When I was a little girl, I fell in love with four men from Liverpool, England, collectively known as The Beatles. I have been counting down the days until The Beatles Rockband debuts ever since I heard about it, and based on my perusing of Vh1 Classic, I am not the only one. In honor of this glorious day and the original Fab 4, I have compiled a list of what I believe to be their 15 greatest songs.
15. Hey Bulldog. Initially released on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, "Hey Bulldog" only appeared in European versions of the movie, but was included on the 1999 re-release of the movie. It is one of the only Beatles' songs to be based on a piano riff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_fSLuWwS2c
14. While My Guitar Gently Weeps. The best song George Harrison wrote. Probably the best guitar solo Harrison ever performed, as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l20Z5ZRkaV0 13. Help! John Lennon was frustrated and stressed by the Beatles' sudden catapult to fame. How did he cope? By writing what he called one of his most personal and genuine songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7JjJJZi1Q
12. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. Despite popular belief, this song is not about LSD. It is based on a drawing by Julian Lennon, of his friend Lucy. When John Lennon heard the name of the drawing, he knew it would fit in perfectly with the new album the Fab 4 was recording, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU
11. Nowhere Man. This is the first Beatles song not about love. Again, it is about Lennon's frustration with life in general. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvLj72apGLI
10. I've Just Seen a Face. One of Paul McCartney's favorite songs that he has written, as seen by his numerous re-recordings in the post-Beatles era. It is also featured in the best scene from the movie Across the Universe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0rRK1GIF-w&feature=related
9. Paperback Writer. Supposedly a stab at John Lennon's childhood dream, it is actually McCartney's response to critics that he could not write a song that didn't have to do with love. It is also the first Beatles song to feature a prominent bass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwap79uy1G8
8. Ticket to Ride. While the meaning of the song is highly disputed (is it about prostitutes, the town Ryde, or Lennon's mother?), this song marks the turning point in the Fab 4's career, from teen pop stars to serious songwriters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_kNeorDSk
7. Rain. The Beatles first dip into the psychedelic music scene and the music video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2N2tymDcFo
6. I Saw Her Standing There. The first song on the Beatles first album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZThkK7KjIo
5. Eleanor Rigby. The only Beatles' song not to feature any of the Fab 4 on instruments. The bleak lyrics shocked the pop world in the 1960s; it still remains one of the most heartbreaking songs of all time.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dsz4dB6DuM
4. I'm Looking Through You. Based on Paul McCartney's break-up with girlfriend Jane Asher, "I'm Looking Through You" is probably McCartney's most cynical song ever. It is also one of his best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_PiVNLiuc&feature=PlayList&p=30AE25A08A99D753&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=36
3. Revolution. The first political song recorded by the Fab 4, "Revolution" (and its sister "Revolution 1") shows the growing influence of Yoko Ono on Lennon's song writing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsxBSXWqH4c
2. A Day in the Life. A masterpiece in music. "A Day in the Life" is actually the meshing of two songs (one by Lennon, the other my McCartney) into a single piece. The brilliance of the Beatles' studio work culminates with this song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nY0SRsAeaw
1. Yesterday. The most covered song in history. Why? McCartney's simple melody and heart-felt lyrics are more stinging and sincere than most songs before or since. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXp-vpE9eU
These are some of my favorites, but you could make an argument for pretty much every Beatles' song. Honorable mentions: Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Something and She Loves You.
15. Hey Bulldog. Initially released on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack, "Hey Bulldog" only appeared in European versions of the movie, but was included on the 1999 re-release of the movie. It is one of the only Beatles' songs to be based on a piano riff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_fSLuWwS2c
14. While My Guitar Gently Weeps. The best song George Harrison wrote. Probably the best guitar solo Harrison ever performed, as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l20Z5ZRkaV0 13. Help! John Lennon was frustrated and stressed by the Beatles' sudden catapult to fame. How did he cope? By writing what he called one of his most personal and genuine songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU7JjJJZi1Q
12. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds. Despite popular belief, this song is not about LSD. It is based on a drawing by Julian Lennon, of his friend Lucy. When John Lennon heard the name of the drawing, he knew it would fit in perfectly with the new album the Fab 4 was recording, Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU
11. Nowhere Man. This is the first Beatles song not about love. Again, it is about Lennon's frustration with life in general. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvLj72apGLI
10. I've Just Seen a Face. One of Paul McCartney's favorite songs that he has written, as seen by his numerous re-recordings in the post-Beatles era. It is also featured in the best scene from the movie Across the Universe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0rRK1GIF-w&feature=related
9. Paperback Writer. Supposedly a stab at John Lennon's childhood dream, it is actually McCartney's response to critics that he could not write a song that didn't have to do with love. It is also the first Beatles song to feature a prominent bass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwap79uy1G8
8. Ticket to Ride. While the meaning of the song is highly disputed (is it about prostitutes, the town Ryde, or Lennon's mother?), this song marks the turning point in the Fab 4's career, from teen pop stars to serious songwriters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_kNeorDSk
7. Rain. The Beatles first dip into the psychedelic music scene and the music video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2N2tymDcFo
6. I Saw Her Standing There. The first song on the Beatles first album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZThkK7KjIo
5. Eleanor Rigby. The only Beatles' song not to feature any of the Fab 4 on instruments. The bleak lyrics shocked the pop world in the 1960s; it still remains one of the most heartbreaking songs of all time.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dsz4dB6DuM
4. I'm Looking Through You. Based on Paul McCartney's break-up with girlfriend Jane Asher, "I'm Looking Through You" is probably McCartney's most cynical song ever. It is also one of his best. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_PiVNLiuc&feature=PlayList&p=30AE25A08A99D753&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=36
3. Revolution. The first political song recorded by the Fab 4, "Revolution" (and its sister "Revolution 1") shows the growing influence of Yoko Ono on Lennon's song writing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsxBSXWqH4c
2. A Day in the Life. A masterpiece in music. "A Day in the Life" is actually the meshing of two songs (one by Lennon, the other my McCartney) into a single piece. The brilliance of the Beatles' studio work culminates with this song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nY0SRsAeaw
1. Yesterday. The most covered song in history. Why? McCartney's simple melody and heart-felt lyrics are more stinging and sincere than most songs before or since. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONXp-vpE9eU
These are some of my favorites, but you could make an argument for pretty much every Beatles' song. Honorable mentions: Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Something and She Loves You.
How you ranked your top 15 beatles songs, I'll never know.
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