BRIT Awards viewers were baffled after The Beatles lost out at tonight's ceremony. The Fab Four were up for the Best Song Award at the biggest night in British music for last year's Now and Then.

The song was written by John Lennon as a solo single in the late 1970s and finished by surviving bandmates Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr. The award nod was the first time they had been nominated for a BRIT Award in over 40 years.

The legendary band previously won the Outstanding Contribution to Music accolade in 1983 and British Group and British Album of the Year for ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. However, they lost out tonight as Charli XCX picked up the award for Guess.

The 32-year-old pop star teamed up with Billie Eilish for the track and took to the stage to accept the award. She said: "Thank you, this is cool. I'm really happy that a song about underwear now has a BRIT Award. Very important stuff. I'm sure that proves something about songwriting, but I'm not sure what.

"Thank you to Billie, I asked whether she wanted to be on the song about three days before we shot the music video, and five days before it came out so shout out to her for moving with pace.

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It’s simply not possible to be the biggest band of a whole century and not get into a mishap or two. The Beatles, both collectively and as individual people, got into hot water a few times throughout their career. Even the quiet one, George Harrison, got deported from Germany back in the day.

The story takes place at the very start of The Beatles’ career. In 1960, an early iteration of the band was set and ready to make it big. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe were sent by then-manager Allan Williams to Hamburg in Germany with another band. The intention was to get them to build an audience outside of their home country. It was a smart move, considering Hamburg was where Brian Epstein first caught a whiff of the Fab Four.

The early days weren’t so easy, though. McCartney was on the hunt for a drummer, as the band lacked any real form of percussion. They needed a temporary fill-in for their sets in Hamburg, which was difficult considering how pricey drumsets were at the time.

Source: Em Casalena/americansongwriter.com

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The late singer, who was assassinated in New York City in 1980, became furious during a guest appearance with his wife, Yoko Ono, and left the room as he didn't see the humor in the music track. The song that infuriated Lennon was Magical Misery Tour - it was written by comedians Tony Hendra and Michael O'Donoghue and was part of Radio Dinner, the very first album release by magazine National Lampoon, which came out in 1972, just years after The Beatles broke up.

The track satirized Lennon, using inspiration from an interview he gave to Rolling Stone in 1970, and didn't paint the singer in a positive light, featuring swearing from him and also the proclamation that he was a genius. But making fun of Lennon's voice, Hendra delivered lines such as "I resent performing for you f-----s tell me what do you know?" and "I don't owe you f-----s anything, and all I got to say is f--k you, the sky."

Source: themirror.com/Chiara Fiorillo

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Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote songs about each other in the 1970s. Here's why McCartney felt irritated enough to write about Lennon.

After The Beatles broke up, Paul McCartney and John Lennon spent the next several years at each others’ throats. McCartney sued The Beatles because of their manager, Allen Klein, and Lennon felt a great deal of resentment over the way his former bandmates treated Yoko Ono. McCartney admitted he wrote a song about Lennon and Ono. While it wasn’t as blatant as Lennon’s eventual response, Lennon could tell the song was about him.

Relations between McCartney and Lennon had so degraded by the 1970s that they began expressing their frustrations through song. McCartney said Lennon’s political preaching began to grate on his nerves. “I was looking at my second solo album, Ram, the other day and I remember there was one tiny little reference to John in the whole thing,” McCartney told Playboy in 1984 (per Beatles Interviews). “He’d been doing a lot of preaching, and it got up my nose a little bit.”

Source: cheatsheet.com/Emma McKee

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John Lennon, the legendary singer-songwriter, activist, and co-founder of The Beatles, left an indelible mark on the world of music and culture. His songs, both with The Beatles and as a solo artist, have transcended generations, inspiring millions with their raw emotion, poetic lyrics, and timeless melodies. From heartfelt ballads to powerful anthems of peace and love, Lennon’s music reflects the depth of his artistry and the complexity of his soul. Whether exploring themes of personal introspection, social justice, or universal harmony, his songs continue to resonate as deeply today as they did decades ago.

