The BEATLES 10 Best Songs |
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- The often debated Beatles Top 10 Best Songs list gets a fun new ranking and new look. There are no wrong answers so long as you apply criteria by which to choose. Add your Top ten in the comments and also add the criteria you applied.
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Thanks for watching. Please add your Top 10 Beatles Songs below - There are no two the same it seems.
Great top ten list. You should have mentioned Lennon said Something was the best song on Abbey Rd. High praise from John
There are lots of Beatles podcasts/radio shows out there and this is definitely up there with the very best...considered, analytical, balanced and profound without being preachy...no doubt the forthcoming Beatles MA course at Liverpool University will use this as a resource.
@@joerobxy That is very kind of you to say. Thank you for taking the consideration to post it.
Where is Nowhere Man? Ticket To Ride? Rain? She said She said? And Your Bird Can Sing? CMON MAN!!
John's songs weren't that great after the Help album so his "high praise" isn't worth all that much in my opinion (which is what all this conversation really is - "opinion"). Imagine the single and "Double Fantasy" - sucked. The "energy" of his early Beatle period was gone and McCartney was left to takeover the leadership role of the Beatles. Lennon was down to one or two "good" tracks per album. "Run for Your Life", "tomorrow Never Knows" and "She Said" also sucked. Too bad the Beatles didn't substitute more George songs for John's after Revolver. George had 3 great songs "Taxman", "I Want to Tell You" and "Love You Too" on it.
I laughed at "Only the Beatles can fit fifteen songs into a top ten"....because it's true.
So true!!!
Actually... they might have gotten away with twenty!
In what way is it true??
@@dj71162 Maybe because The Beatles are that good? Just a guess...
@@chuckw2236 Yes, they are good, but first of all it doesn't make sense mathematically and secondly, lots of artists could claim it.
The effect of Walrus when it appeared was as potent as Peppers. It ripped a hole in the fabric of reality. That's a songwriting revolution in a single song.
It's a smart list. I can't argue with any of your choices. They are all legendary and influential songs. I may have considered mentioning "Eleanor Rigby", "For No One", "Nowhere Man" "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "I Am The Walrus". But seriously, it's their entire catalog that keeps me endlessly refreshed and inspired.
It's a hard list to make and there is seldom complete consensus. Eleanor Rigby and Nowhere Man were borderline ones for me that would be in the "next 10 Best" list. Thanks for watching
@@popgoesthe60s52 : 👍
@@popgoesthe60s52 : you are extremely intelligent !!! After that Covid19 nightmare, if ever you come to Montréal my wife Jocelyne and i we will welcome you in our home ! I've got an amazing wine cellar ! Mainly great Barolos ! I am spending 50 thousand dollars a year on great wines ! And my wife and i we are cooking like the great chefs you see on television !!! We hope to see you one day ! We will have so much fun, and i will sing you all the Beatles songs !!!
I feel the same way John The Beatles music especially their entire catalog is still fresh to me as it was since I became a Beatles fan when I was 11 years old. and I love what Giles Martin has done rebuilding all the songs so far hearing the songs with such clarity I love it.
It's hard to argue against _Something_ being the greatest love song ever, however I think it might have co-winner: _God Only Knows_
I think Here There and Everywhere is a great love song, my wedding song, and it would have gotten more play had it been released as a single as Something was. Of course I do love all three songs.
It's interesting to note that both "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" came about because the Fabs' original plan after Revolver was to make an album about their childhoods. (Another for your "Beatle albums that never were" category, perhaps?) But what intrigues me is how telling these songs were when it comes to insights into John's and Paul's childhoods. Paul's childhood, despite his mother's death, was stable and loving, with a close-knit extended family and a father who, having been a musician himself, supported Paul's own talent and ambitions. So "Penny Lane" is warm and nostalgic. John's childhood was more tumultuous, with parts of it leaving scars...a broken family, parents that asked him to choose between them as they split up, a mother who left him to be raised by her sister only to re-enter his life as more of a friend than a parent, and then was suddenly killed in an accident just as they were getting to know one another, a loving uncle who also died suddenly, a stable but unaffectionate aunt who bought him his first guitar but made no secret of the fact that she'd rather he pursue a REAL job instead of what he was born to do...all that added up to childhood memories that were far more confusing and occasionally frightening. And all this, of course, is reflected in "Strawberry Fields Forever", which conveys far more surreal and confused emotions...the lyrics waffle and even the music is unsettled.
I just have to say, what a beautiful analysis. Spot on!
Astute observations, Jennifer.
Asinine observations beginning with the horrible smear that John's Aunt Mimi was unaffectionate. Where did you get that load of crap? Unbelievable.
I don't think there is any need to reply with extremely rude responses to this genuinely drafted analysis (see Bondsback). However, whilst Penny Lane is certainly warm and nostalgic in it's feel and melodic dexterity, (Paul was a great melodist structurally, John mainly a harmonist structurally), the dissonance in McCartney's tale between summer and winter, tells you that Paul's subtle use of dissonance here told of his own complexities. John we know, was complex. The death of their mothers when both were young had a profound effect on both and whilst it's clear Mimi could be affectionate, (their shared love of books and wicked sense of humour), Lennon's sister Julia here in Liverpool, insists (as is her right), that John maintained a close relationship with his mother, as she lived quite close by. Film biopics are often inaccurate or incomplete or both.
