View source for Help! (song)

{{Short description|1965 single by the Beatles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name        = Help!
| cover       = Beatles_help2.jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = US picture sleeve
| type        = single
| artist      = [[the Beatles]]
| album       = [[Help!]]
| B-side      = [[I'm Down]]
| released    = 
{{Start date|1965|07|23|df=y}}
| recorded    = 13 April 1965 (stereo version); 13 April and 24 May 1965 (mono version)
| studio      = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
| genre       = [[Folk rock]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Unterberger |first=Richie |author-link=Richie Unterberger |title=1960s-Folk-Rock Overview |publisher=richieunterberger.com |url=http://www.richieunterberger.com/turnover.html |access-date=2013-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109225255/http://www.richieunterberger.com/turnover.html |archive-date=9 November 2013 }}</ref>
| length      = 2:18
| label       = 
*[[Parlophone]] (UK)
*[[Capitol Records|Capitol]] (US)
| writer      = [[Lennon–McCartney]]
| producer    = [[George Martin]]
| chronology  = [[The Beatles]] UK
| prev_title  = [[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]
| prev_year   = 1965
| next_title  = [[We Can Work It Out]]
| next_title2 = [[Day Tripper]]
| next_year   = 1965
| misc        = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[The Beatles]] US
 | type       = single
 | prev_title = [[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]
 | prev_year  = 1965
 | title      = Help!
 | year       = 1965
 | next_title = [[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]
 | next_year  = 1965
 }}{{External music video|header=Promotional film|{{YouTube|2Q_ZzBGPdqE|"Help!"}}
 }}
}}
"'''Help!'''" is a song by the English rock band [[the Beatles]] that served as the title song for [[Help! (film)|the 1965 film]] and the band's [[Help!|accompanying soundtrack album]]. It was released as a single in July 1965, and was number one for three weeks in the United States and the United Kingdom. Credited to [[Lennon–McCartney]], "Help!" was written by [[John Lennon]] with some assistance from [[Paul McCartney]]. During an interview with ''[[Playboy]]'' in 1980, Lennon recounted: "The whole Beatles thing was just beyond comprehension. I was subconsciously crying out for help".

The song was ranked at number 29 on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|''Rolling Stone'''s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]] in 2004 and 2010,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/the-beatles-help-20110525|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=11 December 2003}}</ref> and then was re-ranked at number 447 in the 2021 list.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/the-beatles-help-5-1224890/|title=Help! ranked #447 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=15 September 2021|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> In 2008, the 1965 [[Capitol Records]] recording of "Help!" was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame &#124; Hall of Fame Artists &#124; GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com}}</ref>

==Composition==
The documentary series ''[[The Beatles Anthology]]'' revealed that Lennon wrote the lyrics of the song to express his stress after the Beatles' quick rise to success. "I was fat and depressed and I ''was'' crying out for 'Help{{'"}}, Lennon told ''[[Playboy]]''.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=555}} Writer [[Ian MacDonald]] describes the song as the first crack in the protective shell Lennon had built around his emotions during the Beatles' rise to fame, and an important milestone in his songwriting style.<ref name="Sullivan2013">{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Steve|title=Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA224|year=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-8296-6|page=224}}</ref><!-- Yes I'm sure Ian MacD wrote this, but we need a citation, and his book listed below-->

In the 1970 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' "Lennon Remembers" interviews, Lennon said that the song was one of his favourites among the Beatles songs he wrote. In these interviews, Lennon said he felt that "Help!" and "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]" were his most honest, genuine Beatles songs and not just songs "written to order". According to Lennon's cousin and boyhood friend Stanley Parkes, "Help!" was written after Lennon "came in from the studio one night. 'God,' he said, 'they've changed the title of the film: it's going to be called 'Help!' now. So I've had to write a new song with the title called 'Help!'."{{sfn|Lennon.net|2004|p=5}}

According to McCartney, he was called in "to complete it", providing the "[[counter-melody|countermelody]]" arrangement, on 4 April 1965 at Lennon's house in [[Weybridge]].{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=153}}{{sfn|Miles|1998|p=199}}{{sfn|Beatles Interview Database|1984|p=2}}

