Bob Dylan’s Favourite Beatles Song: “Their Chords Were Outrageous”

The Beatles’ rise in the early 1960s wasn’t just another success story — it was a cultural shift. Emerging as a pop sensation, they quickly evolved into one of the most influential and innovative bands in history. Their music spanned joyous anthems, bold experimentation, and raw emotional depth.

One of the key figures who helped nudge The Beatles toward greater artistic ambition was Bob Dylan. Coming from the Greenwich Village folk scene, Dylan was already a generational voice when he first met the Fab Four. That meeting sparked a creative exchange: Dylan encouraged the group to infuse pop music with personal, meaningful lyrics.

How Dylan Shaped the Beatles’ Songwriting

Before Dylan, much of The Beatles’ catalogue revolved around love songs. After their encounter, John Lennon began incorporating storytelling and introspection into his writing — what he later called his “Dylan period.” This shift can be heard on tracks like “Norwegian Wood,” where narrative detail replaced simple romantic sentiment.

Though Dylan had a complex relationship with Lennon, his admiration for the band never waned. He especially connected with George Harrison, later joining him in the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys.

The Surprising Choice: “I Want to Hold Your Hand”

When asked by NME to pick his favourite Beatles song, Dylan didn’t choose one of their deeper or more experimental works. Instead, he named “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, the upbeat 1963 hit that helped ignite Beatlemania in America.

Explaining his choice, Dylan praised the song’s bold musicality:

“They were doing things nobody was doing. Their chords were outrageous, just outrageous, and their harmonies made it all valid… I knew they were pointing the direction of where music had to go.”

A Song That Changed the Game

Written by Lennon and McCartney in the basement of Jane Asher’s London home, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” emerged from their close, almost face-to-face collaboration. McCartney recalled:

“We were in Jane Asher’s house, downstairs in the cellar playing on the piano at the same time. And we had, ‘Oh you-u-u… got that something…’ And Paul hits this chord, and I turn to him and say, ‘That’s it!’”

Released in late 1963, the single became The Beatles’ first U.S. number one and their passport to global fame. While technically simpler than their later work, its energy, hooks, and harmonies proved irresistible — even to a songwriting craftsman like Dylan.

Why Dylan’s Pick Still Resonates

For Dylan, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was more than just a catchy tune. It was a signpost, a signal that pop music could evolve beyond its existing formulas. The Beatles’ fearless chord changes and tight harmonies hinted at a new era — one that Dylan himself would help define.