In this article, we’ll take a journey through the top 10 most popular John Lennon songs of all time—tracks that have not only defined his career but also shaped the soundtrack of our lives. From iconic hits that became cultural anthems to deeply personal compositions that reveal the man behind the music, these songs showcase Lennon’s genius in its purest form. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just beginning to discover the magic of Lennon’s artistry, this list is sure to remind you why his music remains as powerful and relevant as ever. Get ready to celebrate the legacy of one of details

It may seem the four Beatles were fated to be together. But in reality, the group's lineup was defined from the beginning by the members accepting their individual limitations and bringing in players who could make up for them.

It’s well known that, in the beginning, the Beatles had three guitarists: John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney. Along with bassist Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best, the five-piece Beatles landed in Hamburg in 1960, where for roughly two years they honed their skills.

But when Sutcliffe left the group in July 1961 to continue his art studies, it fell to McCartney to take over bass guitar duties. The instrument was beyond Lennon's abilities, and Harrison’s lead guitarist skills were too valuable.

But perhaps most crucial to that decision was McCartney's ill-fated attempt at a guitar solo on his first gig with Lennon. It not only put him off playing lead guitar — it also led directly to Harrison being hired as the group's lead guitar. And it all happened one fateful night in January 1958.

Source: guitarplayer.com/Christopher Scapelliti

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Ringo Starr, the iconic drummer of The Beatles, has been profoundly influenced by music throughout his life.

From his early days in Liverpool to his global fame with the Fab Four, music has been both a sanctuary and a driving force for him - and his work has made it into iconic artists' favourite songs lists across generations.

But the drummer has revealed one of his own inspirations, that helped shape his and The Beatles' music: Ray Charles. In a 2005 interview with CBC, Starr revealed that his favorite song is the American star's 'Tell the Truth'.

“I love it, I love the live version", said Starr. "Just always blowing me away."

'Tell the Truth' was originally recorded by The “5” Royales in 1959. Ray Charles, known for his soulful interpretations, covered the song the same year, infusing it with his distinctive style.

The live version, in particular, showcases Charles’ dynamic performance and the energetic response of the audience, elements that seemed to resonate deeply with Starr.

Source: express.co.uk/Maria Leticia Gomes

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The White Album was the record where The Beatles felt emboldened to try anything. All the guardrails were removed, and the extra space provided by making a double LP meant pretty much everything was fair game.

In the case of “Long, Long, Long,” that meant George Harrison penning an almost alarmingly quiet love song. The sneaky part of it is the intended target of that love wasn’t a person, but rather a higher power.

If nothing else, the barely-a-peep sound of “Long, Long, Long” sets it apart from the rest of The Beatles’ catalog. You’d be hard-pressed to find another Fab Four song mixed in such fashion. The difference in loudness between it and the other songs immediately surrounding it on the album (“Helter Skelter” and “Revolution 1”) is striking.

Maybe that was appropriate, since George Harrison was already starting to separate himself from the other chief Beatles songwriters (John Lennon and Paul McCartney) in his preferred topics. Harrison’s songs were beginning to fall into two categories: snide and sarcastic (like “Piggies”) or questing and spiritual (like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”).

The Beatles might just take home an award tonight from the Brit Awards, despite having broken up over half a century ago.

The Fab Four have been nominated for Best Single for their “last ever” song titled “Now And Then”. The song had been shelved for decades before officially getting an official release in 2023.

If The Beatles actually win, it will come at a record 47 years after their very first nomination in that category. The band was first nominated for “She Loves You” in 1977, back when the Brit Awards gave out their honors for performances over the previous quarter-century.