==Recording==
The Beatles recorded "Help!" in 12 takes on 13 April 1965 using [[multitrack recording|four-track]] equipment. The first nine takes concentrated on the instrumental backing. The descending lead guitar riff that precedes each verse proved to be difficult, so by take 4 it was decided to postpone it for an overdub. To guide the later overdub by [[George Harrison]], Lennon thumped the beat on his [[acoustic guitar]] body, which can be heard in the final [[stereo]] mix. Lead and backing vocals were recorded twice onto take 9, along with a [[tambourine]]. A reduction mix was applied to the two vocal tracks, taking three attempts (takes 10 to 12), freeing up a track for the lead guitar overdub.{{sfn|Winn|2008|pp=314-316}} This was the group's first use of two 4-track machines for [[Ping-pong recording|"bouncing"]].<ref>Help! stereo remaster 2009 inlay card, "Recording notes".</ref>

The vocals were re-recorded for the film during a session on 24 May 1965 at CTS Studios, a facility specializing in [[post-synchronisation]].{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=320}} In addition to attempting a better vocal performance, the session might have been done to eliminate the tambourine (which had been on the same track as the vocals) since no tambourine appeared in the film sequence.{{sfn|Ryan|Kehew|2006|p=392}} With the new vocals, a mono mix was created at CTS Studios which was used for the film soundtrack. Mixes for record releases were prepared on 18 June. For the mono version, George Martin decided to use a mix of the opening chorus of take 12 edited to the remainder of the CTS film mix.{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=320}} Because all instruments were combined on a single track for the CTS session, it could not be used for a stereo mix, so the stereo mix was made from take 12.{{sfn|Ryan|Kehew|2006|p=392}}

This film version of the song was only heard on the original VHS releases of the movie, later replaced by the stereo mixes. A true release was never issued. New mixes were created for releases of the ''[[Help!]]'' CD (1987), the ''[[Love (The Beatles album)|Love]]'' album (2006), and the ''[[Help! (film)|Help!]]'' DVD (2007).{{sfn|Winn|2008|pp=314-316}}

==Releases==
[[File:The Beatles - Help! ad.jpg|right|thumb|Advertisement for "Help!"]]
"Help!" went to number 1 on both the UK and US singles charts in late summer 1965. It was the fourth of six number 1 singles in a row on the American charts: "[[I Feel Fine]]", "[[Eight Days a Week]]", "[[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]", "Help!", "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]" and "[[We Can Work It Out]]".{{sfn|Wallgren|1982|pp=38–45}} At the following year's [[Ivor Novello Awards]], "Help!" was named as the second best-selling single of 1965, behind "We Can Work It Out".{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=236}}<ref>{{cite magazine|author=KRLA Beat staff|title=Lennon and McCartney Win Three Composer's Awards|magazine=[[KRLA Beat]]|date=13 August 1966|page=3}}</ref> "Help!" was nominated in four categories at the [[1966 Grammy Awards]] but failed to win in any of them.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=226}}

The song appears on the ''[[Help!]]'' LP, the US ''Help!'' soundtrack, ''[[1962–1966]]'', the ''[[Imagine: John Lennon (soundtrack)|Imagine: John Lennon]]'' soundtrack, ''[[1 (The Beatles album)|1]]'', ''[[Love (The Beatles album)|Love]]'', and ''[[The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]]''. The mono version (with different vocals and no tambourine) was included on the Beatles' ''[[Rarities (1980 The Beatles album)|Rarities]]'' LP and in ''[[The Beatles in Mono]]'' collection. The American soundtrack album included a James Bond-type introduction to the song, followed by a [[caesura]] just before the opening lyric.  No such introduction appeared on the British soundtrack album, nor was it included in the released single in either country.

