The Beatles
No, you’re wrong there.
There’s an argument to be made that Lennon has always been overrated. And his tragic death help ciment the myth.
Macca OTH, truly a musical genius.
Harrisson was good and anyone could have been in Ringo’s place.
Lennon was always more important than McCartney. He wrote his share of duds, but at his best he was better then McCartney ever was.
I think Lennon and McCartney made an equal contribution to the band. Maybe Lennon was more adventurous and pushed the envelope a bit more than Macca which is a reason why the hipsters might prefer Lennon over McCartney. I think Lennon's political posturing also added to his legend in the minds of many and in his time he was a cultural icon. I know Mick Jagger envied Lennon for that, but at the same time Lennon envied Mick Jagger's lifestyle. Mick said he used to send Lennon postcards from around the world while on his travels such as 'Having a great time in Bali, wish you were here', but Lennon wouldn't leave America because he feared they wouldn't let him back in.
What's your top twenty songs by the Beatles?
Both are great songwriters, no doubt, but as you said, Lennon pushed himself and the band. He pushed McCartney into being a better writer. Even early on Lennon was writing stuff like Help. I think John pushed them into making more creative music but unfortunately by the end his drug abuse hurt him and Paul was the driving force for the last few albums.
Top 20
1. Dear Prudence
2. Let it Be
3. Strawberry Fields
4. We Can Work it Out
5. A Day in the Life
6. Help
7. Don’t Let Me Down
8. Elanor Rigby
9. I Am the Walrus
10. Hard Days Night
11. Hey Jude
12. Happiness is a Warm Gun
13. Revolution
12. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
13. Golden Slumbers melody
14. Something
15. Love Me Do
16. Hello Goodbye
17. Lucy in the Sky
18. Across the Universe
19. Penny Lane
20. The Ballad of John and Yoko