The Beatles vs. Beyoncé | Head 2 Head

In the 32^nd edition of Head 2 Head (2025), The Beatles and Beyoncé contend for the best rendition of “Blackbird.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song and compare their performances.  After deliberation, we decide which performance is the best or moves us more subjectively.  In the 32^nd edition of Head 2 Head (2025), The Beatles and Beyoncé contend for the best rendition of “Blackbird”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

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1. The Beatles, “Blackbird” 2.Beyoncé, “BLACKBIIRD” (Ft. Tanner Adell, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts) The Verdict 👨🏾‍⚖️

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1. The Beatles, “Blackbird”

The Beatles [White Album] »

Apple Corps Ltd »

1968

 

“Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these sunken eyes and learn to see / All your life, you were only waiting / For this moment to be free.” Dramatic, iconic, and unforgettable lyrics. What does the blackbird on “Blackbird,” the 11^th track on The Beatles’ The Beatles [White Album], represent? A black woman, according to Paul McCartney, who wrote the song alongside John Lennon. A brief, relatively simple song on the surface, it is layered and meaningful. Poetically penned, it reflects rising above the turbulent times post-segregation during the civil rights movement. In the year that the song was released, 1968, there were numerous race-related incidents in the United States. “Blackbird” is an anti-racism, equality-promoting anthem.

Beyond a message conveyed lyrically encouraging the freedom of the blackbird, the music is marvelously performed. The accompaniment is simple but potent.  McCartney is the sole performer, singing, playing acoustic guitar, and foot tapping. Additionally, there is also a blackbird singing. The folk-rock vibe exemplifies the ‘60s. Returning to the messaging, McCartney captures the push for equality through his lovely, sincere vocals. Despite being universally revered, “Blackbird” didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100. A big-time, important part of The Beatles’ catalog, it has been covered hundreds of times, including a superb, 2024 rendition by Beyoncé, stylized as “BLACKBIIRD”, featuring rising black female country artists Tanner Adell, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.

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2. Beyoncé, “BLACKBIIRD” (Ft. Tanner Adell, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts)

COWBOY CARTER »

Parkwood Entertainment LLC / Columbia »

2024

 

“All your life / You were only waiting for this moment to arise.” “BLACKBIIRD” is the second track from COWBOY CARTER, the critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning album by Beyoncé (Best Country Album and Album Of The Year).  The decorated superstar is assisted by rising black female country artists Tanner Adell, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts. A cover of “Blackbird” by The Beatles, it was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Although a cover, the original reflects and responds to the turbulent times of the 1960s and the civil rights movement. Fittingly, Beyoncé, a woman of color in a genre that is dominated by white artists but has black roots, sings this hopeful masterpiece.  Bey not only got the blessing of McCartney regarding her rendition, but he also produced it with her.  “BLACKBIIRD” peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. The original version didn’t chart 🤯.

 

Like the original, “BLACKBIIRD” is brief, running a tight 2:11. Beyoncé, with her beautiful, rich, and robust tone. As she sings the lyrics, her authenticity and sincerity are indisputable.  Despite the adversity, it is time for the blackbird, who is marginalized, to ascend (“Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these broken wings and learn to fly”).  Adding to the poetic lyrics and marvelous vocals of Bey are gorgeous, warm vocal harmonies.  The vocal arrangement and production are sensational.  Beyond the vocal production, the overall production and sound are glorious, too.  The sound is updated from the original, with tasteful tweaks that make it perfectly fit the 21^st-century aesthetic. The strings are delightful, coupled with those angelic, warm vocal harmonies. The third and final verse is performed by Adell, Spencer, Kennedy, and Roberts, giving them their moment to shine, arise, and be free. Beyoncé caps off this epic cover, singing the meaningful lyrics, “You were only waiting for this moment to arise.” “BLACKBIIRD”, in the hands of Beyoncé, Tanner Adell, Britney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts, is stunning.

Appears in:

Beyoncé, BLACKBIIRD: Covers No. 28 (2025)

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The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

So, who performed “Blackbird” the best? Was it the original, simple but meaningful civil rights folk-rock classic from The Beatles? Or is the updated cover by Beyoncé, featuring rising black female country artists, the version to beat?  Tough. The original by The Beatles, specifically, Paul McCartney, deserves all the flowers.  It has been covered by everybody and his brother and sister. It is a key song from the catalog.  But Beyoncé’s 2024 cover, stylized as “BLACKBIIRD”, is special, given the messaging of the song by the messengers. Black women should be free to embrace country music and excel at it, not be the exception. So, all of that considered, the result of this head-to-head is a big ole tie.  Both versions are too good to deny.

🏅 Winner: The Beatles, Beyoncé, and most of all, the listeners!

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The Beatles vs. Beyoncé: Head 2 Head No. 32 (2025) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Apple Corps Ltd, Columbia, Parkwood Entertainment LLC; Israel Torres, KoolShooters, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels; AcatXIo from Pixabay]

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