The Beatles World Cup

The Best... Source of Information

Wed, 03 May 2023 19:00:00 +1200

How do you like your Beatles facts? Exquisitely researched in minute detail? In one-sided Anthology form? Or 8 hours long and counting? This week, we're looking at the best sources of Beatles information on offer, in any format (semi-weekly antipodean head-to-head podcasts not included)

The Best... Non-Standard Instrument

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +1200

We're back... again!

This week: The Best Use of Non-Standard Instrument. Forget your guitars and drums and pianos - this is all about the beautiful, the obscure or the downright odd instruments that have turned up in Beatles tracks.

And yes, the recorder gets a mention.

The Best... Ringo-centric Song

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 19:00:00 +1300

Don't pass this one by! It's all about Ringo this week, as we work out which Ringo-centric Beatles song is the best of all. We'll act naturally as we dive into a strange bouquet of deeply sonorous musical oddities, but which one will we drum up support for?... Yup, that's all we got.

The Best... Album Cover

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +1300

Our Best of specials continue this week with a deep dive into the best Beatles album cover of all time. From photos to drawings, collages to single shots, psychedelia to.. well... nothing! 12 to choose from, only one can win... unless of course two do, as let's face it, Jono and Rob’s favourites rarely align!

The Best... Opening Track

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +1300

We're back! After an epic 51 heats, and a wee lie down for a few months, Jono & Rob are back with a special series celebrating the best of the best of the Beatles.

This week, the best opening track of a Beatles album. From I Saw Her Standing There to Two of Us and all the bangers in between, we put our patented ranking system into action to work out the winner.

Best start listening!

The Redemption Episode

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +1300

64 Beatles tracks are through to the knockout rounds of The Beatles World Cup ... but there's just time for a quick revisit of our choices, and the opportunity to right some wrongs and wrong some rights. Rob & Jono each pick a song to bring back, but also a song currently on the list to consign to the dustbin. And in true Power to the People, listeners get to as well! Do we redeem ourselves and atone for past sins? Find out over 17 minutes!

Heat 51 - The End Of The Beginning

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +1300

It's here - the final heat of The Beatles World Cup, where we find the final of our 64 tracks that will be going through to the next round. And it's a doozy, as Let It Be and Hey Jude go head to head. It gets deep, it gets emotional, but we remember to talk about Please Mr Postman too. Plus all the news about what happens next, and how you can help us pick a winner!

Heat 50 - We'll Never Walk Down Lime Street Anymore

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +1300

It's our 50th heat and the penultimate one, as we race towards the end of the epic first round of The Beatles World Cup. This week, three very random tracks are on the block: All I've Got to Do, Matchbox and Maggie Mae. And if those don't excite you, just wait till you hear what we draw out at the end...

Heat 49 - Train Ticket to Ryde

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +1300

You go for weeks without many real Beatles classics coming along, and then three turn up at once! It's getting tougher towards the end, as this week I Want To Hold Your Hand, Ticket to Ride and I Saw Her Standing There are put forward. Two must fall, so that one may live. Pray for us.

Heat 48 - Jukebox Cafe Fantasy (or A Bit of W*nk)

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +1300

The first of our three track heats, as A Taste of Honey, Do You Want to Know a Secret and Not a Second Time compete in this grand charade. One features in Doctor Who, one features in Doctor Sleep, and one doesn't even sound like the Beatles. But which is which, and which one is a winner?

Heat 47 - What Rhymes With More?

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +1300

We've come to the last of our 4-track heats, as All Together Now, Anna (Go To Him), Dizzy Miss Lizzy and It Won't Be Long go head to head to compete for supremacy and the chance to continue as a potential GOAT contender. More exciting than Beatles in a pram (which also features).

Heat 46 - Three 'I's in One Breath

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +1300

A very internally focused but delightful bunch of songs this week, as we round the final straight of heats. We choose from I'm a Loser, I've Just Seen A Face, Octopus's Garden and I'll Follow The Sun. Note: we're not who we appear to be...

Heat 45 - 45... 45... 45... 45...

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:00:00 +1300

Misogyny! Death Threats! The Watusi! Jeff Lynne! This week's songs have it all! Join our wacky lineup of tracks as Run For Your Life, Revolution #9, If I Needed Someone and Free As A Bird take each other on. Right? RIGHT!

Heat 44 - Can't You See it's Too Much?

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +1300

Still reeling from last week's double classic takedown, this week we're back to quirky mix territory, with a ragtag bunch of oddities, curios, covers and harmonicas. Listen with interest as It's All Too Much, Words of Love, I Should Have Known Better, and The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill go up against each other - one goes on, three go down.

