Another &#*$! Beatles List: Over/Under Songs
Posted on September 7th, 2009 – 10:47 AMBy Chris Riemenschneider
In case you aren’t getting enough Beatles mania this week, here’s a list I devised to go with a review of all the newly remastered albums. Of course, the word “underrated” is extremely relative and slippery in the case of the most recognized and enduring pop group of the world. I’m thinking of songs that are missing from radioplay, anthology/best-of collections, cover-song renditions … and other lists.
MOST UNDERRATED BEATLES SONGS
1. Baby You’re a Rich Man 2. And Your Bird Can Sing 3. I’ve Just Seen a Face 4. Happiness Is a Warm Gun 5. I Fell 6. No Reply 7. Hey Bulldog 8. Dig a Pony 9. Savoy Truffle 10. I’m Looking Through You
MOST OVERRATED
1. Strawberry Fields Forever (a landmark recording/studio achievement, sure, but the song itself is pretty flat and insipid). 2. The Long and Winding Road (the “Naked” cleanup helped a little, but not much) 3. Love Me Do 4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Dum 5. Drive My Car 6. All You Need Is Love 7. The Benefit of Mr. Kite (overhyped along with about half of Sgt. Pepper’s) 8. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) 9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (sorry George, I love ya, but this song has always sorta bugged me … too much whining and wanking) 10. Birthday
10 Responses to "Another &#*$! Beatles List: Over/Under Songs"
Completely disagree. Love Me Do is one of the most UNDERRATED songs in the catalogue, especially if you have ever heard the ORIGINAL version they never released with Clarence on Saxophone. Those dirty Brits unjustly kicked Clarence out of the band and stole all his good ideas!
Ah, thanks for including Drive My Car, I Want You and Birthday on the overrated list, Chris. I completely agree. EW has I Want You on its list of the top 50 Beatles songs, praising its simplistic lyrics. Ack!
Jeeze Chris, takes kahunas to even make such a list - hats off. Now that Michael Jackson died, I’m diggin’ the Dandy Warhol’s version of Black Bird. Creepy? Beautiful? Probably both. http://www.dandywarhols.com/
Awwww, no hatin’ on “For The Benefit of Mr. Kite”. I like it because it has one of the funniest Beatles backstories told by Sir George Martin.
I largely agree with your over-rated list, except for Strawberry Fields, which I still think is a great tune (in addition to its landmark status)–I’ve always liked the atmosphere and melody of the song–which is dreamlike, childlike but also disturbing at the same time.
My list of underrated Beatles tunes is:
Anytime at all
Things We Said Today (two gems early ‘64)
There’s A Place: Love the Mersey Sound harmonica and semi-reflective lyrics from a young Lennon (makes a great companion with Beach Boys “In My Room”)
She Said, She Said: coolest Beatles guitars ever (and, along with Rain, seems to be the guide vocal for every Oasis song!)
Dear Prudence: Hypnotically beautiful
Its All Too Much: A Psychadelic freakout, but with an excellent beat and Beatles melody
Don’t let Me Down
I’ll Be Back
I’ve Just Seen a Face
I’m Looking Through You
“I Me Mine” IS THE BEST BEATLES SONG EVER!
Or “Only A Northern Song”!
I’d have to say it’s surprising how many people haven’t even heard “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey”-it’s my favorite Beatles song, and certainly one of the most under-appreciated songs in their catalog. The song just plain rocks.
Takes guts to call any Beatles song “insipid” Chris. Seems a touch harsh, especially in regards to “Strawberry Fields.” It may be overplayed, but it’s hardly unimaginative or uninteresting.
What private & posh art school did you crawl out of. While I am a Beatles fan, and have been since 1963, I understand that people today might be sick of hearing how great they were. To say “While my guitar gently weeps” “Wanks! You must have been doing too much wanking yourself. The great thing about art is everybody has a different perception of the same thing. But don’t just pick a song and throw it out there to see what happens. Put some real thought into it.
I thought I was the only one who felt that way about “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Your underrated list is spot-on as well.
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