What's your favorite Beatle song and why?

[Modem Butterfly]

I used to collect Beatle albums when I was a kid. I had a thing for the Parlaphone pressings. There are so many Beatles songs I like, the trippy stuff like "Within You, Without You" and "She Said, She Said", the goofy Paul songs like "For No One" and "When I'm 64", cynical John songs like "Taxman" and "Bulldog". But I guess my absolute favorite would have to be "Julia", John Lennon's song about his mother, from the White Album

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you
Julia
Julia, Julia, ocean child calls me
So I sing this song of love
Julia

Julia, seashell eyes
Windy smile
Calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia

[Goldmund]

1. Ahem...

Taxman -- a George song.

:)

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

2. Martha My Dear...

'Cause when the guitar part hits (whether it be George or John or even Paul playing it) you just know these guys are the best band ever.

The whitest song on the whitest album.

[RandomKoolzip]

16. Good choice.

Oh, the hours you and I spent listening to that guitar part...

[jpgray]

27. It pisses me off that Paul didn't continue that buildup

I have a grand vision of what that song might have been had it just gotten more and more energized and guitar-filled, but it sort of goes into a fruity horn break and then peters away to nothing. God damn though, McCartney could write a great vocal melody at his peak.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

31. Indeed, Maca WAS a genius.

Although, I don't know if I agree with you about the build up....I'm a fan of short songs that just leave you wanting MORE, MORE, MORE....but you just can't have it. The mark of a great pop tune IM not-so-H O.

[pfitz59]

48. Martha was Paul's sheep dog!

Keeping close to home.....

[woo me with science]

4. "Here comes the sun"

It just makes me feel better...

[kodi]

64. yeah

and wrapped up about everything the beatles had done before

[bearfan454]

3. I have 2(well many really)

Savoy Truffle and Rocky Raccoon.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

5. Savoy Truffle...

Good one. I love the horns on that tune.

[quispquake]

6. A Day in the Life

Still sends chills up and down my spine after hearing it hundreds of times...

[Seabiscuit]

15. A Day in the Life

Smoked the best hashish to that song for years.

[On the Road]

7. "Blackbird"

followed by "A Day in the Life."

[Lavender Brown]

8. I'll Follow the Sun or This Boy

[Goldmund]

9. I honestly couldn't pick one

The Beatles are the reason I became a professional musician. They had a huge influence on me in my most formative years. No way could I just pick one song.

[sportndandy]

10. You Never Give Me Your Money

Because its the story of my life.

You never give me your money
You only give me your funny paper
and in the middle of negotiations
you break down

I never give you my number
I only give you my situation
and in the middle of investigation
I break down

Out of college, money spent
See no future, pay no rent
All the money's gone, nowhere to go
Any jobber got the sack
Monday morning, turning back
Yellow lorry slow, nowhere to go
But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go
Oh, that magic feeling
Nowhere to go

One sweet dream
Pick up the bags and get in the limousine
Soon we'll be away from here
Step on the gas and wipe that tear away
One sweet dream came true today
Came true today
Came true today (yes it did)

One two three four five six seven,
All good children go to Heaven

[DelawareValleyDem]

11. I'll answer

but first you have to tell me why you think For No One is goofy

[Goldmund]

13. Yeah that's a good question isn't it?

[H2O Man]

12. Good question.

I think "A Day In The Life" is the best song ever.

But I am far more likely to sing "In My Life" and "Don't Let Me Down" to my wife. There are other days I sing "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" to her.

[RogueTrooper]

14. Drive My Car

Tomorrow never knows from Revolver runs it a close second.

[RandomKoolzip]

17. You Never Give Me Your Money....

Because there's something about Paul's voice on the middle part (the "vaudeville section: "Oh that magic feeling....") that moves me in a strange and deep place.

[Modem Butterfly]

21. Mother Nature's Son does that to me

It's another goofy-ass Paul song, but damn, that man has a way with a catchy tune. It's a great little song that always makes me think of home, and a spot in Mr. Scollari's back 40 that looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale. I would not have been surprised if one day, a unicorn pranced out of it (this was on the southern coast of Oregon, BTW, very beautiful and rural).

[RandomKoolzip]

22. Watch out, though...

Unicorns are easily riled and aren't averse to mauling elves or even goring orcs when especially pissed.

[Modem Butterfly]

23. I don't think unicorns are native to southern Oregon

I don't think unicorns are native to southern Oregon, but it's so much more poetic to imagine one leaping out of a glen then to imagine a Sasquatch capering about...

