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Run For Your Life - It's The Worst Beatles Songs Ever!

Posted Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:40pm PDT by Luke Lewis in The NME Blog

[Poll – Vote For Your Favorite Beatles Track]

Considering they're the Greatest Band Of All Time, the Beatles are responsible for a surprising amount of ropy old toss. Indeed, listening to their collected works on shuffle is an exercise fraught with potential danger.

You might be sitting there, blissing out to "Across The Universe," or marveling at the dazzling harmonic perfection of "In My Life," when--wham!--"Oh Bla Di Oh Bla Da" blurts out of the speakers and the reverie is shattered, forcing you to sprint across the room to hit "next" before your ears are corrupted by the least convincing cod-reggae skanking this side of the Q.I. theme tune.

The Beatles songs that attract the greatest scorn are generally the cosy, nursery-rhyme ones--"When I'm Sixty Four," "Octopus's Garden," etc.--but there are more serious objections to be made, besides mere tweeness. At times, John Lennon's lyrics could be so caustic as to be downright repellent, as with "Run For Your Life," a kind of evil twin to "Jealous Guy," in which Lennon's possessiveness boils over into violent rage ("I'd rather see you dead little girl/Than to see you with another man").

Lennon later deflected responsibility for this, saying he'd simply lifted the line from Elvis Presley's "Baby Let's Play House"--although that didn't stop him registering "Run For Your Life" as a Lennon/McCartney composition.

Obviously it goes without saying that yhe Beatles were, at their peak, superhuman compositional geniuses--hence our reader poll, which aims to celebrate their greatest songs. But as a light-hearted corrective to all the hero-worship and hyperbole, we thought we'd kickstart a debate about their least inspired moments, too.

Here are the NME team's picks. What are yours?

Tom Pinnock: "The Long And Winding Road." There had been below-par songs by them before--"Honey Pie," "Octopus's Garden," etc.--but none as joyless or, with Phil Spector's phoned-in string-drenched production, as cheesy as this. A sad end.

Paul Stokes: "Taxman"--love the music, could have been a classic, but a millionaire rock star singing about the unfairness of a progressive tax system? Come on, George, there must have been more interesting things to being in the Beatles.

James McMahon: I don't really listen to any of the kids nursery rhyme ones--Octopus's Garden," "Yellow Submarine," all that--but then I'm not a kid anymore. This would have been a very different answer if you’d asked me 20 years ago."

Marc McClaren: "Lady Madonna"--Beatles by numbers. Cheesy. That whole boogie-woogie thing grates. Still brilliant, though.

Jamie Fullerton: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"--it's the kind of song title that should be alongside Eric Clapton efforts on a Clarkson-approved driving compilation.

Tim Chester: "Revolution #9"for obvious and repetitive reasons.

12 Comments

1. craig -
For those who remember vinyl, side 4 of the white album is full of bad stuff...Honey Pie....rev #9, and the overly sentimental "Good Night" to close out the most overrated Beatles album of all time. It would have made a great single disc.

2. Darryl -
even Movart had a few " Gongs " ........... ya pick on a " few sleepers " from the beatles and ya think ur the new Messiah of music , go back to writing about elementary school programs !

3. Dededode -
Bad songs aside, the Beatles WORST is still a hell of alot better than most of the garbage we're listening to on the radio these days!

4. Gerry -
"Run For Your Life" their worst? Perish the thought! "Yesterday", "Michelle", "The Long and Whiny Road" (s.i.c.), "Till There Was You", and at least a sides' worth of the White Album are far more appropriate choices for the trash heap.

5. Yahoo! Music User -
There's at least two unbearable ones on Sgt. Pepper: "Within You Without You", "She's Leaving Home" ... of course after " A Day In The Life", all is forgiven.

6. Yahoo! Music User -
well well well, let us not forget that these songs are over ( or around ) 50 years old and still people talk about them!!! have to say though that for Revovler good day sunshine sucks

7. Michael -
Wow, folks, I enjoy the comments, but really -- the truly revolutionary Revolution #9? And the inimitable Octopus's Garden? Those are timeless gems. As far as dross, I'll vote for "Girl," "Run for Your Life," "Here There and Everywhere" -- and special mention goes to the wretched Lady Madonna, which was actually a #1 single.

8. Yahoo! Music User -
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9. Yahoo! Music User -
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From
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10. Yahoo! Music User -
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From
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11. Yahoo! Music User -
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From
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12. Yahoo! Music User -
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From
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