The Collaborative Genius of Paul McCartney and John Lennon

Paul McCartney and John Lennon co-wrote around 180 songs together during their time in The Beatles. Their collaboration is one of the most famous and influential songwriting partnerships in music history, with many of their songs becoming iconic classics. The duos songwriting credits are typically attributed to 'Lennon/McCartney,' even when the roles were more nuanced.

Quantifying Collaboration: A Dilemma

This is impossible to quantify. There are the songs that they wrote eyeball to eyeball - tossing words and phrases back and forth. Then there are the songs which piecing together separate segments written separately but woven together. Then there are songs which are mainly John or mainly Paul but which involve a bridge or a middle eight or significant lyrical contributions from the other songwriting partner. And then there are songs which are almost entirely the work of John or Paul writing alone but which benefited enormously from a smile, a nod of affirmation from the other.

Even songs which are accepted as all Paul or all John were written with the foreknowledge that John or Paul would hear a version of it. Just knowing that Paul McCartney or John Lennon is going to judge your song puts you on your mettle a bit.

So the arithmetic of collaboration versus solo writing is ultimately impossible. While Lennon and McCartney are credited with co-writing 160 songs that the Beatles recorded on their 13 official studio albums and singles, the actual level of collaboration varied significantly from song to song.

Co-Writing 160 Iconic Hits

Lennon and McCartney are credited with co-writing 160 songs that the Beatles recorded on their 13 official studio albums and singles. It is generally regarded that Lennon and McCartney collaborated 50/50 on about 20 of them. These include songs they wrote eyeball to eyeball such as She Loves You and I Want to Hold Your Hand. And it includes songs that were created by taking parts of various unfinished songs by both of them and putting them together, such as A Day in the Life and We Can Work It Out.

Nuanced Contributions and Inspiration

The Lennon/McCartney partnership was not like any other. So forget to try to understand it. Besides, if not even them can remember well, let alone fans. I mean, John started this stupid idea of listing songs all by himself and by Paul. I heard it was bad Yoko influence that finished killing the Beatles. It was not enough to split them. It was also necessary to say John was much better a composer, and Lennon/McCartney was a myth. Sadly, some so-called fans bought this poison. But you see, Paul didn’t agree about all things John recalled. So not even them could answer this question.

Let us only enjoy Lennon/McCartney. They worked together in their own way. Sometimes it was only a single note Paul would add. A single word John would add. And they also were much inspired by each other. Many iconic Beatles songs are a testament to the synergy of their collaborative genius, blending their unique styles and bringing out the best in each other.

Conclusion

The collaborative genius of Paul McCartney and John Lennon is a source of inspiration for musicians and fans alike. Their dynamic partnership created some of the most memorable and influential songs in music history. While it is impossible to quantify their collaboration, the legacy of their work endures and continues to inspire new generations of music creators.