John Lennon hated their popular hit single 'twist and shout'

The Beatles' track, 'Twist and shout,' reached the number two slot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, only to be surpassed by another Beatles hit record, 'Can't Buy Me Love.'Why, therefore, did John Lennon, the lead singer and founder of The Beatles, first dislike the song?

Although the song became a fan favorite, it did not come from the British Four Member Rock Boy Band. Each of the previous two years saw the creation of two variants. Top Notes, a Philadelphia-based R&B duo comprised of Derek Martin and Howard 'Howie' Guyton, recorded the original version in 1961. Let's watch this video to learn more and then let me know what you think.

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[ovalvox]

Twist and Shout for it’s time was hard core rock and roll. John and the Beatles belted it out. It was as rough and raw as anything the Kinks or Stones did in 1963. The Beatles just did it better like everything else.

[pocopico]

I was a young boy when the Beatles became popular, and the first time I heard Twist and Shout on the radio, I knew I had to have that record. I had never heard any one “scream-sing” like that, and I was totally mesmerized by it. I knew something was different about that whole album because all their voices were different than on the rest of their albums. In the United States, the album was called “Introducing the Beatles, ” but I think everywhere else it was “Please Please Me”. Little did I know that John was sick and all of their voices were ragged after George Martin had them sing everything they knew all day long. That whole album was recorded in one day. You would never see such a thing nowadays.

[yurdp]

It was John’s depleted energy from 12hrs of singing that made the song what it was. Those slips and strain are what the song calls for.

[Peter]

Put a microphone in front of John and he'd have an opinion. An hour later and he'd have a different opinion about the same thing. John was like the weather in England, rain followed by sun and then some rain again.

[virginiapicker]

It's kind of astounding that John was so talented, yet had no idea which Beatles' songs were really good.

[bobtaylor]

PLEASE don't ever refer to The Beatles as a "boy band." My Lord. They were a "boy band" like Sinatra was a karaoke singer.

[luishumbertovega]

I do not register 'hate' as a word used by John in reference to Twist & Shout. Yes, it was difficult for him to sing it at the end of that grueling recording session, but saying he 'hated' the song is not correct. Another case of calling attention using false terms.

[jamesdrynan]

Most of the disparaging remarks Lennon had about Beatles' tracks were from a 1980 interview. Reporters who spread these negative nuggets were delighted to criticize the band's music. However, time and taste wait for no man. It's all wonderful now!

[jhberg]

Absolute classic..still played at most weddings I work

[natfoote]

It was a good thing they were all such very different people. It led to a short life for the band but it meant they had something for everybody and every mood; including romantic, political, philosophical, and gritty.

[Chris-isxb]

In many ways John was a child. I don't mean that as a shot but he had no mother (to speak of) which created alot of insecurity inside of him.

Paul was hands-down the most talented musician in the band and as their time as Beatles went on and John realized that it's my humble opinion that he had a hard time dealing with it. All those songs mentioned, I always considered a shinning example of their brilliant diversity.

[timrobinson]

I always heard it was done in 1 take and begged to do another but his voice was gone by then. Lennon also said if he could have had his own way he would have changed EVERY Beatles song in their library. And last yes please stop calling the Beatles a boy band it sounds very insulting to the greatest rock band of all time

[HenryBloggit]

I like John’s gravelly voice on that track.

[rockit]

I disagree with Lennon. He did a powerhouse job on it. It the Beatles greatest cover song. John's criticisms of the band are not warranted. I think he just liked to bitch.

[michaelepp]

One of the best lead vocals in rock n roll history.

[davidg]

Twist and Shout was a popular 'party/dance song' back then-Usually the high point of any kids (13-18 y.o) party. at the time. The Beatles COVERED it to take advantage of that fact.

[yvansilva]

Incredible how one of the Beatles favourite party hits today was done in one take, the last song at the session when John was losing his voice. And obviously he gave the maximum. Super iconic for its natural overdrive vocals! Imagine John watching this result 50 years later. RIP John Lennon Legend

[hebneh]

When “Twist and Shout” became a Beatles hit in the US in early 1964, the actual Twist dance itself was completely out of style and no kids were doing it anymore. But anything by the Beatles was pretty much a hit at that particular moment regardless.

[ianhale]

John is so hard on his voice but the things that where bothering him became what created grunge really, I love his singing in this song, 63, the first rock yell

[davidm]

So many things misrepresented in this video. First of all, he clearly didn’t hate the song, just wishes he didn’t have a cold the day it was recorded, which impacted his vocal performance. The song was recorded in 1963 but wasn’t a billboard hit until 1964 when the Beatles came to America. The clips of them on the studio are all from the late 60s not the early 60s. The list goes on.