Top 500 or so reasons why the Monkees are better than the Beatles

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I'll start you off:

1. The Monkees' psychedelic movie, "Head," simultaneously makes less sense and more sense than the Beatles' psychedelic movie, "A Hard Day's Night." Plus it was cowritten by Jack Nicholson, has Frank Zappa in it, and Victor Mature basically plays God.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, that proves that the Monkees were better actors than the Beatles. OHMIGOD, professional actors in better actors than professional musicians shockah!

― The River Kate (kate), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

"A Hard Day's Night" ain't the Beatles' psychedelic movie.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:58 (twenty-two years ago)

(Well, Head is still better than Help! even though Help! is pretty durn funny, it's mainly funny coz of how stones the Beatles are throughout.)

― The River Kate (kate), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

The psychedelic movie is Magical Mystery Tour! Or Yellow Submarine if you like.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

monkees worked with bob rafelson who worked with arnold schwarzeneggar, beatles worked with richard lester who worked with zod. beatles win on that score.

everywhere else monkees win.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, how about this:

2. The Beatles, unlike the Monkees, perpetuated (introduced?) the myth that to be an "artist," a musician has to write their own songs. Lame.

(I was thinking of Help!)

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

amy dolenz > zak starkey

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

3. The Beatles' singing drummer, Ringo Star <<<<< The Monkees' singing drummer, Mickey Dolenz

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan to thread, in any event. (I own all the Monkees albums minus one on spiffed-up Rhino CD and currently only own the three Beatles anthology comps, so my decision is clear.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael Nesmith's mother invented Whiteout (Tipex). What did any of the Beatles' mums invent?

― The River Kate (kate), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

The Beatles never wrote A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You or Pleasant Valley Sunday. I mean, neither did the Monkees, but still!

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

PS, I said nothing about the acting in Head.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

4. None of the Beatles' existences required David Bowie to pick a stage name, unlike the Monkees' Davey Jones.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:04 (twenty-two years ago)

5. The Monkees TV show rocked. I think the Beatles had some shitty animated TV show they didn't even do the voices for. Sell-outs.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

davy jones worked with scooby doo and marcia brady.
ringo starr worked with marc bolan and john matuszak.

too close to call.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

6. None of the Monkees were in Wings.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

7. None of the Monkees wrote "Give Peace a Chance."

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

8. None of the Monkees were actually George Harrison.

― Allyzay, Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

9. None of the Monkees were actually the Walrus or the Eggman.

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

10. No Monkees song with the lyrics "Goo goo ga joob."

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

monkees influence on david bowie: name change, faux-flamenco breakdown from "space oddity" lifted from "a little bit me, a little bit you" (lifted from neil diamond in any case)

beatles influence on david bowie: "across the universe"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

11. When it came to looks, Paul was a poor man's Davey.

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Tork was a hottie. And he always had the best clothes!

― The River Kate (kate), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

13. The Monkees are still capable of touring.

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

14. Beatles inspired far more crappy bands to pick up instruments

― sym (shmuel), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

this ol' horse > this ol' horse

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:14 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.donatellashead.com/images/proof/proof6905-26-2003.jpg > http://www.ritinhaprado.blogger.com.br/beatlesbeach.jpg

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Monkees profits funded: Five Easy Pieces

Beatles profits funded: "Apple" label

― Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:36 (twenty-two years ago)

You can say you like the Monkees more than the Beatles and hipsters will think you're some kinda visionary

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

The Monkees had absolutely nothing to do with "Within You Without You"

― jim wentworth (wench), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha, Nate OTM. Sorry, Nick! Plus, the Monkees are so fuckin' twee!

― Clarke B., Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:48 (twenty-two years ago)

You can say you like the Monkees more than the Beatles and hipsters will think you're some kinda visionary

I remember Stipe saying something about liking the Monkees more than the Beatles ten years ago or so in Rolling Stone and then the letters pages for the next few issues were full of indignant response from people who acted like Stipe had come over and shat on their rug and then rubbed their face in crunchy underwear.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Peter Buck has also said on numerous occasions that The Monkees are his favourite band.