@@joerobxy The truth, as detailed in the the highly regarded definitive book, Tune In, is that John's mother showed up later in John's childhood even though she lived close by during his entire childhood. She just decided to start letting John know about where she was living and started allowing him to visit. She apparently did not want to be part of John's early childhood years. John's mother, Julia, had other children from various flings and one-night stands. It was basically a fling with John's father that resulted in John being born. She was highly irresponsible and Mimi was worried that Julia would be a negative impact on John because of Julia's bad behavior. So, Mimi was heroic as was her husband. They gave John what his mother refused to give him...security and dependable affection.
It is interesting that Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane were released as A & B sides on the single (At least in America). I have always though that they showcase Lennon and McCarthy at their best. Strawberry Fields with it very Lennon take on life; Introspective, pensive almost dark and mournful verses Penny Lane with McCarthy's optimism, quirky English characters, and clever lyrics. Yin to Lennon's yang.
My all-time favorite is Rain. Others that I really like are It's All Too Much, Golden Slumbers (The Long One), Helter Skelter, Tomorrow Never Knows. I'm sure there are others. I remember Vince Welnick would sing It's All Too Much with the Grateful Dead. He would really belt it out. Nice memories.
wish I could play drums to Rain
Me too.
Disappointed Matt missed Rain off.
@@nickwebb9290 Rain would've really added to the "Revolver" album. Maybe "I'm Only Sleeping" should've been the B side of "Paperback Writer"?
@@TigerRogers0660
Not a bad suggestion, that would’ve worked, both superb songs
I remember playing in a band in the mid 60s. We learned "Day Tripper" the week it was released as a single on AM radio and we played it on a gig that week. The audience went nuts!)
1. Yesterday 2. Let it Be 3. In my Life 4. A Day in the Life 5. Something 6. The Long and Winding Road 7. Here Comes the Sun 8. Come Together 9. Hey Jude 10. While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
Great list Jason. I've been seeing While My Guitar Gently Weeps regularly appearing on peoples top 10 list. In the future, I'd like to do an audience participation survey on this subject. Thanks so much for commenting.
Long and winding road naked version might be my favorite song rn but the spector version i just cant listen to
1.Let it Be 2. In my Life 3.Get Back, 4.Help. 5. She Loves You 6.Back in the USSR . 7 Revolution. 8 Hey Jude . 9 Here comes the Sun.10. Ob la de ob la da.............IMHO
Late to the party, but,
10. I'm a Loser
9. Ticket To Ride
8. I Will
7. Things We Said Today
6. Julia
5. I Need You
4. Fixing A Hole
3. Rain/Paperback Writer (best 45 ever)
2. I Saw Her Standing There, and,
1. Things We Said Today
Yes, Things We Said Today appears twice on my list. It's that good.
I was 5 years old, when the song "Yellow submarine" came out on radio. From then on I became Beatle fan, and they inspired me to become a musician. Now, after 10.000 concerts I performed myself, I will never forget who inspired me to have a great life! I am forever thankful to the Beatles for the inspiration I got from them.
Glad to see We Can Work it Out here. I remember it on the radio. It always reminds me of winter time.
Hi Matt. Thank you for your selection of songs. I was a teenager in the 1960's and for me the Beatles were at their best with the two LP's "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver." Their best single was without a doubt "Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane."
My top ten Beatles songs would change every week
It’s impossible to pick really, I love every one of their albums from start to finish. My opinion changes all the time. I think my favourite at the moment are (in order):
1. Something
2. Tomorrow Never Knows
3. Taxman
4. Twist and Shout
5. In My Life
6. Dear Prudence
7. Sexy Sadie
8. Strawberry Fields Forever
9. Nowhere Man
10. Within You Without You
A very eclectic list, Alex. I like seeing Within You, Without You on there!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Thanks mate. I know they didn’t write Twist and Shout but it’s such an iconic one for me.
My favorite period is 65/66 (Help/Rubber Soul/Revolver)
1. Rain
2. Tomorrow Never Knows
3. And Your Bird Can Sing
4. I'm Looking Through You
5. Norwegian Wood
6. Day Tripper
7. I've Just Seen a Face
8. Paperback Writer
9. Ticket to Ride
10. Help
Honorable mention: If I Fell, I Feel Fine, Anytime at All, We Can Work it Out, Hard Day's Night, Help, Yesterday, Cry Baby Cry, Here Comes The Sun, I'm Only Sleeping, and so many more.
It's very hard to make a Top 10, which is why I had to add 5 more! Thanks for the comment.
My top 10
1. A day in the life
2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
4. Here there and everywhere
5. Something
6. Golden Slumbers/Carry that weight/The End
7. Blackbird
8. Let it be
9. Across the Universe
10. I’m only sleeping
1. Penny Lane (the reason I got into The Beatles as a 6/7 yr old)
2. A Day In The Life
3. Here Comes The Sun
4. Something
5. Yesterday
6. Across The Universe
7. The Ballad Of John & Yoko
8. She Loves You
9. Cry Baby Cry
10. I Want To Hold Your Hand
Bonus 5: All You Need Is Love, There’s A Place, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Rain & She’s Leaving Home.
Thank you for your list and the bonus picks!
Eleanor Rigby would definitely be in my top ten the song broke ground I remember Nancy Wilson saying that the first time she heard the song she remembered thinking she was listening to the first rock song with just a strings arangement she was amazed! I agree the first time I heard it I never thought a rock song could sound so beautiful I was in awe and still am to this day!
I still remember where I was the first time I heard Eleanor Rigby, and She Loves You, because these songs gave me goosebumps as a small child. Total ear candy!
Only The Beatles could fit 15 songs into the top 10. Wonderfully said!
1.Strawberry Fields Forever *favorite of all time *
2. And your bird can sing
3. Penny Lane
4. Rain
5. Ticket to ride
6. She Said, She Said
7. All my loving
8. I am the Walrus
9. Good Day Sunshine
10. Across the Universe
Excellent list! I've noticed And Your Bird Can Sing in many lists. Thanks for commenting.
