Recently, Ringo Starr acknowledged that Taylor Swift was this generation’s version of The Beatles. Outside of their musical styles, this is a completely reasonable comparison given that Swift’s monetary and cultural success is very reminiscent of The Beatles at their height. However, it takes one to know one, and Ringo Starr is no stranger to international superstardom. Which, he believes The Beatles partially acquired with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Videos by American Songwriter
The Beatles Ed Sullivan Show is one of the most culturally impactful moments in all of history. Not only was it the official start of the first British invasion, but it was also the moment The Beatles became The Beatles. Frankly, it’s difficult to put into words how much of a roaring impact the performance had on the world. However, Ringo Starr can tell you how much of an impact it had on the four lads from Liverpool.
Ringo Starr & The Beatles Methodic Move
Like most bands or musicians, notoriety is the goal. Now, how one goes about getting it is entirely on a case-by-case basis. Well, for The Beatles, they knew their next big move that would get them one step closer to their goal was to go to the United States. Easier said than done, but they managed to achieve this goal by getting a premium spot on one of the US’ most popular television shows.
In an interview with Modern Drummer, Starr opened up with the publication about the effects of the show and how it was one of the most monumental moves of their career. “As an act, which we were, the Palladium or the Ed Sullivan Show because they were definite moves in a career,” shared Starr.
This was so career-changing given The Beatles’ incredibly ambitious goal—”We still wanted to be the biggest band in the world,” said Starr. “And we did become the most popular group on earth, so there’s all those moves,” he added.
The Everlasting Popularity of Their American Debut
Again, it’s difficult to categorize and articulate the insurmountable impact the performance had in so few words. However, one numerical statistic proving its impact and popularity is the YouTube video of their performance of “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”
Posted in 2016, 52 years after their TV appearance, the video has received 107 million views. Hence, the performance still lives in a similar capacity as when it first aired on TV live. So, it seems Ringo Starr was incredibly correct in noting the appearance as one of their most career-changing moments.
Photo by CBS via Getty Images
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