And the Beat(les) Go On...

Growing up one of the most influential artists in my home were The Beatles. I had listened to majority of their songs (on cassette tape) and pretty much knew every song by heart. As a kid my favorite song of theirs was Twist and Shout, namely due to its fast pace and integral part in Ferris Buellers Day Off, one of my favorite movies at the time. I also did not realize until I was older that the Beatles repertoire was much larger than I could have ever imagined. What I had learned was that in my household Beatles music ended before their “druggy stage” as my mother put it. I had never really listened to any of their LSD influenced music aside from the occasional Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or Come Together and even on occasion Strawberry Fields Forever. But songs like Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, I Want You (She’s So Heavy), Carry That Weight, or Dig a Pony to name a few weren’t EVER played in my home, and I didn’t even know they existed. Much to my surprise I was impressed and in awe of the magnitude of the Lennon/McCartney song book, and to this day do not think that another song writing duo will come along that could have the potential power on Global culture as the Beatles did. That being said, I would like to attempt to name my top ten Beatles songs. As it is near impossible for me, or anyone, to really list The Beatles songs in order of importance, I choose to list them in order of album release date.

1)   I Saw Her Standing There off of the Beatles’ first album Please Please Me: The opening line of this song is so famous, I would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t know what song it was just from the first few lyrics: “Well she was just 17, you know what I mean.” This song did for pedophiles what The Police’s Every Breath You Take did for stalkers. It is creepy but still crazy catchy.

2)   All My Loving off of the Beatles’ second album With the Beatles: This song happens to be my husband’s favorite Beatles song so I couldn’t not put it on the list. It also happens to be extremely sweet and cleverly written.

3)  Yesterday off of the Beatles’ fifth album Help!: Yesterday is one of those songs you can’t help but love because of its beautiful melody. It proves that a song doesn’t have to be long or complicated to be considered beautiful.

4)   Norwegian Wood(This Bird Has Flown)off of the Beatles’ sixth album Rubber Soul: Rubber Soul contains some of my favorite Beatles songs, like the catchy, but at the same time sad song I’m Looking Through You about a relationship that has changed over time, and the poignant In My Life. But Norwegian Wood has to be the one I mention. Not only is it one of the first times a Sitar was ever used in a rock song, but it is also hauntingly beautiful and sad. I read that it was written by John Lennon about an affair he was having, which in turn made me even sadder about this song than I had felt by just hearing the melancholy melody. (Also just a quick factoid: George Harrison wanted to use the Sitar in this song because of his growing involvement with Hari Krishna)

5)   Eleanor Rigby from the Beatles’ seventh album Revolver: In my opinion one cannot have a Beatles list without mentioning Eleanor Rigby. Not only is it one of my favorite songs but it is probably one of the most interesting songs that the Beatles ever created. It used non traditional instruments (orchestral instead of guitars/pop instruments) and created an amazing background melody. Like Yesterday, Eleanor Rigby is short in time but that does not hinder its influence on modern music today. (quick factoid: Paul McCartney had originally written the song about a woman named Daisy Hawkins)

6)   Revolution from the Beatles’ tenth album The Beatles (White Album): Even though every time I hear this song I laugh to myself that every word that ends in “ution” is in it, I still love it. Not only is it an awesome anti activism song but it also represents something angry and still exciting. I like how they are basically screaming towards the end, and that alone makes this song more real for me.

7)    Hey Jude from the Beatles’ single Hey Jude (1968):  How can one not love this song? I know I spoke about it in terms of repetition, but the truth is that Hey Jude has one of the best rock codas (a long outro, most-likely different than the rest of the song) of all time. Not only is this song extremely catchy even in its extreme length, but it is also just a happy song written to cheer someone up (Paul wrote this song for John’s son Julian after his parents divorce calling it Hey Jules).

8)   All You Need Is Love from the Beatles’ eleventh album Yellow Submarine: This song was one of the first Beatles’ songs I was exposed to and I fell in love with it right away.  Not only is the use of trumpets extremely interesting but it also gives the idea of love a regal and majestic quality. Another great thing about it is the fact that the ideas present in this song cannot be misinterpreted. The meaning is simple, and cannot be delved or read into.

9)   Let It Be from the Beatles’ final album Let It Be: This happens to be my favorite Beatles song. It has an incredible powerful message, and is a beyond beautiful ballad played almost completely on the piano. I find it to be both comforting and alluring, and I always know that when I am down I can go to this song and it will make me feel better

10)  Across The Universe from the Beatles’ final album  Let It Be: “Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,” and “Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box, they tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe,” are probably some of the most abstract and philosophical lyrics ever. Yet, they are also some of the most beautiful. Again, the Beatles were able to show through musical expression how their point of view is ever changing.

The Beatles remain probably the most influential artists in Rock and Roll to date. They are a global phenomenon whose affect is still felt across the universe.