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.
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.
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 : 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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
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
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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
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
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!
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
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
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
@@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.
@@popgoesthe60s52 : you are " a great of all ", or as George would have said, " a daddy of us all " !!! You are so tall that it takes 2 guys to look at you ! When the first guy arrives to the maximum height of where he can look at, the second one starts to look where the first one has left off !!! Seriously, that anectdote was told to me by Andres Segovia when i studied with him in his masterclass in 1986. He was talking about Johann Sebastian Bach. But you nevertheless are great !
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.
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.
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
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).
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!
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Hi Matt glad I found your channel. I am more of a later years Beatles fan, but it is hard to dispute your list. Personally, I would make one change, substituting "Penny Lane" with either "Help" or "Tomorrow Never Knows". I also am glad to see "Day Tripper" on your list, one I feel doesn't get its due. (I also taught myself the riff). By the way, I see you sent your covers for the 'made up' Beatles albums to "Canadian studmuffin". I also follow him as well as John Heaton.
Thanks for watching! The Top 10 was so hard to do that I did 15! I may do the next 10 because many of those can easily be in the discussion. Yes, good ol' Larry was very gracious in showing my Albums That Never Were. Thanks for staying!
Good list, Matt! Sometimes I get tired of various entities and persons compiling their top 10 of whatever. I don't mean to complain; top 10 lists can be fun and insightful. I suppose its another variation of our human condition; the desire to make sense and order out of a spinning flurry of material. And the Beatles were, uh, especially good at supplying material ... You included my two all-time favorites, "I Wanna' Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You." I was in my mid-teens when the Beatles came on the American scene and these two songs were my introduction to them. The clever harmonizing, the off-the-wall lyrics, the infectious chord changes, the powerhouse drumming. They just knocked me out. And their visual presentation was also dynamic: mop-top haircuts, slim dark suits, cool guitars and Ringo's gorgeous drums with the band's logo across the face of the bass drum. Whoops, and I not like to forget ... the "Brian bow" at the end of each song.
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
As always, clever and clear statements Matt. In terms of concept, harmony and lyrics I think that "I am the Walrus" must be in that list. The chord progression is incredible and the lyrics, acid, surreal and fun.
Hi Matt, for me it would be all the songs off the HELP! soundtrack LP (I had the album and saw the movie in the theater) when they first came out in 1965 and I would add, “We can work it out,” and “Paperback Writer.” Was that 10? IMHO the Beatles were at their peak during the HELP! recordings. Personal tastes, I guess. Thanks again!
Wonderful and heartfelt analysis of Top 10/15 Beatles Songs that at first glance seems impossible. Another factor apart from the sheer brilliance of their Songs is the fact who often they came up with Singles with 2 great Songs that often complimented or commented on each other like John's cry for Help is answered by Paul's tongue in cheek rkousing lively Rocker: "I'm down too mate" Hard to say what is A or B Side: Rain/Paperback Writer Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Day Tripper/We can work it out Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine Baby you're a rich man/ All you need is love Yesterday/Act naturally I'm down/Help...
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.
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 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!
Very fair and representative list, can't argue with any selections or the rationale for them (and the extra 5).😎✌️ The special thing about The Beatles is their amazing quality of songs, sound and production which have kept them fresh. I had the phenomenal experience of attending one of the Abbey Road lectures a few years ago, in Studio 2!And just to top it all, they replicated the final chord of A Day In The Life with the original pianos, with some lucky members of the audience playing them on instruction.
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
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.
Top 10....here goes... subject to change lol...not in any particular order....1)Hey Bulldog 2) Only a Northern Song 3) I'm Only Sleeping 4) She's Leaving Home 5) Taxman 6)Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite 7) Don't Bother Me 8) Mother Natures Son 9) Penny Lane 10) Strawberry Fields Forever..... probably 100 more lol....love the videos.
