Culture

What’s your favorite Beatles song?

Eric Ringham Aug 20, 2010
68

This weekend is the 45th anniversary of the time the Beatles came to town. Today’s Question: What’s your favorite Beatles song?

  • Duane Feldmeier

    My favorite Beatle song is “The Long and Winding Road”. When I was in high school, this was played at a classmate’s funeral who had died in an automobile accident. Today at 51, when I hear this song, I still get a lump in my throat.

  • Khatti

    In My Life

  • Clark

    Taxman – I think they should follow Dayton around and play this song wherever he goes!

  • Sue de Nim

    Can’t Buy Me Love

  • Can we have a thread, please which doesn’t have someone invoke the Governor’s Race, Clark? Please?

    Anyway, my favorite Beatles’ song is a moving target. Right now, today, I am partial to The Ballad of John and Yoko.

  • ellen

    My uncle plays Blackbird at all weddings in my family, that’s got to be my favorite.

  • Jenny

    Impossible to list one. Perhaps from John – “Come Together”, George – “Something”, Paul – “Let It Be”. I think “A Day In the Life” is a masterpiece but not something I’d care to listen to over and over.

  • Michelle

    “Let it Be”. Probably one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

  • Chris

    I love Strawberry Fields Forever. I would say this song resonates with me, every time I hear it I seem to hear a new meaning.

  • Whisper

    I saw her standing there

  • Nick

    Revolution

  • Jessamine

    My favorite is “In My Life”. My father sang it at my wedding while playing an acoustic guitar he made. It was beautiful.

  • Jan Simmons

    I think “If I fell in love with you” and “Hard Day’s night”- Love that first chord. I was at the Met Stadium for that concert 45 years ago, and wow, was it great. Sat way in the outfield seats, but the Beatles turned and waved at us. Also saw them in their limo as they left their hotel the next day. We stayed across the street at the old Curtis Hotel. What fun..

  • Steve the Cynic

    Revolution! I love it’s critique of extreme ideologies.

  • Mike in Minneapolis

    “It’s All Too Much” from the “Yellow Submarine” soundtrack is an underrated tour de force! George Harrison lays out his philosophical manifesto with joy and exuberance.

  • James

    “Happiness is a Warm Gun”

    DTOM

  • T

    Dear Prudence…

  • T

    Dear Prudence…

  • Mark

    Eleanor Rigby (not sure of spelling)

    It’s a sad but important song, that speaks to the heart of human loneliness and isolation that so many people–virtually everyone, at one time or another–experience

  • Katie McDonald

    I rented the film, “Across the Universe” yesterday not knowing this strange anniversary was today. As I cried my eyes out to every song that was sung, I said to myself, “This is my favorite song, no wait…this is my favorite Beatles song. No, Wait….” I have come to the conclusion that although there are many many very great Beatles songs, among them “Revolution”, “Across the Universe”, “Let it Be”….”A Day in the Life” really makes you sit back and wonder why you exist.

  • DMM

    Trying to pick your favorite Beatles song is like trying to pick your favorite offspring. There are 5 to 10 songs tied for first place in my mind including-

    Here Comes the Sun

    Hey Bulldog

    Get Back

    Ballad of John and Yoko

    Helter Skelter

    Revolution

    If you really want to start a fight among die hard Beatles fans, ask who they think was the fifth Beatle. (I say George Martin).

  • Nina

    “Here Comes the Sun” is my favorite Beatles tune and my favorite song of all time. George Harrison was terrific.

  • Zach

    Either “Penny Lane” or “I Want to Hold your Hand”.

  • Joe

    Katie good movie…….Dear Prudence as done in Across the Universe

  • Barbara T

    Of course it would have to be “The Long and Winding Road” for me. I remember sitting in my room as a 13 year old listening to this song and crying over some unrequited love or childhood “crush.” Oh, the pain of it all!!

  • PEGGY Cameron

    Revolution

    and I want to hold your hand.

    Revolution ‘cuz it’s all out ROCK.

    “Hand” because it’s the first

    twistin’ song i loved!!! My St. Cloud

    cousins and I listened in the basement

    and went crazy!!

    Later in life I met the daughter

    of the man who brought the

    Beetles to the twin cities…..WOWOW

  • Jo

    If forced to choose, I would say A Day in the Life…

    Or maybe Revolution.

