Many interviewers have asked for John’s personal opinion regarding the songs he wrote and sang. John-Paul duo best known for creating a lot of the best songs in the 60s, many of us have always plundered on their best songs and what they actually mean to us and them.
Over the years, with the advancement in technology, many interviews have surfaced. They contain John talking about all the songs he likes and is not proud of. Last year there was a bunch of unheard interview tapes with John which was up for action. There he was deep into his favorite Beatles songs and his love for Yoko Ono.
It was 91 minutes of recording and was conducted by Canadian journalist Ken Zeilig from 1969 to 1970. He also revealed the Beatle’s greatest influencers. John said they were influenced by composers Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage. Talking about his greatest Beatles songs, Lennon says, “I’m prejudiced, I like my own, you know. [laughs] I like Revolution #9.”
John’s favorite song from the Beatles was also quoted in the book Lennon On Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon. According to the book, he said, the best Beatles songs he wrote were ‘I Am the Walrus’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. There is also the mention of other Beatles’ best songs. Lennon revealed Harrison‘s best Beatles song was ‘Within You Without You’ and Ringo‘s best Beatles song was ‘Honey Don’t’. Paul McCartney’s best song was ‘Here, There and Everywhere.’
John also talked about how he didn’t like certain songs. In the Book The Beatles: Paperback Writer, there is a section of an interview with Jonathan Cott from 1968. He revealed he wasn’t a fan of ‘Hide Your Love Away’. The interviewer said, “I’ve listed a group of songs that I associate with you, in terms of what you are or what you were, songs that struck me as embodying you a little bit: ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,’ ‘Strawberry Fields [Forever],’ ‘It’s Only Love,’ ‘She Said She Said,’ ‘Lucy in the Sky [With Diamonds],’ ‘I’m Only Sleeping,’ ‘Run for Your Life,’ ‘I Am the Walrus,’ ‘All You Need Is Love,’ ‘Rain,’ ‘Girl.'”
John replied, “The ones that really meant something to me, Look, I don’t know about ‘Hide Your Love Away,’ that’s so long ago.”
That’s when John Lennon also talked about the songs that really are up there for him. Lennon said, “Probably ‘Strawberry Fields [Forever],’ ‘She Said,’ ‘Walrus,’ ‘Rain,’ ‘Girl,’ there are just one or two others, ‘Day Tripper,’ ‘Paperback Writer,’ even, ‘Ticket To Ride’ was one more, I remember that. It was a definite sort of change. ‘Norwegian Wood’ … that was the sitar bit. Definitely, I consider them moods or moments.”
John Lennon’s Favorite Beatles songs
- ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’
- ‘I Am The Walrus’
- ‘Girl’
- ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’
- ‘Across The Universe’
3 Comments
John Lennon was a Universal and creative Genius…and geniuses tend to be very complicated people,
but in a very positive sense…as was the case with John…Lennon was unique and one of a kind; a true irreplaceable original ..His tragic murder in December of 1980 was a Loss to the entire world..and many of his most devoted and loyal Fans are still mourning him to this very day…myself being only one of his countless millions of admirers..Nonetheless his brilliant Music and timeless Legacy will endure for the Ages !
The Beatles are absolute LEGENDS – Never to be repeated!
I am 17 years old, and Live in New Zealand.
I love all the Beatles music as a group and all as solo artists