| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that "Yesterday," "Eleanor Rigby," and "Help!" address adult themes of loneliness and self-doubt. "Day Tripper" alludes to a less-than-romantic liaison. In "Get Back," there are controversial references to drugs ("JoJo left his home in Tucson, Arizona, for some California grass") and to "Sweet Loretta Modern" (who "thought she was a woman, but she was another man"), but they don't seem quite so inflammatory 30 years after the fact.
For more than 40 years, Beatles music has held surprising appeal for kid audiences, and this collection of #1 hits presents the band's biggest songs ever. Many parents relish this opportunity to inject a little Beatle magic into their kids' lives. Lots of teens, too, appreciate the remarkably high quality and far-reaching influence of this enduring pop music. Also, taken as a whole, THE BEATLES: 1 presents a concise overview of the moods, motivation, and musical experimentation that characterize the band's storied career.
It's easy to overlook lyrics that have become so familiar, but don't discount valuable messages in "Can't Buy Me Love," "We Can Work It Out," "All You Need Is Love," "Hey Jude," and many others. Classic light-hearted romps ("Yellow Submarine," "Penny Lane") still garner giggles from preschoolers and early grade-schoolers, but even some of the more straight-faced songs ("The Long and Winding Road," "Let It Be," "Help!") continue to resonate with sensitive young listeners. Simply put, this is some of the best "kids'" music ever recorded for grown-ups.
Families can talk about how this music represents pop music nirvana. Each song is a gem, and hearing them one after another offers young listeners a mind-boggling treatise of the Beatles' lasting contributions to 20th-century music history. Discuss the music chronology with interested young fans.
| Artist: | The Beatles |
| Release date: | November 14, 2000 |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | No |