70 comments on “Composer and singer of the Beatles’ songs”

1. Never realized how many songs John sang, him and Paul sound similar to me on some songs

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   1. Not to dis Paul! Everyone says John Lennon didn’t write as many songs as Paul, And his material was below par!!! Poppycock! She so heavy is testament to what he could do! And that alone speaks volumes!! They we’re a great team, and John! With no disrespect to Paul could hold his any time any place

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      1. It is not the number of songs which is important.
         In my opinion, the vast majority of the greatest Beatles’ songs were written by McCartney.

      2. You should remember that Paul composed many songs and gave them to other artists to perform, including famous songs such as A World Without Love, Goodbye, It’s For You …

      3. But arguably, most of the greatest Beatles songs where written by Paul. But I agree with you that they were a great team and probably without each other those great song may not have been made at all.

      4. I have to say that Imagine is probably won of the most known and loved songs. Also popularity and ‘greatest’ songs rests with the overall age appeal of the listeners, old and young love a love song. is The long and winding road really better than Across the universe, or Julia? Its like comparing Mozart to Stravinsky, Two different styles.

      5. The most important album that moved them was Hard days Night . John wrote at the most important times in their career what they needed to note forward

   2. It is not that difficult for me to tell the difference. When they sang a song that was solo, you could tell who wrote the song.

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2. Where the hell is Sargent peppers

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   1. Oh, found it nvm
      Sorry

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3. If not in the Beatles, Harrison would have been a star with « here comes the sun », « something » or « my guitar gently weeps ». What a team.

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   1. I just posted a comment about George Harrison. He was amazing, and I also like his solo career. Do you know “Give me love”? It’s so sweet.

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      1. George’s work is terrific ! I love “Give Me Love”

   2. Harrison WAS a star in the Beatles.

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      1. Yes, but his best two, While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Something didn’t come easily to him. John and Paul steam rolled their incredible output without giving George much of a chance. Big mistake.

      2. I’ve heard that John and Paul churned out so many songs that a most of George and Ringo’s compositions never saw the studio. Too bad they just didn’t last enough.

4. I dispute that McCartney is the main composer of “Every Little Thing”, “Tell Me What You See” and “Eight Days a Week”. Not only does Lennon sing lead on these songs, but they all have Lennon’s songwriting essence about them.

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   1. I should ammend my comment with:
      The verses of “Every Little Thing” is pure Lennon, whereas, I admit, the chorus may be McCartney’s.

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      1. Thank you Scott ! I do agree that John’s songwriting is somehow present in all of those !
         Tell Me What You See – Paul said, “I seem to remember it as mine. I would claim it as a 60-40 but it might have been totally me.” and John, in his interviews with Playboy said that was written completely by Paul.
         Eight Days a Week is probably a 50/50, based on Paul’s inspiration
         Every Little Thing is by Paul, who is not the lead singer. Strange… but true

      2. Wait a moment! A half of Beatles for Sale (including NoReply, Eight Days a Week and Every Little Thing) is sung by John AND Paul in the unison. Look carefully through a stereo headphone and you will recognise Paul’s timber mimicking John’s. So there is NO exception about the rule composer(s) = singer(s)

      3. A good reason to listen again ! 😉

5. hey! trying again to leave a comment here. I just found out that George wrote “I me mine”, which I think is one of the most sensible Beatle’s songs. No wonder he was into the zen deal… it seams that John didn’t even record the track with the band! Well, I’m just trilled to discover some new facts about the greatest band of all times (don’t you all agree??)

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   1. In the late work of the Beatles (1969 expecially) John wasn’t always there at the sessions. “I Me Mine” was (re)recorded in 1970 to complete the release of Let It Be (disc) because the song was in the movie. And John did’t took part at the final recordings..