I've just discovered your channel after David Crosby's death, so I'm late to the party, but delighted to have found you. I was 12 when I first heard the Beatles, so I was ripe to become an enormous fan. I love your list here, but disagree with most of your choices. Here's my Top 10, in no particular order: Day in the Life, Come Together, Strawberry Fields, Rain, Norwegian Wood, Tomorrow Never Knows, Nowhere Man, Here Comes the Sun, Let It Be, Across the Universe
Hi Penny, Welcome! Thanks for your list. I will be doing a follow up list and explain the criteria I use to classify something as "best" so stay tuned!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I'll be looking for it. Meanwhile, I've gotten so much from your interviews, especially with John Stewart. Captivated by the depth of his knowledge. You are a fantastic interviewer because you really listen and don't interrupt. Thank you! (Btw, I'm one of the few Beatles fans who doesn't really dig "Something." Maybe it just got too much airplay? And my favorite album has always been "Revolver."
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!
I like the list...now I'd write a bit of a different list. For example, 'And your Bird Can Sing' and 'Tomorrow Neve Knows' would be on my list. But yours is a good list...2 by George, several that John and Paul co-wrote and two primarily authored by John and another two by Paul...Good List :)
Great top ten. Loved the bonus of the extra five. But one could almost eliminate these from their catalogue and choose another great ten....15 :) And so on.
@@popgoesthe60s52 «I Will » ;) Here's my top 10 plus 5 for today: ballad of john and yoko martha my dear birthday all you need is love she loves you i'll be back please please me i'll get you baby you're a rich man getting better good night there's a place penny lane Everybody's got something to hide If I fell
* 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 the video. It's been a delight to watch, though for years I have been promoting a radically different standpoint, which is one of extreme subjectivism ;) I don't believe in "best songs" and "objective approach" and the most fascinating bits in your presentation for me were the ones about you falling in love with Something and being struck by the freshness of Here Comes the Sun in a car. I do respect your selection, though, and the way you presented your choices without any pomposity but still with a remarkable combination of passion and knowledge. And your attention to detail! I too love the persistent tambourines in their middle-period songs :) (though they outshined themeselves in this department with incorporating this ship bell or something into Everybody's Got Sth to Hide) Here's my take on your Top 10 selections: 1. Strawberry Fields Forever 2. Hey Jude 3. A Day In the Life 4. Penny Lane 5. In My Life _________ (the line marks a drop in "personal significance", so to say ;) ) 6. She Loves You 7. I Want to Hold Your Hand 8. Here Comes the Sun 9. Yesterday 10. Something and now my totally biased, subjective and redundant Beatles Top 10 for today: 1. She Said She Said (paradoxically my favourite Beatle is possibly not even on the track) 2. the Abbey Road Medley (I know I'm cheating, but that's my way of stretching a Beatles Top 10) 3. Dear Prudence 4. And Your Bird Can Sing 5. Rain 6. Strawberry Fields Forever 7. Mother Nature's Son 8. Julia 9. Help! (the fake-live Shea Stadium version) 10. Hey Jude after all these years I still get an enormous kick out of these songs, in fact I need to listen to some Beatles right now ;)
Thank you for the warm comment and great list! I appreciate you mentioning my personal experiences with some of the songs.... I was not very confident with those mentions. I plan on doing the next 10 Best songs to continue the conversation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
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.
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
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.
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.
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."
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
Only The Beatles could fit 15 songs into the top 10. Wonderfully said!
Glad to see We Can Work it Out here. I remember it on the radio. It always reminds me of winter time.
i get something out of every Beatles song I hear. Wonderful list!
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.
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
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!
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
My top ten Beatles songs would change every week
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Thank you,..great as usual, and YES!!
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.
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!
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.
How about a top ten from each Beatle album? That would be easier for me. I like your parameters of selection here, Matt. Brilliant.
Thank you, Gilbert. I do have a follow up to this video in the works so stay tuned!
You are really great ! You are extremely intelligent ! Keep on going, we need you on the Web ! I thank you from the bottom of my heart !
That's very kind of you, Jean. Plenty more to come!
@@popgoesthe60s52 : you are " a great of all ", or as George would have said, " a daddy of us all " !!! You are so tall that it takes 2 guys to look at you ! When the first guy arrives to the maximum height of where he can look at, the second one starts to look where the first one has left off !!! Seriously, that anectdote was told to me by Andres Segovia when i studied with him in his masterclass in 1986. He was talking about Johann Sebastian Bach. But you nevertheless are great !
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!
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.
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!
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!