Heat 43 - Crocs & Scotch in an Airport Bar

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +1200

Well f**k... that's pretty much our response when we picked out this week's random Beatles tracks (well, apart from Mr Moonlight). 3 stone cold classics on the block this week: The Long & Winding Road, A Day in the Life and Yesterday. Two of these must fall... but which? Turn that tension knob up to 11.

Heat 42 - Rob & Jono Split Up

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +1200

It had to happen really... 42 episodes in and we've found the mix of 4 random Beatles songs that will rock our hitherto peaceful and tolerant co-hosting to the core. But which threatens to shatter the peace? Lovely Rita, I Wanna Be Your Man, Ask Me Why or Please Please Me? Or all of them?

Heat 41 - All You Need Is Stats

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 17:00:00 +1200

We take a moment this week to take stock of our 40 heats thus far - fun stats ahead! Then we crack straight into picking a winner from four more random Beatles tracks. This week, Here Comes The Sun, Honey Pie, All You Need is Love and I'll Be Back are served up on a platter for us to devour.

Heat 40 - Sifty Intake of Breath

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +1200

Welcome to Weird Seedy Sifty Song Week, as another four random Beatles songs go head to head to win their spot in the next round. To tickle your fancy this week, (breathe in noisily) I'll Get You, Oh! Darling, We Can Work It Out and Girl.

Heat 39 - There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Lyrics

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +1200

We're firmly back in middle of the road territory this week, as four more random tracks make their case. Which will rise like cream to the top of the breakfast bowl? Good Morning Good Morning, I Need You, Mother Nature's Son or Yes It Is?

No animal noises were harmed in the recording of this episode.

Heat 38 - Soul & Pepper

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +1200

It's time for a Soul & Pepper showdown, as Nowhere Man goes up against the title track of SPLHCB... but could Act Naturally or Till There Was You swipe in and take this week's crown? The tension is palpable!

Heat 37 - Full of Contradictions

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +1200

It had to happen really - we, Rob and Jono, haven't disagreed too widely over 36 heats. But this time around, we're polar opposite when it comes to one of these four songs: Dig A Pony, Wait, Little Child & Any Time at All. But will the split song win, in what can charitably be described as a 'middle of the road' bunch? Press play and see!

Heat 36 - Stuffed Crust Revolution

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 17:00:00 +1200

Aaaand we're back on track with some truly viable greats on offer this week. We'll be weighing up the merits of Paperback Writer, Roll Over Beethoven, Revolution (the rockier single version), and There's A Place. Oh and somehow Pizza Hut and Superman 3 make an appearance too. FUN!

Heat 35 - The Carl Perkins World Cup

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +1200

After the big hitters of last week, we reach one of 'those' heats where... well... the cards have fallen in a interesting way, and by interesting we mean 'sigh'. We have to choose a winner to go through though, and it'll be either When I Get Home, Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby, Carry The Weight, or I'll Cry Instead. Place your bets now.

Heat 34 - Miley in the Sky with Wind Machines

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +1200

Some big hitters duke it out this week with Love Me Do, I Want You (She's So Heavy), Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds and She Loves You ready to do battle. Only one will go through, just like only one has a wind machine in the mix, only one has been covered by Miley Cyrus & Moby, and only one has 3 different drummers. Intrigued, much?

Heat 33 - Taking a Cha-Cha-Cha-Chance

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +1200

We're one step closer to finding out which Beatles song is the GOAT, and this week gives us four fun contenders: I'm Happy Just to Dance with You, Birthday, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away and No Reply. But wait there's more! Anne Murray! Oasis! Dylan! Happy George! Hand Clap Mal! We're gonna have a good time!

Heat 32 - Deeply Stoned

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +1200

It's hotting up as we get steadily closer to finding out which Beatles song towers above all others, though this week is a bit of a big brown bag of randomness (inside a zoo). Stepping up to the plate are Tell Me What You See, Within You Without You, Baby You're a Rich Man & Honey Don't.... Honey Don't.... Honey Don't.... Honey Don't.

Best listened to accompanied by a Hohner Pianet.

Heat 31 - Molly, Marmite, Marmalade, Madonna

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +1200

A mad mix of songs have come out of the box, as four more random Beatles tracks contend to become the Greatest of All Time. In play this week are Baby It's You, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, Slow Down & Lady Madonna. One of these songs completely divides us, though it might not be the one you think....

Heat 30 - Fancy Paper on an Empty Box

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +1200

It's the battle of the Revolvers this week, as I'm Only Sleeping takes on And Your Bird Can Sing, with Chains and Sexy Sadie in the mix as well. Along the way, we'll identify a hidden yawn, discuss a blatant lyric ripoff, and ponder whether one of the songs is about Frank Sinatra or a wind-up clock. It's that kind of week.

