# Top 60: Reviews and comments for the Best Beatles Songs

These reviews are highly personal — as they should be. Many of these great (or less great!) pieces strongly affected me in my youth, during the time I was taken my first steps in the rock music world.

That's why some of these songs have a very special place in my heart and therefore on the other hand many canonized songs e.g. »Yesterday» or »Something» have not reached very high rank.

[«« Back to the Beatles TOP list]

1967-1970

Let It Be (single version)

What a great hymn! Absolutely perfect rock ballad. Touchy melody, fine chorus, somehow roughly sophisticated arrangement. And slightly weird, lightly religious words: who is that » mother Mary» — is she Mother Mary from The Bible or Paul's mother (who's name is Mary too)?
This is also the song that still affects. Even today, over 30 years after it was released, I always get thrills when that intro begins.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Masterpiece. Period. »Let me take you down...» and down we go. Down to John's childhood memories.
George Martin's arrangement is full of brilliance effects. Mostly the words are confusing puzzle and it's hard to say what is real. But maybe the message is clear and simple:
»Living is easy with eyes closed // misunderstanding all you see.»
Man, just look at the Iraq today...

All You Need Is Love

Could love message be easier, stronger and better. Chorus is almost childlike, like a football anthem. But this ain't a sweet song nor it plays with messy meanings. It says it loud and clear: »There's nothing you can do that can't be done and all you need is Love». Genius intro (national anthem of French!) and various tempos. With no doubts, one of the greatest love songs of all times.

Revolution (single version)

Man, this is so Heavy! At the time of course this was John's answer to all those revolutionary-wannabe fanatics who demanded everyone to either take a clear stand or to be a traitor and step aside. I always get kicks with that line
»You say you got a real solution // Well, you know, we'd all love to see the plan.»
And sadly, today we see that nothing has changed. Ask from Hush or Bussein.
Album version is quite odd. In acoustic performance the song seems to loose all its power and somehow is in contradiction with the words and message. But the single version (it was the B-side to »Hey Jude») really goes different! It was one of the first records you could call »heavy» and obviously it was ahead of its time. I still like to activate my neighbours now and then with Volume Revolution!

With a Little Help from My Friends

Would you believe that Ringo could sing like an angel? No, probably not, but this is how close he ever got.
It's strange this song. Fine basic melody but boring chorus. Ringo vocals sheer bread and butter while the other lads goes stylish high angel notes. Quite stupid words... But I still love it and it's always been my favourite in Pepper. That can't be explained in any other way: it's Ringo's heartful vocal performance that make this big.
And don't forget to listen those tiny but genius drum breaks too! Thank you Ringo.

Happiness Is a Warm Gun

This is one of the first Beatles songs I ever heard. Can't recall it exactly but probably I recorded it from the radio, let's say, 1970. And went amazed.
That sound world is so rich and to me it always has sounded very »warm» too. Hard to explain, but perhaps the feeling comes with that intro; it's like you're lazing on the sunny afternoon beside the table, staring outside the window, thinking nothing, »du-du-du-duu...» 8-^
Words are mostly nonsense, but the painting is very colorful and includes some interesting verbal images. »She's not a girl who misses much», »like a lizard on a window pane», etc. Can't help thinking that the English tea were a bit of spiken at the time...
Ya, this is one of my summer openings.

Hey Bulldog

And you out there are wondering what the heck is this song doing here, making the 7th place on the list!
Well, it is a good question. But let's get back to my youth. It was something like the year of 1969 when I got this present from my uncle Timo: AKAI, reel-to-reel tape recorder! Along came a couple of tapes and there it was — my first touch for rock music. Tom Jones (Smash Hits), Cliff Richard, The Four Tops, The Shadows, Dean Martin and among those others, The Beatles: Yellow Submarine album.
Usually people do remember their first ones and I know I do. And when those tapes included mostly bull (Catherine Valente etc.), it was this amazing piano intro in »Hey Bulldog» that I got stung.
Got the pic? I know very well that generally speaking this song is nothing more than »a worksong»; something lefthanded when they just had to do something to kill the time in studio etc. But to me it will always remain as The Big One. Also, I still admire that strong swing and its intro stays in Top Ten!

