For many people, Paul McCartney is a musician’s musician. He talks candidly about his songwriting process and the music he particularly loved as a member of the Beatles. He also listed songs from other artists he loved here and there. Let’s take a look at some of Paul McCartney’s favorite songs that may have inspired the Beatles.
1. “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys influenced numerous bands in the 20th century, one of which was (unsurprisingly) the Beatles. Paul McCartney has been quite candid about how much the song “God Only Knows” from his famous 1966 album Pet Sounds influenced him not only musically, but also on a personal level. Ta.
“‘God Only Knows’ is one of the few songs that brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it,” McCartney once said of the song. “It’s really just a love song, but it’s beautifully done. It shows the genius of Brian Wilson. I actually played it with him once, and unfortunately he broke down in tears during the sound check. I couldn’t bear to stand there and sing this song with Brian because it gave me a headache.”
2. “Nature Boy” Nat King Cole/The King Cole Trio
McCartney is a big fan of Nat King Cole, and a few years ago he covered the classic song ‘The Very Thought Of You’ in a duet with Tony Bennett. Many people associate this song with jazz musician Nat King Cole. However, the song itself is a pop standard written in the 1930s. That said, there’s another Nat King Cole classic that McCartney says is an inspiration.
“I’ve always loved the song ‘Nature Boy,'” McCartney said. “There was a boy who was very strange and kind…” He loved nature and the song “Mother Nature’s Son” was inspired by that song. I’ve always loved nature, and when Linda and I got together, we realized we had this deep love for nature in common. ”
3. Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel”
In 1956, Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” messed with the brains of many who would soon become Presley’s die-hard fans. So it’s no surprise that this classic rock’n’roll song inspired several major musicians in the mid-20th century. century. Specifically, McCartney stated that the song contributed to his love of music. Presley ended up saying some bad things about the Beatles, but McCartney didn’t seem too bothered by it.
“Elvis was the one who really got me into beat music,” McCartney said. “When I heard “Heartbreak Hotel,” I knew this was it.”
Photo (10832374a) via Shutterstock
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