You need to take your joy wherever you can find it in this world. Time and again, The Beatles proved to be a reliable source of elation. They produced that emotion naturally on a lot of occasions. When they really leaned into it, the effect could be quite profound.
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The Fab Four’s catalog comes loaded with examples of songs that can effortlessly produce smiles. Here are the five Beatles songs that go to the extreme in that department.
“Twist And Shout” from ‘Please Please Me’ (1963)
Because they didn’t have a lot of time to come up with anything else, The Beatles essentially tried to replicate their typical live show at The Cavern on their first UK album. Please Please Me feels like a show. You have a peppy start in “I Saw Her Standing There”, several changes of pace throughout the record, and then the big finish with “Twist And Shout”. That latter song was also the final song recorded during a marathon session that produced the bulk of the album. John Lennon’s ragged vocal perfectly evoked the exhausted bliss at the end of a fantastic night of partying.
“I Want To Hold Your Hand” Single (1964)
Nobody would ever call “I Want To Hold Your Hand” the greatest song The Beatles ever recorded. But it ranks extremely high on any list of the Fab Four’s most important songs. Remember that it was in no way a sure thing that they’d be able to transplant the success they’d enjoyed in England to America, where so many other top British artists had faltered. They needed just the right song to help them make that leap. “ I Want To Hold Your Hand”, chaste enough to play off the band’s innocent public stance but just frisky enough to thrill the teenage girls, did the job wonderfully.
“I Feel Fine” Single (1964)
Give credit to the band for knowing when it was time to insert a little something different into the equation. When recording “I Feel Fine”, a guitar leaned up against a live amp provided a jolt of feedback. Thinking it sounded fantastic, they started the song off with that same kind of sound. It immediately grabs your attention and sets you up for the blast of positivity that “I Feel Fine” delivers. Everything works here, from the choogling guitar lick to the soaring harmonies. John Lennon later expressed some sheepishness over the simplicity of the lyrics. But that direct approach transmits the joy without any filters.
“Good Day Sunshine” from ‘Revolver’ (1966)
As influential as they were, The Beatles also had their ears wide open for artists and songs who might just inspire them in return. Paul McCartney liked what he was hearing from The Lovin’ Spoonful, the American band led by John Sebastian. In particular, Macca grooved to the Spoonful’s hit “Daydream”, which somehow sounded retro and trippy all at once. “Good Day Sunshine” sprang from that influence. The song builds a bouncy foundation that allows McCartney to cut his melodic tendencies loose. Some sweet vocal harmonies seal the deal for the happiness quotient on this one.
“Here Comes The Sun” from ‘Abbey Road’ (1969)
One fine morning in 1969, George Harrison had no intention of going to Apple and dealing with the chaos surrounding The Beatles and their business affairs. Instead, he decided to play hooky and visit his buddy Eric Clapton. The weather was beautiful for the first time following a stretch of dreariness. As he strolled Harrison’s garden, guitar in hand, he began writing “Here Comes The Sun”. The wonderful guitar work by Harrison sets everything in motion here. Just singing the refrain “doot in doo doo” makes you giggle a little bit. If you put this one on the record player, even during a winter chill, you can’t help but warm up a little.
Photo by Hans J. Hoffmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images
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