Top 5 best Beatles songs sung by George Harrison
To commemorate the Beatles’ remastered catalog (which I will not be buying, especially since its CD only), I thought it an appropriate time to cash in on the uptick in Beatlesmania interest, some 40 years after the band broke up. So without further adieu, I give you: The top five greatest Beatles tracks sung by George Harrison. He may have only canaried 30 songs of hundreds, but when he did—man were they good.
5. “I’m happy just to dance with you” – Written by Lennon specifically for George to sing (so he could boost his song writing confidence), this little ditty from 1964 is classic Beatles pop. Upbeat. Short. And Sweet. Admittedly it’s not the best Harrison has ever sung. But it comes from one of the most rockin’ Beatles albums, A Hard Day’s Night.
4. “While my guitar gently weeps” – If this song has a different feel to it, it’s because Harrison isn’t playing guitar on it. Eric Clapton is. But Harrison wrote it. And its widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar songs ever written. It’s only fitting then that the Beatles’ lead guitarist sung it.
3. “Something” – Life isn’t fair. Paul McCartney and John Lennon received all the Beatles’ glory. Lennon once said Harrison wasn’t even in the “same league” as a song writer. That changed in 1969 with the release of “Something,” Harrison’s first and only American chart topper. Featuring a gentle mood, climatic breakdown, and one oh-so soothing solo, it’s my favorite Beatles love song.
2. “Taxman” – I hate big government. So does George Harrison, apparently. Written at a time when Harrison began realizing that “most of” his money was going to taxes, “Taxman” is a scathing criticism of overzealous government. “Let me tell you how it will be,” he sarcastically sings as the taxman, “There’s one for you, 19 for me,” he adds. By far the most passionate, politically-fueled, and energetic song recorded by the Beatles.
1. “Here comes the sun” – Is there a more beautiful song from the swinging ’60s? I think not. Written after an English winter that “seemed to go on forever” as Harrison said, the track is as relevant today as it was then. Although darkness can be a scary thing, the sun eventually comes up. And this song is the anthem to prove it.
17 Comments
Hey, “Something” is my favorite Beatles song! đŸ™‚
The Beatles are the most overrated band in the history of the world.
No, not only they were very good but their music had a very rare quality that could please anyone from skilled trained musicians to pop amateurs and perfect (and lucky) ignorants.
I used to think that they were overatted before I took an attentive ear to their albums especially those from 1965. Like a lot of people in my early 20’s, I used to prefer bands like the Velvet Underground, more sexy, more vicious and politically incorrect. As I turn out to be more mature, I enjoy the maturity of the Beatles music as well.
You can hardly feel depressed or bored listenning to their songs.
The fact that almost everybody like them may be “disapointing” or can lead to feel dispising towards them. It feels so good to feel different than the others. But the truth is that we are not, we really are the expression of the same thing on earth. As we breath and enjoy the same kind of air we are potencially receptive to the same qualities. May we ba patient and work for the majority to understand it and the elite to give up their ancestral power. Poor sons of…
To go back to the topic, half of my favorite Beatles songs are composed by Sir George, he never was as good as when he was with the band. The pressure he might have received from the other guys was a boost for him to write top quality music.
YGC
Yusuf, that’s the smartest comment this blog has seen all year. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
@ Blake
I would argue that my comment was much more intelligent and concise.
I like I me mine. I think it should be in the top 5 or at least the top 10.
Piggies was a good critique too. Still pertinent today.
George Harrison wasn’t in the same league as McCartney or Lennon. Very talented… more talented than most human beings in the world I grant you, but not compared to Lennon and McCartney. The latter duo’s output was prodigious. While Something and Here Comes the Sun are easily as good as most Lennon or McCartney songs, that’s 2 songs… even if you throw in a couple of his solid other numbers, that doesn’t add up to the other two’s treasure trove. Not even close. I love when Mccartney asks George during Anthology what other songs he had up his sleaves that he and John didn’t allow him to publish, and he couldn’t name anything, save for the song All Things Must Pass. George was a groovy guy and very skilled musician and excellent songwriter but he wasn’t even close to the other 2. It doesn’t say anything against Harrison but it just says how amazingly talented Lennon and McCartney were.
The guy that said the Beatles were the most overrated band of all time is surely not a musician. I have played every kind of music, rock, country, metal, jazz, you name it, Beatles music has staying power. First of all, musicians don’t condemn other musicians and secondly, the Beatles deserve the very highest rating that can be given. I won’t take time to explain but I am talking the whole package. Let him ask any one of the bands he admires and most of those bands will admit that they love the Beatles because they had it all. Great voices, writing skills, wit, looks etc. As Lincoln said, if you look for the bad in people hoping to find it, you surely will. Give the stage to someone with a wicked tongue and it becomes a cesspool, give the internet to someone with a wicked mind and everything he writes is sour.
Another thing that should be said. A band is like a family, take one those out of the mix and it is no longer the great family it was. The Beatles were great because of the four of them together. Take one out and they are no longer a super group. They are good but never what they were. I like McCartney’s solo stuff but it is not the Beatles. I like Ringo, John and George seperately as well but they are not the Beatles. Never underestimate the power of unity.
tim is just wrong and an egotist
There’s no question that the beatles were and remain today an endless source of brilliant music.
Nearly 50 years later, It is still amazing. Take it from a kid who was there from day one until now. I even owned the original British vinyls. Without the Beatles, there is no telling what kind of “bubble gum” we would be chewing today.
the beatles yuk!
I guess the argument will go on forever on who was the most talented Beatle. If George had a fault it was he was passive and the other two blow hearts ego’s were to dominating. They weren’t stupid. They did everything the could so George couldn’t shine. Their great compositions were only so because George handled all the sublime touches that made Beatles music masterpieces. They needed him more than he did of them. His output of solo music completely overshadows Lennon and McCartney’s solo music. All things Must Pass Alone out shines the lightweight stuff Lennon And McCartney produced. Yes life isn’t always fair but make no mistake the reality is Harrison is at least their equal musically and lyrically they can’t touch him either. He had soul they ate bubblegum. (Well maybe not as much with Lennon)
The Beatles are the BEST… Proof…They are the most diversified band, EVER. Name me one other band that has the diversity of the Beatles…
After hearing the “Love” version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, I’d put it higher on the list.