Please Please Me - song ranking | Page 5 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

aThe debut album of the Beatles whilst on hindsight is (rightfully so) one of their bottom-ranked, it is still incredibly top-tier as far as albums are concerned. Here is my song ranking for this album:

14) Ask Me Why – I don’t know why, but perhaps this is the only song by the Beatles that annoys me more than it entertains, and that is saying something given that it’s the Beatles. I would have to say that among all this considered, this is perhaps my pick for the worst early Beatles songs. Despite that, I would say that the vocal harmonies are pretty solid, that perhaps foreshadow their future songs. Nothing much I can add to that, however. Apologies to fans of this song

13) Do You Want To Know A Secret – Much like the song above, this song too annoys me but not as much as the one above. Not a big fan on the doo-wop inspired backing vocals. What separates this song from the one above is that I feel that the guitar performance here is more interesting. However, this song is pretty forgettable as far as Beatles songs go.

12) Chains – Pretty much the same reasoning as above.

11) There’s a Place – Also has the same reasoning as above.

10) Boys – This song is quite the interesting one, with interesting lead vocals provided by Ringo and some more doo-wop inspired backup vocals. Interesting does not necessary translate to good however, as I feel that the ‘bop-shoo-wops’ are pretty annoying and nonchalant. However, I really enjoy the bass performance on this one (albeit it sounds pretty standard), as well as the fitting guitar solo on this song. This song is the kind that will annoy on one day and entertain you on another.

9) Baby It’s You – There is a lot of doo-wop inspired songs in this album, and this is another one. However, this is the only one with backup vocals I can say that doesn’t annoy me at all. I like the guitar work and harmonization on this song, and the mellowness of this song seems to hint towards their mellow-y songs in the future. Overall, a pretty good song indeed, although it’s not the most interesting at times.

8) Love Me Do – Gentlemen, please put down your pitchforks. Let me just say that this is a good song, iconic to both musical amateurs and veterans alike (in fact the opening riff is the first I learned on harmonica, albeit poorly). I just feel that this song is a (in my opinion, much) less good version of “She Loves You ”. That’s it. However, I would say that the vocal harmonization will further pave the way for the Beatles songs in the future. A very solid song, but not my favorite.

7) A Taste Of Honey – I have no idea why I enjoy this song, and this song is the closest Beatles song I have to a guilty pleasure. Somehow the first guitar chord and the initial harmonization by both Paul and John gives me strange yet beautiful vibes that soothe me to no end. But this song is based off a song from a popular movie of the same name, so I shouldn’t be surprised. I wonder if there are any like-minded folks.

6) P.S. I love you – Some people really like it; some people really dislike it. I fall on the former. The handclaps on this song is somehow really elevates the song, and Paul’s lead vocals on this is amazing. Incredibly good song that is often overlooked.

5) Misery – Once the opening chord starts the song, you know this is a great song. Both John and Paul deliver some really good double-lead vocals on this song, George playing the guitar like a coy fox (so many F chords), and Ringo playing a catchy drumbeat alongside some fabulous piano work by Martin. One of this album’s more underrated songs in my opinion.

4) I Saw Her Standing There – I do not feel the need to explain my reasoning.

3) Twist And Shout – Neither do I have to here either.

2)  Anna (Go to Him) – This song has grown on me immensely, and it’s not hard to see why. With the initial guitar riff kicking off the song, John’s higher than usual voice serenades you on his tale of a lost love. George’s guitar work is so smooth that it conveys the emotion of the song, which is sad but hopeful. John’s lead vocals alongside the backup ones of Paul and George elevates the mood even further. I believe that alongside “Julia ”, this song sounds like John at his most honest and vulnerable. An incredibly underrated song on what is an incredibly underrated period of the Beatles career.

1) Please Please Me – I find it odd that the top 3 songs on the album are John centered songs, but regardless I must say I adore this song. Initially I was debating on whether to put this or “Anna (Go To Him)” on the first place, but I went with “Please Please Me ” instead. The harmonization on this song is so good that I am rather shocked that this isn’t as iconic as “I Saw Her Standing There ”. Both Ringo and George deliver their very best on this song, and I sincerely believe the drumbeat on this song is one of Ringo’s most underrated. The harmonica work by John is brief, yet so fitting for this piece. I must thank Martin for suggesting to the Beatles to speed up the song. A truly spectacular song, and somehow incredibly underrated, which is surprising since this is the title track.

As always, feel free to argue with me on why “Please Please Me ” is an awful song.

One of the better early albums

14) There’s a Place – bland, generic, filler. and I think everyone agrees with me. and that’s kind of the point. 2/10

13) Love Me Do – I’ve always felt that lyrically it was laughable and I still think the same. some Beatles songs have very odd redundant lyrics like I Want You (She’s So Heavy) and I Am The Walrus . but Love Me Do is clearly just for lack of creativity. and the instrumental doesn’t sound very good. 2/10

12) P.S. I Love You – I know it’s dated, and not one of the bands brightest compositional points, but the delivery of the line “treasure these few words till we’re together” it’s enough to make it listenable. 4/10

11) Boys – I like Ringo’s voice on the track, I just don’t think it’s a very good song to begin with. 4/10

10) Misery – a solid effort, that didn’t pay off as well. Misery feels like a low point on the Please Please Me sessions, as if it was recorded late and with no real inspiration. and it reflects on the album. 4/10

9) Chains – it’s fun, catchy. forgettable still. 5/10

8) A Taste Of Honey – it is a breath of fresh air on the album. an unlikely cover, with a foreign sound to it. original idea, and quality recording. 6/10

7) I Saw Her Standing There – the ascending vocals make for one of the most memorable melodies on the album. I personally think it’s a tab overrated, considering the sound quality is weird, and the sounds the guitars produced are kind of watered down and it feels shaky. but John and Paul sing their guts out to deliver a very good opening track. 7/10

6) Do You Want To Know A Secret – to me, sweet. and simple. clearly wrote by McCartney, with beautiful vocals by Harrison. I wouldn’t praise this song as something incredible. but one of the more decent tracks on the album. the bridge is bad, though. 7/10

5) Baby It’s You – incredibly overlooked. I’ve grown fond of the structure of the song, as well as the melody. really, give it another listen, it’s great. 8/10

4) Please Please Me – a striking effort, with very solid vocal harmonies, and a clear melody more understandable than the one in I Saw Her Standing There . a good song to represent the album’s entire vibe. killer verse, killer chorus. 8/10

3) Twist And Shout – a classic, re-do of a boring song, turned into a great 60s dance rock tune. John’s vocals, famous for its cracking sound, where first thought to be a mistake, but it actually turned out pretty charismatic and heart felt. really dig it since I saw Ferris Bueller lip syncing to it. 8/10

2) Ask Me Why – makes me move. it is very catchy, memorable, fresh, original, and a clear high writing point on the album’s compositional landscape. Ask Me Why is a reflection of the influences on The Beatles’ had around the time, and a great interpretation of it. the recording quality is also good. 8/10

1) Anna (Go to Him) – a very underrated song just because it’s a cover. it brings, to me, a very pretty light when it is singed by Lennon. the goofy sound of early Beatles overshadows some of the true feelings some of these songs could’ve represented. but in Anna, with the delivery of the lyrics, along with the sad choruses, the agony on the narrator is felt. Anna (Go to Him) is very much my favourite track on Please Please Me . 9/10