My Top 10 in no particular order:
1. A Day In The Life
2. Helter Skelter
3. Eleanor Rigby
4. Get Back
5. Come Together
6. Don't Let Me Down
7. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
8. Penny Lane
9. Hey Jude
10. Let It Be
Bonus track: A Hard Days Night
Great list and as always I enjoyed watching. If I could throw one in it would be 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away', and I don't now why, but it does yet again show the ability of Johns voice!
1) The medley, 2) Help, 3) A day in the life, 4) Get Back, 5) Hey Jude, 6) I'm so tired 7) Glass Onion 8) I've got a feeling 9) Twist and shout 10) We can work it out
They are all so good it is hard to pick favorites, but I am partial to I’ve Just Seen A Face and Don’t Pass Me By. I also go for the novelty lyrics such as Octopus’s Garden, Piggies, and The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill. George was my favorite Beatle growing up, but I wasn’t aware at the time that Ringo also wrote a few songs.
1) a day in the life
2) while my guitar gently weeps
3) hey Jude
4) let it be
5) in my life
6) across the universe
7) here comes the sun
8) something
9) all you need is Love
10) taxman
Bonus selections...
Honorable mentions) anytime at all, I’ll follow the sun, I me mine, Eleanor Rigby, yesterday.
Most underrated Beatles song) long, long, long
Best unreleased demo) all things must pass
I love your Honorable Mentions! Thanks for including your personal list!
Great list! I would've had Tomorrow Never Knows in there since it pretty much started the psychedelic craze. Dear Prudence is also a very underrated song. (edited to add list):
Strawberry Fields Forever
A Day in the Life
Let it Be
Tomorrow Never Knows
Abbey Road Medley
Something
I Am the Walrus
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Hey Jude
Dear Prudence
I can't argue with this list. I am planning a video of the next 10 Best Songs which covers some heavy hitters. Thank for the comment!
Hi great friend ! My list of the 10 best or as i should say more important Beatles songs goes like this : 1- Hey Jude, 2- She loves you, 3- All you need is love, 4- Yesterday, 5- Let it be, 6- A day in the life, 7- Penny lane, 8- Yellow submarine, 9- Something, 10- Revolution.
1. Let it Be
2. In my Life
3. While my guitar gently weeps
4. Strawberry fields
5. A day in the life
My top 5. But I love everything from the Beatles.
You're number 3 song is my number 8 -- astute choice... I think its Harrison at his apex
Great top 6
Hmmm...I think I would have had "Elenor Rigby" in there somewhere.
Or 'Norwegian Wood'.
@@duffbaker9554 Both merit at least Honorable Mention. There are sooo many.
I hated it when it first came out. In 1966, the Beatles were changing too fast for pre-teens like me to keep up. Only years later did I realize its greatness.
@@Jimeo722 So true. He did a very good job choosing the iconic ones.
@@Jimeo722 Was your reaction the same regarding 'Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane' as well as the image-change?
i get something out of every Beatles song I hear. Wonderful list!
I once tried to come up with my top 10 Beatles song. I stopped with 30 songs in my list yet. I was about to remove “Across The Universe” from the list. I couldn’t do it. So I stopped.
It's an effort in futility! I'm planning a follow up of the Next Best 10 and those are as hard as the first 10!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Easier to create a Top 13 Beatles Albums list. 😉
Another Beautiful song, Here, There, and Everywere. And for a cool opening Guitar rif. I feel fine.
One of my favorites is Long, Long, Long. I never hear it mentioned. I find it to be full of emotional expression. I understand that it is a song to God. He had recently returned to a spiritual life.
That is a song that many commenters list on their top ten. I am surprised but delighted.
From memory I always thought the recording of that song to be pretty bad?
Long, long, long is overlooked and greatly undervalued. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Good pick! I always thought it was gorgeous song.
@@Neil-Aspinall The 2018 mix fixes that. There are also some truly amazing covers of this song all over UA-cam.
Loved your 15 top ten of the Beatles. Here are mine. In no particular order too. Hey Jude , Norwegian Wood, Here, there and everywhere, I saw here standing there, Long and winding road ( naked ) , I follow the sun, come together, and your bird can sing , yesterday, In my life . That’s ten, the other 5, Got to get you into my life, Something, Money, Any time at all, Oh Darling . Really enjoy watching your posts.
Great list , Peter! Many who have made their lists her include And Your Bird Can Sing, which surprised me.
Geez, only 10? Very difficult indeed. My list: I am the Walrus, I feel fine, Back in the USSR, Happiness is a warm Gun, Let it Be, Strawberry Fields Forever, A day in the Life, Paperback Writer, Rain, Eleanor Rigby.
Great channel and great list…
I think “It Won’t Be Long” is one of their most underrated but awesome songs that rocks…
The is a great rocker. Thanks for commenting Mr. B.
I understand the premise of your top 15. Great choices one and all. Maybe one day you will share YOUR top 15. Here is mine. Not in any order. These are songs I have played so many times, but never tire of hearing them. Long Long Long. Hey Bulldog. Hey Jude. For No One. Old Brown Shoe. Happiness is a Warm Gun. The Long One. Good Day Sunshine. Here Comes the Sun. Martha My Dear. Within You Without You. Revolution. I’m Down. Rain. Day in the Life.
Great list, Barry. I do have a follow up to this video that I hope to get to in the next 2 months.