Although Lennon was proud of "Help!" and the honesty it conveyed, he expressed regret that the Beatles had recorded it at such a fast [[tempo]] in the interests of giving the track more commercial appeal.<ref name="Sullivan2013" /> Music critic [[Dave Marsh]] disagreed, saying: "'Help!' isn't a compromise; it's bursting with vitality … [Lennon] sounds triumphant, because he's found a group of kindred spirits who are offering the very spiritual assistance and emotional support for which he's begging. Paul's echoing harmonies, Ringo's jaunty drums, the boom of George's guitar speak to the heart of Lennon's passion, and though they cannot cure the wound, at least they add a note of reassurance that he's not alone with his pain."<ref name="Sullivan2013" />

''[[Cash Box]]'' described "Help!" as a "hard-driving, rollicking ode about a poor lad who loses some of his independence after he becomes involved with a new gal" that is "sure of garnering instantaneous sales acceptance".<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=July 24, 1965 |page=12 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-07-24.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}</ref>  Upon the single release, ''[[Record World]]'' correctly predicted that it would go to No. 1.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Pick of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=July 24, 1965|page=1|accessdate=2023-07-21|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/65/RW-1965-07-24.pdf}}</ref>

==Promotional films==
The Beatles filmed the title performance for the movie ''Help!'' on 22 April 1965. The same footage (without the darts and credits seen in the film sequence) was used as a clip to promote the release of the single. It was shown starting in July 1965 on programmes such as ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' and ''[[Thank Your Lucky Stars (TV series)|Thank Your Lucky Stars]]''.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2000|p=190}} They made another promotional clip of "Help!" on 23 November 1965 for inclusion in the year-end recap special of ''Top of the Pops''. Directed by [[Joseph McGrath (film director)|Joseph McGrath]], the black-and-white clip shows the group miming to the song while sitting astride a workbench. Starr holds an umbrella overhead throughout the song, which becomes useful as fake snow falls during the final verse.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2000|pp=206-208}}  The November 1965 promo was included in the Beatles' 2015 video compilation ''[[1 (Beatles album)|1]]''.<ref>{{cite web |first= Matt |last= Rowe |title= The Beatles 1 To Be Reissued With New Audio Remixes... And Videos |work= The Morton Report |date= 18 September 2015 |access-date= 9 January 2016 |url= https://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/music/the-beatles-1-to-be-reissued-with-new-audio-remixesand-videos |archive-date= 29 December 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151229085947/http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/music/the-beatles-1-to-be-reissued-with-new-audio-remixesand-videos/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Live performances==
The Beatles performed "Help!" live on the 1 August 1965 broadcast of ''Blackpool Night Out'', which was included in the ''[[Anthology 2]]'' album and shown during ''[[The Beatles Anthology (documentary)|The Beatles Anthology]]'' documentary.{{sfn|Winn|2008|pp=337-338}} On 14 August, the group recorded a live performance of "Help!" and five other songs for ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'', broadcast the following month;{{sfn|Lewisohn|2000|pp=198-199}} the show is available on the DVD ''The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles''.

"Help!" was included in the [[set list]] for [[The Beatles' 1965 US tour]]. The 15 August performance at [[Shea Stadium]] was seen in the 1966 documentary ''[[The Beatles at Shea Stadium]]'', although the audio for the song was re-recorded prior to release.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2000|p=215}} The group's 29 August performance at the [[Hollywood Bowl]] was chosen for the 1977 album ''[[The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl]]''.{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=354}} The final live concert performances of "Help!" took place on [[The Beatles' 1965 UK tour]] in December.

==Personnel==
According to [[Ian MacDonald]]:{{sfn|MacDonald|2005|p=153}}

*[[John Lennon]] &ndash; [[Double tracking|double-tracked]] vocals, [[Twelve-string guitar|twelve-string acoustic rhythm guitar]]
*[[Paul McCartney]] &ndash; backing vocals, bass guitar
*[[George Harrison]] &ndash; backing vocals, lead guitar
*[[Ringo Starr]] &ndash; drums, tambourine