[mac56]

18. "She Loves You" is my favorite song of all time, bar none.

The perfect pop song. The yardstick by which other pop songs are measured.

[Dervill Crow]

24. She loves you!

Oh, now you've done it. I came into my office to remove the fax machine and move the TV off my desk onto the table where the fax is (my kids got X-Box live and moved the tv in here), and I've already spent 30 minutes crawling around on the floor under furniture messing with wires and cords. Now I have to go find my damned turntable and hook it up so I can play my bootleg Beatles at Shea Stadium album, the absolute best She Loves You ever recorded.

Woulda never thought of that as my favorite Beatles song, but the harmonies are exquisite. Good choice!

[Steel City Slim]

19. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Because of the words and because of the guitar playing.

[petron]

20. Hard to pick just one

"I am a Walrus"
John's lyrics are haunting and they are clear evidence of his genius. I also really like what they did to John's voice; it sounds like he singing through an antique microphone or something. And who can over look the samples at near the end of the song? Apparently, John recorded a Shakespeare play from the BBC and uses snippets as samples in the song. Is it one of the first uses of sampling in rock music? (Probably not, think about "For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" and of course "Revolution 9")
"Yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog's eye"

"I'm So Tired"
I just get the feeling that this song is painfully autobiographical. Makes me feel for John. The intensity of the song keeps building and building and you can feel the emotion. I love Paul's background vocal too.
"Sir Walter Raleigh was such a stupid git"

"Good Morning, Good Morning"
Awesome guitar solo, one of the few crunchy solos. Also, I've heard rumors that Paul had to play drums on the song because Ringo couldn't handle it, is that true? Listen to the drums on it and you'll notice it's not like most Beatles song. And you can't ignore the George Martin influence with all the animal sound effects. Gotta love it.
"After a while you start to smile now you feel cool"

"Hey Bulldog"
It's obscure to most people, but I love it. Great guitar work and some thumping pianos. John's voice gets so rough during the chorus, you can hear the smoker's roughness when he wails: "...you can talk to me, if you're lonely you can talk to me...". You can even hear John go a little "multi-track" crazy at the end of the song.
"Some kind of solitude is measured out in you"

As you probably can tell, I am a huge Lennon fan. I love Paul but there's something tragically appealing about John.

[Dervill Crow]

What album is Hey Bulldog on?

on edit: Sorry, stupid question. I googled it. Good song!

Abbey Road and Yellow Submarine are two albums I don't have. I was quite a puritanical kid and when I found out that the Beatles did drugs I quit listening to their music. Then I grew up, but I guess I never did get around to filling in my collection.

[Magrittes Pipe]

25. Everybody's Got Something to Hide (Except Me and My Monkey)

[Emops]

26. I have several.

"And Your Bird Can Sing" is brilliant, and it's barely two minutes long!

I also love "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," which I think of as the first progressive rock song. "Hey Bulldog" is also great.

[Goldmund]

30. First progressive rock song??

How so?

Ummagumma and Atom Heart Mother by Floyd had already been out...

[Emops]

51. Right...

Should've said "an early progressive rock song."

[ImpeachBush]

28. Number Nine

Just because everyone I know hates it.

[edbermac]

38. I don't hate it...it's rather interesting...

I always try to hear different sounds on it whenever I play it...

Take this brother, may it serve you well....

[jpgray]

29. With A Little Help From My Friends

One of the last tunes McCartney and Lennon actually wrote together, and the backup singing, bass-playing and hooks are just awe-inspiring.

[onager]

32. Day Tripper

One of the best guitar riffs EVER!

Some years ago I went to a tiny little club and saw Randy California, with the remains of Spirit. When they came back out for an encore, he cranked his amp up to 11 and launched into "Day Tripper." That got the whole place up on its feet.

[deutsey]

33. Strawberry Fields

because it's like a surrealist painting set to music.

[YankeyMCC]

34. Fool on the Hill

I was a Beatles fanatic back in junior high.

"Fool on the Hill" was the first of the more "thoughtful" songs from their repertoire that captured me. It's funny I was becoming a Beatles fan almost 20 years after they first came to the US and my taste for their songs/albums pretty much developed in sync with the order the albums were released.

I'm not sure "Fool on the Hill" is still my favorite it probably has the most significant emotional connection for me.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

35. Eleanor Rigby. Don't ask me why. It just is. (nt)

[miss_kitty]

36. I couldn't possibly pick a fave

they're almost all good.

[flamingyouth]

37. "Don't Bother Me"

I've always been a George fan, and the lyrics suit the way I feel a lot of the time. :D

[MrSlayer]

39. I am the Walrus.

Just an amazing song.