    Or maybe Let It Be.

    Or maybe Across the Universe.

    Or maybe Get Back…

  • SueZ

    Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da and Helen Wheels. Gotta dance!

    Received Ob-La-Di on a 45rpm record for Christmas, and proceeded to listen to it over and over again, until I had bounced myself sick. (I was about 6-years-old) Now that’s a song!

  • Linda

    Too Too many to choose from. This is why the Beatles were/are so important to our culture. We grew up together.

    My first favorite was Can’t Buy me Love and I fell for John. Then Rubber Soul came out and I fell in love with Paul. By the time the White Album came out, I was in love with George.

    I also remember hating Yoko’s screaming so mutch that I tried to scratch out her tracks in my vinyl records.

  • Gripweed

    I enjoy the songs that pushed the musical boundaries that existed at that time. While these are probably not “popular” and won’t make any final list, I submit:

    “Tomorrow Never Knows”

    “Helter Skelter”

    “Strawberry Fields Forever”

    “Rain”

  • Marcus

    While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The version from the Beatles Anthology where it’s just George singing and playing an acoustic guitar.

  • shelley

    She’s Leaving Home , esp the line “how could she do this to me?”

    my mother died clueless

  • Gunny

    Hey Jude

    It’s about love of self and others. It’s a song that says;

    Just be yourself and when love comes along, just go and get it.

  • MARY

    My favorite is “If I Fell”. I think we all want guarantees that no one can possibly give, because we don’t want to be hurt.

    Second favorite is Eleanore Rigby. Love the cellos.

  • Beatle Jim

    I love all of ’em…..but the one that started it all for me

    …and most of us back in early 1964…….

    “I Want To Hold Your Hand”…

  • RustyHooks

    Honey Pie —

    It’s got that old 20s sound that nobody does. .

  • Ben Chorn

    From simply childhood memories, it would have to be “Don’t Pass Me By”. I used to listen to the White Album on repeat for hours and I just love the whole story in “Dont Pass Me By”… especially for using the line, “You were in a car crash, and you lost your hair.”

  • Kari

    Impossible to choose just one favorite…but I do have a special spot for “Michelle” because it’s the first Beatles song I remember hearing as a kid on the “oldies” radio station. When I turned 18 all 8 years ago and I wanted to request a song to be played, it was the first to come to mind 🙂 Surprised I’m the first to post about this song!

  • Kokomo Joe

    The correct answers are:

    1. Tomorrow Never Knows

    2. I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

  • “She Said, She Said.” I don’t know if a lot of people know this one, but irregular drum beats and guitar riffs that mimic the melody make it so complex and interesting.

  • DNA

    “Sun King”, “All You Need Is Love”, “Come Together” or “Here Comes the Sun” … there’ll be more if I don’t post this quickly.

  • steve

    my favorite song is hard they are all so good!

    but the one and i think it was the best song of the last century was had the lyrics “there are places i remember!”

  • jolesen

    It is impossible to pick just one since there are so many good ones!

    Some of my favorites:

    Blackbird

    You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away

    Til There Was You

    If I Fell

  • The Colonel

    Before giving my favorite, I have to be critical of the early Beatles. When they first arrived on scene they took the US music scene backwards. You recall during this time there was the great Beach Boys, and the advent of moderate metal, such as Iron Butterfly, and that’s not even mentioning Dylan. The folk scene also was still going strong. Their emulation of Buddy Holly in the early days is what took it backwards. That said, once the Beatles got their own legs, they became one of the best bands in history. For me, that started with the Sgt Pepper album, That is a perfect record, and what followed was well developed. We also have to refer to other artists who covered the Beatles in wonderful ways, e.g. In My Life.

  • David Poretti

    So many fantastic songs!

    If I am to pick one right now…

    HELP!

    Perhaps the perfect song for its time.

  • The Ballad of John and Yoko

    (Though, a few other songs lobbied hard for my decision)

  • Razik S

    My favorite Beatle’s song is “It’s Been a Hard Days Night.” I really like the guitar solo. I also really like “When I’m 64.”

  • Linda Strahan

    ‘In My Life’ is probably the best pop song of the 20th century! Love it

  • stu klipper

    The onset of Beatlemania was of pivitol influence in my earlier life, both culturally and romantically, so their first hits are etched eidetically in my soul.