Heat 29 - Georgia's On Me Mine

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +1200

Lovers of cowbells, claps, jets and waltzes will be well served this week, as another four Beatles songs go head to head. Will it be I Call Your Name, Eight Days a Week, Back in the USSR or I Me Mine that makes the cut? Free fade in with every episode.

Heat 28 - The Last Little Squelch At The End

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +1200

Melancholy, Acid, financial bitterness and 'Pepper Lite' this week, as Golden Slumbers, She Said She Said, Taxman & Magical Mystery Tour enter on stage and present their cases for going through to the next round. If you hadn't had your fill of John Lewis Christmas ad chat, this is your week.

Heat 27 - The Fish & Chips Edition

Mon, 30 May 2022 18:00:00 +1200

This heat has a beginning, a middle and an end, unlike one of the songs this week which just jumps in halfway through. We put The Night Before, For No One, I Feel Fine and Hold Me Tight up against each other, and one will emerge the winner. Comes with half a scoop and two battered cod.

Heat 26 - Michelle's Choice

Mon, 23 May 2022 18:00:00 +1200

Get ready for a Revolver + Abbey Road club sandwich as we take 4 more random songs and smash them against each other to find the winner. This week, Michelle meet the Sun King, and we get through Norwegian Wood in The End. Difficult much?

Heat 25 - Welcome to Slaggers!

Mon, 16 May 2022 18:00:00 +1200

We're taking to the skies this week, as Heat 25 brings another eclectic mix of Beatles tracks together in our quest to find the greatest of all time. Will Flying fly or crash and burn? Do we say 'Thank You' or 'No, Thank You Girl'? Is You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) disconnected? Can we take The Word at its word?? So many questions - only one answer!

Heat 24 - Bam BOOM!

Mon, 09 May 2022 18:00:00 +1200

Heat 24
We've opened the door
And all we have found is a Bible.

The songs are quite mixed
Some will be 'Deep Six-ed'
And who wins won't be much of a rival

So it's Rocky Raccoon
And Every Little Thing's tune
Real Love and Bad Boy to decide...al

Doot dah doot dah dah dooo dooo

Etc.

Heat 23 - Who is Jackaroo Dave?

Mon, 02 May 2022 18:00:00 +1200

Welcome to the heat that includes the second most misogynistic Beatles song ever, according to the internet. This week, Devil in Her Heart, You Can't Do That, Across the Universe and Doctor Robert go head to head. We hope the result doesn't let you down and leave you flat.

Heat 22 - Fuzzbox in a Cupboard

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +1200

The heats continue on the journey to the Greatest Beatles Song of All Time, and head ups - this week's an odd one. We face the choice of elevating You Really Got a Hold on Me, Think for Yourself, Happiness is a Warm Gun or Yer Blues. Yup...

Heat 21- It's The Minions Song!

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +1200

A burst of optimism, sunshine and capitalism cascades over our heat this week, as Good Day Sunshine, Money (That's What I Want), Got to Get You Into My Life and Julia go up against each other for the win. And sorry Vulture... we're not agreeing with you on 'worst Beatles song ever'

Heat 20 - Fixing the Pataphysical

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 19:00:00 +1200

We're now 20 heats in on our pataphysical quest to find the greatest Beatles song of all time, and this heat is a veritable bag of chocolate cake for the ears. We have Fixing A Hole, I've Got A Feeling, Maxwell's Silver Hammer and The Ballad of John and Yoko to choose from - which will make it through?

Heat 19 - White Light

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 19:00:00 +1200

Break out your white suit, and descend the staircase to Heat 19, as we put another four random Beatles songs to the test. This week's lineup includes Dear Prudence, I'm So Tired, The Inner Light and Your Mother Should Know. And you should know that this episode includes Mal Evans, Star Trek: TNG, Paul is Dead, and Rob's song of choice to weird out his friends.

Heat 18 - Today's Future Nostalgia

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +1300

If you ever thought we had any control over the random song draws, this week should dissuade you of that notion. Piggies, I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Things We Said Today and For You Blue go head to head and, amazingly, one will triumph and head to the next round. But which one?

Heat 17 - Ola Na Tungee vs Kate Hudson

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +1300

It's the battle we've all been waiting for, as two songs go head to head to attempt to reign supreme, to chase the glory of becoming the champion of the Beatles World Cup. Will it be This Boy or Tell Me Why? Place your bets now.

Oh... and Eleanor Rigby and Penny Lane are in the mix too.

Heat 16 - Friends, Boys, Dogs & Shoes

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +1300

We're at Heat 16 AKA the 'curios and oddballs' heat, as our random selection brings us four very quirky and very different songs to choose from: With A Little Help from My Friends, Boys, Hey Bulldog and Old Brown Shoe. Just to warn you now: Rob's mild distaste for Pepper may rear its head again...

Heat 15 - Who Blew The Bubbles?

