, Roy Orbison was one of the greats they tried<br />to emulate. We could go on and on, on this subject, but I am afraid it will be<br />considered O/T. So, I will end my part of it here.

Who will be more popular 500 years from now: Babe Ruth or John Lennon?
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Absolutely true. John Lennon idolized Elvis and Gene Vincent and all those who came before him. Every artist has a muse who influenced him. And you don't even have to be a fan of the Beatles. But it would be shortsighted not to recognize the monumental impact they had in their heyday, and it would be foolish to think that one day they will be forgotten. You know what- even the Platters will never be forgotten. As long as their music is recorded and played on the radio, they have their place in history. By the way, the best oldies station in NYC was WCBS, and they changed it one day without warning and now play shlock rock they call "Jack" or some such name. I used to love that station. Anyway, sorry for getting so far off topic. Thanks Leon for allowing us this leeway on a quiet Sunday morning.