Blackbird, fly--
Into the light of a dark black night.
I want to say that "Blackbird" is my favorite Beatles song. It's a song that touched my heart the first time I heard it, and still does every time I listen to it. It's the song that first made me realize that I liked the Beatles... And I've never looked back!
But the thing is, "Blackbird" isn't really a Beatles song.
I love getting to hear just Paul, strumming his guitar, singing, and tapping his foot. But it's precisely that quiet, intimate nature that I would argue keeps "Blackbird" from being a true Beatles song. It's a Paul McCartney song that happened to be released on a Beatles album because it was written and recorded while Paul was still a member of the Beatles. To my mind, a true Beatles song must feature at least two of the Beatles working together-- otherwise, it's a solo effort released under the band's label. I think at the most it can be called a "Beatle" song, because it's the work of only one Beatle.
Of course, this definition affects many beloved songs! "Yesterday," "Within You Without You," and "Julia," just to name a few. I think "Good Night" just barely squeaks by because it was written by John but sung by Ringo, so there's an element of collaboration there.
So what is my favorite Beatles song that's actually a Beatles song?
I have to go with the one that epitomizes collaboration among the group. John and Paul wrote it together, breathing down each other's necks. On the recording, you can clearly hear all four of them playing with everything they've got, interacting with each other musically, and having a great time.
It's exhilarating. It never gets old, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. And the final chord is just slightly unresolved, has just a hint of dissonance, so when the song ends I'm haunted by nostalgia. When they recorded this song, they had no idea what was going to happen. It turned out to be the gateway to Beatlemania, turning four lads from Liverpool into living legends.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeaaaaahh.
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