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1965 weekly chart performance for "Help!"
!Chart (1965)
!Peak<br>position
|-
! scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book |title=Australian Chart Book (1940–1969) |author=Kent, David |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=2005 |isbn=0-646-44439-5}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{single chart|Austria|5|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|5|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|5|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=2 January 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=5644|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2016}}
|-
!scope="row"|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref name=Finland>{{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|Hong Kong<ref name="Billboard, August 28, 1965">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SSkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30|title=Billboard Magazine, August 28, 1965 |magazine=Billboard|date=28 August 1965}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref name=Italy>Spinetoli, John Joseph. ''Artisti In Classifica: I Singoli: 1960-1999''. Milano: Musica e dischi, 2000</ref>
|3
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|1|year=1965|week=32|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand (''Lever Hit Parade'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=8#n_view_location |title=Flavour of New Zealand – Search Lever Hit Parades |date=16 September 1965 |access-date=8 November 2020 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224210354/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qartistid=8#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|-
! scope="row"|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(B).html|access-date=1 September 2018}}</ref>
| 1
|-
!scope="row"|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|Promusicae]])<ref name=Spain>{{cite book|last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
|1
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden ([[Kvällstoppen]])<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hallberg|first=Eric|title=Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 - 19. 8. 1975|publisher=Drift Musik|year=1993|pages=130|isbn=9163021404|location=}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Sweden (''[[Tio i Topp]]'')<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hallberg |first1=Eric |title=Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 - 74 |last2=Henningsson |first2=Ulf |publisher=Premium Publishing |year=1998 |isbn=919727125X |location= |pages=53}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
{{single chart|UK|1|date=19650811|refname=UK1|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=The Beatles|rowheader=true|access-date=16 May 2016}}
|-
! scope="row"|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'' Top 100]]<ref>{{cite book| first=Frank| last=Hoffmann| year=1983| title=The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981| publisher=The Scarecrow Press, Inc| location=Metuchen, NJ & London| pages= 32–34}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;" |1
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|2|artist=The Beatles|song=Help!|songid=13746|rowheader=true|access-date=2 January 2022}}
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1976 weekly chart performance for "Help!"
!Chart (1976)
!Peak<br>position
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|10|song=Help!|rowheader=true|access-date=8 November 2020|refname=IE1976}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|37|date=19760417|rowheader=true|refname=UK2|access-date=8 November 2020}}
|}

The song reached number one in several other countries in 1965 according to charts listed in ''Billboard's'' "Hits of the World" feature at the time: Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Sweden.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=30 |date=18 September 1965 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GikEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30 |access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=34 |date=25 September 1965 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 |access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref>
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+1965 year-end chart performance for "Help!"
!Chart (1965)
!Position
|-
! scope="row"|South Africa<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1965|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1965.html|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>
| 8
|-
! scope="row"|[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1965|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard-1965-International-Record-&-Talent.pdf |title=Top Singles of 1965 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=25 December 1965 |page=22 |access-date=8 November 2020}}</ref>
| 7
|-
! scope="row"|US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1965YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 25, 1965 |access-date=16 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510074501/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1965YESP.html |archive-date=10 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 11
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Help!"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=The Beatles|title=Help|nocert=true|relyear=1965|type=single|salesamount=100,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top-france.fr/html/45tours/45t1965.htm|title=TOP – 1965|work=40 ans de tubes : 1960–2000 : les meilleures ventes de 45 tours & CD singles|author=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]] (SNEP)|editor=Fabrice Ferment|access-date=6 May 2023|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530205859/http://www.top-france.fr/html/45tours/45t1965.htm|archive-date=30 May 2022|via=Top-France.fr|oclc=469523661}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1965|certyear=2024|artist=The Beatles|title=Help!|accessdate=1 October 2024|id=13260}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Help!|artist=The Beatles|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1965|access-date=December 15, 2024|certyear=2021|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1965|certyear=2024|artist=The Beatles|title=Help!|accessdate=16 January 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Beatles|title=Help|award=Platinum|salesamount=987,769|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/|title=The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=19 September 2017|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=2 August 2014}}</ref>|relyear=1965|type=single|id=2842-1786-1|access-date=21 December 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=The Beatles|title=Help|award=Gold|relyear=1965|certyear=1965|type=single|access-date=14 May 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