@@popgoesthe60s52 just to be silly. Only rule must be singles. Paint it Black. Ruby Tuesday. Not Fade Away. Play with Fire. It's all Over Now. It's Only Rock n Roll. Live With Me. She's A Rainbow. Jumpin' Jack Flash. Honky Tonk Women. We Love You. Happy. Angie. Brown Sugar. Bitch.
@@barrygreenfield6043 parameters are always helpful!
Sinatra actually called "Something" his favorite Lennon/McCartney song.
George: Ouch.
Harrison wrote this beaut
Sinatra like Elvis could sing a shopping list and sound great - SInatra corrected himself by stating it was written by GH
@@stevendouglas3860 no kidding, gluten. Lol
Yes, we ALL know, Brian.
Come Together is in my top 5. I heard it when I was 10 and thought ohhh that’s different and cool. It wasn’t til years later I found out it was The Beatles. Still can’t get over it.
Thank you,..great as usual, and YES!!
Phenomenal job...I couldn't have imagined a better analysis of these beautiful songs....they were the soundtrack of my life growing up..love your show..incredible...oh yeah my list has 100 in the top 10..ha
Thanks, Grover!
For me: Strawberry Fields Forever, Ticket to Ride, If I Needed Someone, Paperback Writer, Hey Jude, She Said She Said, Come Together, Tomorrow Never Knows, Here Comes The Sun and I am The Walrus. No particular order.
You are the first to list one of my all time faves - If I Needed Someone! Thanks for the list.
My favorite list:
A Day in the Life
I Am the Walrus
Strawberry Fields Forever
Across the Universe
Dear Prudence
Revolution 1
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
Two of Us
Elanor Rigby
Taxman
Bonus: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
And yes, John Lennon is my favorite Beatle. Sorry, but at the end of the day I will listen to a mid-level John song many times over what I'll listen to a Paul song. But my favorite Paul songs, besides the two I listed, are: Penny Lane, Fixing a Hole, Oh! Darling, She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, Things We Said Today, Got to Get You into My Life, Blackbird, and so on.
My Top Ten: And Your Bird Can Sing (#1), Penny Lane, She Loves You, In My Life, If I Fell, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Help!, Paperback Writer, I'm Looking Through You, Here, There and Everywhere. Honorable mention: Strawberry Fields Forever, I'm Happy Just To Dance With You. Whew, that was tough! #1 was a no-brainer, however; man, I love that guitar intro, and I never tire of it.
Help! would have to be in my top 10, if not just for the racing pace of it and the wonderful harmonies. Johns cry for help disguised with a smile.
I tried to complete my Top 10, but, honestly, realised it was a futile task...She's Leaving Home, There's a Place, Across the Universe, And Your Bird Can Sing, Nowhere Man, Eleanor Rigby, Yes It Is, She Said She Said...just so many classics...one could create a thousand different variations of Beatles Top 10s!
Great watch/listen as ever. It never ceases to amaze me how good the Beatles were. Their weakest songs are usually still better than the vast majority of artists' best. It's hard to argue with this top 10/15 and you set out the case for each really well. Interesting you only have one solely Lennon penned track in your 10. Like many, my top 10 will vary from day to day but based on the ones that are always there or thereabouts: 1. Hey Jude, 2. Day in the Life, 3. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, 4. We Can Work it Out, 5. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, 6. Long Long Long 7. Please Please Me, 8. Revolution, 9 Hello Goodbye, 10. Here There and Everywhere.
Thank you for including your own list! I do plan a follow up to this episode so stay tuned!
Shot out of a bazooka is an apt description. I was 8 years old when A Hard Day's Night came to the theater. There WAS screaming. I had been a devote of 77 WABC NY, the transistor radio being a constant friend already when we were introduced to the boys. They changed me and my friend's lives seemingly overnight and by some kind of magic. My top ten could list about 40.
Great choice.
I would add "Nowhere Man" and "For No-One".
And I'm almost embarrassed to say, I never could get used to "Something".
thanks i never liked Strawberry Fields and Hey Jude
It's something about writing music..."In My Life"....Pink Floyd "Time"....young men writing songs in their 20's about subjects that ring true for me in my 50's looking back
My List:....I Want to Hold Your Hand, Yesterday, Help!, Eleanor Rigby, I am the Walrus, All You Need is Love, Penny Lane, Something, Hey Jude, Let it Be
I have a follow up to this video on the way so stay tuned!
Great list, Matt. The list is impecable, but maybe a top 20 or top 25 would have given you space to include other essential tracks such as: Eleanor Rigby, I am the Walrus, All you need is love, Help, I saw her standing there, Blackbird, And I love her, Norwegian wood, While my guitar gently weeps, Here, there and everywhere, Get back, The long and winding road, Tomorrow never knows, and Yellow submarine.
Good list! The Beatles had soooo many good songs. My favorite song of all time is 'Come Together'. I haven't been able shake it since I first heard it in 1969. However, 'A Day In The Life' is definitely the number one song. It is so majestic. It comes from a place in the brain that the rest of us only wish we could access.
Thank you for watching and commenting!
A lot of people ask what the best Beatles album is... similarly impossible to do. I know that my “favorite” three are Hard Day’s Night, Let it Be, and Abbey Road. After fighting with myself for years over this (as to why I must choose makes no sense), I finally decided two nights ago that if I were only allowed to have one Beatles album on the proverbial desert island), it would be HDN. The vitality of the title song and I Should Have Known Better, and the soulfulness of And I Love Her and If I Fell, would hold me forever... :)
I think their early catalog gets overlooked when people talk about overall quality. I look at their entire catalog as a unit, and each a progression from the prior album. I can't decide on a best album.