― may pang (maypang), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:56 (twenty-two years ago)

RS readers aren't hipsters, silly

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 29 January 2004 04:57 (twenty-two years ago)

actually to get the hipster slurp slurp nd you say the zombies were better than the beatles

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:00 (twenty-two years ago)

well maybe for the serious ones (what few there are left), but for the irony-addled ones all you need to do is post "Daydream Believer > A Day In the Life" and you = NEW HERO

That said, oh man oh man is "Valerie" fanfuckintastic

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:01 (twenty-two years ago)

there are nightcrawlers all over the place and I'm left holding the can opener

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:02 (twenty-two years ago)

surely the irony addled ones are a dying breed too though? (and to get their knobslobjob the surer shot is "banana splits > beatles")(which stipe sorta said too, though he really meant 'i was too young for the beatles')(it took til 1998 for rolling stone to figure out not everyone lived thru or worshipped the sixties, man)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:09 (twenty-two years ago)

RS readers aren't hipsters, silly

Neither is Stipe!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:10 (twenty-two years ago)

when you talk to really really old hipsters the trick to a 'you're alright kid' is 'kinks > beatles' (trudat btw)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:11 (twenty-two years ago)

'knickerbockers > beatles' is a fun one too

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:11 (twenty-two years ago)

What about 'Bacharach/David > Beatles'?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:15 (twenty-two years ago)

well, boyce/hart + goffin/king + neil diamond > lennon/mccartney is apparently obv. 'ironic' so i guess not ned

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Shucks.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 05:26 (twenty-two years ago)

How to screw up someone who is good at "spot the intro" rounds:

http://www.vidler.btinternet.co.uk/pbackbel.mp3

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 29 January 2004 09:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Another way: Play the intro to "Supernaut" and everyone'll think it's "Theme From Shaft".

And yeah, I agree with the Kinks > Beatles theory.

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 29 January 2004 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Because they're crap and they know they are.

― Russell Dixon (Skinny), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/pic200_web/drp100/p153/p15372s04r5.jpg -vs- http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/pic200_web/drp100/p148/p14849pgs56.jpg
(new monkees)

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

No, the Grungees vs. the Rutles

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:20 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.taffpop.com/JettisonHead_files/sick%20new%20beatles.jpg

These the New Beatles?

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't asking for 500 reasons just a wee bit to ambitious, but then that's why I love the Monkees.

― Jedmond, Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

The Monks -vs- the Meatles.

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Monkees penned songs > songs written by other people performed by The Monkees
Beatles penned songs < Beatles covers

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Monkees songs that mention the Beatles = 1
Beatles songs that mention the Monkees = 0

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

15. "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone." I mean, come ON! Who said the Monkees were twee? Clarke? I'm calling you on that shit. Have you ever heard this song? It's basically all like "Fuck you, bitch."

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

13. The Monkees are still capable of touring.

But the Beatles chose to stop touring to work on their music.

Lack of comeback tours points firmly in favour to the Beatles.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

My mum loves The Monkees and hates The Beatles. End of debate (perhaps).

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Her second favourite act is Gilbert O'Sullivan, though. Hmmm.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't quite decide if attracting murderous nutcases is a plus or minus point :/

Certainly not attending the Jimmy Tarbuck School of Scouse Wit sways the pendulum in the Monkees' favour.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:03 (twenty-two years ago)

None of The Beatles ever trained as jockeys, either.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Davey Jones played Ena Sharples nephew in Coronation Street .

I'm not sure whether this is in the Monkees' favour or not.

And in a similar vein, the Monkees/Charles Manson link is a myth, but he did claim the Beatles told him to do it. Whether this is good or not I'm not sure, as it goes against Beach Boys > Monkees > Beatles logic...

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

the monkees have hairy backs = good + bananas

― Russell Dixon (Skinny), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

And on a related note:

16. Stepping Stone rocks harder than anything the Beatles put down.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Thursday, 29 January 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

As does Daily Nightly

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 29 January 2004 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

As does "You and I", and that's even with Davey Jones on tha vocals!!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Thursday, 29 January 2004 15:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Tho it might be partly because Neil Young wrote and did all the guitars on it!!!!

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Thursday, 29 January 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Girl That I Knew Somewhere"!

Used to play it.

That said, there are plenty of reasons the Monkees are better than the Beatles. But for every one, there are two reasons the Beatles are better than the Monkees.

― Rick Massimo (Rick Massimo), Thursday, 29 January 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

The Beatles didn't show us that Neil diamond could write good rock songs.

And the Monkey's could get high and laugh about it while the Beatles had to get high and go write crap songs or conceptualize crap albums

― danh, Thursday, 29 January 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

"Star Collector"! "Pleasant Valley Sunday"! "She"! "Randy Scouse Git"! "The Porpoise Song"!

