A wise person once asked me what my favourite Beatles song was. Well, actually, I don’t know if they were that wise, but that’s not the point of this story.
I didn’t have an answer.
Well, actually, I did, but I didn’t want to say “Long Long Long” or “I Will”. I’m not a big fan of ballads, slow songs, love songs, that mushy stuff, which is also one of the reasons I’m not a big fan of Elvis. Besides the fact that I’m a Beatles fan, and you just can’t be both. But two of my favourite Beatles songs are exactly that. “I love you, you love me, I’ll love you for ever and ever, isn’t that sweet?”. I didn’t want to give him the impression that I was one of those Beatle fangirls who swoon over Paul McCartney. Well, okay, Paul is was incredibly cute and all, and I may have swooned over him several million times once or twice in the past, but that’s not the impression I want to give people, because that’s just not *me*. I’m a Georgy Girl. Swingin’ down the street, so fancy-free.
“I don’t know, I don’t really have one.”
“You’ve gotta have a favourite Beatles song!”
Now, I don’t recall when exactly this exchange took place, but it was probably right at that strange period where I was shifting from the Beatles to the Who. I already own all the Beatles albums, I’ve heard all the songs, I’ve gone through my phase of loving Blue Jay Way and Chains. They were just old songs now. I’d listened to them millions of times and I needed something new. But, sadly, The Beatles aren’t putting out much new material these days.
Even if they did put out a new Monkees-Missing Links type unreleased album, I don’t know if I’d fall in love with any of the songs like I’m experiencing with Quadrophenia or CSNY songs now. Quad and CSNY stuff is new and fresh to me, even if these songs were released waaay before I was even born.
The last George Harrison album I’ve bought was Gone Troppo. I don’t know if I’ve listened to it all the way through. There’s several songs on the album that I know, because when I was really into the Beatles I’d had them on a Best Of Harrison CD. But there are also several that I don’t even recognize, and I probably never will. I’m just not into George as much as I was. I put back All Things Must Past at the music store, even though it was way cheap compared to the prices here, partly because I knew I wasn’t going to really listen to it and appreciate it.
But I’m getting off topic.
What is my favourite Beatles song? Of course, I go through phases where I rediscover a song and fall in love with it. But you’ve gotta have an overall favourite song that you can always enjoy.
“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?”. A simple song. Two different lines repeated over and over. “No one will be watching us, why don’t we do it in the road?” But I still love it.
But what an inappropriate song! I could never say that out loud, especially to a – gasp – boy! How embarrassing.
“You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)”. A strange song. And I love it as well. This one I hadn’t heard until late into my career as a Beatlemaniac, which my contribute to the fact that this is still one of my favourites.
Led Zeppelin will be a different story altogether.
My first Monkees album was “The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees” (well, after “Greatest Hits”, of course). My first Beatles album was “Abbey Road”. My first Who album was “Who’s Next”. My first Doors album was “L.A. Woman”. My first Zeppelin album was “Led Zeppelin I”.
Hmm… notice anything? Zeppelin I was their first album. My second Zep album was “II” and my third was (take a wild guess) “III”. Zeppelin is the only band that I’m being able to live through their career like they did in the old days.
It’ll never be exactly the same though, you see. I’ve already heard Stairway and other later songs, so I don’t get to experience their growth as one of the greatest rock bands exactly as it happened. My Zeppelin experience is also on fast forward. Whenever I feel I know all the songs on the album, I go get another one. I don’t have to wait for them to finish recording and all that.
“Well, there’s “Justus”. What a lovely album. I think I’ll go out and buy the Monkees next album!”
No. I can’t do that. Heh. I wish. Up until a few months ago it would’ve been something like:
“”Tropical Campfires”. Good job, Nez! Interesting album. But I’m done with it. I think I’ll go out to the record store and buy Rays, seeing as you’re finished and it’s released! Oh, and what’s this, you’re going on tour as well! Far out!”
But, in the most shocking move of the millenium (well, along with Charles in Charge being released on DVD), Rays was completed. And actually available for people to listen to. Only on iTunes, as far as I know. Haven’t gotten it yet, don’t know if I’m going to. The previews I heard seemed like mostly instrumentals, which I’m not a huge fan of. I want to hear Mike’s lovely old voice singing “sweet young thing-uh”. Actually, that would be a little creepy. Not unlike Jerry Lee Lewis and “Sweet Little Sixteen”. Heh heh. And Jimmy Page. But I don’t mind.
Did I ever answer the question? “Why Don’t We…” and “You Know My Name…” it is then. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” has always been one of my favourites, but Sgt. Pepper’s has changed that. It’s given me a new appreciation for the original, but Steve Martin’s version is wonderful as well. Though I’ve never been able to listen to Paul’s the same anymore…