3 Cover Songs That Decoded the Genius of The Beatles

Three covers of Beatles songs are presented as a way to hear new qualities in the band’s songwriting. Joe Cocker’s dramatic, rhythmically altered version of “With a Little Help from My Friends” brings out a more serious plea for connection beneath the original’s light tone.

Stevie Wonder gives “We Can Work It Out” an R&B feel, showing how the Lennon-McCartney song can reach a different audience. Nina Simone slows “Here Comes the Sun” into a meditative jazz performance, recasting George Harrison’s bright song with a more reflective mood.