“Now And Then” has been dubbed “the very last Beatles song”, and we’re inclined to agree. Nobody really knows when a lost recording might pop up in the future. That being said, it does look like “Now And Then” might be the very last release from the Fab Four.
The Fascinating History Behind The Beatles’ “Now And Then”

“Now And Then” was originally written as a ballad that John Lennon recorded in his home studio in 1977. The song was left unfinished. However, it was considered a solid single to finish up and add details

Many things set the Beatles apart from their peers, but one defining factor was the equal contribution each member brought to the table. Though John Lennon and Paul McCartney are often considered the “leaders” of the group, George Harrison and Ringo Starr weren’t just simply hanging on. They brought their unique set of strengths as well. That being said, it can be hard to find a definite answer to question of “Who was the best songwriter in the Beatles?” Sheer numbers aside, their contributions were relatively even–at least in terms of talent. We’ve outlined each of the member’s strengths below, along with an argument for each. So, what do you think? Who is the best Beatles songwriter?

John Lennon was more or less the grit in the Beatles. Though the band as a whole wasn’t as politically provocative as many of their peers (and didn’t hold a candle to Lennon in his solo career), he was the most socially conscious of the bunch. This made his songs era-defining. From imbuing a strong psychedelic sound to writing lyrics about social movements, Lennon was the change-maker of the group. For many, this makes him the top songwriter of the bunch. What is rock music if no details

There have been a lot of unlikely collaborations in music, though, one of the more unlikely ones is between Kenny Rogers and the famed Beatles producer, George Martin. Now, you’re probably scouring your brain to find a common thread between the two, and frankly we can’t come up with any other than they’re both musicians. Though, in this business, that is all you need to make some great music and even better partnerships.

Kenny Rogers was always strictly a country pop musician. He rarely strayed away from the genre and as a result, he still exists as one of the genre’s most notable artists. Thanks to his songs “The Gambler,” “Islands in the Stream,” and “Coward of the Country,” Rogers often found himself on the country charts. However, one time, he sought out a different type of sound, and the man that helped him was the iconic George Martin.

Like nearly every musician who lived through the ’60s, Kenny Rogers was a staunch and steadfast Beatles fan. Even though his music shares very few similarities with the group, Rogers was still very outspoken about the four-headed monster and particularly their song, “Eleanor Rigby.”

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By the time The Beatles split, tension was at an all-time high within the legendary band. The making of 1968's 'The White Album' was infamously contentious, leading to Ringo Starr walking out temporarily, and the friction didn't subside during the 'Let it Be' sessions in 1969, originally referred to as the Get Back sessions.

It was amidst this tense atmosphere that George Harrison briefly quit, discontented with his position in the band and the difficult working conditions. During a pivotal meeting on 20 September 1969, John Lennon stated he wanted a "divorce" from The Beatles, signalling the beginning of the end.

Following that bombshell, Paul McCartney retreated to focus on his first solo endeavour, his eponymous album release in 1970 serving as the death knell for The Beatles. In April 1970, alongside the launch of 'McCartney,' Paul publicised his departure through a press statement, effectively ending his future with the band.

The Beatles' final offering, 'Let it Be', landed on shelves in May 1970 – a shocking reveal following the group's official disbandment. With tracks recorded between February 1968 and April 1970, its emergence spurred additional disputes among Paul, John, Ringo, and George details

The Beatles might have been busy making their mark on the musical world in the early 1960s, but that didn’t stop the band’s primary songwriters, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, from paying close attention to other ‘60s pop songs, er, popping up in the U.K. and across the pond in the States. One song in particular captured the heart of both Beatles guitarists.

Fortunately for Lennon and lead guitarist George Harrison, they were in quite good cahoots with the singer behind one of their favorite American pop tunes. So, they were able to get their lessons up close and personal (and free).  John Lennon Loved The Guitar Riff On This ‘60s Pop Song

We often credit the Beatles for being one of the driving forces behind the popularity of jangly rock music. And while that’s true to an extent, they weren’t the only (or even first) artists producing this quintessentially 1960s sound. During an interview with Rick Beato, Doobie Brothers vocalist and keyboardist Michael McDonald described the influence that American pop artist Jackie DeShannon had on the Fab Four during their earliest days in the U.S.