Come Together

And here's another one. I just don't know why I love this. Words are nonsense and composition ain't so great either. Well, Chuck Berry disagrees? Perhaps it's just the old magic; how they have arranged and played the song. »He one spinal cracker»... Far out!

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

And so we finally got to George. But is this the best George? I think so. Though »Something» might perhaps be more appreciated as an composition, I like better the roughness of this one. The band is not »together» here or even together — as known they were practically broken during the »White Double» sessions. Also well-known is that Mr. Eric Clapton goes solo guitar here. But would you tell?
Anyway, nice piece of rock.

Hello, Goodbye

Paul The Melody at his best. The band plays so swell and the harmonies are just genius, perhaps the best at the bands career. And once again, Ringo drops some elegant breaks. It sounds so easy! Unfortunately — as in so many Paul's tracks, words are pure nonsense.

Hey Jude

Was penned to Julian Lennon and were the band's best-sold single. Could easily made at the best three here, but in a way the years have taken its toll. Today, to me it sounds somehow worn-out. Despite that, fine melody is one of the best that Paul has written. Could be, I just have overplayed it during the years. Sorry.

Because

John rolls over Beethoven (Piano sonata, Opus 27 n:o 2). At least, that's what the legend tells. Melody is real beauty one and so are the harmonies. Words means nothing here: »because the sky is blue, it makes me cry». Hello-a!

A Day in the Life

One of the Beatles songs. Ends the Pepper album and is legendary in many ways: contains Lennonisms like »blew his mind out in a car» (refers to VIP-person Tara Browne) and famous »holes to fill the Albert Hall». Also many references to dreams and smoking joint. In the end there's a superhigh note which only dogs can hear!
Fits well at the end of Pepper, but as a song and musically is quite ordinary. Ringo breaks again!

I Want You (She's So Heavy)

Heavy? Not quite, though the b-section contains »heavy» guitar chords. But I'm afraid this song reminds me more of the great Santana; it's probably due to Ringo's style of drumming here. John's vocal performance is pretty convincing and I think it's fair to guess that the target is some Yoko. 8-^

Two of Us

One of the few decent pieces on pretty desperate and incoherent Let It Be album. Nice intro and plain arrangement with back-beat acoustic guitar. Paul's melody goes all right.
It's often assumed that the song tells about the fellow's Liverpool younghood. Maybe so, but Paul claims that it's all about him and Linda and written on a trip when they were driving around on the countryside without destination: »two of us going nowhere». Okie dokie.
Still, by no means, this ain't a great song. I don't know why it attracts me, perhaps it's the intro alone. Peeervert me. And what about the misheard lyrics then: I always thought they were singing »standing so long in the sun». Song about melanoma... uhh.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Opening track on »Pepper». Fine piece of rock. Nothing much as an composition, but it's how they play it. Strongly, with heavy beat and Paul shows that he was already better rocksinger than John. IMO, John was strong yet on »Rubber Soul», but after that somehow lost his marbles. Too much stuff perhaps?

Baby, You're a Rich Man

Well, perhaps John had lost his rocking voice but in proportion to that his sharp sense of irony was stronger than ever. »Beautiful people» was the fashion term of the day and John tells what he thinks about all of those hippie clowns. »How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people»... And famous verse on the demo version went »Baby, you're a rich fag Jew». 8-)

Something

Frank Sinatra, Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles... you name it. Only »Yesterday» is more popular when it comes to other artists covering the Beatles songs.
It's good all right. But I don't fancy it too much, it's too soft or something. Something? Anyway, its gentleness fits excellently to »Abbey Road» and that's ok with me.

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

How I love this crazy story! And its changing, staggering tempos. Is it just another stupid song for children? Does it base on »true meeting» in India with an american student Richard Cooke III? Or is it clever allegory about nations in »hunting trip»?
I don't care, I just enjoy it. »Heeeey, Bungalow Bill, what did you kill...»