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   2. Yep, I agree the legacy goes on and on. I Me Mine is also the title of George’s autobiography which I got a while back. Just need a little time to read it now 🙂

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6. And there’s something else: whoever says Paul is superficial has to remember he wrote fucking Le it be!!! You can sing that in a church, for God’s sake! It’s simply amazing. <3

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7. John was amazing

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8. Always liked the Beatles but was not a fan too much. (Radio listener) However, in my re- entry into playing the guitar I have been getting into the Beatles music pretty heavy lately.
   I have been watching old videos of songs.
   Can’t buy me love is listed above as a McCartney song and as McCartney singer but the video shows John singing intro, first verse then Paul singing second verse then both for chorus ending with John singing third verse twice
   So just wanted to give a heads up
   I thank you for the list
   I was looking because my voice fits John better than Paul…..
   My guitar playing matches Ringo

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   1. Thanks for your comment.
      You’ve probably watched this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srwxJUXPHvE in which John sings lip-sync, while is actually Paul who sings.
      Watch instead NME Poll Winners’ Concert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxha1IUsSPI) where you can see Paul singing. A great performance !
      In A Hard Day’s Night movie the song is played while the Beatles escape their manager, so no one is really singing 😉

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9. You have an error on “Beatles for Sale”. The song should be “No Reply ” not “No Replay”.

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   1. !! Thank you !

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10. I did not know George wrote Piggies… I thought that was Lennon and surprised about the tunes on Abbey Road – they all flow so well together. A lot of surprises here.

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11. :thumbsup:

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12. I have been a huge Beatles fan for years and own more than 50 books analyzing Beatles songs. In my opinion, both during The Beatles and after the break-up, Paul has shown himself to be the superior composer and musician. This is easily shown with his 22 No, 1 post-Beatles hits and his 5 No. 1 post-Beatles albums. Parenthetically, Paul has asked Yoko Ono for years to change the credits on songs written primarily by him to “McCartney-Lennon” and she has always refused. That is why you can find many “I Hate Yoko” t-shirts on the web.

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    1. Not really a fair comparison. John didn’t have all the extra years that Paul has had. Plus John’s solo work is far more memorable and lasting. Either way, they were better all together. They brought out the best in each other’s musical abilities. Just listen to “free as a bird”, or “real love” if you need any reminder of that fact.

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    2. I had heard this only for Yesterday – will look into it

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    3. Hi Jon, I just saw your post and found it interesting. Just want to ask and hope you are able to help. Do you know how big a role did The Beatles producer, George Martin played in the Beatles songs. Please Please Me was meant to be a slow ballad but George Martin had it sped up. His work as a arranger, was on a few of Beatles songs. I know the Beatles wrote the songs, and I am assuming the music also, but I am not 100% sure, and would appriciate if you can help out on that one, if you can. I am also not sure what more the producer/arranger actually does. Hope you are able to help.
       Thanks carmen

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13. I hear absolutely zero McCartney writing style in the song “In my life”. That’s a John Lennon song through and through.

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14. In my life was disputed by both of them…. Paul stated in an interview that of all the Lennon/McCartney songs that in my life is the only song with uncertainty of who was the main composer

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15. Well, first of all I should say I’m amazed that “I don’t want to spoil the party” is sung by John and George as I always hear Paul’s voice there with John. And quite clearly actually. And I don’t hear George nowhere in the song. The other thing is the song “Help!”. Paul said in 1973 that John had only one verse when he went to him with the song. And they both finished it, with Paul composing most of the music. I have nothing more to say about “In my life”. It is quite clear the melody is Paul and the words by John.

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16. I read that Lennon and McCartney co-wrote With a Little Help from my Friends

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    1. By 1965 they often collaborate just giving some hints each other, but hardly writing together. With a little help is Paul’s work.

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17. The Beatles were the best. All four were equal parts of a great band.

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18. I disagree with this, we all know Ringo secretly wrote every song

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    1. “we all know Ringo secretly wrote every song”
       OF COURSE he did…. with a little help from his friends.

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    2. HeLLo. I couldn’t find my favorite early Beatles song, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” : /

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19. Nice work compiling these. Slight typo: composer of “Till there was you” was Meredith Willson, two Ls, known for “The Music Man”.

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20. Best collaboration ever
    The

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21. Beatles were fabulous and meaningful,an important and impression on my life and so any others! Thank you Beatles and each and every member for your contribution to history.

