I learned to love the Beatles from my father who always favored Paul. When I asked about the coolness factor, he just shrugged. He couldn’t care less about the coolness factor (which I now find SO cool). “Paul is just the better song writer,” my father said.
Trying to maintain coolness just seems like so much work, if you ask me. Decency for the win! (Says the dorky, embarrassing guy who's given up even trying to be cool anymore). Love the Beatles too. I loved watching Get Back - it was an absolute treat.
I think John and Paul could've created a great band with 2 other guys. But it wouldn't have been the Beatles.
George's interest in international music contributed a lot to their later albums and was one of the creative influences that kept them all changing and growing. And Ringo's affability was a sometimes calming, sometimes comic influence that I think was a very necessary check on the heat of John and Paul's high-energy, sometimes volatile chemistry.
And when you look at the intense fishbowl of Beatlemania that they lived through together, I think all 4 of them were lucky to have one another; they probably saved one another's sanity.
I completely agree that they needed each other to create the unique and perfect combination that was the Beatles! And I also agree that the contributions of Ringo and George are often overlooked, which is silly because they're very important!
Yes, also only they know what it was really all about!
Wow. I am impressed. As a rabid Beatles fan from their earliest recordings (revealing my age, here), and as someone who has read and watched just about everything about them I could find, I think your assessment is the most insightful and (IMHO) accurate take on the group in general and the dynamics between Paul and John specifically that I’ve ever read.
Paul was always my favorite Beatle. Initially, as a het/cis teenage girl, I found him to be the “cutest.” But it wasn’t long before I recognized that he was the glue that held the group together, the worker, the one who recognized the need to blend creativity with accessibility. And, as time went on, his was the work ethic with which I personally identified for my own creative efforts.
As you point out, of the two most creative members of the band, he was the kinder one, less concerned with denigrating anyone than with making connections.
I love and respect much of John’s work. I was living in Manhattan when he was shot outside the Dakota, and I mourned. But—yeah, he was a bit of a jerk.
Thank you for that beautiful letter re the Beatles. It brought tears to my eyes. I agree, that all four of them needed each other. They each brought something to the group that made the Beatles so incredibly unique.
As someone who had a humongous Beatles phase in my past and who of course still likes them, I found this deeply interesting and even moving! And as an apologist of silly love songs, I also feel validated. After trying to be edgy in my youth for a little while, I’ve since come around to solidly feeling I’d much rather be known as a good person whose art is sometimes cringey than as a great artist who’s a problematic person. Hands down, easy decision.
I cannot believe I just read an entire "My Favorite Beatle" essay. And it was not only engaging and insightful, but connected and explored two themes I've been wondering about since I was 9: how to be creative, and how to not be an asshole. Thanks!
I'd love to know your thoughts/feelings about Yoko. And my introduction to the Beatles was my Aunt JoAnn's record collection. I started listening to their songs in the 3rd grade.
I think John clearly loved Yoko, and that ain't nothing. He was willing to be around a strong, accomplished woman. That speaks well of John. But I think HIS decision to invite her in the recordings was really really selfish and disruptive (by design, I think -- John resented Paul's talent in the later years), and even if she joined the sessions because she loved Paul, I think she would've read the room and bowed out.
They were clearly soulmates, and I'm happy for that. I also think she's received a lot of outrageous and unfair sexism and racism. She was an accomplished avante garde artist! Some of her art is really great!
But I think she's a fairly bad musician, and she and John should have, again, read the room and not insisted that she be his co-performer in everything in later years. Again, it's his choice to make! He sets the terms. But I thought the brilliance of his work on Double Fantasy made her work look like the amateur stuff it was.
I find the person that doesn’t want all the attention is often the most interesting
Oh that is a fantastic truism!
I learned to love the Beatles from my father who always favored Paul. When I asked about the coolness factor, he just shrugged. He couldn’t care less about the coolness factor (which I now find SO cool). “Paul is just the better song writer,” my father said.
OMG your dad sounds AWESOME.