“[Jackie] had a great big hit record, and it had this great guitar lick. details

The Beatles hold several accolades that prove they are the most commercially and culturally successful band of all time. Between their 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, eight Grammy Awards, and insurmountable cultural influence, The Beatles’ success truly cannot be defined.

However, in regards to numbers, a few songs are certainly more successful than others. And today, we are going to try to define the robust success of three of The Beatles’ biggest hits. That being so, here are three of The Beatles’ most successful No. 1 hits of all time.

“She Loves You”

In addition to peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, The Beatles’ single, “She Loves You” became the best-selling UK single of the ’60s. As of 2022, the song became the ninth best-selling single in the history of the UK.

Beyond numbers, “She Love You” was the song that arguably garnered The Beatles both the spotlight and platform they needed to become an international sensation. Following the song’s 1963 release, The Beatles acquired mass notoriety and made their first US appearance a year later in 1964.

“Yesterday”

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Fans of The Beatles are saying their White Album release has a “slightly creepy” feeling throughout.

The sinister suggestions were shared by longtime listeners, who took to r/beatles on Reddit and shared their thoughts on the off feeling found on the album. One user asked: “Does the White Album give anyone else a slightly creepy and offputting feeling?” Several said the album does give off a sinister feeling, with one user suggesting it provides the album some crucial context. They wrote: “Absolutely. There are so many moods on the album that they all amplify each other, and the creepy songs make the happy and whimsical ones feel unsettling in the context of the whole album.

“A song like Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da or Martha My Dear is not at all sinister in isolation, but put them on the same album as Helter Skelter and Revolution #9, and they start to feel a bit haunted. The overall effect is an album that seems like a funhouse fever dream where you can sort of grasp the overall shape but it never comes fully into focus. I think it’s the greatest album ever made.”

Another agreed, adding: “You got it exactly right with your comment about Martha My Dear. It&rs details

As of this writ­ing, the Bea­t­les’ “Rev­o­lu­tion 9″ has more than 13,800,000 plays on Spo­ti­fy. This has no doubt gen­er­at­ed decent rev­enue, even giv­en the plat­for­m’s oft-lament­ed pay­out rates. But com­pare that num­ber to the more than half-a-bil­lion streams of “Black­bird,” also on the Bea­t­les’ self-titled 1968 “white album,” and you get an idea of “Rev­o­lu­tion 9”’s place in the band’s oeu­vre. Sim­ply put, even ultra-hard-core Fab Four fans tend to skip it. Regard­less, as Ian Mac­Don­ald writes in Rev­o­lu­tion in the Head: The Bea­t­les’ Records and the Six­ties, “this eight-minute exer­cise in aur­al free asso­ci­a­tion is the world’s most wide­ly dis­trib­uted avant-garde arti­fact.”

Mas­ter­mind­ed by John Lennon, “Rev­o­lu­tion 9” is not exact­ly a song, but rather an elab­o­rate “sound col­lage,” assem­bled in broad adher­ence to an aes­th details

Abbey Road reenters the Billboard 200, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, and Top Album Sales charts, ... [+] nearing 500 total weeks on the Billboard 200. HAMBURG, GERMANY - MAY 28: A general view of the 'Abbey Road Studio' room is seen at the Beatlemania exhibition on May 28, 2009 in Hamburg, Germany. The exhibition, which opens tomorrow, shows the development of the Beatles from their beginnings in Hamburg until they split up. 

The Beatles are still so popular to this day that the group almost always appears on one Billboard chart or another. The band usually trades one title for a different one, based on both changing interests among American listeners as well as a handful of rules specific to the Billboard tallies that dictate which project finds space on a ranking (or doesn’t).