DO NOT SLEEP ON THE MONKEES.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 29 January 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

They'd make a lumpy mattress thank you I'm here all week drink please.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 January 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Charles Manson really did audition for the Monkees...and so did Stephen Stills. Just goes to show ya.

― jim wentworth (wench), Friday, 30 January 2004 07:08 (twenty-two years ago)

17. George Harrison produced those Monty Python movies. Mike Nesmith produced Repo Man.

― The Yellow Kid, Friday, 30 January 2004 08:47 (twenty-two years ago)

18. Ringo narrated "Thomas The Tank Engine." Dolenz produced "Metal Mickey."

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 30 January 2004 08:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i like how most of these can be read as arguments in favor of either band.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 30 January 2004 08:52 (twenty-two years ago)

#17's a toughie!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 30 January 2004 08:53 (twenty-two years ago)

19. Elton John covered the Beatles, the Sex Pistols covered the Monkees.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 30 January 2004 08:59 (twenty-two years ago)

No, the Sex Pistols covered Boyce/Hart. As per reason #2 on the thread.

― Broheems (diamond), Friday, 30 January 2004 09:03 (twenty-two years ago)

so the count stands at 18.

― Broheems (diamond), Friday, 30 January 2004 09:03 (twenty-two years ago)

20. Mike Nesmith's mum (or was it his grandmother?) invented Tipp-Ex. The Beatles had Magic Alex.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 30 January 2004 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

jim wentworth,

No he didn't.

http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/monkees.htm

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Friday, 30 January 2004 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

There isn't one single reason. Everything The Monkees were good at (and there were certainly some) The Beatles were better at.

The only thing I can think of is The Monkees pioneered the use of the synthesizer.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 30 January 2004 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

The Beatles, unlike the Monkees, perpetuated (introduced?) the myth that to be an "artist," a musician has to write their own songs. Lame.

if only this were true!

much as I love the Monkees, I don't think this is quite true - they totally bought into the idea that they had to write & play to be real - nesmith in particular was really pissed off by the hired songwriters & studio musicians modus operandi, and they pushed hard to write and perform their own stuff - despite having carole king and neil diamond and other geniuses handing them hits on a silver platter...

on the other hand, nesmith turned out to be quite a good songwriter anyway (mary, mary!, different drum!) which only goes to show that the whole auteur argument isn't black & white.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The Monkees: Classic or Dud?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 14:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Monkees songs that mention the Beatles = 1
Beatles songs that mention the Monkees = 0

-- mark grout (mark.grou...), January 29th, 2004.

If that's a reference to "the 4 Kings of EMI," Micky actually trotted that line out twice: in "Randy Scouse Git" (or "Alternate Title," if you must) and in the closing ad-lib vamp of "Mommy and Daddy."

Speaking of the latter:

20. # of Monkees songs suggesting a JFK murder conspiracy: 1
("Mommy and Daddy" alternate take)
# of Beatles songs suggesting same: 0

― Joseph McCombs, Friday, 30 January 2004 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Not only did the Sex Pistols cover The Monkees, but Glenn Matlock got kicked out for 'liking The Beatles.

The Monkees must be better.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Friday, 30 January 2004 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

21. I once read that Craig David said his favourite Betales song was 'Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees'.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Friday, 30 January 2004 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, they AIN'T!; but if they were...

22. They were the first group to use a synthesizer ("Star Collector")

23. Probably the finest "manufactured" group

24. Better onscreen performers

25. Their TV show was better than the Beatles' (animated) show

26. In "Steppin' Stone", Peter Tork (or somebody) yells out "Go!" and sounds EXACTLY like "Fun House"-era Iggy!

27. Mike Nesmith wore a cool toque. (Knitted wool cap, for you non-Canadians)

― Myonga Von Bontee, Friday, 30 January 2004 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

these are some good points. however, none of the monkees ever made RAM.

― j fail (cenotaph), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

28. First Monkee solo hit: Michael Nesmith, "Joanne"
First Beatle solo hit: Macca, "Another Day"

(unless you count "Give Peace a Chance," which I don't)

― Joseph McCombs, Friday, 30 January 2004 21:36 (twenty-two years ago)

six months pass...

I love this thread. Especially how anyone who takes it seriously and tries to argue the anti-Monkees viewpoint just ends up sounding like Geir. Even Geir.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 14:00 (twenty-one years ago)

What's so ironic about 'Daydream Believer > A Day In The Life'?

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Saturday, 14 August 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Bump. I seriously want to know.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Tuesday, 17 August 2004 21:15 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.