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Friday Coffee Break: What is "Beatle-esque"?

Posted at 7:31 AM on April 23, 2010 by Steve Seel (52 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

A hat-tip goes out to our friend Adam Levy of The Honeydogs today, who initiated a conversation recently about songs that aren't by The Beatles, but nevertheless sound like they could have been. You hear the term all the time, but what exactly does it mean to sound "Beatle-esque"? Presumably, there's some pretty huge melodic hooks, possibly some guitar jangle, and (depending on the Beatles era), maybe some psychedelia too. But by and large, it's a "you-know-it-when-you-hear-it" quality. So, for today's 9:30 Coffee Break: What are some songs that sound like they could have been Beatle songs, but were written and performed by somebody else?

Comments (52)

I've always thought that "Theologians" by Wilco sounded like a long lost Beatles track, remixed for the 2000s.

Posted by Jess Holm | April 23, 2010 8:24 AM

"Lies" by the Knickerbockers fooled me, a diehard Beatles fan.

Posted by Anne | April 23, 2010 8:26 AM

Say Please, Monsters of Folk

Posted by Colin Kelly | April 23, 2010 8:28 AM

Spoon - The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine

Posted by Sara | April 23, 2010 8:29 AM

XTC's pet project - The Dukes of Stratosphere. The entire album sounds like a new Beatles record.

Posted by ken Edmondson | April 23, 2010 8:30 AM

"Come And Get It" by Badfinger is an obvious choice.

Posted by kNoizy | April 23, 2010 8:38 AM

The Bangles had their share of Beatlesque tunes... maybe "Hero Takes A Fall" or "If She Knew What She Wants"?

Posted by IndyR | April 23, 2010 8:47 AM

I agree with Sara about Spoon. I remember that the first time I heard a Spoon song, while listening to a CMJ cd, I heard the Beatles. It's killing me to be sitting at work because I'd love to sift through those old cds to see if I could find it. I think it might have been "Lines in the Suit." Maybe.

Posted by kristine | April 23, 2010 8:47 AM

She's Electric by Oasis
and most songs by Apples in Stereo

Posted by Beth Anne | April 23, 2010 8:47 AM

I always thought "Look what you've done" by Jet sounded fairly Beatle-esque.

Posted by Sara | April 23, 2010 8:54 AM

"Who Loves The Sun" by The Velvet Underground

Posted by Phill | April 23, 2010 8:54 AM

"Timothy" by Jet has a real Beatles vibe to the beginning, and then just rocks out the end of the song.

Posted by Dan | April 23, 2010 8:55 AM

Dave Clark 5 - Because

For years I thought this WAS the Beatles!

Posted by Eric | April 23, 2010 8:56 AM

I feel like most Dr. Dog songs are pretty Beatles-esque, specifically some tracks like "Ain't it Strange"

Posted by Will | April 23, 2010 8:56 AM

I'm gonna go with an Oasis song too: "Digsy's Diner" from Definitely Maybe.

Posted by Nick | April 23, 2010 8:57 AM

"Exactly Where I'm At" by Ween, or anything from Ween's "White Pepper" album

Posted by Mike Powers | April 23, 2010 8:58 AM

Colorful Revolution by The Redwalls.

Posted by Aaron | April 23, 2010 8:58 AM

"She's a Rainbow"- The Rolling Stones. Except for the distinct vocals, it could pass for Beatles.

Posted by Justin | April 23, 2010 8:59 AM

OASIS - almost anything... I'll second She's Electric for Beth Anne.

Did Klaatu really sound like the Beatles? Somebody must have thought so at the time.

Posted by dtdude | April 23, 2010 9:00 AM

I have always felt the Monkees were blatant Beatle wannabes.

Posted by Bobby | April 23, 2010 9:00 AM

Anything from the The Aliens. The Beta Band, Dry the Rain or anything from Hot Shots 2.

Posted by Josh | April 23, 2010 9:03 AM

Anything by Dr. Dog. Mostly the Easy Beat, Fate or Shame Shame stuff. Thanks.

Posted by Brian Suerth | April 23, 2010 9:03 AM

"Sowing the seeds of love", by Tears for Fears has a very beatle-esque feel. Also, anything by the Apple band Badfinger - "No Matter What", "Baby Blue", "Day After Day" are all good songs.

Posted by steve-o | April 23, 2010 9:08 AM

Definitely She's Electric, Oasis always mentions how much they are(were) influenced by the beatles. Also, I think Coldplay sounds a bit beatlesque, although not lyrically. Strawberry Swing could be a modern Beatles song (maybe)!

