Paul McCartney’s top 8 songs ranked – No.1 may surprise you | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

As Paul McCartney marked his 83rd birthday on June 18, he will undoubtedly be basking in his appreciation for his incredible career, which spans over six decades. The iconic singer-songwriter burst into the spotlight during the 1960s as one-fourth of the chart-topping English boyband, The Beatles and became the best-selling music act of all time, with an estimated 600 million units sold worldwide before officially disbanding in 1974.

In the years since, Paul has continued to make music with a wildly successful solo career, with new releases and world tours. The musician even returned to his band roots by becoming a member of the acclaimed group Wings. After his time with The Beatles, Paul’s work solidified his status, and he is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential musicians of all time. Having achieved 22 number-one hit singles throughout his career, here are eight of his best songs.

8. Oh! Darling – 1969

The Beatles’ beloved song, Oh! Darling, appeared as the fourth song on their acclaimed eleventh studio album, Abbey Road, with both Paul and John Lennon credited as songwriters.

Following its release, Paul said he initially thought his voice was too clear for the song and wanted the vocals to sound “as though I’d been performing it on stage all week”.

The version which was eventually released was the last of 26 takes. In the Barry Miles-penned biography Many Years From Now, the singer recounted: “I mainly remember wanting to get the vocal right, wanting to get it good, and I ended up trying each morning as I came into the recording session.

“I tried it with a hand mic, and I tried it with a standing mic, I tried it every which way, and finally got the vocal I was reasonably happy with. It’s a bit of a belter… It was unusual for me; I would normally try all the goes at a vocal in one day.”

7. I’m Looking Through You – 1965

I’m Looking Through You was one of 14 songs in the band’s sixth studio album, Rubber Soul, in which Paul sings: “Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight,” following the end of his relationship with actress Jane Asher.

The former couple were in a high-profile relationship in the mid-60s and were even set to get married after becoming engaged in 1967. However, they broke up two years later, with Jane announcing their split on the live BBC show Dee Time with Simon Dee amid rumours Paul had cheated.

She said: “I haven’t broken it off, but it is broken off, finished. I know it sounds corny, but we still see each other and love each other, but it hasn’t worked out. Perhaps we’ll be childhood sweethearts and meet again and get married when we’re about 70.”

Following their break-up, Paul went on to marry Linda Eastman in 1969, while Asher married Gerald Scarfe in 1981.

6. Blackbird – 1968

Widely regarded as one of the best songs by The Beatles, Blackbird was released after Paul became inspired by musician Chet Atkins’ acoustic finger-picking style and wrote it as a response to the 1959 Little Rock Nine incident and the overall Civil Rights movement, wanting to write a song dedicated to people who had been affected by discrimination.

In 2002, Paul discussed the song with KCRW DJ Chris Douridas and explained: “I was in Scotland playing on my guitar, and I remembered this whole idea of ‘you were only waiting for this moment to arise’ was about, you know, the black people’s struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird. It’s not really about a blackbird whose wings are broken; it’s a bit more symbolic.”

While the song was credited as “Lennon-McCartney” as part of their songwriting partnership, Paul performed it as a solo piece. The song proved to have a major impact on the music industry as Judy Collins, Neil Diamond, and Sia covered the track. Meanwhile, Beyonce included her version on her 2024 Cowboy Carter album.

5. Here, There and Everywhere – 1966

This love ballad is among Paul’s favourites of all the songs he’s written because it is similar to the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows, which he cited as an inspiration for the track.

In 1990, he told biographer David Leaf that it’s “just the introduction” that’s influenced by the 60s rock band. He wrote it at John Lennon’s swimming pool in Weybridge while waiting for him to wake up.

With Paul, John, and George Harrison on the harmonies, the song opens up with: “To lead a better life, I need my love to be here,” in a fresh direction for the band.

“We were trying to emulate the openings of some of our favourite old songs that had a completely rambling preamble,” Paul explained in the recent lyrics book.

In a 2020 interview with Idris Elba, the singer said: “People normally asked me ‘What’s my most favourite song of my own?’ That’s kind of difficult. I think the one I kind of like the most is Here, There And Everywhere, I kind of think it’s got quite a good structure. It goes through and then comes back on itself and I just thought that’s gonna be quite a nice tune.”

4. Maybe I’m Amazed – 1970

This song was released following the end of The Beatles and featured on Paul’s debut solo album, titled McCartney. Although it was never turned into a single, he later performed it live with his later band, Wings.

Maybe I’m Amazed was also listed on their live album Wings over America in 1977, and this version became a top-ten hit in the United States and reached number 28 in the United Kingdom.

Paul originally wrote the song in 1969, just before the Beatles disbanded and credited his first wife and Wings band member Linda with helping him get through the difficult time.

In the book, McCartney The Lyrics, the star said the track “shows the fragility of love” in what he calls an “intense, interior conversation that’s going on in the song… the elements of fear and loneliness are very much to the fore. ‘Maybe I’m afraid of the way I love you’ is itself a troubling idea.”

3. Helter Skelter – 1968

In a complete contrast to their usual sound, this song was Paul’s attempt to create music as loud and dirty as possible and as a result, The Beatles are regarded as a pioneer in heavy metal as its key influence before the genre of rock music was developed in the 1970s.

As a result of its electric sound, the song was recorded several times during lengthy studio sessions in which drummer Ringo Starr famously shouted: “I’ve got blisters on my fingers.”

However, it wasn’t a huge favourite among their fans who are of the baby boomer generation. At the time, even disgraced cult leader Charles Manson shared his disdain for the song, as he interpreted it as a message predicting inter-racial war in the US.

The murderer persuaded his followers to believe that the Beatles spoke to him through their lyrics and turned it into his own twisted manifestation to kill.

2. Yesterday – 1965

Yesterday is one of Paul’s softly sung songs and was released in 1965 on the band’s fifth studio album, Help!. Its retrospective theme is about the breakdown of a romantic relationship where he laments over yesterday when he and his lover were together.

Paul is the only Beatles member to appear on the melancholic ballad, which became a huge hit and charted in the UK, peaking at number eight.

According to biographer Craig Cross, the entire melody came to Paul in a dream and upon waking, he hurried to a piano and played the tune to avoid forgetting it. However, he was initially concerned that he had subconsciously copied someone else’s work.

The icon recalled: “For about a month, I went round to people in the music business and asked them whether they had ever heard it before. Eventually, it became like handing something in to the police. I thought if no one claimed it after a few weeks, then I could have it.”

1. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End – 1969

The Beatles’ most famous medley takes the number one spot. It begins as a lullaby in which Paul promises, “Golden slumbers will fill your eyes.”

The song is then undisturbedly followed by Carry That Weight, which is recorded together as a single piece, beginning the progression that leads to the end of the album.

However, the track is then picked up as Paul lightens the mood with their single The End, with Ringo Starr’s incredible drum solo, before John, Paul, and George each take turns performing an electrifying solo.

The foursome perfectly showcased their skill in a bittersweet way as the final song featured on their last-ever recorded album together.