Tell Me Why

The energy of *Tell Me Why* feels immediate, almost like a cry of urgency. Its structure relies on chord changes reminiscent of doo-wop, with solid vocal harmonies creating a sense of sincerity through their strength. It's interesting to note how John Lennon described this piece, comparing it to songs by New York girl groups, and how his lead vocal performance soars above the harmonies of George Harrison and, less unusually, Paul McCartney. This song was part of The Beatles' debut film, *A Hard Day's Night*, and a "studio performance" sequence was filmed at London's Scala Theatre on March 31, 1964. Curiously, that was the only time it was performed before an audience, comprised of paid actors.

The composition of *Tell Me Why* is credited to Lennon–McCartney and was written by John Lennon, who may have conceived it in Paris or New York. The recording took place over just eight takes on February 27, 1964, at EMI Studios in London. Producer George Martin oversaw the session, with Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick as recording engineers. This piece, with its 2:10 runtime, was included on the album *A Hard Day's Night*, released on July 10, 1964, by Parlophone. In North America, it appeared on both the US version of *A Hard Day's Night* and the album *Something New*.