AP PhotoWe're sure you all know that today is John Lennon's birthday, right? The man is a legend, an icon, a beacon of light in the world of music. He and the rest of The Beatles (Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr for those of you who are unfortunate enough to not have been introduced to the best band ever) built a musical empire that not even Kanye West himself could hope to eclipse.
But let's get real for a second: when you think of the Beatles, you think of Lucy and her diamonds, the walrus and the eggmen, a sergeant named Pepper, and the titular Yellow Submarine. If you can't name any other Beatles songs, then someone in your life has failed you. But fear not! In honor of John's birthday, we've listed off a few of the most underrated Beatles songs, drawn from a chunk of their discography. Enlighten yourself.
1. "Twist and Shout"
We bet you didn't remember that the Beatles did a cover of this Isley Brothers song way back at the beginning of the band's career. We include it here because of the circumstances under which they recorded it: John was sick, and because he was the vocalist, that was obviously no bueno. But leave it to John to rally for a single try at recording the song. He slayed it, like a boss.
2. "Roll Over Beethoven"
This one always makes us want to dance. It's another cover, this time of Chuck Berry's original song of the same name. It's beautifully fast-paced in just the right way, and was released on multiple albums because gosh darn it, it was awesome.
3. "I Saw Her Standing There"
We're sure this one sounds a little more familiar to all you Beatles fans. Paul McCartney leads the vocals here, and we're doubly sure every girl wishes she was the girl in the song. Including us.
4. "Norwegian Wood"
It's one of the songs that everyone talks about but few really listen to. We don't understand why. It's a gorgeous progression in the Beatles' development as songwriters, and it features George Harrison on a sitar. A sitar, people.
5. "Eleanor Rigby"
Oh, the things we could write about this song. It's our personal favorite off of the Revolver album, but it doesn't feature the Beatles instrumentally. Instead, it features a double string quartet that accompanies the Beatles' vocals. Also, the strings were inspired by the film Psycho. How cool is that?
6. "Blackbird"
Though the lead vocals are McCartney, not Lennon, anyone would struggle to say that this isn't one of the most beautiful Beatles songs ever. And if anyone does say that, they're a liar.
7. "Hey Jude"
OK, OK...so this one is definitely much better known than the other songs on this list. But that won't stop us from loving it most ardently. It's a feel-good song with an upbeat ending that you can't help but sing along to. Go on, we dare you to try to stop yourself from singing.
Happy Birthday, John!
Watch Dave Grohl talk about the influence of The Beatles: