What If These Beatles Songs Were Sung by a Different Frontman

The Beatles often made smart choices about who should sing each track. Most of their songs feel matched to the voice that performs them. Still, not every decision was perfect, and fans have long speculated how certain tracks might’ve sounded if sung by another member. Some songs seem written for one Beatle but ended up with someone else instead.

It’s fun to imagine what could’ve been—especially when it comes to songs that are either highly personal or don’t fully reflect the voice they were given. Here are three Beatles tracks that may have sounded even better with a different frontman behind the mic.

“Good Night”

“Good Night” sounds like something Paul McCartney could’ve written. It has that soft musical feel he was known for. But John Lennon actually wrote this song for his son Julian. Instead of singing it himself, Lennon gave it to Ringo Starr to perform. Starr did a good job with the lullaby, giving it a calm and soothing tone.

Still, it would have been interesting to hear Lennon’s own voice on such a personal track. The lyrics, “Now it’s time to say good night / Good night, sleep tight,” might have felt even more heartfelt if Lennon had sung them himself. McCartney wrote “Hey Jude” for Julian, and if Lennon had taken this one, it would have balanced that out with a song from Julian’s actual father. Lennon later wrote “Beautiful Boy” for his second son, Sean, but this could have been a touching moment much earlier in his songwriting.

“When I’m Sixty-Four”

This one is all McCartney, from the lyrics to the cheerful delivery. He sings it as a warm question about love lasting through old age. The line, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me / When I’m sixty-four?” sounds like it came straight from the heart.

But what if Ringo Starr had taken over? Starr had a playful way of singing, and this track could’ve turned into something more lighthearted. It might’ve sounded more like “Yellow Submarine” or “Octopus’s Garden”—songs with fun and charm. Many listeners, including Lennon, felt this tune was too sentimental. Giving it to Starr could’ve added humor and made it feel more relaxed, taking off some of the pressure to take it too seriously.

“Across the Universe”

“Across the Universe” carries a deep and dreamy vibe. Lennon’s voice gives it that calm, floating feel. The words are spiritual, and the chorus—”Jai guru deva om”—brings in the sound of Indian influence.

George Harrison didn’t write it, but it feels like something he could’ve sung during his more spiritual years. He explored Indian music and beliefs, and his voice could have brought another layer to this song. Lennon made it work, no doubt. Still, imagining Harrison’s thoughtful tone on this track opens up new possibilities. Harrison already had songs like “Within You Without You”—this could have fit alongside those.