Most of the time, The Beatles appear with one compilation or another. It’s not uncommon for legacy acts to see just one or two collections of hit singles appear on the Billboard charts, as those are the titles that fans flock to both when they want to buy something from a favored act and when they head to streaming platforms.

This week is a bit different for The Beatles. Instead of a compilation, like eithe details

The Beatles icon Paul McCartney has revealed the one song that never fails to make him "break down in tears".

Despite penning classics such as Hey Jude, Band on the Run, and Get Back, it's a tune from one of his 1960s rivals that moves him to tears every time he hears it. The Beatles' star labelled the song as one of his all-time favourites, recounting an instance when he broke down in front of the original songwriter during a rehearsal of the track.

 McCartney's fans have been left debating the collaborative effort, expressing their wish for more than just a handful of rare performances. A thread on Reddit saw listeners reminiscing about a 2002 rendition of the song. One user questioned why McCartney and The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson hadn't collaborated in the studio, with many pointing to a poignant moment which brought Sir Paul to tears.

One fan queried: "I've always found it perplexing who McCartney chooses to collaborate with. Very few were of this calibre but I wonder why he's never cowrote anything with Brian Wilson. Any thoughts?"

Another responded: "Although not a writing collaboration, Paul has spent time in the studio with Brian. He allegedly has an uncredited performance on the ce details

In 1988 George Harrison was in Hana on the island of Maui in Hawaii with his family where he had a vacation property. At the time, Harrison was also there to shoot a video for the song “This Is Love” from his 1987 album Cloud Nine.

While walking with his son Dhani one day, the two came across a sign near the beach that read: “If the wind blows, you can always adjust your sails, but, if you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will take you there.”

The words would become the base of a new song, “Any Road,” which Harrison started writing shortly after seeing that sign. Harrison held the song close until it had its place and later recorded it on and off between July 1999 and October 2001 for his 12th and final album Brainwashed.

Harrison’s lyrics follow the Eastern philosophy he followed for most of his life, of continuing forward no matter how difficult the path, or moving toward a higher state of being as in Hindu.

“The past, the present, and the future is just one cycle,” said Harrison in a video around Brainwashed. “I believe as most Buddhists and Hindus believe that it’s us coming back.”

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Paul McCartney’s next book, coming out this fall, is a reminder that the Beatles were not his only band

"Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run" is an oral history about the group McCartney formed in the early 1970s, after the Beatles broke up. With members including guitarist Denny Laine and McCartney's then-wife, keyboardist Linda McCartney, Wings rose from driving to shows in a van to selling millions of records with such hits as “Band on the Run,” “Jet,” “My Love” and “Silly Love Songs.” The band broke up in 1981.

Edited by historian Ted Widmer, the illustrated, 528-page book draws in part on hours of interviews with McCartney. W.W. Norton & Company, which also published McCartney's “The Lyrics” and “1964: Eyes of the Storm,” announced Wednesday that “Wings” will be released Nov. 4.

“I’m so very happy to be transported back to the time that was Wings and relive some of our madcap adventures through this book," McCartney, 82, said in a statement. "Starting from scratch after The Beatles felt crazy at times. There were some very difficult moments and I often questioned my decision. But as we got bet details

Petula Clark was heckled by her own audience — and then John Lennon gave her some obscene advice. She became part of one of John's most significant solo songs.

Petula Clark was heckled by her own audience — and then John Lennon gave her some obscene advice. By accident, the experience helped her become part of one of John’s most significant solo songs. Sometimes, life comes at you fast!
Why John Lennon swore at Petula Clark to make her feel better

Clark is sometimes known as the First Lady of the British Invasion. Why? Well, of the few female singers who were part of that scene, she was the most successful. Several of Clark’s songs became hits in the United States, such as “Don’t Sleep in the Subway,” “My Love,” “This Is My Song,” “I Know a Place,” and, most famously, “Downtown.”