First time I’ve seen a seasoned beatles diehard include ‘she loves you’ and ‘i wanna hold your hand’ amongst their best songs. I couldn’t agree more with you, and why? Because those two singles is what turned the beatles into global superstars.
Those two songs are crucial to the progression of 1960s pop music and pop music in general. Thank you for commenting, Austin!
@@popgoesthe60s52 of course and thanks for replying
It's really the hardest thing anyone can do as there is no wrong choice as far as the Beatles are concerned..So Matt, you got it 👍
A Beatles top ten is hard to come up with Matt. Here is mine, and like you is in no particular order:
1. End medley: Golden Slumber / Carry That Weight / The End (ok, this is my favorite)
2. Norwegian Wood
3. Hey Jude (Matt makes an excellent point regarding this song
4. A Day in The Life
5. Something
6. A Hard Days Night
7. Strawberry Fields
8. Elenor Rigby
9. I Am The Walrus
10. Let it Be
Bonus songs because a top 10 Beatles song list is too limiting. Actually it could be a top 50 list, but I’ll stick with “only” ten more (in no particular order):
1. Yesterday
2. Love You To
3. Hey Bulldog
4. She Loves You
5. We Can Work it Out
6. Dear Prudence
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (acoustic version)
8. I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
9. Tomorrow Never Knows
10. For No One
For the love of God I have to give ten more. I like reading these list and I hope you do too. These songs are are also easily 10/10 as well:
1. Penny Lane
2. Get Back
3. In My Life
4. Long Long Long
5. Help
6. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Great Opening Track)
7. I Saw Her Standing There
8. Happiness is a Warm Gun
9. Helter Skelter
10. If I Fell
It is hard to narrow it down! Thanks for your lists M L!
The correct answer, without debate, is A Day In The Life...it's much more than a "song"....it's everything. Great channel, Matt!
Thank you! More to come.
For me it would have to be:
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
2. A Day in A Life
3. Hey Bulldog
4. Yesterday
5. Golden Slumbers
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7. Something
8. Doctor Robert
9. I Want You (She's So Heavy)
10. Bad Boy
and for that additional 5:
11. Penny Lane
12. Across The Universe (Let It Be version)
13. I'll Follow The Sun
14. One After 909 (Let It Be version)
15. Here, There, and Everywhere
Wow, some sleepers in there. I see Hey Bulldog on several 'best of' lists. Thanks for taking the time to list it.
You've listed your favorite Beatles songs instead of you think the best Beatles songs are. Try to be more objective with your lists.
@@chrissygerwitz520 My favorites list is coming in a separate video and it's a completely different list! I did try to be objective and I encouraged viewers to leave a lists of their own. No two are the same and I respect their choices just as I would respect yours.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Sorry, that was directed to the OP and his choices, not your list! I was just encouraging the OP to use the same standard in choosing his picks as you have, instead of changing the theme to just posting his favorite songs instead.
@@chrissygerwitz520 Got it! Sorry I misunderstood.
Love your analysis, Matt! When you finish with the Beatles, please consider doing top 10 lists of the Stones and some of the other bands you've covered on your channel.
Oooo, the Stones would be tough. I am still trying to sort out how I will approach doing their band history. Thanks for the request, Ken and stay tuned!
..just PERFECT !!!!! ..tnx
I couldn't do top ten songs, so I did what was actually in my head as I thought about it: top ten aspects of the Beatles that have moved me or are important to me. In a sense, that's what a song list is, but instead of doing it by song, it occurs to me to talk about themes across the songs.
Top Ten Things The Beatles Were That I Like or Are Important to Me
1. Catchiness. Whether it's simple early songs like "Love Me Do" or complex later work like "I Am the Walrus," once you hear it you can't forget it. This was true when the songs came out and is still true for young people hearing the music for the first time today. For example, worldwide, so many people can sing along with "Hey Jude," especially the second half, and it gives that impression of universality, of a song that was always there, that there was never a time before it existed.
2. Influence. Just about everything that happened in popular music after the Beatles was influenced by them, usually directly acknowledged.
3. Voice. There are great musicians who can just about replicate any sound the Beatles made (listen to the Analogues for example), but Paul and John simply had astonishingly great voices that no one can replace. Elvis Costello identifies this as the aspect of the Beatles that was most important to him.
4. Emotional authenticity. Related to voice. I can't think of a good Beatles song where I think "They didn't seem to care." Or "I don't know what feeling they were trying to convey." This is true across moods -- whether it's the fun and urge of "She Loves You," the exhaustion of "I'm So Tired," the pleading of "Help," or the pain of the repeated "I'm crying," which is actually the emotional heart of "I Am the Walrus."
5. Experimentation. I don't like experiment for its own sake if it doesn't end up sounding good. But we know that the Beatles weren't content to be four mop tops. From "Tomorrow Never Knows" on, they were usually trying to find new sounds and ideas that sounded great.
6. Group collaboration. Particularly regarding Paul and John composing and pushing each other. There was an alchemy to it, often described especially by Paul. It comes across as "This is a band, not just four guys laying down sequential tracks." This is true whether observing how, say, "Hard Day's Night" was written, but also the vibe of them hanging around, joking, being friends. This relates to an aspect I didn't think quite merited its own item, but is very important: fun. Through most of the early work it seems like the most fun thing in the world is to be a Beatle.
7. Melody, harmony, beat: the obvious stuff of music. It just sounds good.
8. Ownership. Composing their own songs and forming their own label were incredibly important moments in pop history.
9. Naked vulnerability of lyrics and composition. This is an elaboration of number 4 to an extent. It's not easy to say to the whole world "... give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind," or to stand by a simple statement even though you know it may be perceived as corny and put out "Let it Be," moving past any self-doubt.