Trying to maintain coolness just seems like so much work, if you ask me. Decency for the win! (Says the dorky, embarrassing guy who's given up even trying to be cool anymore). Love the Beatles too. I loved watching Get Back - it was an absolute treat.
Yup dorkiness and decency is the new cool!
Wasn't Get Back AMAZING. Hard to believe it was once a completely different movie.
I think John and Paul could've created a great band with 2 other guys. But it wouldn't have been the Beatles.
George's interest in international music contributed a lot to their later albums and was one of the creative influences that kept them all changing and growing. And Ringo's affability was a sometimes calming, sometimes comic influence that I think was a very necessary check on the heat of John and Paul's high-energy, sometimes volatile chemistry.
And when you look at the intense fishbowl of Beatlemania that they lived through together, I think all 4 of them were lucky to have one another; they probably saved one another's sanity.
I completely agree that they needed each other to create the unique and perfect combination that was the Beatles! And I also agree that the contributions of Ringo and George are often overlooked, which is silly because they're very important!
Yes, also only they know what it was really all about!
Wow. I am impressed. As a rabid Beatles fan from their earliest recordings (revealing my age, here), and as someone who has read and watched just about everything about them I could find, I think your assessment is the most insightful and (IMHO) accurate take on the group in general and the dynamics between Paul and John specifically that I’ve ever read.
Paul was always my favorite Beatle. Initially, as a het/cis teenage girl, I found him to be the “cutest.” But it wasn’t long before I recognized that he was the glue that held the group together, the worker, the one who recognized the need to blend creativity with accessibility. And, as time went on, his was the work ethic with which I personally identified for my own creative efforts.
As you point out, of the two most creative members of the band, he was the kinder one, less concerned with denigrating anyone than with making connections.
I love and respect much of John’s work. I was living in Manhattan when he was shot outside the Dakota, and I mourned. But—yeah, he was a bit of a jerk.
why thank you! that is very nice to read.
I think we are in complete agreement about John and Paul!
Thank you for that beautiful letter re the Beatles. It brought tears to my eyes. I agree, that all four of them needed each other. They each brought something to the group that made the Beatles so incredibly unique.
I appreciate that 🙂😍
I used to be a John guy but jumped on the Paul train some time ago and never looked back. Massive Beatles head as well. Great piece.
Thank you 🙂
As someone who had a humongous Beatles phase in my past and who of course still likes them, I found this deeply interesting and even moving! And as an apologist of silly love songs, I also feel validated. After trying to be edgy in my youth for a little while, I’ve since come around to solidly feeling I’d much rather be known as a good person whose art is sometimes cringey than as a great artist who’s a problematic person. Hands down, easy decision.
Thank you, Molly! And yeah, that's the key: sometimes cringe-y but fundamentally good, trying to do the right thing.
I cannot believe I just read an entire "My Favorite Beatle" essay. And it was not only engaging and insightful, but connected and explored two themes I've been wondering about since I was 9: how to be creative, and how to not be an asshole. Thanks!
Why thank you! Very nice of you to say.
Great insight into the legendary group. Loved it!
Thank you, Matt's hologram.
Caught!
CALLED IT.
I'd love to know your thoughts/feelings about Yoko. And my introduction to the Beatles was my Aunt JoAnn's record collection. I started listening to their songs in the 3rd grade.
I was an early adapter too! Hehe.
I think John clearly loved Yoko, and that ain't nothing. He was willing to be around a strong, accomplished woman. That speaks well of John. But I think HIS decision to invite her in the recordings was really really selfish and disruptive (by design, I think -- John resented Paul's talent in the later years), and even if she joined the sessions because she loved Paul, I think she would've read the room and bowed out.
They were clearly soulmates, and I'm happy for that. I also think she's received a lot of outrageous and unfair sexism and racism. She was an accomplished avante garde artist! Some of her art is really great!
But I think she's a fairly bad musician, and she and John should have, again, read the room and not insisted that she be his co-performer in everything in later years. Again, it's his choice to make! He sets the terms. But I thought the brilliance of his work on Double Fantasy made her work look like the amateur stuff it was.
You?
Agreed, well said
Thank you