(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
George Harrison - "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)"
Hit Number 1: June 30, 1973
Stay at Number 1: 1 Week
This is how popular the Beatles were. Following their breakup in 1970, the four members went their separate ways, and each of them found success with solo careers. But the crazy part is that all four of them changed in a way, and still managed to be present on the pop charts. Paul McCartney became an experimental music genius, constantly cranking out hits, John Lennon became somewhat of a hippie, but wrote some of the most brilliantly written songs ever, and Ringo Starr, in grand Ringo Starr fashion, became more of a comedian than a musician, and put out mediocre songs that became hits of course. The four of them would all find #1 at least twice in their solo music careers. But George Harrison was the most intriguing case. He straight up abandoned everything he was while he was with the Beatles and turned to Hinduism, which often inspired his songs early on in his music career.
Harrison's newfound embracing of Hinduism was apparent on his song "My Sweet Lord". It was at least obvious that he became religious in some regard. "My Sweet Lord" was a call to the Hindu God of Krishna, about how he wants to see him but it "takes so long." Harrison's second #1 song, "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)", also relays a simple message regarding Harrison's relationship with God, except where "My Sweet Lord" was praising, "Give Me Love" commands. Harrison wants God to give him peace, but he also wants to be free from karma and reincarnation. Harrison has said before that "Give Me Love", similarly to "My Sweet Lord", was a one-on-one talk from him to God. He said the song is a personal prayer between him, the Lord and whoever likes the song.
"Give Me Love", though, seems brighter than "My Sweet Lord", which is one of the few differences between the two songs. It's definitely repetitive, repeating the same verse over and over, but Harrison throws in some fun guitar slides, which is a Harrison signature. Though the song is repetitive, Harrison finds new ways to deliver the one verse, and along with his guitar work, it keeps the song from getting boring. In fact, I personally like "Give Me Love" a tick more than "My Sweet Lord". Harrison sounds a lot more connected with God on this song, and overall it's an easier one to find yourself getting into. It's also easy to imagine Harrison not caring if "Give Me Love" never became a hit, as I think his only care was finding new ways to connect with God. He sounds lost in his song, which is the best way to sound for a song like this.
Harrison's stardom in the early '70s just shows how crazy popular these Beatles artists were in their solo careers. It's hard to imagine someone else writing songs about their own religious beliefs and getting to #1 twice with them, but that's exactly what Harrison accomplished. In my opinion, the only great songs the solo Beatles released were a handful of McCartney songs as well as Lennon's Double Fantasy releases in 1980. (One of those Double Fantasy songs will eventually appear in this blog) On a funny note, when "Give Me Love" hit #1, it knocked Paul McCartney's "My Love" out of the #1 spot, which is the only time where two of the Beatles had back-to-back #1 hits during their solo careers. But whether you're a huge fan of the religious Harrison songs or not, you have to admit that there's a likeable, cheery quality to "Give Me Love" that's hard not to at least appreciate.
GRADE: 7/10
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