If The Beatles had become conceited, they couldn’t have possibly operated at the level they did without a healthy belief in their talents.
The FAB FOUR never took themselves too seriously. That’s why you can find numerous instances throughout their songs where they snuck in some sneaky in-jokes and references that might slip right by you in case you’re not listening too closely.
The Beatles often included bits of sophomoric humor as a way to leaven songs that might otherwise be considered deep or weighty. “Girl” is just such a song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8l3ntDR_lI
This is another one where it pays to listen closely to the backing vocals to hear the little joke. Paul McCartney wrote the bulk of “Paperback Writer,” it’s amazing to hear him get inside the head and heart of a struggling author so well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SepZDSkY4Ro
It was proof of George Harrison’s evolving songwriting skills that his song “Taxman” was chosen as the opening track of The Beatles’ masterpiece album Revolver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMdcE8jdz70
The Mike Sammes Singers were a vocal group known for adding robust, cheerful touches to everything from jingles to theme songs, to the occasional pop song. But never before had they been utilized like The Beatles did on “I Am the Walrus.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMdcE8jdz70
Unlike the other songs on this list, where the jokes and self-referential moments are hidden in backing vocals, John Lennon does us the service of spelling them out on “Glass Onion.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBQIAWh3YBs