Was McCartney better than Lennon?

The Waiting Trophy Man
The Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
edited September 2010 in Other Music
Sgt. Pepper was mainly Pauls concept. His songs on Revolver are far superior to Johns. He wrote Yesterday, the most popular song in history; Hey Jude, the Beatles' biggest hit song; he wrote most of their hits, especially the latter half. Was Paul a better songwriter than John?
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Post edited by Unknown User on
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  • Newch91
    Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    I'd say they were the same. They had their own style, though. Lennon wrote Help, In My Life, Tomorrow Never Knows, Strawberry Fields Forever, both collaborated on A Day In the Life, Across the Universe (which I consider to be a lyrical masterpiece). Solo wise, Lennon hands down. Like I said, they both had their own styles of writing; Lennon was more personal and wrote about himself a lot, which some of the songs I named were about himself.
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  • The Waiting Trophy Man
    The Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
    Paul wrote the music for In My Life. I've always been more of a Lennon fan myself but Paul seems to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, more so than John. Afterall he's the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.
    Another habit says it's in love with you
    Another habit says its long overdue
    Another habit like an unwanted friend
    I'm so happy with my righteous self
  • mookeywrench
    mookeywrench Posts: 6,099
    edited September 2010
    Lennon had a knack for substance

    McCartney had a knack for melody

    In my book:

    Substance > Melody


    However, having said that, Helter Skelter is the Beatle's triumph
    Post edited by mookeywrench on
  • Byrnzie
    Byrnzie Posts: 21,037
    mookeywrench wrote:
    Lennon had a knack for substance

    McCartney had a knack for melody

    In my book:

    Substance > Melody

    This pretty much sums it up.
  • Newch91
    Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    The Waiting Trophy Man wrote:
    Paul wrote the music for In My Life. I've always been more of a Lennon fan myself but Paul seems to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, more so than John. Afterall he's the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.
    I have nothing wrong with Paul at all. He's the fucking man! It's just both of them as songwriters are different approaches.
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  • FenwayFaithful
    FenwayFaithful Posts: 8,626
    Ringo's the real talent of the group. Everyone should know that by now.
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  • Newch91
    Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    FenwayFaithful wrote:
    Ringo's the real talent of the group. Everyone should know that by now.

    George is on another planet of talent.
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  • The Waiting Trophy Man
    The Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
    FenwayFaithful wrote:
    Ringo's the real talent of the group. Everyone should know that by now.

    Yeah but who was second best, Lennon or McCartney? Or George?

    And I disagree with McCartney being all melody and no substance. Eleanor Rigby, For No One, Here There And Everywhere, Blackbird.....those are great lyrics. I agree though, he never wrote lyrics like Across the Universe.
    Another habit says it's in love with you
    Another habit says its long overdue
    Another habit like an unwanted friend
    I'm so happy with my righteous self
  • mookeywrench
    mookeywrench Posts: 6,099
    The Waiting Trophy Man wrote:
    FenwayFaithful wrote:
    Ringo's the real talent of the group. Everyone should know that by now.

    Yeah but who was second best, Lennon or McCartney? Or George?

    And I disagree with McCartney being all melody and no substance. Eleanor Rigby, For No One, Here There And Everywhere, Blackbird.....those are great lyrics. I agree though, he never wrote lyrics like Across the Universe.

    I didn't say all melody and no substance. just he had a knack for melody. He had his moments with substance just as Lennon had his moments with melody.
  • The Waiting Trophy Man
    The Waiting Trophy Man Niagara region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,158
    Understood. And I agree.

    I didn't say all melody and no substance. just he had a knack for melody. He had his moments with substance just as Lennon had his moments with melody.[/quote]
    Another habit says it's in love with you
    Another habit says its long overdue
    Another habit like an unwanted friend
    I'm so happy with my righteous self
  • pjfaninindiana
    pjfaninindiana Northeast Indiana Posts: 311
    That's a tough call!! Now, i will admit, i do not own any of the two's work outside of The Beatles. Lennon, i think is more critically praised and admired than Paul. But Paul was certainly on fire at the end of The Beatles career. I think Paul holds his own. If i HAD to pick i'd give it to Paul, but it is very close!
  • MysteryTrain
    MysteryTrain Singapore Posts: 1,189
    As solo acts, Lennon was definitely better than Paul. In fact, Lennon's music was the most important and influential.
  • youngster
    youngster Boston Posts: 6,576
    I would say that most of the songs George wrote were better than most of the songs Lennon/McCartney wrote. Personally, I think While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Something and are two of the most beautiful songs ever written.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

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  • pjfan021
    pjfan021 Posts: 684
    lennon>mccartney. john's lyrics are hands down deeper and more important. Paul knows how to write a melody and is a good lyricsit as well but lennon's carried more weight and esp. his solo career. Paul always seems to be more uptight too. idk. Personally, my rankings are

    lennon
    george
    paul
    ringo
  • dimitrispearljam
    dimitrispearljam Posts: 139,747
    GEORGE BY FAR...
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  • Mikeack
    Mikeack Posts: 562
    Its a dead heat.
    I just remember Ringo as being useless !
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  • Newch91
    Newch91 Posts: 17,560
    youngster wrote:
    I would say that most of the songs George wrote were better than most of the songs Lennon/McCartney wrote. Personally, I think While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Something and are two of the most beautiful songs ever written.
    Yeah, even McCartney said to John during the making of Abbey Road that in the last year, George's songs were better than both of theirs. You can't forget Here Comes the Sun.
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  • kenny olav
    kenny olav Posts: 3,319
    The Waiting Trophy Man wrote:
    Paul wrote the music for In My Life. I've always been more of a Lennon fan myself but Paul seems to be both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, more so than John. Afterall he's the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music.

    John wrote In My Life - he said it himself in an interview.

    McCartney was great, but Lennon was a greater singer and songwriter in my opinion.

    Also, I don't think John ever wrote a bad song. But the The Long and Winding Road is the schmaltziest song ever put on a Beatles record.
  • kenny olav
    kenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Mikeack wrote:
    Its a dead heat.
    I just remember Ringo as being useless !

    Bite your tongue!
  • tcaporale
    tcaporale Posts: 1,577
    Not going to touch this one. Lennon is traditionally viewed as being more forward-thinking than McCartney, but they're two of the best songwriters to have ever lived.

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