10. Variety. Energetic early love songs. Sad ballads. Early heavy metal. Experimental psychedelia. Classical strings. Bluesy numbers. And so much more.( In a way this runs counter to my main idea, that there are persistent themes across their music). If they were only a "She Loves You" band or a "Within You, Without You" band or a "Helter Skelter" band, they'd be boring and easy to pigeonhole.
Thanks for reading.
Thank you for such a substantive comment! You touch on some wonderful aspects that I regret not exploring more in the video. I appreciate each one and the sheer number of them is staggering. I don't think I could apply half those to most bands and come up with moving songs for each category. I am actually working on a follow up to this video that explains the weight I give to my criteria and how I apply it to each song, so stayed tuned! Thanks again for expanding the conversation, Asher.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Thanks so much for the kind words. If I was substantive and thoughtful, it's because that's the tone you set. Thanks so much for the channel. And I agree -- I later thought "I super love Pink Floyd, but do they hit all these marks? Other than sad and cynical, what emotional range do they offer?" And other similar musings.
Love the sip of your drink after talking about “A day in the life”, totally called for!
Interesting to hear what Brian Wilson said about “Strawberry Fields”, he must have been crushed.
Just looking at my list of personal favourite Beatles songs, I’ve got 51, difficult to pick the top ten, but here goes, all equally favourite;
Rain
A day in the life
Come together
I am the walrus
A taste of honey
Paperback writer
She’s leaving home
Tomorrow never knows
Sgt. Pepper’s reprise
Flying
There's a place / All my loving / A hard day's night / Every little thing / Think for yourself / Rain / Strawberry Fields Forever (take 26) / Back in the USSR / Lady Madonna
I'll be back
Over the years ( decades! ) these are the twelve songs that I've considered my favorite Beatles song at one point "in my life":
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away ( when I was around five years old - it played like a nursery rhyme to me )
Ticket to Ride
Yesterday
Let It Be
No Reply
Norvegian Wood
We Can Work It Out
Eleanor Rigby
Nowhere Man
Something
Strawberry Fields Forever
Things We Said Today
But for the last few years my favorite has been the song I now consider to be their best...
In My Life
Great list Fritha71. I'm surprised to see Things We Said Today! I do have a follow up to this video planned so stay tuned!
Everyone will have their own top ten....... mine would include more of the very early stuff, but this is a very good list.
I love your commentary. You take such a balanced approach to a very subjective topic. And since you asked...here is my top 10 Beatles songs for this week. This list is solely based on the songs that I never tire of listening to. They are as fresh to me today as when I first heard them many years ago.
1. Day Tripper
2. Hard Days Night
3. Ticket To Ride
4. Help!
5. I’ll Get You
6. Back In The U.S.S.R.
7. Thank You Girl
8. In My Life
9. She Loves You
10. I’m Looking Through You
Great list and I love that Thank You Girl is on it! It maybe the most underrated song of their early period. I am planning a follow up to this video with the NEXT 10 BEST so stay tuned!
Magical Mystery Tour is so underrated
My third top 10
1. Hey Bulldog
2. Back In The USSR
3. Revolution
4. Help!
5. For No One
6. It's All Too Much
7. And Your Bird Can Sing
8. Dear Prudence
9. I Saw Her Standing There
10. Can't Buy Me Love
And I could do at least 2 or 3 more depending on what mood I'm in.
The Beatles had over a hundred great songs and 50 or 60 more that were really good. That's why they are the GOAT.
I routinely see And Your Bird Can Sing on people Top 10 lists. Thanks for taking the time to show us your list!
It's addicting, isn't it?
I like the fact that some of their early works were included in this list. Because they were a boy band pop group, many think of these songs as superficial. The fact of the matter is, from a music theory standpoint, their use of chord movement was ridiculously advanced right out of the gate. One example is the Intro to 'If I Fell.' As a composer, I know exactly what it's like to try and pull off a half-step modulation that isn't in your face saying, "𝗧𝗮𝗱𝗮! 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗮𝗺!" But the half-step modulation in If I Fell's Intro is so sinuous, so embedded, that it's barely noticed to the untrained ear. There are trained classical composers who couldn't pull this off as seamlessly! And that was from their first record. It's clear that the Beatles were off to a brilliant start from the get-go. I enjoy your channel and thanks! I myself do music theory analysis of Beatles music on my channel and I always appreciate an appreciator of the Beatles.
Thank you for the substantive comment, Vin. I am just checking out your Within You, Without You video right now! I appreciate your music theory perspective and I hope to focus on some more theory in future videos. I have a follow up to this video in the works (the next 10 best songs) and I may ask your opinion on a couple songs, if I may. Thanks again, Vin!
@@popgoesthe60s52 Absolutely. It'd be a pleasure and thanks for checking out my vids!
1. Here Comes The Sun
2. She Loves You
3. I Want To Hold Your Hand
4. We Can Work It Out
5. All My Loving
6. A Hard Day's Night
7. Good Morning, Good Morning
8. Hello Goodbye
9. Lady Madonna
10. A Day In The Life
Tomorrow they'll all be different!
You are the first to offer Good Morning, Good Morning! Thanks for taking the time to do a list.
Matt, I can easily see your emotion and love of the subject in your presentation. I ain't gonna lie, I got pretty worked up. Great great video!
Thank you, Silas! I have the 'next 10 best' video planned as well as some of my faves of the fabs so stay tuned. Thanks for the kind words.
