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Get By EmailThe Beatles: Ten Best Songs
This is a truly impossible task - the ten best Beatle songs - but I tried to do it. After listening to all the Beatles’ songs in more or less chronological order, I came up with a list of all their 5 star, perfect songs (in my opinion), of which there were about 65.
Links to my song by song breakdown, album by album, are on this page.
I then selected 10 of these as the ultimate Beatles songs. This list is directly below (in no particular order) plus a few comments about each song. Honestly, I was torn by the omission of many songs, namely She Loves You, Rain, I Am The Walrus, and Let It Be. I’m also a bit perturbed that I couldn’t decide on a specific song from Revolver, but oh well.
So I’m not totally happy with it, but if I were asked to identify 10 required Beatles listening songs to an alien (or a naive teenager) that encapsulated what the Beatles were all about, this is what I’d offer up:
1. I Want to Hold Your Hand
Beatles perfection, once again. The intro preps us for the verse. But when the high harmonies on “hand:” arrive, it’s like a wave washing over. The chorus is also nicely askew, a variation on the I vi IV V progression but starting on the IV. I always thought that was genius. The middle secion adds a nice contrast, John being a little nostalgic, and it’s repeated twice. To cap things off, just when things sound like they might run out of steam, the ending resolves in an unexpected way.
2. Strawberry Fields Forever
This is perfection. Maybe it was George Martin’s way of arranging the horns and strings just so, or the lucky happenstance of two different versions spliced into one, but everything about it is exquisite. John’s nostalgia, the sagging melody and instruments (reminding me of an umbrella soaked through a downpour) and the collapsing coda where the rattle of Ringo’s drums gives way to a spinning cartwheel of sonic effects. Even the last tantalizing moans of John in an altered voice (did he say “I buried Paul?”) was somehow worth obsessing over. A song with this many precious details deserves more than five stars.
3. Penny Lane
This is a perfect song, too. The high trumpet, the sinking, Beach Boys inspired bass line, the England-old-time lyrics, the sneaky-snide harmonies on “fish and finger pie” - so many glorious bits that beg for repeat listening. Even the key change leading up to a clanging piano chord is great stuff.
(There was some talk that both Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane would have been included on Sgt. Pepper, except the Beatles were still in the habit of recording singles and not including them on albums. The mind reels at the possibility.)
4. Nowhere Man
This song is a shining example of all that I love about the Beatles: magical harmonies and supporting background vocals. This is an instance where the guitar solo is note-perfect and adds another level to the song. Also note the neat way the middle builds through the bass, guitar, drums, and background vocals, finally collapsing back into the verse. The subject matter is also intriguing - John guiding someone towards inner happiness. I wish I had an extra star for this one.
5. In My Life
I don’t know what kind words I can say to elevate this song above what place it has in my soul. I can’t even really write about it objectively since it’s come to mean too many things. I love how the subject matter is nostalgic, and the sped up piano (sounding like a harpsichord) sounds like a nod to pre-rock and roll music. Also shining is the minor chord upon which John stunningly reaches for a high note at the song’s end, foreshadowing some of his solo work. Several times before I mentioned a “secret weapon” of John on lead with Paul and George behind - this song is an awesome example of this trinity. I don’t have enough stars for this one, either.
6. A Day In The Life
If I had to name one perfect Beatles song that captures the whole of their legacy, this is it. It’s mostly a John song with a Paul middle. The two sections are separated by a stunning full orchestra pitch-rise and some Lennon wailing. The John section is personal, wistful, and has some beautiful melodies and stunning high notes. By contrast, the Paul section is a typically cornball vaudeville theme, but it’s kept relatively restrained and benefits immensely from what surrounds it, including some neat Ringo drums. This is perhaps the Beatles’ finest moment - one could almost say everything in their career builds up until this moment, and it’s all downhill following the crashing, iconic piano chord. I only ask one question: Where’s George?
7. Something
My favorite George song ever, it’s the culmination of many earlier ones. It seems to have equal parts Lennon and McCartney. His guitar solo is note perfect, there’s dusky Ringo drumming, Paul’s bass playing adds a counter melody, Paul’s vocal harmonies are stunning. The chord progression is also mesmerizing: how the same two chords that lead into the verse change on their entry into the bridge, and how the same chords are repeated both ways at the song’s end.