During a 2013 interview with The Guardian, Clark said she once performed in Montreal and sang songs in English and French — the two official languages of Canada. English speakers were upset that she sang in French and vice versa. During that performance, Clark was jeered. Clark then spoke with a rock ‘n’ roll legend w details

What more can you write about the late George Harrison, who would've turned 82 on February 25?

People have been writing about the Beatles – pretty much nonstop – since 1963, when Peter Lorre, Andrés Segovia, John Coltrane, Stan Laurel and Bud Abbott still walked the earth.

Well, to answer my own question, it might actually be a story like our April 2025 cover feature – a story where all of Harrison’s albums (including everything by the Beatles) are laid out, side by side, in chronological order, along with some of his most important side trips and guest appearances, making it all seem like one huge body of work, which – guess what! – it is.

It’s a feature in which – for better or worse – oddities like Wonderwall Music, Encouraging Words and Is This What You Want? are given the same space and word count as major players like Abbey Road, Revolver and All Things Must Pass.

But perhaps the cherry on top is our new interview with George’s son, Dhani Harrison – he of thenewno2, Fistful of Mercy and solo fame – who sheds some light on another major player in George Land, 1973's Living in the Material World, home of some of th details

“My Sweet Lord” was Harrison’s first single as a solo artist, and it was a chart-topping hit across the globe. But the song wasn’t your typical pop chart fodder. Rather, “My Sweet Lord” is a folk rock gospel song heavily inspired by Harrison’s spiritual awakening.

In 1967, George Harrison and the rest of The Beatles traveled to Rishikesh, India. At the time, Harrison was in a pretty relatable but unpleasant spot. He was struggling with his identity as a musician as well as his purpose in life outside of being part of the Fab Four. A bit of spiritual guidance was all he really needed to go down a new path in life, helped in part by the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
The Spiritual Experience That Inspired “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison

Much of the music Harrison wrote during and after that famed trek to India reflects a sort of enlightenment about his life. Plenty of people, including fans and those close to Harrison, saw it as just a phase. However, the inspiration that Harrison took back with him from India influenced him until the very end of his life. “My Sweet Lord” could be seen as a defining song of that life-changing experience details

The Beatles are back on the music charts in the United Kingdom, where all four musicians, including those no longer with us, remain legends. The group never stays away for very long, and even when one album or hit song disappears for a short time, it either quickly returns, or is replaced by another popular release from the rockers.

1, a collection of the Beatles’ biggest smashes that was released more than two decades ago, now stands as the group's only charting album. The compilation reappears on a pair of rankings across the pond as it's become a huge win once more.

This frame, 1 launches highest on the Official Albums Streaming chart. On that tally, it lands smack dab in the middle, at No. 50.

The same title manages to once again appear on the Official Albums chart, the ranking of the most-consumed projects throughout the nation. 1 re-enters that competitive list at No. 64.

While 1 may sit lower on the main albums roster than on the streaming-only chart, it has actually performed better on the former. The Beatles’ singles-packed collection hit No. 1 without issue on the Official Albums list, and it has now racked up 467 stays somewhere on that ranking. The same release stalled at details

'In My Life' is not just one of The Beatles greatest songs, but one of THE greatest songs.

The Beatles released over 200 songs during their decade odd at the top of the pop world, and you could make a fair argument for any one of 50 odd to be their very best.   In our own rankings, we put 'In My Life' in at number one, and we're not the first or the last. Back in 2000, Mojo magazine went even further, arguing that it was simply the best song of all time ever.

But do you know who wrote 'In My Life', or what year it finally made the charts (and where it placed when it got there)?

Do you know who the "dead" and "living" friends are being referred to in the lyrics, or what instrument George Martin plays on the song?

Who wrote 'In My Life'?  This one should be easy, right? Not a cover, not one of George Harrison's 22 Beatles songs, not a quirky full-band co-write of one of Ringo Starr's pair of oddities.

So it's by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Yes, indeed, we've got the immortal Lennon-McCartney on the label.

But that's never the whole story.

Source: goldradio.com/Mayer Nissim

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