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:00:00 +1300

Four more randomly selected Beatles songs go head to head this week, as we attempt to board the Yellow Submarine to take us to Kansas City (Hey Hey Hey Hey) to see if the Sgt Pepper reprise is Getting Better. That sentence may be garbled, but is our final decision? Find out now!

Heat 14 - One Note Mal

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +1300

Rubber Soul fans - this is your week, as two tracks go head to head to be this week's champion. I'm Looking Through You and You Won't See Me (erm... so that means they're both invisible right?) take on Because and Cry Baby Cry.

Four songs. One winner. Much Moog.

Heat 13 - Sweets & Tweets

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +1300

This week's songs are quite the selection... almost like a box of chocolates! The good news is that we get to pick our favourite from Misery, Savoy Truffle, Blackbird and When I'm Sixty Four. Things may get a little sticky with this one...

Heat 12 - The Gateway

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +1300

The search for the greatest Beatles song of all time continues, and this week it's four very different songs that are under the pump. Which will emerge victorious from Can't Buy Me Love, From Me to You, Tomorrow Never Knows and I'm Down?

Warning: contains Phil Collins

Heat 11 - The Māori Dance that Never Was

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +1300

The world cup to end all world cups continues, with What Goes On, I Want to Tell You, All My Loving, and Hello Goodbye taking to the pitch. Which one is beautifully off-kilter, and which one was hijacked by a random Aussie TV talent show host? Most importantly, which one makes it through to the next round??

Heat 10 - Strained Paul

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1300

Another week, another four Beatles songs vying for the position of 'Greatest of All Time'. This week, we chat through PS, I Love You, Strawberry Fields Forever, She's A Woman, and A Hard Day's Night. Only one wins.... but which? !stib sdrawkcab eht rof evol s'onoJ dna ,hO

Heat 9 - Niiiight Tiiiime Brrrrright!

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1300

We're back with four more randomly selected Beatles songs making their way to the stage. This week, It's Only Love, Get Back (your choice of Muddy, Spectory or Naked), Baby's In Black, and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Tough choices ahead.

Heat 8 - The One that has a Mental Breakdown

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1300

White Album quiet and sleepy, or White Album manic and crazy - both can be yours this week, as we put another four Beatles songs to the wall, to find out which will continue its journey to become the GOAT! Settle in as we put Good Night, Helter Skelter, Rock and Roll Music & Only a Northern Song through their paces.

Heat 7 - Too Twee or Not Too Twee?

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1300

Straddling albums, phases and songwriters this week, as four more Beatles songs go head to head in our quest to find the greatest Beatles song of all time. This week, Don't Let Me Down, You Like Me Too Much, The Fool on the Hill & Revolution #1 duke it out - only one can win!

Heat 6 - In Defence of the Beep Beeps

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1300

Something in the way we draw the songs means sometimes some stone cold classics come together (geddit?). This week, one such difficult decision presents itself. How on earth do you choose between If I Fell, Come Together, Drive My Car and Something?

Answer: with difficulty

Heat 5 - One Sentence... Over & Over Again

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +1300

Our first Pepper hits the heats, as She's Leaving Home goes up against Twist & Shout, In My Life and... erm... Why Do We Do It in the Road? Jono hates one, Rob can't get enough of one... which is which, and who is this week's winner?

Heat 4 - LOOK! AND! YOU!

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +1300

The journey to find the Beatles GOAT continues, with another 4 randomly selected songs taking the plunge - only one winner can emerge from the quirky bunch of One After 909, Don't Pass Me By, What You're Doing and Her Majesty. Cue 'I dunno' emoji.

Heat 3 - Help! (Seriously)

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +1300

Only 3 heats in, and already this is getting tough. Our first real clash of titans - who'll be the winner as we pit Day Tripper, Help, She Came in Through The Bathroom Window and You're Going to Lose That Girl against each other,

Spoiler: It's not the last one.

Heat 2 - Do We Dig It?

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +1300

The heats are underway, and another 4 Beatles songs are pitted against each other. Who'll come out on top from Don't Bother Me, Dig It, Mean Mr Mustard & Here, There and Everywhere?

Heat 1 - Double Kook

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +1300

The heats officially kick off as the first 4 Beatles songs step up to the plate. There can only one winner that goes through - will it be Glass Onion, I Am The Walrus, Blue Jay Way or Rain?

The Draw

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1300

213 down to one ain't that straightforward, so before we start the heats, we'll unfurl the spreadsheet and explain how the draw works!

Suffice to say, there may be one or two dubious wildcard entries getting a free pass. You be the judge!

Welcome to The Beatles World Cup

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1300

Here comes the sun... or at the very least the teaser for the brand new Beatles podcast, The Beatles World Cup!

213 songs - only one winner!

The long & winding road begins Nov 29th!