8. Yesterday
If I had another star, I’d give it to this song, as it still makes me tear up under in the right situation. So much is perfect: the string quartet, the patient strums of Paul’s guitar, and the emotionally tugging lyrics. It’s that feeling of regret and lost love, and resignation that no matter what you do, she isn’t coming back. From this point on, the Beatles’ bar was raised - and you may now have a sense why I’ve been so harsh on some of their songs thus far.
9. Help!
This song still sends chills down my spine if I listen to it under the right circumstances. That is was an actually cry for help from John under the weight of Beatlemania makes it scarier. The descending guitar line from George, the intense, too close for comfort backing vocals, and the high note on “help!” all come together for a tightly charged experience. The last verse, sung when the band drops out leaving just Lennon and his acoustic guitar is musical history.
10. Hey Jude
Paul McCartney sometimes lapsed into cheese with cheese on top, but this one song has a decent dose of protein. It starts out like a typical Paul ballad, but moves through several phases that the Beatles were masters at: adding harmonies, a tambourine, and then a wonderful coda that throws in horns and a sing-along chorus, where Paul switches to baritone improvising and screaming. The final running time is 7 minutes, 20 seconds.
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Make sure to read the comments on that post before drawing your conclusions. - 
I can’t argue with your top 10, though I’d probably toss Hey Jude and Help from your list. I’ve also never been that enamored with Something (it is good), just not my fave — not sure what George song I’d toss in there.
If I had to pick right now, I’d probably go with either Nowhere Man or Yesterday for Beatles perfection with the tandem of Straweberry Fields and Penny Lane close behind.
So now you need to put together a list of the Worst 10 Beatles songs.
Btw…did you do Pastmasters 2? And while you’re at it you may as well review the songs from Yellow Submarine (if not the whole album) as well as the 2 “new” Beatles singles from Anthology. Why not finish out the entire “ouevre”?
I’ve enjoyed this project of yours. I hope you apply it to some other musical groups, classic albums or even solo beatles stuff.
I came up with my own list of Top Ten Beatles songs back in October of 2005, and at the time I realized that my own top ten seems to change depending on my frame of mind, the situation in my life, etc. There are simply too many great tunes to keep a consistent list. I did notice that all of your songs come from hit singles, where I tend to delve deeper into the catalogue.
Dave… yeah, it’s a personal thing, and I had a hard time narrowing it down in this manner. I felt like I had to put one George song in there, and it was down to Something or Here Comes the Sun. But I think the songwriting is better in the former.
Anyhow, the Past Masters 2 and Yellow Submarine are coming shortly. Dunno about those two Anthology songs. I don’t think they’ve aged too well, but I guess for completeness sake I ought to do a post about them.
And as for worst Beatles songs, I guess it won’t be hard to whip that one up!
Robert, that point about the singles is true. I didn’t pick up on that! I’ll have to check out your list and see if there is any overlap with mine…
I agree with Robert that my picks would change depending on mood. But there are a few that I think will always be on my list (Nowhere Man, Across the Universe) no matter what.
And Jase, I agree, I don’t think either Free as a Bird or Real Love will score well when you reevaluate them. I think the biggest problem with the two numbers is that they sound like John Lennon solo pieces (which they were/are) with middle-aged Beatles layered on for added effect (and a whole lot of the Jeff Lynn sound). Free as a Bird is the weaker of the two to me. Real Love is a good song, but I prefer the stripped down demo version they featured in the John Lennon documentary (was it titled “Imagine”? I don’t remember) rather than the spiffed up Beatles version. Probably both 2 star songs at best — maybe 3 if I’m feeling generous.
What? No “Blackbird”, no “Octopus’ Garden”? There are at least half a dozen songs from the White Album I would include on any “Best of”. I guess it truly is a personal thing. I sincerely hope “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” would at least make your top 20.
SirCurry, it’s definitely a tough thing. As I mentioned above I tried to narrow it down to 10 songs. Really hard! And I had to have one George song. Feel free to come up with your own list and post a link to your site…!
Too many to pick from,I say. If you critique each composition by
Lennon and McCartney it’s easy to understand how any second rate
band (had they written any of these songs) make a entire career off
of one song. Yet The Beatles continually blessed us with a well-spring
of wonderful music on every album.
