I can't just limit it down to one song, for starters. I'll try to narrow it down by era.
Early Beatles: She Loves You. Has that humming along optimistic quality that endeared them to the world, John's and Paul's voices harmonize beautifully, and also, the fact that the song advise to a friend to apologize to his beloved - as opposed to the standard of first person narration about lost love, won love, longing love etc - was fresh then and still isn't worn out now. (More on She Loves here.
Middle era: honestly, Eleanor Rigby. I mean, sometimes I'm not in the mood, but even then, it slays me, because it's so beautiful and stark, the use of strings is just right (go, George Martin!), and the lyrics manage to be surreal and poignant at the same time.
On the other end of the emotional scale: Paperback Writer. Beause it's hilarious. And, err, very recognizable, still.
Late Beatles: varies, but currently it's Don't Let Me Down. It has one of my favourite John Lennon vocals, it's raw, and the recorded live performance by itself justifies the existence of the Let it Be movie, miserable as it was to make for everyone involved, proving that even in a super tense atmosphere, the guys playing together was still magical and could trigger joy in each other.
(Also Let It Be, the song, itself, but that almost goes without saying.
Album: I'm totally unoriginal here, but: Abbey Road. Because Abbey Road. If there ever was a swan song to end all swan songs, it was this. And in the end....
The Other Days
Early Beatles: She Loves You. Has that humming along optimistic quality that endeared them to the world, John's and Paul's voices harmonize beautifully, and also, the fact that the song advise to a friend to apologize to his beloved - as opposed to the standard of first person narration about lost love, won love, longing love etc - was fresh then and still isn't worn out now. (More on She Loves here.
Middle era: honestly, Eleanor Rigby. I mean, sometimes I'm not in the mood, but even then, it slays me, because it's so beautiful and stark, the use of strings is just right (go, George Martin!), and the lyrics manage to be surreal and poignant at the same time.
On the other end of the emotional scale: Paperback Writer. Beause it's hilarious. And, err, very recognizable, still.
Late Beatles: varies, but currently it's Don't Let Me Down. It has one of my favourite John Lennon vocals, it's raw, and the recorded live performance by itself justifies the existence of the Let it Be movie, miserable as it was to make for everyone involved, proving that even in a super tense atmosphere, the guys playing together was still magical and could trigger joy in each other.
(Also Let It Be, the song, itself, but that almost goes without saying.
Album: I'm totally unoriginal here, but: Abbey Road. Because Abbey Road. If there ever was a swan song to end all swan songs, it was this. And in the end....
The Other Days