42 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.

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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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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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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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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