Only a Northern Song

This ain't perhaps much of a song, but I like it. This George number was supposed to be on »Pepper», but never made it.
Text is sarcastic and bitter-sweet — at the time George wasn't too happy about the way his songs were handled by the other band members. Also, Northern Song Ltd was their publishing firm and John and Paul were the main shareholders. So what's the use of writing when others got the money.
»It doesn't really matter what chords I play // What words I say or time of day it is // As it's only a Northern song».
However, this is a tiny pearl. Too bad it didn't make it on »Pepper». This could have well replaced e.g. that awful »Good Morning» rip-off...

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)

One–two–three–four...!
Years ago when I was younger (nah), there was this morning program in Finnish Rockradio called »Rokkivekkari» (something like »Your Rocking Alarm Clock»). This one was the theme song. What a way to start a day! Those glory days... 8-^
Nothing much to say, though. Hell of a rocking piece and great swing and marvellous guitar sound. »We're Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts...»

Penny Lane

A classic one. So rich gallery of people: barbers, bankers, firemen... and all of them »beneath the blue suburban skies». But all is said and done. Just imagine: this song on »Pepper» and...

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

The famous One on »Pepper». Four-year old Lucy O'Donnell, a friend of Julian Lennon at the kindergarten, makes a drawing where »Lucy is in the sky with her diamonds». John writes a song. Many thinks that those first letters means something else — that is, LSD. The legend is there.
I think this is rather overrated. It fits pretty well on »Pepper», but while playing it alone without »Pepper» backing it I find the song boring. Sorry.

She's Leaving Home

And more »Pepper». Marvellous high-noted choirs and somewhat cold and beautiful melody as is the whole performance. Hrrrr... not too happy home, indeed.
But this goes as Lucy above. Works on album but not very well without that atmosphere.

The Fool on the Hill

I think that the »Rubber Soul» was the last album where Paul made »happy songs». After that, all those fine ballads were somehow very cold and sounded clinical, and so is this too.
Story is sad and beuautiful and the flute sounds great, but I'm not feeling anything. Well, perhaps it's just me. But I first heard this fine tune when I was a kid, only it was this Finnish version — performed by the duo Hector & Päivi Paunu — which version was in many ways different: it's strangely funny and light.
On the other hand, in those days I loved Paunu's bright voice and innocent performances so very much that what the heck could some Paul McCartney mean? 8-)

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da

Bab-ba-da-dab-ba-da-dab...
How genius intro! Less is more. And lads goes reggae... or ska... or... who cares. This one rolls!
I'm very well aware that many people out there hates this song and considers it as one of the Paul's all-time lowest works. I don't agree. I think it's funny, swinging, easy-going and poppish. And the cream on the cake is that smart modulation (or whatever) at the end of the song. Come on guys, it's only rock'n' roll!

Back in the USSR

Liverpool lads goes Beach Boys and Berry and rock'n' roll. Why not. This is not a masterpiece, perhaps 'cos it's Paul that is drumming. No swing available. But effects works and who cares about that nonsence »Ukraine girls» story. Though, it's obvious that the Beatles was not a rock'n' roll band any more. Or even band. The Cavern Club days were ancient history, George went to sitar, John went to Yoko and Paul — put this piece together. That's how it goes. Thank you. Voyage was splendid.

The Ballad of John And Yoko

What's this then? Mellow yellow? Work song? Piece of celebration?
John likes to tell us how he got married in Gibraltar. Who's interesting? If you listen very carefully you might sense a bit of old magic there somewhere under all that average crap. But Ringo had gone fishing etc. so no swing around. Christ, it wasn't easy, I believe.

Glass Onion

One of the best on »White Double». I dig that rude sound and all of those weird tips that John is dropping by. And again, without often underrated Ringo nothing goes. Even this kind of quite ordinary song swings like hell when Mr. STAR says so. Rock on!

Fixing a Hole

This one works. One of the highlights on »Pepper». It's that strange and somehow magic feeling that fascinates. At the time there were surely plenty of wild beliefs and weird explanations about the meaning of this »fixing». Bring the needle and the damage done?
Who knows. Paul says even today that it was his country cottage that needed fixing; there were holes on the roof... ehh.

[«« Back to the Beatles TOP list]

 

More to come...