Not to mention the brilliance of the 5th Beatle Sir George Martin.
No it’s too hard to choose, but I’ll tell you this, I thank my parents
everyday for their timing. I was born at the right time to take in all
their timeless work right between the eyes.
Thanks for all you’ve done John,Paul,George,Ringo and George.
God Bless You!!!!
BlueGhost… it’s pretty true that the Beatles were about as far away from “one hit wonders” as you could get. I’m pretty impressed that both John and Paul were excellent songwriters, and George got really good too. I can’t really think of any other band that had two or more excellent songwriters…!
I take your last paragraph to mean that you were alive as the Beatles released their music… I was born after they broke up! But I’m still a big fan, which shows how awesome their music is.
Webmatica,
Yes I was 14 when they hit the charts. I got to see them twice,once
at the International Ampitheater in Chicago and once at Comiskey in Chicago. Back then their sets were only 45 minuets long. So for 45
minuets we heard nothing but ear piercing screams. It was such a
wonderful one of a kind thing. The screaming really was deafening.
Reflecting on their music, I personally feel that many,many years
from now new movies will be made about them and their music will
endure for hundreds of years. Kind of in the company of the great
composers of time (i.e. Mozart,Bach,Shubert,that whole bunch). Can
you think of any act that can say that?
Wow… I was wondering if you ever saw them in concert. That’s pretty awesome.
Obviously many in my generation will never get that chance… which is why I obsess over the recordings. Anyhow I do agree with you that the music will last on into other centuries. I think if there were any rock / pop music artists that people will still know about in 2100… pretty much of rock and roll could be summed up with Elvis and the Beatles…! The rest is just details or variations on a theme.
Just some interesting facts:
The song “Yesterday” has been coverd by over 3,000 different acts,
and aired more than 8 million times. How great is that?
Hi Webmatica,
Well here’s kind of an amusing tale for you,looking back on this:
During the concert at Comiskey Park me and the girl I was with managed to make our way to their dressing room. Well when we
got there a member of The Searchers (a minor 60’s band) was standing outside the door talking with someone. The girl I was with would not quit screaming. Well that band member told us if she would quit screaming he would let us in the dressing room to meet them.
Well to make a long story short, she wouldn’t quit and along came
security. They ushered us back to our seats. I never spoke another
word to that girl. It’s heartbreaking, the thickness of a door, with
The Beatles on the other side.
BlueGhost
Interesting stuff… inspired me to check out that concert you describe. I might have to do some more Beatles blog posts…!
I enjoyed reading your list. My favorites tend to change but Anna and Tomorrow Never Knows remain constant.
[...] The Beatles: Ten Best Songs: Still a Beatles fan. [...]
Ye Gods, nobody’s mentioned ‘She Loves You’ or ‘Please Please Me’! A-grade pop songwriting which rocks, an irresistible combination.
I’m really surprised that no one has mentioned the George song “As My Guitar Gently Weeps” for inclusion here. The lyrics so zen-like “I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping” I find to be reflective of George’s contribution to the band, i.e. his humility in doing the necessary (on guitar, on vocal harmonies, etc.) tasks he found needing doing as the “third” Beatle . We all know that Eric Clapton played the wailing lead guitar on the finished, album version, but I really prefer George’s acoustic demo in the Beatles Anthology. This was one of his great songs, a great Beatles song, one for the ages like so much of their work.
Your choices were excellent and I enjoyed your comments.
My top 10 Beatles’ songs (for today, at least):
1 .Rain
2. Dear Prudence
3. You Never Give Me Your Money
4. Here Comes the Sun
5. Day Tripper
6. Because
7. Eleanor Rigby
8. Back in the U.S.S.R.
9. Hey Bulldog
10.The End
And my favorite Beatles cover song has always been their rendition of Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got a Hold on Me”.
Yikes! Of course that “While” My Guitar Gently Weeps (!)
I, too, agree on the cover of “You Really Got a Hold on Me”…..a Lennon vocal straight from the gut.
I can’t really make a list of the Beatles 10 best songs without changing it every week so I’m not going to try, liked your lists though. For me it all depends on the mood and there should be different lists for each mood.