To me my top 10 are
1) In My Life
2) Here Comes The Sun
3) Let It Be
4) Because
5) Hey Jude
6) While My Guitar Gently Creeps
7) Across The Universe
8) Tomorrow Never Knows
9) A Day In The Life
10) Eleanor Rigby
11) And I Love Her 12) Day Tripper 13) I Saw Her Standing There
14) Norwegian Wood 15) Taxman
Interesting video Matt.
We all have our own Beatle favourites, generally yours aren’t mine but I like and respect your reasoning for choosing the ones you’ve listed.
I must stress that these are not my favorites, but what I feel are their best songs - there is a huge difference, though many fans don't make that distinction. Feel free to list either your faves or what you think are their best. Thanks for commenting, Nick!
For me the 2 most IMPORTANT Beatles songs are "Please Please Me" (which announces to the world the Beatles sound), and "Strawberry Fields Forever" (which opens the chapter of sophistication).
My list:
1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
2. A Day in A Life
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
4. Let it Be
5. All You Need is Love
6. Revolution
7. Hey Jude
8. Long Long Long
9. In My Life
10. I am The Walrus
and for that additional 5:
11. Yesterday
12. Here comes The Sun
13. Come Together
14. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
15. Dear Prudence
Solid list, jjmarz.
I agree with your 10 Best List. A personal favorite of mine is And Your Bird Can Sing because of the dual harmonic guitars.
I think this is the best top 10/15 list Ive seen! The top 17 list should include Rain and While My Guitar...
Hello, James. I have a part II to this video coming out this summer which add another 10 songs and explains my criteria a bit more thoroughly.
As beautiful as "Something" is - & it is a VERY special Beatles song, i find myself putting it in 3rd place of the Harrison songs!! "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" no.1, "Here Comes The Sun" no.2.
You nailed it! Of course, how could you not? If I went to 20 I’d add the following: Because, Sun King, Dear Prudence, Across The Universe, AND a much overlooked track which is a tribute to Ringo Star’s talents as a drummer - The End……. I use a lot of Beatles songs on my videos, consequently many get demonetized at first - Fortunately the covers don't . 😎
Strange - Just noticed that iTunes is blacking out the song Blackbird. I wonder who owns it now?
I can not choose a Top 10 (not even Top 30) Beatles songs. Just because... well... you know!... It´s "The Beatles", for God sake!!! So many... so GOOD (understatement)!!!
The best I can do is to say that these three would have to be the Top 3:
- Hey Jude;
- A day in the life;
- Let it Be.
I discovered your channel only recently and am in the process of going through it. I really appreciate the approach you take -- your commentary is extremely thoughtful and well-informed.
Here's my Top Ten, based strictly on the goosebumpometer:
A Day in the Life
Strawberry Fields Forever
Dear Prudence
Glass Onion
I Am The Walrus
Martha My Dear
The Fool On The Hill
I'm Only Sleeping
And Your Bird Can Sing
Savoy Truffle
Hey Trombone! Thank you for subscribing. Plenty more to come!
Nice observation, Matt, that The Beatles didn't see the barriers that others did when it came to writing music/songs!!
Thank you. I am planning a sequel to this video so stay tuned!
* I Should Have Known Better
(epitome of the Beatles in my childhood)
* Any Time At All
(sudden start in a rhythmical masterpiece)
* I've Just Seen A Face
(fast verses landing into smooth chorus)
* I'll Be Back
(most melancholic Lennon ever)
* Another Girl
(vocal leap into the pool)
* I'll Follow The Sun
(precocious romantic Paul)
* I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
(innocent lyrics to a sexy tune)
* Run For Your Life
(mean but mesmerizing)
* It Won't Be Long
(Reggae before it was invented)
* All My Loving
(stunning rhythm guitar and bass)
Oh Christ, it ain't easy!
These are only early ones, randomly picked.
Many of my favorites are not even mentioned.
You would need a list
for each quarter from 1962 to 1969!
Apart from all the tremendous covers,
such as :
* A Taste Of Honey
* Rock And Roll Music
* Honey Don't
* Roll Over Beethoven
* Till There Was You
* Long Tall Sally
* Dizzy, Miss Lizzy
* Mr. Moonlight
* Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby
* Twist And Shout
I might have forgotten several others
merely from the early times,
for I made it just out of my mind.
For the middle and late period
I will need two more posts.
Thank you for your lists, Ralph! I will eventually be doing a video on the "Next 10 Best" so stay tuned!
Thanks for doing the pop segments, Matt. I enjoy every one. These may not be the best Beatle songs, but thier my favorites(no particular order):Rain, Norweigean Wood, Not a Second Time, I'm a Loser, Fixing a Hole, There's a Place, Mother Nature's son, A Hard Days Night, Revolution, Two of Us. Man. I could easily substitute another 20 without lowering the quality.
I appreciate the list! I plan to do a follow up to this video soon so stay tuned!
The Beatles were the most creative and artistically advanced band ever. Other bands try but in the end what The Beatles accomplished in 7 years amounts to a lifetime of great music. 1. A Day in the Life 2. Strawberry Fields Forever 3. Hey Jude 4. Let it Be 5. Blackbird 6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 7. Across the Universe 8. A Ticket to Ride 9. For No One 10. I am the Walrus
Thank you for taking the time to offer a great list, Trunk!
Your top 15 is awesome. Here's my top 10: 1- Hey Jude (it wasn't their best selling single for nothing) 2- A Day in a life (this was done in 1967! How more innovative can you be?) 3- We can work it out ( John' s counterbalance Paul's optimism and fantastic blend of voices from both) 4- The long and winding road (the saddest thing McCartney ever wrote) 5- Blackbird ( A touching push to black people. What a beauty!) 6- I'll be back (Very unique for 1964) 7- Something ( George's at his most heartfelt) 8- In my life ( Fantastic collaboration between John and Paul, very moving) 9- I want to hold your hand ( Again, fantastic collaboration from John and Paul) 10- Julia (The woman who inspired it all. Listen for the interview between Paul and Sean Ono Lennon on UA-cam) . These songs are so great when you sing and play them on guitar.
