Fans of The Beatles are somewhat united on what the worst song featured on compilation album One is.
The loneliest number, as fans of the Fab Four will no doubt know, served as the title for The Beatles‘ compilation album, initially released in 2000. The collection of hits marked the album released by the band in George Harrison‘s lifetime. One was announced on the thirtieth anniversary of the band’s breakup and would be the first CD-only release from the group. While a vinyl printing was released later into its lifespan, the popularity of the box set is not without its detractors. One looks to compile the very best of The Beatles across their whole career. It’s no small feat and fans are still in disagreement over which songs should have featured, twenty-five years later. A post to the r/Beatles subreddit saw fans suggesting which songs could be cut, and what could replace them.
A listener asked: “Worst song on the One album?” Two songs stood out most for listeners, with one suggesting Love Me Do was the song they skipped most. Few agreed, but Yellow Submarine, the Ringo Starr-penned track which served as the title song to the soundtrack album, was a weak link. Some would defend the song, though a few say the song is “inoffensive” at best.
One person wrote: “To me, Yellow Submarine is a bit out of contest, because you can’t ‘measure’ its quality the same way you would with the others. It’s a children’s song and does a damn good job in that field. Just play it in a kindergarten and see what happens.
“Do I personally listen to it? No. But I’m not the target audience. (And also it’s been overplayed which also isn’t the song’s fault).” Another disagreed, saying it’s not just the worst song on One, but the weakest part of The Beatles’ classic, Revolver.
They wrote: “Yes, really don’t like it. It’s the worst tune on Revolver, too.” A third shared: “Some would argue Dr Robert, but that one is inoffensive to me. Yellow Submarine is just a clunky tune, with a childish lyric, and a slightly out-of-tune lead vocal from Ringo.”
It wasn’t just Love Me Do and Yellow Submarine receiving flak from listeners, though they did prove to be the most obvious choices. One person wrote: “The obvious choices seem to be Love Me Do and Yellow Submarine, but I really don’t like Hello Goodbye. It’s a bit of a nothing song for me. The lyrics are terrible.” Another agreed, writing: “Love Me Do. It’s a nice song, but the worst of these, easily.”
The Ballad of John and Yoko, the non-album single which released in 1969, was also knocked by fans. One wrote: “The Ballad of John and Yoko, the only one I skip almost every time.” Another added: “I would strike The Ballad of John and Yoko.” Others believe Please Please Me could have replaced any of the songs mentioned above, as its omission proved rather surprising.
One fan wrote: “I hate the fact that it doesn’t include Please Please Me, which hit number one in the UK but not in the US.” Another added: “Love Me Do or Yellow Submarine. Love Me Do should have been Please Please Me.”
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