1965 rolls around and the competition really becomes fierce. Both bands step up the quality of their songwriting. My verdict on their pre-1965 years is that the Beach Boys did better "slow" songs while the Beatles did better "fast" songs.
Contest #5: Battle of the 1965 Wistful Woman Songs - "Please Let Me Wonder" vs "Girl"
Given the rapid rate in which rock/pop was changing during these years, it's almost unfair to compare an early '65 song to a late '65 song, but they're somewhat similar types and are within a year of each other, so here it goes anyway.
"Please Let Me Wonder" - recorded January 1965
"Girl" - recorded November 1965
As a footnote, according to the
Wiki article on "Girl":
Quote:
McCartney also stated that the song's backing vocals were influenced by the Beach Boys, he said:
Quote:
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“The Beach Boys had a song out where they'd done 'la la la' and we loved the innocence of that and wanted to copy it, but not use the same phrase"
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Can't figure out offhand what BB song that might have been. (EDIT 10/31/13: I have since learned the song McCartney was referring to was "You're So Good To Me" from
Summer Days (and Nights!))
My verdict: Girl, my favorite song for some 25 years until recently, has the better melody and feel in the verses. Please Let Me Wonder has a somewhat better refrain, but the melody in the verses isn't as good (though it's still pretty good). The mood change in the (instrumental) bridge also works really well. But "Girl" wins here for better consistency through the course of the song, though the BB song gives it a run for its money.
Cast your own vote!