Yoko Ono Shares Her Favorite Beatles Song and Album

Yoko Ono’s name is forever intertwined with The Beatles’ legacy, as she served as John Lennon’s muse and was alleged to be the cause of the band’s breakup. Despite these allegations being untrue, the media was eager to assign blame for the end of the Beatles era, and Yoko Ono became the focal point of this scrutiny.

During this time, Yoko often refrained from discussing anything related to The Beatles, fearing that her newfound peace would be disrupted once more.

However, she eventually became more forthcoming about the topic and even boldly addressed one of the most enduring questions in music: her favorite Beatles album and song.

And the late Lennon’s muse did not disappoint as she ultimately settled with the White Album as her favorite record while also naming “All You Need Is Love” as her favorite Beatles song.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love Pepper’s too”

In 2016, US Weekly featured Yoko Ono in their “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me” column, where she revealed her favorite album. 

“I don’t know if people will hate me for saying this, but I always preferred the White Album to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” the multimedia artist admitted. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Pepper’s too.”

The Beatles’ White Album held a special significance for Yoko as it marked her first involvement in their recording process. Additionally, her influence on John Lennon’s work became increasingly evident as he fearlessly dived into experimental music. 

However, Yoko’s choice of the White Album as her favorite likely stemmed from the memories of her and Lennon’s budding love, aside from its enduring status as a musical masterpiece.

“I’m glad they were saying all you need is love”

In a separate interview with The Telegraph in 2012, Yoko Ono revealed that her favorite Beatles song is “All You Need Is Love”. She expressed her appreciation for the message of the song, saying, “I’m glad they were saying all you need is love, not anything like all you need is money!” 

Yoko’s preference for “All You Need Is Love” aligns with the experimental nature shared by both The White Album and the song itself. The classic Beatles record features groundbreaking moments, including tracks like “Revolution 9” and “Helter Skelter”.

Meanwhile, “All You Need Is Love” is the sole psychedelic Beatles song to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100, with “Hello, Goodbye” possibly being the only exception.

Yoko Ono’s art has always been avant-garde, and she is particularly recognized for her unconventional singing style. It’s no surprise that she appreciates The Beatles’ willingness to think beyond traditional boundaries, as it resonates with her own artistic sensibilities.

The High Priestess of the Happening

Long before her renowned partnership with John Lennon, Yoko Ono held the title of “High Priestess of the Happening” and a pioneering figure in the realm of performance art. Drawing inspiration from various sources, ranging from Zen Buddhism to Dadaism, her works were among the earliest and most audacious expressions of this movement. 

With an unprecedented level of radicalism, she challenged the conventional notion that artwork must be a tangible object. Many of her creations simply consisted of sets of instructions. For instance, in her 1963 piece titled “Cloud Piece”, she directed people to envision digging a hole in the garden and placing clouds within it.

Yoko Ono faced the significant challenge of maintaining her visibility as an artist, distinct from her role as the wife of a rock star. At times, the intrusive presence of the media even hindered her creative work. 

Remarkably, however, she persevered, sustaining a career that had already been well-established before Lennon entered the picture. Her independent artistic journey deserves recognition and admiration in its own right.