Which Beatle Do You Prefer Singing The "Screaming" Songs? John Or Paul? | Fab forum

Paul is technically more skilled at the screamers, his high notes are powerful and effortless, but in the early days he did often come across as a carbon copy of Little Richard. John's screaming was quite distinctive and characteristic, because it seemed to take more raw power and effort for him to pull it off.

meanmistermustard said
For me John, he has more passion and feeling when he is screaming, eg when he goes "YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" just before I Want You goes into the 3 minute outro. Twist And Shout is another example, not just the studio verson but even when live. Of the rock and roll covers i prefer Johns over Pauls.

 

Paul was trying too hard for Oh Darling, if he had let John sing it it would have been far far superior. John would have gotten it over with quickly whereas Paul was in the studio early for a number of days trying to get it right. 

I don't ever agree that Paul should have let John sing Oh! Darling. Why does it matter how long it took? It's still a killer song with a killer vocal. Paul, in my opinion, has a better ballad voice, but that doesn't mean I think John should have let Paul sing This Boy or Julia (John does a spectacular job on both, so why should he?). Same for Paul with Oh! Darling. It's his song, and he was trying to say something with it. I wouldn't have wanted to hear Paul sing I Want You (She's So Heavy) because that is John trying to say something specific to someone. I think Oh! Darling is like that, too. This is one of the reasons I find it hard to take that John's one recording of Goodnight is lost forever.

Not trying to start an argument here…I just hear that a lot, and I've never really gotten why.

LennonCloset said
I can only picture Paul singing the sweet little love melodies, ya know?

Time to widen your horizon.

Check out:

Hey Jude (Coda)

Sgt. Pepper's

Helter Skelter

I've got a feeling

Why don't we do it in the road?

Maybe I'm amazed

Monkberry Moon Delight

Admiral Halsey (Haaaaaaaaands across the water…)

Call me back again

So glad to see you here

Live and let die (you gotta give the other fella heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell! Same note as in Admiral Halsey, I think!)

Nothing's too much, just out of sight

Hi, Hi, Hi

Jet

practically every song on Run devil run (except for No other baby)

Mr. Morse Moose and the Flying Goose

Old Siam, Sir

surely I forgot many songs.

So it's obviously not Paul's fault you can't picture him doing hard songs.

meanmistermustard said
For me John, he has more passion and feeling when he is screaming, eg when he goes "YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" just before I Want You goes into the 3 minute outro.

I love that bit! John's best scream in my opinion. Also love how very faintly after it you can hear Paul whoop with delight.

Paul was trying too hard for Oh Darling, if he had let John sing it it would have been far far superior. John would have gotten it over with quickly whereas Paul was in the studio early for a number of days trying to get it right. 

I think that's more a case of Paul being a perfectionist than finding it difficult to sing. I honestly don't think John had the range and stamina required for the song and although John's screamers are often more convincing, Oh Darling wouldn't have transferred properly.

Also, outtakes show that it took multiple tries for John to get the first note in Mr Moonlight and the top A "oh my" in This Boy. (Mind you, to reiterate, the fact that these notes were difficult to sing makes the passion and strength required for them even more evident on the final take).