The Beatles Were All Legends—But One Member Quietly Stood Above the Rest

Indeed, Ringo didn’t have a flashy style. His drumming in the band was the perfect backdrop for the sweet melodies that John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were putting forward. Ringo’s talent lies in complementing the parts of the song that were at the focus, which were more often than not lyrics that told a story. The narrative focus meant the rhythm could sit tightly as a supporting figure, giving melodies the perfect platform to shine, which they wouldn’t have done had they been overshadowed. This isn’t to say that this was a default for Ringo. The drummer showed incredible flair in his creative decision for the beat of “Come Together.” Ringo played a drum line that was very unusual for the time, quickly making the song a revolutionary anthem. He treated the drum kit almost as a melodic instrument throughout the verses, filling the sonic field in a way that had never been done before.

Ringo’s other contribution, “Don’t Pass Me By”, sounds lighthearted and cheeky, almost circus-like, in its musicality. But the song is anything but that. Ringo sings in worry about losing the one he loves in a series of events, singing “Don’t pass me by, don’t make me sad, don’t make me blue / ‘cause you know darling, I love only you”. His two songs are fictional adventures that explore feelings of comfort and the safety of being loved. The sincerity of the lyrics in combination with the joyful, youthful-sounding instrumentation is the perfect contrast to one another to result in accessible songs expressing the simplicity of being tender and earnest.

His humble charm and quick wit actually defined the Beatles. He stuck to who he was and what the Beatles were without the need to develop frivolous traits. His animated presence is one of the only things that the Beatles managed to keep constant throughout their existence, which, in many ways, makes him the leader of the band. It’s important to remember that serious doesn’t always mean better, especially in music that credits itself as being cheeky and fun. Similarly, lighthearted doesn’t entail a sense of a song being underdone, or warrant any mockery. But Ringo could handle it, of course.

Source: collider.com/Fiona MacPherson-Amador