[edbermac]

40. I can't; it's like picking your favorite child; depends what mood I'm in..

My fave obscure one is Rain, the B-side to Paperback Writer...

[SarahB]

41. " Till There was You"

Shhhhh... don't tell anyone I'm a sap underneath my hardened shell.

[Goldmund]

43. That's actually not a Beatles song,

though they covered it on their second album...

[Lavender Brown]

45. It's from the musical "The Music Man"

I think...

[SarahB]

54. I know.

An artist doesn't have to write the song for it to be liked or appreciated, right? :shrug:

[Goldmund]

57. Of course not

But the question was "your favorite Beatles song" and it just ain't a Beatles song, that's allz. :)

[SarahB]

58. Ok, how about "Hello Goodbye".

My life's perpetual theme.

[MamaBear]

42. I Love Each and Every One of Them, But

I'm kind of partial to Helter Skelter, which is supposedly about a carny ride, but I used to have relationships like this ...

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop, and I turn, and I go for a ride,
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.

Whoo! That song is a ride. Too bad Charles Manson made it so unpalatable for so many.

MamaBear
(I got blistahs on my fingahs!)

[redqueen]

44. Ooooooooh that;s a very tough question.

I do love Julia very, very much... I'd have to think about that one.

[warrens]

46. Rain

That drone set me up for the VU and all the psychedelic stuff that was to follow.

And Baby You're a Rich Man, just for that wacky oboe part running through it.

[skygazer]

47. In My Life

It always makes me smile. When I hear it, I think about Vermont which is home to me, and all the places there that make it special. Just little places, special places that mean something to me personally. It also makes me think of my best friend who lives there -

"But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you"

It's a reflective song, one that looks back and sees the good that is in one's life. A positive song. All in all, the Beatles had a really positive outlook on life and I enjoy that.

[JohnKleeb]

49. In My Life I think

Makes ya really reflect on life as a whole.

[welshTerrier2]

50. In My Life (hey, 3 in a row)

great nostalgia ... especially like Judy Collins' version ...

[benny05]

52. For Different Purposes

For dancin', "She Loves You", "I Want to Hold Your Hand"

For Love: "If I Fell in Love"
"Something"
"The End"
"Michelle"
"Here, there, and Everywhere"
"Let It Be"

For poetry and other music:

"Norweigian Wood"
"Let It Be"
"Julia"
"Rocky Raccoon"
"I am the Walrus"
"Day in the Life"
"I'm Looking Through You"
"In My Life"



Political/Social Commentary

"Taxman"
"Get Back"
"Ballad of John and Yoko"

and more...

[6000eliot]

53. "Your Mother Should Know."

Difficult time signature change on the bridge makes this one tough to play on the piano.

[Straight Shooter]

55. When I'm 64

Because it's fun and it's optimistic and it's romantic and corny and it's easy to sing.

I just like the idea of believing that someone you love in your twenties, you'll love that person just as much when you're both in your sixties.

When I get older, gray in my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be bringing me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine
If I come in at a quarter to 4
Would you lock the door
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?

Running a very close second is Here Comes The Sun. Again, it's that optimism thing :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

56. "Eleanor Rigby" is the top song for me! Why?

It is such a poignant, brief little melody. I love the harmony of it. Also love "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and "When I'm Sixty-four." The lyrics, melodies, the rhythms, all wonderful...

[shesemsmom]

59. * AND I LOVE HER*

just a great love song. I do love all their stuff

[BlackVelvetElvis]

60. Nowhere Man.

I love John's voice (IMHO-one of the greatest male pop/rock singers ever).
Add George and Paul's voices to it and you have breathtaking haromony.

I also love the lyrics to this song.

[fortyfeetunder]

61. Yesterday

It was my grandma's favorite song then. She loved listening to the Beatles. Imagine a 70YO granny hip to the Beatles in the 60's!


I think she realized she was terminally ill, she died a couple of years after the song released. But the words were hauntingly true like my grandma, she never told anyone she was dying. I was a little kid then.


Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say.
I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday.

[wovenpaint]

62. This is a very tough question!

But I really love "Let it Be"
and....Sgt Pepper, and.....In My Life,....and I wanna Hold Your Hand
See! :crazy: :dilemma:
It's just hard work to limit myself to one Beatle song!
I grew up with them and have all their albums-my son even got me "Let It Be -Naked" on vinyl, for Xmas!

[ComerPerro]

63. I really like "Happiness is a Warm Gun"