Paul's Voice | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

I’ve been listening to a podcast recently, called “Screw it, We’re Just Going to Talk About the Beatles”.  Decent podcast, not the best, but the topics are interesting.  They had a couple of shows where the host played Beatles albums for a friend who had never listened to a Beatles album before.  He played him Abbey Road and The White Album , and got his comments as he listened.

The guy’s name was Eugene.  I want to note that his impressions were overall very favorable, but he did have his criticisms (nothing wrong with that).  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it’s kind of hard for me to understand people who don’t fully appreciate the Beatles’ genius, it’s hard for me to see their point of view, it’s like madness to me.  One of his criticisms was that some of the songs sounded like something Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem would play, from the Muppets.  Songs like Octopus’ Garden, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer , and Wild Honey Pie .  That kind of irked me but I can see what he’s saying.

But what really had me baffled was his comments on Paul’s voice on Oh! Darling and Why Don’t We Do It In The Road.  He basically said he would like these songs if someone else had sung them.  He felt that Paul’s voice on these came across as inauthentic, forced, soulless imitations of great blues singers.  Obviously Paul was influenced by blues singers, but to me this is just Paul pulling out his rock voice.  And to me, both John and Paul have two of the greatest rock voices in music history.

He also noted that he didn’t mind when John tried this, it came across as more honest.  Now I agree John’s does the “rock” voice better than Paul, although Paul’s voice is more versatile, I think, he can sing more nuanced styles.