Daily Dirt: Worst Beatles’ song? How about ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’?

Most followers of rock music enjoy arguing about what the best Beatles songs are. Your favorite Minister of Culture also enjoys arguing about the worst Beatles songs. Welcome to Vol. 92 of the Daily Dirt:

1. Granted, the Beatles were an incredible band — maybe the best ever, who can really say? — but that doesn’t mean all of the group’s work was medal worthy. Here’s one critic’s choice (that would be me) for the worst Beatles songs among the group’s major releases:

• “Strawberry Fields Forever”: This song emerged from the Beatles’ “experimental period,” and there is little elbow room on how this piece is considered. You either love it, or hate it. Go with “B”.

• “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”: John Lennon insisted the song had nothing to do with LSD. Others disagreed. Either way, not one of the group’s best efforts.

• “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”: To me, the song is just a mess. I’m sure Beatles devotees will strongly disagree. 

OK, here are my favorite Beatles songs, too.

• “Twist and Shout”: One of John Lennon’s finest performances.

• “The Long and Winding Road”: The group’s final No. 1, in 1970. A great, great Paul McCartney vocal.

• “Day Tripper”: The perfect song to be released at the height of Beatlemania in the mid-1960s.

• “We Can Work It Out”: This song, plus “Twist and Shout,” were both simultaneously promoted as “A side” releases in late 1965, which of course was a year before J. Robert Gough was born.

• “Hello Goodbye”: This 1967 single was considered a throwback to their early years.

• “Back in the U.S.S.R.”: The first song on the White album, and Ringo Starr is not featured.

• “Revolution”: “Hey Jude” was the flip side. Amazing.

• “Yesterday”: This is the most-covered song in recording history. There are more than 2,200 versions out there.

• “Can’t Buy Me Love”: I always remember this song from the Beatles’ Saturday morning cartoon show on ABC.

2. The latest in our ongoing collection of disgusting things that are eaten around the world.

• Shirako: This is the sperm sac of a fish, dipped in tempura batter and deep fried. Deep frying must be the key.

• Chicken buttholes: Grilled chicken buttholes on a stick are popular in Taipei, Taiwan. Can’t wait until these find their way to the Golden Arches. Not.

• Maggot-filled cheese: This is considered a delicacy in Sardinia. Why? Simply, why?

3. Here’s something to chew on (no pun intended from the preceding item): During his Hall of Fame career, Mickey Mantle made $1.12 million. For his CAREER. How times have changed, eh? In comparison, the AVERAGE Major League Baseball contract in 2021 was $4.17 million. That’s for a SEASON.

Steve Fact O’ The Day

“Steve” in Portuguese is “Estevao.”