Your top 10 Beatles songs | Page 5 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

I am going to bump this.  I created my own list of top 25 songs, but didn’t think it was right to create a new “Top xx Beatles Songs” thread to post it.  So here is my much stressed about top 25, of which I had to cut several really really great songs and I’m still torn up about.

P.S.  These are in no particular order.  I can’t possibly rank them.

–If I Fell (A Hard Day’s Night ) – This one was just another Beatles song for me until I saw Across The Universe and fell in love with Rachel Evan Wood’s rendition of the song.  That caused me to go back and give the song another listen and added it amongst my favorites.  The Beatles sing about love a lot, especially in the early days, but for some reason some of the songs stand out to me more than others and this is one.

–No Reply (Beatles For Sale ) – I just love the tone of this song.  Love John’s vocals on it and the emotion in his voice when he sings “I nearly died!”

–I’ll Follow The Sun (Beatles For Sale ) – One of Paul’s earliest songs, I love the simplicity of the song.  I have heard the early versions where the song was a bit faster with more instrument and I’m glad they recorded this version for the album. 

–Help ! (Help !) – Just a great song.  Love the emotion in the song…it didn’t surprise me when I read that this was John literally crying for help, because you can feel it in his voice without even knowing that.  One of my favorite early Beatles songs and representative of the transition from the very early pop beatles to Revolver /Rubber Soul Beatles as it has elements of both eras.

–It’s Only Love (Help !) – It pisses me off that John went to his grave calling this song a throwaway.  Maybe it was when he wrote it, but I love the song.  Maybe the song isn’t lyrically deep, which is generally how John graded his songs, but I love how John sings it too (especially how he sings the line: “Just the sight of you makes night time bbbbrright”)

–We Can Work It Out (Past Masters ) – I dont really know why I like this song so much, I guess I like up tempo Paul in general, and I like the generally upbeat feeling of the song despite the content of the song.  Also love John’s parts.

–Norwegian Wood (The Bird Has Flown) (Rubber Soul ) – Just classic John….a real breakthrough for him.  Love how he sings the song, and one of the few Beatles songs where I feel the sitar really goes well with the song.  Other songs seem particularly forced IMO or sound too Indian. Also, love the way John concludes the song.  For the record, I believe he burned down the house.

–Paperback Writer (Past Masters ) – My favorite example of middle period Beatles.  Just love the subject of the song, the pace of the song, the melody of the song.  Paul really kicks ass when he concentrates on rocking songs like this and Day Tripper .

–I’m Only Sleeping (Revolver ) – Ahh, I love this song.  The song actually gets me in a relaxed state when I listen to it.  The melody of the song completely compliments the lyrics.  Dammit John you are awesome.

-Here, There, Everywhere (Revolver ) – John loved this Paul song even though it was fairly soft, the style of Paul he would eventually come to hate, so that says a lot about this song.  Great lyrics and great vocal performance for Paul.

–For No One (Revolver ) – Another soft Paul song, but sung surperbly and with emotion as I can feel the tone of the song as Paul sings it.  Love the horns during the break in the song. 

–Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (Sgt Pepper ) – Strangely, the only song in this list from Sgt Pepper .  This song just makes me happy.  They do a great job of singing the refrain…the first time the way Paul says “Lucy in the sky…” just gives me a happy feeling.  Of course the imagry in the lyrics is legendary.  I’ve never done acid but I feel like I am in a trip when I really listen to it.

–Strawberry Fields Forever (Magical Mystery Tour ) – OK I said I wouldnt rank the songs, but this will always be my favorite Beatles track ever.  There’s no competition for me.  It’s such a fantastic song and it has always just resonated with me.  I love it so much that I try to only listen to it maybe once a month so that I do not overplay the song and lose the feeling it gives me.

–I Am The Walrus (Magical Mystery Tour ) – The song that really got me in love with the Beatles.  Love how zany the song is along with the lyrics. Love the music video which is so far out (especially love the reaction after each “I am the eggman…woo!”.  Love John’s mental patient cap.  Love “Goo goo g’joob”.  Great song.

–Baby You’re A Rich Man (Magical Mystery Tour ) – Maybe a surprise.  The song isn’t anything particularly special but I love the feeling I get listening to the song.  One of the Beatles songs I truely enjoy blasting.  Love the build up to the refrain (how does it feel to be one of the beautiful people) and then John just lets it go when he gets to “Baby You’re A Rich Man “

–I Will (White Album ) – I’m not sure why I like this but its always been a pleasent listening experience for me.  Paul’s silly love songs aren’t always my favorite but some of them (like this and For No One ) are done particularly well and strike me well.