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22. I think to start saying who wrote best songs is up to the listener. Paul wrote nice melodies such as let it Be and his songs appeal to a wider range of ages and listeners. Mull of Kintyre, Frog Song etc. He is a songsmith like lots of writers especially broadway writers, Elton John who wrote Yellow Brick Road in a few weeks, Stevie Wonder and the great Burt Bacharach. john wrote great tunes too, Sexy Sadie, Dear Prudence, Jealous Guy, Julia, Across the Universe, This Boy. If you want different music then Lennon has the edge, She Said, Goodmorning, Happiness is a warm Gun, Shes so Heavy and Yer Blues. Very clever beats and timing. if you want popularity its Paul on the short term but look at best album charts ever and Plastic Ono Band is near the top raw and as fresh as ever. band on the Run is dated and lives in that time. Imagine album is powerful. Lennon needed to be pushed a little but when inspired you get a single written and recorded in days with Instant Karma. Paul hasn’t had a good album for years probably because its a young mans game. Even the other Beatles preferred Johns tracks on albums, like Because. They complemented each other and many songs where improved by the other, Shes Leaving Home question and answer made that song, and Johns part in Getting Better. Pauls help with the more musical elements brought to Lucy and A Day in Life. We will never know after all the turmoil of the middle 70’s for Lennon and the need for a break with just one album and a handful of songs at the end what he might of done, but Watching the Wheels go round, Free as a Bird, Beautiful Boy and I’m loosing you gave us a clue.

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23. Some of the best songs were written by Paul, true. But almost all of the dumb stuff was his too. The Rocky Racoon-type garbage. And the sentimental crap too. I put the drone-like Long And Winding Song, Hey Jude and Let It Be there too. They’re overrated. By contrast, John had the edge and the deeper poetry. Here Comes The Sun is Lovely; Because is profound. And I agree with the George-lovers: He was the soul. And Ringo was the glue.

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24. Anyone who disrespects Long and Winding Road, Hey Jude and Let it Be, clearly has no taste.

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25. Couldn’t agree more. Trying say who was the better songwriter between John and Paul is like choosing Mozart or Beethoven as the better composer. Once you reach that level of genius, there’s no better or worse, only different

    I personally prefer more of John’s songs to Paul’s, only because Paul wrote more of the cheesey songs I tend to skip, and John was more of a rocker, which I prefer. But both wrote piles of masterpieces, and to add to the brilliance of the band, they had Harrison as their third songwriter, who also was one of the greatest songwriters of all time

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    1. You started out well ih the Mozart – Beethoven comparison but you couldn’t resist bad mouthing McCartney’s songs.Perhaps the main reason for The Beatles continued relevance is their eclecticism, and noone demonstrates that more than Paul, exploring so many different genres.In case you hadn’t noticed,with music like, ‘I Saw Her Standing There, I’m Down, She’s a Woman, Back In The USSR, I’ve Got a Feeling, Get Back, Oh
       Darling and more, he was responsible for some of The Bands best rock songs.

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26. Hmm. I love them all, but Paul’s musicianship was off the scale. He was the only member of the group who could be described as a virtuoso (on bass of course). As a musician myself I can honestly say that his bass playing acts as a lead and changes the composition of so many Beatles songs. On Abbey Road for example, Come Together may have been a Lennon original, but the final version you hear is essentially McCartneys music with Lennon’s lyrics. Also, listen to the bass in Something and She Wants You. Let’s not separate them though, they were a collective. Also, the person who said Band on the Run is dated…you have no idea what you are talking about. Listen to Let me Roll it and say that again.

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    1. Listened to George on youtube the other day talking through Abbey Road tracks. Paul did melodies and John the rave up freakier things and then went on to talk about the beautiful melody and his favourite song on LP Beacause. He also mentioned She wants you and John playing lead on his song, also John’s ability to use as George put it ‘ a timing thing’ syncopation which he used on other songs with great chord sequences. Quite musical I think! John also showed his musicanship writing the excellent parents call in She’s Leaving Home.
       George was unhappy with Pauls bass playing on Something as he wanted a subdued simple bass not overpowering. Paul liked his songs played his way but it did not follow for the others on theirs. None of them where strictly musicians being unable to write or read music. Not sure that musicianship is the main requirement for song writing though. People like Freddie Mercury and Elton John where musicians. Elton wrote all melodies for Yellow Brick Road in 2 weeks and all where great. However Clapton, Bowie and Hendrix were not trained but wrote great songs too. One thing with most of these artists listed is they loved Johns music and him. Let me roll it is a good song and interestingly enough is Lennonesque in its sound. Paul says it was not intentional and said there was a lot of commonality between us in the way that we thought and the way that we worked. It is all a matter of taste. Radio Head or Coldplay, Amy Winehouse or Taylor Swift we all have our favourite styles. Anyway its good to talk about things we are passionate about.