Posted by Liz | April 23, 2010 9:09 AM

Either "Tattva" by Kula Shaker, or "Number 1's'" by the Push Kings.

Posted by Thejewishdream | April 23, 2010 9:12 AM

Electric Light Orchestra made some of the most shameless examples of wannabe Beatle music.

Hoodoo Gurus made some para-Beatles music back in the day.

And I agree with the abovementioned Dukes of the Stratosphere record.

Posted by Greg | April 23, 2010 9:14 AM

You Never Know by Wilco has a blatant guitar riff from My Sweet Lord, which although not a beatles song, still fits.

Posted by Sara | April 23, 2010 9:14 AM

Aimee Mann's "I'm With Stupid" is very Beatles-inspired. And since I don't have it on my work iPod, I'd love to hear it again!

Posted by Jen | April 23, 2010 9:14 AM

Son of Sam - Elliot Smith
A Kiss is not a Contract - Flight of the Conchords

Posted by Christian | April 23, 2010 9:16 AM

Just found this Dave Clark Five video. Totally Beatles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7mhZjQbv4s

Posted by Eric | April 23, 2010 9:18 AM

40 day dream by edward sharpe & the magnetic zeroes all the way

Posted by Macklin Caruso | April 23, 2010 9:18 AM

A Band Of Bees — Who Cares What The Question Is

Department Of Eagles — No One Does It Like You

The White Stripes — Apple Blossom

Posted by Jared | April 23, 2010 9:19 AM

Beatle-esque to me has that special guitar sound, or a catchy tune that you are singing along with by the end of the song, even if you've never heard it before.

"Come And Get It" by Badfinger
"I'm a Wheel" by Wilco
"Not The Girl You Think You Are" by Crowded House
"We're Going To Be Friends" by White Stripes"

Posted by Clarissa | April 23, 2010 9:19 AM

ELO - Mr. Blue Sky

next time Prince-esque!

Posted by Christian | April 23, 2010 9:23 AM

My favorite Beatle-esque song:
All The Young Dudes - by David Bowie, as performed by Mott the Hoople.

Posted by Dan | April 23, 2010 9:26 AM

The ugly stepsister (and my favorite song) from XTC's "Skylarking" -
"Sacrificial Bonfire".

Posted by Kevin Dutcher | April 23, 2010 9:28 AM

Anything by Julian Lennon, but especially "Day After Day" on Photograph Smile.

Posted by Shane | April 23, 2010 9:28 AM

Something in the Air by Petty

Posted by jon | April 23, 2010 9:28 AM

Vince the Loveable Stoner - The Fratellis

Posted by Joy Z | April 23, 2010 9:29 AM

It would be pretty funny to do a song by the Monkees, actually:

Auntie Grizelda

Posted by Christian | April 23, 2010 9:29 AM

All Kinds by Dan Wilson.

I mean, look at him. I love me some Dan Wilson, but you can tell he wants to be a Beatle.

Posted by Mike in St Paul | April 23, 2010 9:30 AM

P.S. Steve & Jill, that OK Go song, WTF, is in
"5-4" time. I love it!

Posted by Clarissa | April 23, 2010 9:30 AM

the rutles!

Posted by beth | April 23, 2010 9:31 AM

Any number of Trip Shakespeare songs... If you Miss Me would be great to hear.

Posted by elaine - not harris | April 23, 2010 9:32 AM

Oh, and I always thought "Baby's Coming Back" by Jellyfish was Beatles-esque. Can we now discuss whether it should be "Beatles-esque" or "Beatle-esque" or "Beatl-esque?"

Posted by kristine | April 23, 2010 9:33 AM

I am thinking FEILD MUSIC or TEARs for FEARs ... TFFs: "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending"

Posted by Chad V | April 23, 2010 9:33 AM

"Don't Take My Sunshine Away" - Sparklehorse
"Memory Lane"- Elliott Smith
"The Ark"- Dr. Dog

Posted by Rachel Ahrndt | April 23, 2010 9:35 AM

There are a couple songs on Jeremy Messersmith's new album that have definite Beatle tinges. I think Repo Man and Lazy Bones were the two that stood out.

Posted by Jess | April 23, 2010 9:41 AM

ELO - Bluebird is Dead

Posted by Sarah | April 23, 2010 9:50 AM

I think Eleanor Put Your Boots Back On By Franz Ferdinand sounds just like it could be song by Paul.

Posted by Lizzie | April 23, 2010 9:53 AM

Does anyone still have that first Klaatu album?

Posted by LP | April 23, 2010 9:57 AM

Eleanor Put Your Boots Back On By Franz Ferdinand. Totally could be Paul.

Posted by Lizzie | April 23, 2010 9:57 AM

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