The Beatles Perfected One Simple Choice Across 18 Songs That Made Them Legendary
When The Beatles burst onto the scene in the early 1960s, they had a clear image. Their mop-top hair and love songs aimed at the seas of screaming fans made them the ultimate teenage heartthrobs, fueling Beatlemania. Their lyrics spoke directly to a version of “you,” teasing flirtation. But as the band grew, the device of using women’s names evolved into a sophisticated literary device to romanticize the mundane every day. In their almost-decade together, The Beatles used women’s names in the titles of 18 songs, meaning that it was never just a phase. From “Lovely Rita” to “Eleanor Rigby,” “Sexy Sadie” to “Michelle,” the named figures helped the band grow into sharp storytellers who found magic and power in the ordinary.
The Beatles had matured sonically and narratively by the time Revolver came around in 1966, and “Eleanor Rigby” is a great example. They were smart enough to stick to a technique that worked for them—using a specific name in the title. But they had developed the substance to go beyond romance, using Eleanor to amplify the voices of “all the lonely people.” Of course, they continued with romantic narratives. Even so, the serenades of “Julia” and “Dear Prudence” are wonderfully tender. They evoke a much more tender connection than the rock and roll spectacle of other releases named after the women in their lives or imaginations.
The Beatles Had Magic of the Mundane
The simple technique of using an individual name to connect with the masses makes each listener feel special. They feel like they are being let in on a private story because of the specific details in the lyrics. I mean, Paul McCartney was singing about his “Michelle,” not yours. So, even if you don’t connect with the girl, you connect with whoever is singing and their intimate stories.
The Beatles knew how to make listeners feel special, and that’s why everybody loves them. The Fab Four took everyday professions, like a meter maid, and situations, like “robbin’ the homeward bounder,” and elevated them into tales of wonder. By giving short stories and feelings an identity, often fictitious, they romanticized regular experiences into moments of magic.
Source: Fiona MacPherson-Amador/collider.com