    But, when it comes to my most favoirite favorites there are two that will forever vie for first place, I’VE JUST SEEN A FACE and CRY FOR NO ONE.

  • Michaela

    I’m 29 years old and grew up with the Beatles but I had to find out that I (by far!) didn’t know all their songs. Last Christmas my husband gave me the redone/complete Beatles collection of all their albums. It blew my Christmas socks off. I can’t pick just one favorite, but here are my top four:

    1. Here Comes The Sun – Abbey Road

    George Harrison and his distinctive songwriting skills. I always loved this song and when I toured a radio station many years ago, this song was playing as I entered the studio. Being a teenager then made me realize that I really wanted to be a (cool) radio DJ. Needless to say I’m not a radio DJ now, instead I became a music loving nurse.

    2. In My Life – Rubber Soul

    Perfect song with great drums.

    3. For No One – Revolver. A recent discovery I can’t get out of my head. Paul’s voice and the lyrics make my skin crawl. Sad love song.

    4. Norwegian Wood – Rubber Soul

    “She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere – So I looked around and I notice there wasn’t a chair.”

  • DNA

    Let It Be

  • Tim in Rochester

    Helter Skelter was so far ahead of its time it’s still loud and heavy. It paved the way for heavy metal. I can only imagine what parents thought of it in 1968.

  • Gary Norman

    My wife and I used “In My Life” in our wedding ceremony. It is a wonderful, moving song.

  • RRL

    Trying to have a favorite, is a journey.

    Until last week- no question- A Day in the Life- with the squiky chair at the very very very end.

    Now, easily, it is In My Life.

  • Kevin Featherly

    “Hey Jude.” When the Beatles performed that song on David Frost’s television show in September 1968 (the clip was aired worldwide), they were engaged in what I think may have been the humanity’s final moment of spiritual unity.

  • Neil

    The Beatles play list is like one big rotating favorite songbook. Depending on my mood, the moment, the place, whatever, at least a dozen have been my favorite at one time or another.

    But for some reason “Slow Down” pops into my mind when I’m happy and things are working in my life. Maybe its the way it takes the blues and gives it such a purposeful and peppy tempo that makes it easy to get in sync with.

  • Kevin

    I use to listen to them all the time, mainly because others controled the music playing. So I am happy not hearing any Beatles music. They are a great group of guys, and the music is good. Its just a allergic reaction from Top40 stations playing over and over and over from when I was a kid.

  • caroline van-hale

    Norwegian Wood, second choice In My

    Life. When Bette Midler sang this to Johnny

    Carson on his last show, it brought tears;

    and has brought tears again on other

    occasions. Caroline

  • Boz Metzdorf

    Probably no one elses choice , but I’m blown away by the three remaining Beatles (at that time-1995) recordings of 2 of Lennons songs: Free As A Bird and Real Love. I think

    Mc Cartney added the middle 8, which he sings, to Free As A Bird. I was at the 65 concert and loved it , although being a musician myself I was bummed at all the screaming fans which made it hard to even hear. Shortly after that concert they quit performing for that very reason and then proceeded to write the soundtrack of our lives.

  • Karen

    Here Comes the Sun, doo ‘en, doo-doo

  • Ben

    Hey Jude.

    The lyricis “Take a sad song and make it better.” Always cheer me up after a bad day.

  • LwH

    Here Comes The Sun on calm days; Oh Darlin’! when I have energy!

  • jane

    Let It Be!

  • Blue Sky

    Yesterday

    Til There Was You

    Get Back

  • Paige

    In My Life 🙂 so touching

  • Izzie

    Oh! Darling for sure!! Why has no one said that yet?

    It’s either that or Revolution or Happiness is a Warm Gun or Hey Jude.

    Oh! Darling beats all of them though! I can’t beleive no one else loves that song as much as I do!!

  • Thomi

    Happiness Is A Warm Gun

    Because it’s amazing. Obviously.

  • C. Wise

    Here, There, and Everywhere

    For You Blue

    While My Guitar Gently Weeps

    Revolution

    Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

    Penny Lane

    Here Comes The Sun

    I Will

    I Saw Her Standing There