–I’m So Tired (White Album ) – I guess I just have a thing for Lennon songs when he sings about sleeping or being tired.  Knowing the back story behind this song, I can actually feel the emotion John is feeling as he lays up at night in India unable to stop thinking about Yoko and how its driving him insane.  Wish this song was a bit longer.

–Happiness Is A Warm Gun (White Album ) – Didn’t rank this list but this is one of my favorites.  Love the lyrics towards the beginning, and I love the transitions throughout the 3 song fragments that somehow makes it flow smoothly.  Great Lennon song.

–Only A Northern Song (Yellow Submarine ) – I’m sure this is the biggest surprise on this list.  I really like George Harrison , and I love his sense of humor, which is sort of sarcastic and biting.  This song is his sense of humor in a nutshell.  In it he even rips on the other Beatles (at least John and Paul) for not spending enough time on his songs (You’re correct, is nobody there..*long gap* And I told you there’s no one there).  To me that line is saying “John and Paul don’t care enough to help me on my songs so here’s a long gap…see there’s no one there to help me”.  Plus I generally like George’s psychodelic songs for some reason (Blue Jay Way is another under appreciated song that I tend to like, but not quite enough for this list)

–Hey Bulldog (Yellow Submarine ) – Man is this song underappreciated.  Most likely because its on a throwaway album but whatever, this song kicks ass.  The bluesy feel of it, along with the dual vocals by John and Paul just makes it a great song, and one that doesn’t feel dated 45 years later.  And I enjoy watching the video because of the commradere between John and Paul.  Most people know this is the first session that John brought Yoko to.  Whether or not you believe Yoko broke up the Beatles, its clear that her violating the sacred Beatles space is the beginning of the end for the group.  So watching them perform this song is like looking at one of the last instances of Beatles togetherness.  And the improved word play at the end (Don’t Look At Me I only have 10 children) is one of my favorite Bealtes moments.

–Come Together (Abbey Road ) – I just love the feeling of this song.  Great rocker.  I still want to believe the theory that each of the 4 verses is written about a different Beatle (for the record my guesses in order of the verses is George, Ringo, John, Paul)

-I Want You (She’s so Heavy) (Abbey Road ) – Not the greatest lyrical song…this song only gets on this list for the 5 minute guitar riff to end the song.  It is one of my favorite riffs of all time and I never skip past it even though its the same thing for 5 minutes except static is slowly added to it.  Very fun to guess when it cuts out.

–Here Comes The Sun (Abbey Road ) – One of George’s late Beatles masterpieces.  Love the imagery of the song, and the feeling it gives me.  Feels like it would fit in any period except for the “sun sun sun here it comes” which is a little dated but great anyways.

–Dig A Pony (Let It Be ) – Maybe a surprise for some.  Yes the lyrics are pretty much meaningless.  Yes John likely rushed through making this song in between doses of heroin just so he could have something to compete with Paul on the album.  But I love the melody of the song anyways.  The refrain “All I want is you” is sung with such emotion (I believe it was intended for its own song but was stuck onto this, which is why it doesnt really make sense with the song), and I love the word play with some of the lyrics (Roll a stoney), and I am convinced there is some other meaning representated in the song that hasn’t come out over the years.

–Get Back (Let It Be ) – I can’t stand when Paul writes too many “granny songs” as he did it his late Beatles career/early solo career, so when he busts out something like Get Back , I just love it.  I absolutely love the performance on the rooftop, and his little ad lib comments when the police are trying to break up the concert are among my favorite Beatles moments ( “You been out too long, Loretta! You’ve been playing on the roofs again! That’s no good! You know your mommy doesn’t like that! Oh, she’s getting angry… she’ll have you arrested! Get back!”)

The next 20….Revolution (number 26), I Saw Her Standing There , All My Loving , I’ve Just Seen A Face , Michelle , In My Life , And Your Bird Can Sing , Got To Get You Into My Life , A Day In The Life , Blue Jay Way , The Fool On The Hill , Julia , Everbody’s Got Something …, Cry Baby Cry , Across The Universe , Something , Day Tripper , I’m Down , Don’t Let Me Down , Hey Jude .

Also of note: The Abbey Road Medely would be in my top 5 if it were all one song.  Instead I chose to ignore the whole thing but make this special mention here.

Album Count: Please Please Me (0…cant believe this), With the Beatles (0), A Hard Day’s Night (1), Beatles For Sale (2), Help ! (2), Rubber Soul (1), Revolver (3), Sgt. Pepper (1), Magical Mystery Tour (3), White Album (3), Yellow Submarine (2), Abbey Road (3), Let It Be (2)

By primary artist: Lennon (15), McCartney (8), George (2)

I spent a lot of time on this so I hope you guys get a chance to read and comment!