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Who do you think was the better songwriter of the Beatles?
8 July 2011
8.11pm
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Jello
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So, after I read that Paul Simon thinks Paul McCartney is a better songwriter than John, I decided this would be a good place to hear the opinions of everyone on BB.  So I thought for moment at this question.  I came to the conclusion that George is probably my favorite songwriter.  When it came to Paul and John, I couldn't choose.  First of all, I felt guilty, and second, they are both really good.  John wrote songs that became national peace anthems, but Paul wrote songs that people are still singing today, even if they were written over 40 years ago.  He even wrote the top two most covered songs in history.  And Ringo is just Ringo a-hard-days-night-ringo-10.  So I picked humble old George.  His songwriting skills were really underrated and deserve recognition.  People who aren't Beatles fans don't even know WMGGW or Something was written by George (or sung by him for that matter).  What about his solo career too??  So many underrated albums he made.  So the big question:  Who do you think was the better songwriter?

Have funa-hard-days-night-george-10

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"

–John Lennon

8 July 2011
8.51pm
mr. Sun king coming together
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I could never answer George for the simple reason he didn’t have to put out his bad songs, like John and Paul did.if you took away all Lennon/McCartney’s bad songs and took 4 from each album (two Lennon, two McCartney), you would get song writing to surpass George. I mean, he had some bad songs (You Know What To Do, Piggies , For You Blue , Its All Too Much, Only A Northern Song ). However, Lennon had a better 7 year as a song writer (George had a 4 years-ish career) then McCartney (IMO), so I say Lennon.

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

8 July 2011
9.02pm
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mithveaen
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Rishikesh
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a-hard-days-night-paul-10 That's really tough.

 

I like George but I think his work after Beatles is the best. I love John and Paul Beatles work, but to be honest, my least favorite Beatle songs are Pauls. But the stuff he did post-Beatles compensates this.So, no… I can't choose. a-hard-days-night-ringo-13

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

8 July 2011
9.39pm
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Zig
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What makes this even tougher is John (IMO) was the superior songwriter in the early days. Then when he got a little lazy (from Pepper forward) I thought Paul was best.

I love George and Ringo like brothers, but their best stuff was definitely post Beatles.

Most of my Fab favorites are written by John, so I will stick with him.

Final answer.a-hard-days-night-john-1

To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.

8 July 2011
9.46pm
mr. Sun king coming together
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Zig said:

I love George and Ringo like brothers, but their best stuff was definitely post Beatles.

*Mental note*Never let Zig phrase things so perfectly.

 

But yes, I completely agree.

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

8 July 2011
11.11pm
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GniknuS
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Paul was a better arranger, John was better lyrically, so I think it really just depends on what you look for. Paul’s just a master of manipulating the mood of a song, any musician or songwriter needs to get a real songbook of the Beatles rather than Internet guesses because you really get to see Paul’s incredible chord knowledge and usage. I mean the guy was throwing jazz chords into their songs in 1963 (I Saw Her Standing There ends on an E9 chord, what!?!) and so many of his songs feature unbelievable key changes and chord deviations that it’s just ridiculous.
A perfect example would be Penny Lane where he gets you to that ‘and the people that come and go’ line where he completely suspends the mood of the song because before it’s all bright and cheery but that line gives the song that psychadelic twist because it has such an uneasy feel to it, it’s like “oh no, what’s going to happen?” but Paul just says they just are stopping to say hello!
I honestly could go on and on so I’d say Paul although John was a better poet, Across The Universe is one of the best songs ever written and I don’t think Paul has anything that stands up to that song from a lyrical perspective.
But I prefer music to lyrics, so Paul.
But I would say Within You Without You is their most powerful message. Good job George! a-hard-days-night-george-10

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine

8 July 2011
11.17pm
mr. Sun king coming together
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Another reason I prefer Lennon is that I find lyrics more important than melody.

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

9 July 2011
12.54am
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Desmond Jones
The Marketplace
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I would have to say George is my favorite, just because I like hearing how much he improved through the years. Between John and Paul, I think John's lyrics are more meaningful, while Paul was great at writing catchy, enduring hits. So, the best, who's the best…. I can't choose. I'll just say that it wasn't Ringo. a-hard-days-night-ringo-15

9 July 2011
1.09am
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kedame
Miles above you
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If we are talking only the Beatles output, I can't really say. I love both Paul and John's Beatles songs, though I find most of my favorites are John's. I really like George's output, too. I even like For You Blue , Blue Jay Way , and It's All Too Much. I think in the long run, though, which is what Paul Simon was looking at, Paul would have to be my favorite songwriter. It doesn't mean he is the best…just that he's my favorite.

"You can manicure a cat but can you caticure a man?"

John Lennon- Skywriting by Word of Mouth

9 July 2011
1.31am
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MeanMrsMustard
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Too– hard– cannot– compute–
*head explodes*

If I seem to act unkind, it's only me, it's not my mind that is confusing things.

9 July 2011
1.35am
mr. Sun king coming together
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Don't worry, I got the mop.

*At the funeral* *My Eulogy*

She was a good girl, always happy and great. Although her death made a right mess. So, I hope she has a great afterlife. Now, who got the food?

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

9 July 2011
2.23am
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mithveaen
Sitarday's room
Rishikesh
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*hiding the turkey under the table* Not me!!!

 

And speaking of what you say Gniknus, a song that stands to Across The Universe .. how about Here There And Everywhere ? a-hard-days-night-paul-10

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

9 July 2011
2.29am
mr. Sun king coming together
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mithveaen said:

*hiding the turkey under the table* Not me!!!

If you don't get that turkey on the table in 5 seconds, I will start posting Reggaeton.

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

9 July 2011
2.46am
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mithveaen
Sitarday's room
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*raises her sword* If you dare to spoil this holy ground with that putrid music, I shall let all my anger fall upon you!!!!

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

9 July 2011
2.53am
mr. Sun king coming together
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mithveaen said:

*raises her sword* If you dare to spoil this holy ground with that putrid music, I shall let all my anger fall upon you!!!!

And what'cha going to do about it?

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

9 July 2011
2.55am
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mithveaen
Sitarday's room
Rishikesh
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*using her mockerator powers* Use this!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stay-on-topic

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

9 July 2011
6.00am
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MeanMrsMustard
Nowhere Land
Rishikesh
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Hi there! What’s all this fuss about?

If I seem to act unkind, it's only me, it's not my mind that is confusing things.

9 July 2011
8.37pm
mr. Sun king coming together
Nowhere Land
Apple rooftop
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Oh, it's nothing to get hung about.

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

10 July 2011
1.15am
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RedLennon
Whitewater WI
London Palladium
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mr. Sun king coming together said:

 George. I mean, he had some bad songs ( Its All Too Much).

🙁           

Anyway, as an all around songwriter I would have to go with Paul.  He was the total package.  Good lyrics, good melodies, excellent voice, ability to do multiple genres.

As a lyricist and innovator, of course John

10 July 2011
4.38pm
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NowhereDude
Delaware
The Jacaranda
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Would have to say John overall. His tone and words fit my mood more so than Paul. John is a cynical realist which is similar to myself. Not to say Macca isnt a great songwriter he's one of the best ever but John is more suitable to my mood (most of the time) and personality.

"If everyone practiced being themselves instead of pretending to be what they aren't, there would be peace"-JL

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