<p id=”par-1_48″>While they knew how to write rollicking <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/classic-rock/”>classic rock</a> songs in their sleep, Kiss showed off their more sensitive side with the ballad “Beth.” The track has a riff that sounds like it came from <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/paul-mccartney-said-famous-poem-inspired-john-lennon-write-the-beatles-strawberry-fields-forever.html/”>a certain psychedelic Beatles tune</a>. Interestingly, “Beth” was inspired by a true story.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-why-kiss-beth-sounds-like-the-beatles-strawberry-fields-forever”>Why Kiss’ ‘Beth’ sounds like The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’</h2>
<p id=”par-2_43″>“Beth” is a somber ballad that makes expressive use of string instruments. After Peter Criss sings “Beth what can I do?” at the 48-second mark, we hear a sad riff that brings out the desperation in his voice. It sounds a tad familiar.</p>
<p id=”par-3_38″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mick-jaggers-girlfriend-didnt-like-the-beatles-strawberry-fields-forever.html/”>In “Strawberry Fields Forever,”</a> The Beatles used a similar riff after John Lennon sang “high or low” around the 1:30 mark. The Beatles’ strings are a lot more noticeable, but the resemblance between the two songs is remarkable.</p>
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<iframe title=”Beth” width=”925″ height=”694″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/cWFc1yUy1lM?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-how-the-beatles-inspired-1-member-of-kiss”>How The Beatles inspired 1 member of Kiss</h2>
<p id=”par-4_127″>Only one member of Kiss co-wrote “Beth”: Criss. In his 2012 book <em><a href=”https://www.everand.com/read/224349272/Makeup-to-Breakup-My-Life-In-and-Out-of-Kiss#c_search-menu_900275″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss</a></em>, Criss was open about drawing inspiration from The Beatles. “When I first saw The Beatles <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/george-harrison-didnt-rehearse-the-ed-sullivan-show.html/”>on <em>The Ed Sullivan Show</em></a><em>, </em>I was not that crazy about them,” he recalled. “I loved the Stones then. But then I really got into The Beatles and their lyrics, and they changed my life. I started to wear <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/best-song-the-beatles-sgt-pepper.html/”>a <em>Sgt. Pepper</em> hairstyle</a>, I grew a mustache like Paul McCartney’s, and then <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/john-lennon-thought-paul-mccartneys-band-on-the-run.html/”>I got into the Lennon image</a>, all in white with white sneakers and my hair long and straight down with the wire-rimmed glasses. Waiting for a new Beatles album was like waiting for a gift from the gods.”</p>
<p id=”par-5_77″>However, he said the inspiration for “Beth” was real life, not any Beatles song. “Stan [Penridge] and I had written a joke song to knock our bandmate Mike Brand’s wife, Becky,” Criss wrote. “She would always call him during rehearsals, wondering when he was coming home. So the song originally went, ‘Beck, I hear you callin’, but I can’t come home right now / Me and the boys are playin’, and we just can’t find the sound.’”</p>
<p id=”par-6_68″>Part of the reason why Kiss put out “Beth” was because their producer, Bob Ezrin, was worried that all of the band’s songs revolved around sex. With “Beth,” the band made a G-rated song that appealed to many listeners, including some who were not in Kiss’ fan base. To this day, “Beth” is a crowd-pleaser that <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/beatles-white-album-song-might-really-rock-star.html/”>rock ‘n’ rollers</a> and casual fans of pop radio can both enjoy.</p>
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<iframe title=”The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtUH9z_Oey8?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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Paul Stanley Had 1 Hit Song Without Kiss and It’s About Cher’s Sister </a>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-beth-was-released-alongside-another-classic-song”>‘Beth’ was released alongside another classic song</h2>
<p id=”par-7_70″>“Beth” became the biggest hit of Kiss’ career. The tune was released as a double A-side single <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kiss-biggest-hit-was-about-a-real-life-car-accident.html/”>with “Detroit Rock City.”</a> The tracks reached No. 7 on the <a href=”https://www.billboard.com/artist/kiss/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Billboard Hot 100</a>, lasting on the chart for 21 weeks. Kiss only entered the top 10 one more time when they released the power ballad “Forever.” While Kiss wasn’t a singles band, they managed to cultivate a massive following across the world.</p>
<p id=”par-8_54″>“Beth” and “Detroit Rock City” both appeared on the classic album <em>Destroyer</em>. That record climbed to No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and lasted on the chart for 84 weeks. <em>Destroyer </em>is often considered the best album in Kiss’ discography, and it has appeared on many lists of the greatest albums of all time.</p>
<p id=”par-9_12″>Once you hear the Beatlesque riff in “Beth,” you can’t unhear it.</p>