For 2022 I will be posting a song with an accompanying music video for every day of the year. Each day will be a different artist as to avoid monotony. The only times an artist will appear more than once is if he or she is a featured artist for someone else, or if the person had a band and a solo career. This only will happen a few times as I wanted to make sure the sounds were also distinct. So for example, I decided not to have a song from both Ben Folds Five and Ben Folds as you can’t easily tell the difference between the two.
I don’t like ranking songs, as that would change constantly depending on the mood I’m in. So this list will be in alphabetical order by artist.
I hope you enjoy this list. There are songs from the 1950s all the way through 2021 and every major genre is represented. Please don’t hesitate to give me recommendations for new music!
Album: Magical Mystery Tour Writer: McCartney Singer: McCartney
Verdict: Such an evocative song, probably because it’s about a real place and about real things. Probably more than any other Beatles song I have a hard time describing what I love about it. It’s not Paul’s best voice work. And there’s perhaps too many background instruments. I’m not even sure how I feel about the piccolo trumpet solo. Very strange, indeed.
Album: The Beatles Writer: McCartney Singer: McCartney
Verdict: A virtual solo by Paul. He sang while playing acoustic and dubbed in the percussion. Mostly lyrically absent, but nobody can do “doo doo wahs” quite like Paul. Definitely a song the guitar guy at the party could do to try to get attention.
Album: Past Masters, Volume II Writer: Lennon Singer: Lennon
Verdict: I don’t really care about John’s struggles with the media following his marriage to Yoko. But John drops some pretty awesome rhymes here. “Holland or France” with “Give us a chance,” and “Honeymooning down by the Seine,” with “You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain.” Plus it’s always fun to belt out, “Christ you know it ain’t easy!”
Verdict: A rare song for Paul where he sings in a lower key. A fairly simple “Ugh, my girlfriend sucks,” song, but I love the vocalizations, especially John’s harmony. My favorite line is “Time after time you refuse to even listen,” but that’s not surprising for me. I tend to enjoy when a singer stays on each note slightly longer than the rhythm would suggest.
Album: Past Masters, Volume 2 Writer: Harrison Singer: Harrison
Verdict: The inspiration for one of the best sci-fi episodes of all-time. I love the Indian music. I would have ranked this higher if the verses would have been abolished all together.
Verdict: Harrison tries really hard here. His guitar playing is a nice change of pace with the suspended chords and whatnot, and he would improve upon this later with If I Needed Someone. The cowbell in the the second verse really throws me off. Continue reading Beatles Song Countdown: 180-176→
Album: With the Beatles Writer: Lennon Singer: Lennon
Verdict: “I had the image of walking down the street and seeing her silhouetted in the window and not answering the ‘phone, although I have never called a girl on the ‘phone in my life! Because ‘phones weren’t part of the English child’s life.” Okay props to Lennon for writing a song for an American audience about something he had never done. Also apparently the first song in rock and roll history where the bass plays chords vital to the song. I just wish the lyrics or the melody were interesting.
Album: Help! Writer: Lennon/McCartney Singer: Lennon
Verdict: As simple and unimaginative as anything on their earlier albums. Saying exactly what you mean is fine in song; country artists have been doing it for years. But then don’t rely on repetitive choruses.
Death By Troggles 
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