..just PERFECT !!!!! ..tnx
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).
Another Beautiful song, Here, There, and Everywere. And for a cool opening Guitar rif. I feel fine.
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!
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Everyone will have their own top ten....... mine would include more of the very early stuff, but this is a very good list.
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 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.
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!
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.
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!
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?
Hi Matt glad I found your channel. I am more of a later years Beatles fan, but it is hard to dispute your list. Personally, I would make one change, substituting "Penny Lane" with either "Help" or "Tomorrow Never Knows". I also am glad to see "Day Tripper" on your list, one I feel doesn't get its due. (I also taught myself the riff). By the way, I see you sent your covers for the 'made up' Beatles albums to "Canadian studmuffin". I also follow him as well as John Heaton.
Thanks for watching! The Top 10 was so hard to do that I did 15! I may do the next 10 because many of those can easily be in the discussion. Yes, good ol' Larry was very gracious in showing my Albums That Never Were. Thanks for staying!
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
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 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.
Good list, Matt! Sometimes I get tired of various entities and persons compiling their top 10 of whatever. I don't mean to complain; top 10 lists can be fun and insightful. I suppose its another variation of our human condition; the desire to make sense and order out of a spinning flurry of material. And the Beatles were, uh, especially good at supplying material ...
You included my two all-time favorites, "I Wanna' Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You." I was in my mid-teens when the Beatles came on the American scene and these two songs were my introduction to them. The clever harmonizing, the off-the-wall lyrics, the infectious chord changes, the powerhouse drumming. They just knocked me out. And their visual presentation was also dynamic: mop-top haircuts, slim dark suits, cool guitars and Ringo's gorgeous drums with the band's logo across the face of the bass drum.
Whoops, and I not like to forget ... the "Brian bow" at the end of each song.
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?
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.
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!
Great list, perfect!!!
Thank you! I may do the next 10 best so stay tuned! I appreciate the comment.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I think maybe, for Me, Can't Buy Me Love and Penny Lane is a toss up...
Can't wait to watch the Lovin' Spoonful parts 1&2!!! I'm a great fan...thank you, Pal...
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!
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.
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 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.
Can we add another song, If I fell. Always get chills when the harmonies start on this one.
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!
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. 😉
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.
Cultural and musical landmarks all, like how you covered every facet of the career and reframed such familiar songs in new perspectives again.
Thank you, Lee. I appreciate the warm comment.
As always, clever and clear statements Matt. In terms of concept, harmony and lyrics I think that "I am the Walrus" must be in that list. The chord progression is incredible and the lyrics, acid, surreal and fun.
Hi Matt, for me it would be all the songs off the HELP! soundtrack LP (I had the album and saw the movie in the theater) when they first came out in 1965 and I would add, “We can work it out,” and “Paperback Writer.” Was that 10? IMHO the Beatles were at their peak during the HELP! recordings. Personal tastes, I guess. Thanks again!
Wonderful and heartfelt analysis of Top 10/15 Beatles Songs that at first glance seems impossible.
Another factor apart from the sheer brilliance of their Songs is the fact who often they came up with Singles with 2 great Songs that often complimented or commented on each other like John's cry for Help is answered by Paul's tongue in cheek rkousing lively Rocker: "I'm down too mate"
Hard to say what is A or B Side:
Rain/Paperback Writer
Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields
Day Tripper/We can work it out
Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine
Baby you're a rich man/ All you need is love
Yesterday/Act naturally
I'm down/Help...
Glad you included She Loves You.
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.
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!
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!
I have my own "the best of" list, but it includes 100 songs :)
“Only the Beatles Can fit 15 songs in their ‘top 10’”. Lol. So true. Although the last time I did a top 10 of the Beatles, it had 35 songs.
Nice. I am planning a couple of follow up videos to this one, so stay tuned!
I agree with your 10 Best List. A personal favorite of mine is And Your Bird Can Sing because of the dual harmonic guitars.
Very fair and representative list, can't argue with any selections or the rationale for them (and the extra 5).😎✌️
The special thing about The Beatles is their amazing quality of songs, sound and production which have kept them fresh.
I had the phenomenal experience of attending one of the Abbey Road lectures a few years ago, in Studio 2!And just to top it all, they replicated the final chord of A Day In The Life with the original pianos, with some lucky members of the audience playing them on instruction.
