Music · Vocal work
Falsetto
A vocalist sings in the light, breathy upper register above their natural chest-voice range
8
songs
Eight recordings have it, across almost the whole of the band's recording life, 1963 to 1970. 'From Me to You' is the earliest and 'Across the Universe' the last. Two of them are 'She Loves You' (shaking-head 'ooh' - visual Beatles signature) and 'Hold Me Tight', and John sings seven of the eight. It goes quiet after 1966 and comes back in 1969 for 'Across the Universe (Wildlife version)'. John takes the lead on five of the eight, one for Paul, and the two of them together on two. Lennon wrote seven of the eight, such as 'I'm Only Sleeping' and 'Tell Me Why', 7% of his songs against 3% of McCartney's. On 'When I Get Home': opening 'Woah-I' passages. On 'Tell Me Why': bridge climax and recurring as a leitmotif. Among them, 'From Me to You' carries Hohner Echo Vamper as well, which only two of their recordings do.
See alsoVocal work:Vocal harmoniesVocal work:Ooh vocalsVocal work:Two-part harmonyLyric shape:[WORD] gonna [VERB] my [NOUN]Chord literal:A7 → D → BmLyric shape:gonna [VERB] my [NOUN]Lyric shape:[WORD] gonna [VERB]Chord shape:C → Am → Em → G
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'Across the Universe (Wildlife version)' (1969) is the last of the 8 Beatles songs to use Falsetto.
Analysis
By Year
Song count per year
By Songwriter
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
By Era
Early5 · 63%
Mid-period1 · 13%
Late2 · 25%
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Songs(8)
Year
Album
Writer
Lead vocal(s)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | From Me to You | 1963 | Past Masters | John, Paul | 'Ooh' falsetto leaps in bridge |
| 2 | She Loves You | 1963 | Past Masters | Paul, John | Shaking-head 'ooh' - visual Beatles signature |
| 3 | Hold Me Tight | 1963 | With The Beatles | Paul | McCartney high notes on 'It's you' |
| 4 | Tell Me Why | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | Bridge climax; recurring as a leitmotif |
| 5 | When I Get Home | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | Opening 'Woah-I' passages |
| 6 | I'm Only Sleeping | 1966 | Revolver | John | Backing vocals |
| 7 | Across the Universe (Wildlife version) | 1969 | Past Masters | John | Backing vocals |
| 8 | Across the Universe | 1970 | Let It Be | John | Backing vocals |
From Me to You
1963·Past Masters·John
'Ooh' falsetto leaps in bridge
She Loves You
1963·Past Masters·Paul
Shaking-head 'ooh' - visual Beatles signature
Hold Me Tight
1963·With The Beatles·Paul
McCartney high notes on 'It's you'
Tell Me Why
1964·A Hard Day's Night·John
Bridge climax; recurring as a leitmotif
When I Get Home
1964·A Hard Day's Night·John
Opening 'Woah-I' passages
I'm Only Sleeping
1966·Revolver·John
Backing vocals
Across the Universe (Wildlife version)
1969·Past Masters·John
Backing vocals
Across the Universe
1970·Let It Be·John
Backing vocals
Updated