Elvis Presley and The Beatles were two of the biggest names in the music industry, but the two were not exactly friendly with one another. While The Beatles idolized Elvis during their younger years, he did not return the sentiment. As their fame grew, Elvis considered them a threat rather than fellow artists.
By the 1970s, he even called them bad role models for young Americans. However, in spite of his rivalry with the group, not only did he perform some of their songs in his acts, but there was one Beatle he secretly liked and believed had a magic for music.
George Harrison was Elvis’ favorite Beatle – here’s why
Of all the Beatles, Elvis liked George Harrison the most. The “Quiet Beatle,” George was quieter than John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but he told a story with his writing. Elvis enjoyed his music best and thought George was the strongest songwriter in the band.
His favorite songs were not the massive Lennon-McCartney hits but four songs written by Harrison which were “Something,” “For You Blue,” “I Need You,” and “It’s All Too Much.” These songs had a personal and emotional feel to them that appeared to resonate with Elvis on a level the others did not. This might have been what set him apart in Elvis’ mind.
George Harrison wrote some of those songs for his ex-wife
The majority of the songs Elvis adored had an emotional backstory. George wrote “I Need You” in 1965 for the Help! Album by The Beatles, soon after marrying supermodel Pattie Boyd. The song was his promise of love to her, a promise that he would never leave her.
Their romance, like so many in the life of rock and roll, did not last, but it left a legacy of beautiful songs. “Something,” one of the most beautiful love songs The Beatles ever recorded, was also written for Pattie. She recalled later how George casually informed her that the song was about her, noting that it was a careless comment for such a powerful love song.