Great list! Id somehow try to squeeze “Let it Be” in the top 10 but otherwise great vid
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.
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.
Yea, this is a tough one. Top 10? Impossible for me. The same as top 10 albums?
No can do! Matt, love your videos !
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 👍
Top 10....here goes... subject to change lol...not in any particular order....1)Hey Bulldog 2) Only a Northern Song 3) I'm Only Sleeping 4) She's Leaving Home 5) Taxman 6)Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite 7) Don't Bother Me 8) Mother Natures Son 9) Penny Lane 10) Strawberry Fields Forever..... probably 100 more lol....love the videos.
I've just discovered your channel after David Crosby's death, so I'm late to the party, but delighted to have found you. I was 12 when I first heard the Beatles, so I was ripe to become an enormous fan. I love your list here, but disagree with most of your choices. Here's my Top 10, in no particular order: Day in the Life, Come Together, Strawberry Fields, Rain, Norwegian Wood, Tomorrow Never Knows, Nowhere Man, Here Comes the Sun, Let It Be, Across the Universe
Hi Penny, Welcome! Thanks for your list. I will be doing a follow up list and explain the criteria I use to classify something as "best" so stay tuned!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I'll be looking for it. Meanwhile, I've gotten so much from your interviews, especially with John Stewart. Captivated by the depth of his knowledge. You are a fantastic interviewer because you really listen and don't interrupt. Thank you!
(Btw, I'm one of the few Beatles fans who doesn't really dig "Something." Maybe it just got too much airplay? And my favorite album has always been "Revolver."
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!
I like the list...now I'd write a bit of a different list. For example, 'And your Bird Can Sing' and 'Tomorrow Neve Knows' would be on my list. But yours is a good list...2 by George, several that John and Paul co-wrote and two primarily authored by John and another two by Paul...Good List :)
Great top ten. Loved the bonus of the extra five. But one could almost eliminate these from their catalogue and choose another great ten....15 :) And so on.
Yes, I agree Pedro. I have a follow up to this video planned on their Next 10 Best, which covers plenty more classics so stay tuned.
@@popgoesthe60s52 «I Will » ;) Here's my top 10 plus 5 for today:
ballad of john and yoko
martha my dear
birthday
all you need is love
she loves you
i'll be back
please please me
i'll get you
baby you're a rich man
getting better
good night
there's a place
penny lane
Everybody's got something to hide
If I fell
* 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!
Thank you for the video. It's been a delight to watch, though for years I have been promoting a radically different standpoint, which is one of extreme subjectivism ;) I don't believe in "best songs" and "objective approach" and the most fascinating bits in your presentation for me were the ones about you falling in love with Something and being struck by the freshness of Here Comes the Sun in a car. I do respect your selection, though, and the way you presented your choices without any pomposity but still with a remarkable combination of passion and knowledge. And your attention to detail! I too love the persistent tambourines in their middle-period songs :) (though they outshined themeselves in this department with incorporating this ship bell or something into Everybody's Got Sth to Hide)
Here's my take on your Top 10 selections:
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
2. Hey Jude
3. A Day In the Life
4. Penny Lane
5. In My Life
_________ (the line marks a drop in "personal significance", so to say ;) )
6. She Loves You
7. I Want to Hold Your Hand
8. Here Comes the Sun
9. Yesterday
10. Something
and now my totally biased, subjective and redundant Beatles Top 10 for today:
1. She Said She Said (paradoxically my favourite Beatle is possibly not even on the track)
2. the Abbey Road Medley (I know I'm cheating, but that's my way of stretching a Beatles Top 10)
3. Dear Prudence
4. And Your Bird Can Sing
5. Rain
6. Strawberry Fields Forever
7. Mother Nature's Son
8. Julia
9. Help! (the fake-live Shea Stadium version)
10. Hey Jude
after all these years I still get an enormous kick out of these songs, in fact I need to listen to some Beatles right now ;)
Thank you for the warm comment and great list! I appreciate you mentioning my personal experiences with some of the songs.... I was not very confident with those mentions. I plan on doing the next 10 Best songs to continue the conversation.