Great list, Sylvain - thanks for the comment!
It's easy to understand why The Beatles are the greatest song writers & rock band of all-time when you consider the many songs that are missing from the top 10 song list that you have put together that deserve to be on this list. Eleanor Rigby &, Nowhere Man that have been mentioned before are classics. All You Need Is Love should be there. I Saw her Standing There - one of the greatest rockers of all-time is missing. Day Tripper & Ticket To Ride are outstanding compositions. Don't forget "Get Back". It's no wonder why we carry on loving this band. Great work on your channel.
Exactly. The next 10 best songs are so good, it gets hard to rank them outside of personal preference. I appreciate your comment and subscription!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I swear that's rum & coke!
Shirley Bassey's version of "Something" is really breathtaking, she lifted it up to even greater heights. A bit like Bryan Ferry's Jealous guy. I know some people will call this iconoclastic etc and that the original Beatles versions etc. etc. I don't agree. Of course they remain the creators, the spiritual leaders. But some of the covers really managed to bring added value.
Every day would bring a new top ten; today's - 1. Happiness is a warm gun 2. Hey Jude 3. Here Comes the Sun 4. She Said She Said 5. For No One 6. Day in a Life 7. Julia 8. Hey Bulldog 9. Love You Too 10. You've Got to Hide your love away
great vid. other candidates: blackbird, taxman, yellow submarine, tomorrow never knows, while my guitar gently weeps, all you need is love, across the universe...
not my list but important songs.
She Loves You - The spark that lit The Beatles’ fame
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The spark that lit Beatlemania
A Hard Day’s Night - The anthem of Beatlemania
Norwegian Wood - "Wow! The Beatles made this?!"
Eleanor Rigby - "Wow! The Beatles made this?!"
Penny Lane - The psychedelic experience as pop
A Day in the Life - The psychedelic experience as perceptive
Hey Jude - John guides Paul (see “the movement you need…”)
Come Together - Paul guides John (“Slow it down, John.”)
Something - George enters the Lennon-McCartney realm
Great comments for a great list! Thanks for listing it.
So, so many great songs, its almost like (with a few exceptions) you could pick any 10 at random, and still make a credible argument for them---thats when you know the bar is set very very high. For me personally, Paperback Writer and Rain are my 2 all-time faves and Let it Be and In My Life are undeniable masterpieces. Agree with the historical significance of Day Tripper from a guitar perspective. Fun topic, excellent analysis and just a great job, really enjoyed the video.
I appreciate the feedback, glassslide! Thank you!
This is an insane quest
Love it! A top 10 of 15 songs. To be honest the Beatles deserve 20 songs in a top 10! As soon as you try to make your list more just come to mind. Paper Back Writer, LitSD, Eleanor Rigby, Nowhere man, Julia…….. Great that George’s tracks were in there. Also I agree that they were so young yet wrote timeless, intelligent, thoughtful and fun musical classics. Thanks for your work.
It won’t let me edit, but how could I forget While My Guitar Gently Weeps, another Harrison gem, superbly covered at a remembrance concert, by Joe Walsh.
Thank you for watching! I have a couple of followup videos to this one planned so stay tuned!
A great list. I would have found a way to crowbar Help, Norwegian Wood, Come Together, Dear Prudence, Don’t Let Me Down and Ticket to Ride in there but no complaints.
The phrase “spoilt for choice” has never been more appropriate.
I do have a "Next 10 Best" coming that will take care of some the obvious omissions. Thank you, David.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I love top ten lists. It’s a thankless task but almost certain to pull in the casual viewer. Everyone has an opinion and most of them differ wildly from your own. I just realised how bad my Lennon bias was when I wrote that comment. Don’t get me wrong, I love Paul, George and Ringo but John just did it for me. I once compiled a tape of Lennon’s White Album and even I was shocked at how good it was. Whatever he was doing or taking in that period must have been quite something.
Can't really argue with your list.
Here's one where I go year by year.
1. I Want To Hold Your Hand
2. A Hard Day's Night
3. Yesterday
4. In My Life
5. Eleanor Rigby
6. Strawberry Fields Forever
7. A Day In The Life
8. Hey Jude
9. Something
10. Let It Be
This is a great way to list their top songs! Thank you for taking the time to make it.
@@popgoesthe60s52 You're welcome. And thank you for all your Beatle videos. I never get tired of them.
Here is my highly subjective Top Ten list:
A Day in the Life
Got to Get You Into My Life
Here Comes the Sun
Here, There, and Everywhere
Hey Bulldog
In My Life
Paperback Writer
She Loves You
Strawberry Fields Forever
Tomorrow Never Knows
I approached this as an exercise in creating a playlist if I was stuck on a desert island.
I did notice that all of your top fifteen are on the Red and Blue compilation albums. I am curious about what is your top song not on those two albums and why you like it so.
As always, I love your content. I learn something every time I watch one of your videos.
I didn't realize that all my selections were from the Red & Blue albums, although I can see why. As I approached this exercise I tried to assess value based on what songs I believe will have long lasting appeal; in other words, songs that will be the most remembered. The biggest element to being remembered is popularity and continued playing of these songs. I guess this is why I rated the more popular songs so highly. Thanks for list and for the nice compliment, Brian.