5 Favorite Beatles Songs: Community Picks
- Fab Four Academy
- Dec 11
- 6 min read
When you joined Fab Four Academy, I asked you to share your favorite Beatles songs. Thank you for responding! The results reveal something beautiful about what draws us to the Fab Four's music. These aren't just the biggest hits or the most experimental tracks. They're the songs that touched your hearts, the ones that spoke to your own experiences of joy, loss, hope, and resilience. From Paul's anthem of encouragement to George's celebration of emerging light, these five favorite Beatles songs represent the band at their most human. Here's what your votes revealed about the music that matters most to our community.
Your Votes Are In
I know some of you couldn't keep it to one song. I have a hard time with that, too! To account for those multi-votes, we assigned partial votes to those songs. As our community grows, I'll update this list occasionally to see how preferences evolve. But as of this date, here are the results: the top five favorite Beatles songs among Fab Four Academy members.
Each represents a different facet of what made the Beatles extraordinary, from their ability to craft seven-minute epics to their gift for intimate personal reflections. These are the songs that continue to resonate across generations, offering comfort in difficult times and celebration in moments of joy.
1. Hey Jude (1968)
Paul wrote this seven-minute masterpiece to comfort five-year-old Julian Lennon during his parents' divorce, transforming personal compassion into universal encouragement. Originally titled "Hey Jules," the song became the Beatles' first release on Apple Records and their longest single to top the British charts.
The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 28, 1968, staying there for nine weeks and tying the all-time record for longest chart run at the time. Recorded at Trident Studios between July 29 and August 1, 1968, it sold approximately eight million copies worldwide and remains one of the most recognized songs in popular music history.
Leadership Takeaway: The best leaders show up for people during their hardest moments. Paul drove out to Weybridge to comfort Julian when he could have stayed distant from the family drama. That act of care produced something that helped millions. Your presence matters more than you know.
Songwriter credit: Lennon & McCartney, 1968
2. Here Comes The Sun (1969)
George escaped another tedious Apple Corps business meeting and found himself in Eric Clapton's garden in Ewhurst, Surrey, on a beautiful April day in 1969. After a brutal winter (London weather stations recorded record-breaking cold), the sun finally broke through. George picked up a guitar and the song poured out, capturing relief and optimism in three minutes of pure sunshine.
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios throughout July and August 1969, the track features George's acoustic guitar and innovative use of the Moog synthesizer. Though never released as a UK single, it became a B-side to "Something" in the US (reaching number one) and has since become the Beatles' most-streamed song with over one billion plays on Spotify. It earned triple platinum certification in the UK.
Leadership Takeaway: Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is step away from the meeting. George's decision to skip business discussions and seek creative space led to one of his finest works. Trust your instincts about when you need to recharge.
Songwriter credit: Harrison, 1969
3. Yesterday (1965)
Paul woke up with a complete melody in his head at his girlfriend Jane Asher's family home in London. The tune was so fully formed that he worried he'd unconsciously plagiarized it, playing it for people in the music industry to make sure it was original. For months he carried it around with placeholder lyrics ("Scrambled eggs, oh you've got such lovely legs"), finally completing the words during a drive from Lisbon to Albufeira, Portugal, on May 27, 1965.
Recorded on June 14, 1965, at Abbey Road Studios, "Yesterday" featured only Paul with his acoustic guitar and a string quartet. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks starting in October 1965. With over 2,200 cover versions, it holds the record as the most covered song in history.
Leadership Takeaway: Great ideas often come when we're not forcing them. Paul received this gift in sleep and had the wisdom to capture it immediately. Keep something nearby to record your insights, whether they arrive at 3 a.m. or during your commute.
Songwriter credit: Lennon & McCartney, 1965
4. Let It Be (1970)
During one of the Beatles' most difficult periods, Paul had a dream about his mother Mary, who had died of cancer in 1956 when he was fourteen. In the dream, she told him, "It will be all right, just let it be." He woke comforted and wrote the song during the White Album sessions in 1968, though it wasn't recorded until January 1969.
The single debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 15, 1970 (the highest debut at that time) and reached number one on April 11, spending two weeks at the top. Released just one day after Paul announced the Beatles' breakup, it became their next-to-last number one hit and a farewell anthem for the band.
Leadership Takeaway: In times of chaos, sometimes acceptance is the most powerful response. Paul's mother's wisdom gave him permission to release what he couldn't control. Not every problem needs solving. Some need surrender.
Songwriter credit: Lennon & McCartney, 1970
5. In My Life (1965)
After journalist Kenneth Allsop suggested John write about his own experiences rather than generic love songs, John created this nostalgic meditation on places and people from his Liverpool childhood. The original draft was a detailed bus route through the city, naming specific locations including Penny Lane and Strawberry Field, but he refined it into something more universal.
Recorded on October 18 and 22, 1965, at Abbey Road Studios, the track features George Martin's distinctive harpsichord-like piano solo (actually recorded at half-speed to achieve the effect). Though never released as a single, it appeared on the Rubber Soul album and was later ranked number 23 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," number five on their "Beatles' 100 Greatest Songs," and named the best song of all time by Mojo magazine in 2000.
Leadership Takeaway: Your specific experiences can touch universal truths. John worried that a song about his Liverpool childhood would be too personal, but that specificity made it resonate globally. Don't shy away from authentic storytelling.
Songwriter credit: Lennon & McCartney, 1965
Mini-FAQ: Your Questions About Favorite Beatles Songs
Q: What is the most popular Beatles song of all time?
A: While popularity varies by metric, "Hey Jude" was the year's top-selling single in 1968 across the UK, US, Australia, and Canada, spending nine weeks at number one. "Here Comes The Sun" has become the Beatles' most-streamed song with over one billion plays on Spotify, suggesting it resonates most with contemporary listeners who favor Beatles songs with hopeful, uplifting messages.
Q: Which Beatles song took the longest to record?
A: "Hey Jude" had an extended recording process with 25 takes over multiple sessions, though many were rehearsals. At over seven minutes, it was also the longest single to top the British charts at that time. The Beatles recorded most of their favorite Beatles songs relatively quickly once they entered the studio, but perfecting arrangements often required multiple sessions.
Q: Did Paul McCartney really write "Yesterday" alone?
A: Yes, Paul wrote both lyrics and music for "Yesterday" entirely on his own, making it the first Beatles track to feature a solo performance. While credited to Lennon and McCartney per their agreement, John later acknowledged he made no contribution to this favorite Beatles song, saying "Paul wrote nearly all of it."
Q: Why is "In My Life" considered one of the best Beatles songs?
A: "In My Life" marked a turning point where John wrote deeply personal lyrics about his own experiences rather than generic themes. The song's universal meditation on memory and loss resonated so powerfully that Mojo magazine named it the best song of all time in 2000, and it remains one of the most frequently requested favorite Beatles songs for weddings and memorial services.
Q: Which Beatle wrote "Here Comes The Sun"?
A: George Harrison wrote "Here Comes The Sun" entirely on his own in April 1969 at Eric Clapton's home in Surrey. The song showcases George's growth as a songwriter and became his most commercially successful Beatles composition, proving that favorite Beatles songs could come from any band member, not just John and Paul.
How This Connects
These community favorites represent the Beatles at their most inspiring, offering wisdom for daily challenges and professional growth. December's focus on faith and spirituality aligns beautifully with songs like "Let It Be" and "In My Life," which explore trust, acceptance, and finding meaning in our experiences. Want to explore how Beatles wisdom applies to leadership? Check out my upcoming books on building dynamic teams the Fab Four way.
Listen & Learn
Want to experience these community favorites? Here are the official tracks:
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