Ultimate Battle of The Beatles

Group B

Something vs Till there was you - Till there was you is a cool and simple cover. The classical guitars make it and that bossa nova beat is nifty. But, Something is a way more impressive song.

The Word - If I Needed Someone - If I needed someone is a pretty cool song, very George, and its weirdly ambivalent lyrics and deliberate droning qualities help to give it character.

I just much prefer The Word though. Okay, yes, the lyrics are a bit naff, but instrumentally it's really cool. McCartney's bass playing, as always, is simple but excellent, works really well throughout with the crisp drums, I love how dry and punchy the guitars sound too. A lot of different parts as well for such a relatively short song and they're all pretty interesting: I love that breakdown near the end with the droning organ. And the harmonies are crazy good and never stay exactly the same. I'd listened to it plenty of times in the past, but I think I had underrated it. One of the best examples of them working as a unit. A lot of cool stuff in that song.

Let It Be vs I'll Cry Instead - One of the rare occasions where I'll vote for a McCartney song over a Lennon one.

I'll Cry.... is pretty cool. That C&W feel and the vocal melody is awfully catchy and it has a lot of the equal mix of bravado and vulnerability that was in Lennon songs from that era.

But, Let it Be is superior song. The Piano is gorgeous, the melody hits you hard and McCartney's vocals are outstanding: power, clarity, warmth - ah so good. And it doesn't feel fake or pastiche - the emotions are genuine, something McCartney songs can lack. The single version is the superior version IMO: less bombastic and Phil Spectory and the guitar is tastefully mixed, as opposed to being high and harsh.

I Want to Tell You vs Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da - I don't really love I want to Tell You, I find it a bit dreary, but, dreary in an interesting way - the weird out of kilter paino with that menacing melody is pretty interesting.

But, I absolutely hate Ob-la di, Ob-la-da. Let it Be was McCartney at his best, this is him at his worst. Annoying saccharine shyte. Even the way the piano sounds plasticky and fake annoys me. I love The Beatles, but I do hate that song.

ari101 wrote: »

Group C
Good Morning Good Morning
Get Back
Misery
All I've Got to Do

Same.