Why George Harrison Was The Coolest Beatle | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why George Harrison Was The Coolest Beatle

It was always about Macca vs. Lennon, but here's why Harrison was unfairly overlooked

8129
Why George Harrison Was The Coolest Beatle
Robert Whitaker

The Beatles are simply the greatest band to ever grace this earth. In addition, they are undeniably the most influential artists in the history of modern, popular music. If you don't agree, you're either lying, wrong or probably haven't heard enough of their discography.

All four band members are unique and talented in their own way, which is definitely something that cannot be said of every great band. However, something needs to be said which may not be the most popular opinion among Beatles' fans. George Harrison's abilities and contributions to the group have been criminally underrated. I'd go even further and say that he is, by far, my favorite Beatle and the coolest of the fab four. Here are 10 reasons to appreciate the overlooked brilliance of George Harrison, the Beatles' lead guitarist.

1. He had the best style and fashion sense.

George was clearly the best dressed and most stylish member of the band. His wonderful wardrobe consisted of everything from classic staples like black turtleneck sweaters and patterned blazers to new fashion statements like double denim and colorful printed shirts. Also, let's not forget that he was very easy on the eyes, especially compared to the other members of the group.

2. He was very witty and charming.

Harrison was known as being very quick-witted and he always had the best one-liners. One of his most famous lines was when he broke the ice with producer, George Martin. Martin told the young group, "I've laid into you for quite a long time. You haven't responded. Is there anything you don't like?" Harrison responded with some cheeky British humor. He said, "Well, for a start. I don't like your tie."

3. He was the quiet Beatle, which made him more interesting.

I know it sounds like a cliche, but it's so true. Often the most interesting artists are the ones that are introverted and ones that spend most of their time living inside their brilliant minds. People like Morrissey and Ian Curtis proved that having a more reclusive side only amplified their mythical status.

4. He wrote some of the best Beatles' songs.

Songs that he wrote like "Here Comes The Sun," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Something" are classic Beatles' tunes, whether you're a huge fan of George or not. In fact, those are some of my favorite Beatles' tracks. Also, there were some lesser-known ones that he wrote, which were still just as brilliant like the guitar-heavy "Taxman" and the Indian-influenced "Within You Without You."

5. He wasn't as cheesy as Paul, as crazy as John, and he was far more complex than Ringo.

As great as Paul McCartney was, you can't deny that his songwriting tends to be a little too much on the corny side. John Lennon, on the other hand, was very cool and rough around the edges, but once he met Yoko, it's pretty clear that he went a bit mad. Lastly, Ringo was, well, Ringo. He was extremely likable and sort of the class clown of the band, but he hardly ever got his own songs on their records and he was never really as deep or interesting as the others. George, however, had a mix of everything. He had a soft side, he was cool, he was funny, but most importantly, he was a complex guy.

6. He was caught in between the egos of Paul and John, and you can't help but feel sorry for him.

George struggled to get his own songs onto the band's albums, even though he had plenty of his own material. The majority of the songs in the band's discography were credited to Lennon and McCartney, which irked Harrison, who just wanted a piece of the action. To make matters worse, Paul often took the role of lead guitar away from George because he became increasingly impatient with him, even if it was on a song that George had written.

7. He brought that super cool 12-string guitar into the mix.

George Harrison's 1963 12-string Rickenbacker guitar was one of the band's secret weapons that helped them revolutionize their sound. In fact, his guitar was only the second 12-string guitar that Rickenbacker ever made. Songs like "Ticket To Ride," "What You're Doing" and "You Can't Do That" were forever changed by that chimey, bright guitar sound that only comes from a 12-string.

8. He brought a wide array of influences to the band like Bob Dylan, The Byrds and sitar master, Ravi Shankar.

Harrison was probably the most experimental member of the group in terms of bringing new sounds to the table. He brought the influence of Bob Dylan and The Byrds to albums like "Beatles For Sale"and "Help!" He also brought the sound of Indian instruments and the influence of Ravi Shankar to albums like "Rubber Soul," "Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

9. He did a massive amount of charity work including many charity concerts.

Harrison founded his own charity foundation in 1973 called The Material World Charitable Foundation to help anti-war efforts and to help promote messages of spirituality and culture. He did many charity concerts, as well, over the years including his famous Concert for Bangladesh, which included appearances by Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton.

10. He had the best post-Beatle career out of the fab four.

Most critics and fans agree that the best post-Beatle album was Harrison's debut solo release, which came out in 1970. It was a triple LP titled "All Things Must Pass," and included hits such as the title track, "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life." It appeared that Harrison finally was able to prove himself as an equal to that of Lennon and McCartney, a feat that was long overdue.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189465
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14445
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457489
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26436
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments