What did you think of The Beatles' 'reunion' songs Free as a Bird and Real Love?

Can these actually be classed as Beatles' songs? What was your reaction when you heard them? Do they measure up with The Beatles' other material?

Anything else you want to add?

I eagerly await your views

I think they can be considered Beatles songs, at least I do it. The fact that the three living Beatles at the time got together and worked with John's voice is enough to consider both songs as Beatle songs. Especially Free as a Bird, because Paul added some lyrics to it (if Im not mistaken) so that can be considered a 'Lennon-McCartney' reunion after a long time.
I love them both, it's hard to say which one is better but I've been listening to Free as a bird lately so I guess that's the best one for me (for now). The videos of both songs are amazing too, and I think that the video of Free as a Bird is better than Real Love.

I don't think they're real Beatles songs.They're nice and fun but not the real thing.
My first reaction on hearing Free as a Bird was that it was a bit slow.I don't remember for Real Love but it was less of a surprise, though in the long run it's lighter and catchier, so I think I prefer it.

They're real enough, but like their 60's career it's from a separate time-period.  You normally had early-mid-psych and breakup Beatle periods, this is just post-post-psot period.

The songs themsevles are good enough (tho John's ethereal voice and Jeff Lynne's typical drum sound ruins it a bit for me).  The performances are fine, quite Beatley (thanks Paul!).

But theyy'll probably always be the orphans outside the Beatle banquet in many fan's minds.

I didn't really care for Free As A Bird when I first heard it. I don't mind it now but I like Real Love way more.


I mostly consider them John songs.

I love real love. it's one of my favs

They cannot be Beatles songs, as one of the Beatles was dead. That Beatle was the writer of both songs, yet had no say at all in their arrangement. He hadn't even written them with his "old group" in mind. (Yes, I know that many many Beatles songs do not have all four performing: but the writer of any song was sure on deck!)

The whole Free As A Bird/Real Love thing has a wiff of marketing men about it. I think George may have gone into this reluctantly, because it was he who pulled the plug on a third Threetle effort.

Having said that, I quite like both songs. Real Love has a vibe about it that makes it very Beatle-like for me.

The video accompanying Free As A Bird is a masterpiece. Lump-in-the-throat stuff for me!

I consider them Beatle songs. When I first heard 'Free as a Bird' I was floored. Not because its that great of a song, its just that my imagination took over and it was as if the band never split. I remember hoping that it would shoot to number one just to add more magic to the big picture, but it wasnt meant to be. I liked 'Real Love' alot too, but it didnt grab me like the first song.

**Just because John was dead means that it isnt Johns voice on the tape? Sorry, I dont get that. If say,,,,Hendrix had a tape and didnt release it of his guitar playing and somebody else finally did, does this still not make it Hendrix? Thats how I look at it anyways.**

There was a certain amount of built-in disapointment with the songs when I first heard them...they were great and it was exciting and all but they also came with a wistfulness knowing John was gone.

sjhlskjdhlaskdjhslflkjashdflkasjfhlkasjdfhlsakdjfhsal

The answers in there somewhere just look for it.


JWL

Were I don't see it.

I see them as John Lennon songs with Paul, George and Ringo adding their touch

Quoted from NothingIsReal, posted April 2, 2004, 7:06pm at here

I see them as John Lennon songs with Paul, George and Ringo adding their touch

I do too 

After wetching Real Love videoclip I began to believe more in the idea of them as group efforts ... the last song they recorded was I Me Mine in January 1970  ... The Threetles were already at their best by then and I think that none of them were thinking about breaking up or anything (Ringo added drums to some tracks in March 1970):

George at the begining of I Me Mine (1970): "You all will have read that Dave Dee (refering to John) is no longer with us, but Mickey and Tich and I (The Threetles) have decided to carry on the good work that's always gone down in number two" (Abbey Road Studio Two, obviously) ) ...

... so I've got no problems seeing these as an encore or something!!!

I consider them Beatles songs, but they definitely fall into a special category. My first impression upon hearing them wasn't that favorable. The songs were fine, but a little bland. I always envision the Beatles as having more energy than this in their group efforts. Over time, I've come to really enjoy "Real Love". I like both of the videos, but the "Free as a Bird" video is truly something special.

I don't think these two songs can measure up to their earlier efforts, primarily because the Threetles were working with a demo tape that was obviously not finished, and the Beatles were notorious perfectionists. The 1995 Q magazine had this to say, interviewing Paul:

Quoted Text

While Lynne wrestled with the audio snags, Paul and George had trouble constructing finished songs around their old partner's imperfect performances. "But because we said, 'It's only John who's left us this tape', we could take the piss. We'd say, 'It's out of time! (jeering) Wouldn't you just know it.' Like if he'd been there, we would've said it. That was our attitude to each other, wewere never reverent.'
Then me and George ended up doing harmonies, and Ringo's sitting in the control room. He says, 'Sounds just like the Beatles!'"

Regardless of the outcome, I think the effort was very important to the remaining Beatles. I think it gave all of them, particularly Paul, a sense of closure. How the songs were received by the world was of secondary importance.