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27. Just have to say that John said that Paul were the most talented of the four. George Martin in his last interview for Q magazine said Paul is the most talented musician he as ever worked with, Bob Dylan said that Paul is the only person he is in awe of and he went on to say that Paul as got it all, you will find that Paul’s songs were better structured and he is able to to sing in various vocal styles, his voice is very flexible & supple and had the better octave range of the four Beatles, that’s why one of the reasons he sings the line ” when I’m home everything seems to be right etc” in a Hard day’s night. Paul is not only a great bass player but an all round good musician, not only a songsmith but a tunesmith supreme , you will find that his Beatles song have been covered by more artists than any of the other beatles members songs.The word pop is short for popular, and you will find the best selling music of all time is pop music which is what Paul is extremely good at, it is if he as done a concensus of opinion and found that people want silly love song’s, and what’s wrong with that I like to know. George Martin in the early days of the Beatles were quoted as saying that Paul has the best voice, in an interview on UK TV, just after John Lennon was shot, the TV interviewer said to him, John were the greatest Beatle weren’t he , to which George Martin said no Paul is. With Paul being able to sing in different styles sometimes you think it were someone else singing on the Beatles song’s ,but of course it were him. Paul came up with many ideas for Beatles songs like the backwards tape loops on tomorrow never knows, when John wanted to make the two virgins album’s he when to Paul to set it up and show him how to do it, Paul were mixing with the avant-garde set from the middle sixies, I sometimes think that Paul does not get a fair crack of the whip when it comes to the Beatles as if he were some light weight and sidekick to John, why do you think John let him join the group in the first place, though he were a bit worried because he were very talented and might try and take over the band, sometimes I think is a bit like to friends building a wall together, but only one gets the credit and the other as thought to have only mixed the sand and cement. Paul McCartney could not have got were he is without beings very talented. He is also very knowledgeable business wise he had the right idea not wanting to have Klein handle the Beatles affairs. Some John fans not all, use there love of John as I stick to beat Paul with, I don’t mind people loving or liking John, but don’t use it as a stick to beat Paul with, it’s an insult to Paul and is many fan’s to suggest he is not a very talented musician/artist.

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28. In the Paul vs. John “favorite” debate, I can’t pick one over the other. Paul was certainly the superior musician, but they both wrote an incredible number of great songs.

    I know I’m in the minority on this one: While I like – and own – all of the Beatles albums, my #1 will always be A Hard Day’s Night. It was released at the height of Beatlemania. John wrote the bulk of the songs. Fun, fresh, and the perfect snapshot of the Beatles in 1964. So enjoyable from start to finish.

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30. In regards to John vs Paul, look what at them both in the 1970s. They all had a few hits but they were in no way the hit machine that the Beatles were.
    As far as I can tell, John & Paul are a good definition of symbiosis: the sum being more than the parts. They bounced off each other and made each other’s songs better.

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    1. John was more influential early on and Paul got better as time went along. Paul was better all around but John taught him so much.

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31. Giles Martin has confirmed that Yellow Submarine was Lennons song with some help from McCartney. List needs updated!

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32. They are all great. Lennon and McCartney are both the “stars” in the group (unlike every other major act I can think of at the moment…Beatles have two equal stars.) McCartney and Lennon are equal songwriting and creative talents. I give the edge to Lennon as a “rock singer” while McCartey’s voice is purer and “cleaner” for what its worth. My preference is Lennon, because he can yell (almost scream) but still he is singing and its pleasing. Someone back in the studio on Please Please Me said that Lennon shredded his vocals by the end. Indeed. The man is practically screaming on much of the album. I love it.

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33. I could not find “She Loves You” ?

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    1. @mikewaxmannblog
       First song under ‘A Collection of Beatles Oldies’
       You can use the Find function of your browser.

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34. @mikewaxmannblog
    First song under ‘A Collection of Beatles Oldies’
    Just use the Find function of your browser.

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35. I’ve recently been listening to the Beatles channel a LOT and I find that I cannot tell the difference between John’s voice and George’s! Paul and Ringo are easy peasy to tell…but the other 2 for me….almost identical. Sometimes I hear a little more nasal sound from John…but other times, nope. LOL

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36. John was the primary author of Eight Days a Week. John also was the main composer of Baby You’re a Rich Man and the credits fail to take into account John’s contribution to With a Little Help from My Friends.

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37. Great discussion. Equal and complementary in my mind.

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38. I cant find the song ” Another Day ” . Pretty sure it was Paul’s work >

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