==Bananarama version==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox song
|name=Help!
|cover=Bananarama Help single.jpg
|alt=
|caption=
|type=single
|artist=[[Bananarama]] & [[Lananeeneenoonoo]]
|album=[[Greatest Hits Collection (Bananarama album)|Greatest Hits Collection]]
|B-side=
* "Help!" (Straight version) (7-inch)
* "Love in a Factory" (12-inch)
|released={{start date|1989|2|13|df=yes}}<ref name="Record Mirror">{{cite journal|title=News|journal=[[Record Mirror]]|date=4 February 1989|page=4|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/89/Record-Mirror-1989-Feb-04.pdf|access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>
|recorded=January 1989
|studio=PWL, London
|genre=
*[[Pop music|Pop]]
*[[Musical parody|parody]]
|length=
* {{duration|2:58}} (single version)
* {{duration|6:31}} (extended version)
|label=[[London Records|London]]
|writer=[[Lennon–McCartney]]
|producer=[[Stock Aitken Waterman]]
| misc         = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[Bananarama]]
 | type       = single
 |prev_title=[[Nathan Jones (song)#Bananarama version|Nathan Jones]]
 |prev_year=1988
 |title =Help!
 |year=1989
 |next_title=[[Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)|Cruel Summer '89]]
 |next_year=1989
}}
}}

British girl group [[Bananarama]] covered the song with comedians [[French and Saunders|French & Saunders]] and [[Kathy Burke]], who were credited as [[Lananeeneenoonoo]], which is a spoof of the Bananarama name.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 43: Help! (and Pop Life) on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-43-help-and-pop-life/id1565879477?i=1000593020561 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-AU}}</ref> The song was released in February 1989 as the [[Red Nose Day]] single to raise money for [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]]. It was then included on the 1989 re-release of Bananarama's ''[[Greatest Hits Collection (Bananarama album)|Greatest Hits Collection]]'' album. The single peaked at number three on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and was a Top-10 hit in several countries.<ref name="UK 1989"/>

=== Background and release ===
In December 1988, comedy duo French and Saunders did a Christmas special sketch that poked fun at Bananarama, with [[Dawn French]] playing a character based on [[Keren Woodward]] and [[Jennifer Saunders]] playing [[Sara Dallin]]. Guest comedian Kathy Burke played a character based on [[Jacquie O'Sullivan]]. The sketch featured the trio recording music, being interviewed and making a video.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davearama|date=2017-05-05|title=Poptastic Confessions!: Revisiting Lananeeneenoonoo|url=http://poptasticconfessions.blogspot.com/2017/05/revisiting-lananeeneenoonoo.html|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Poptastic Confessions!}}</ref>

French said she and Saunders were fans of Bananarama, and researched the sketch by watching interviews and talking to sources close to the band.<ref name=":5" /> Bananarama said they "saw [the sketch] before it was even on television" and "everyone thought we would be furious... but we really laughed. It was hilarious". O'Sullivan described the sketch, which depicted a sometimes hostile dynamic towards her often drunk character, as accurate.<ref name=":5" />

After the sketch, Comic Relief decided to get in touch with French and Saunders to ask if they would do a single with Bananarama, so long as the latter would agree to it, which they did "without hesitation".<ref name=":4">{{cite magazine|title=Bananarama! With French and Saunders!? What ''is'' going on???|magazine=[[Smash Hits]]|date=8–21 February 1989|page=22|url=https://sites.google.com/site/smashhitsremembered43/265---8th---21st-february-1989|via=sites.google.com|access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref>

The single was then released in February for the second Red Nose Day. Two-thirds of money from the sales of the single went to relief work in Africa, with the other third going to fight homelessness and drug and alcohol abuse in the UK and Ireland.<ref name=":4"/><ref name="Record Mirror"/> With the huge popular success of Red Nose Day, the single was also a hit, peaking at number 3 in the UK on the week of Red Nose Day (10 March) and staying at that position the following week.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Masterton|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vdiTDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT45|title=Chart Watch UK – Hits of 1989|publisher=James Masterton|isbn=978-0-463-13857-1|language=en}}</ref><ref name="UK 1989" /> This meant it became Bananarama's joint highest-charting song, along with "[[Robert De Niro's Waiting...|Robert De Niro's Waiting]]" and "[[Love in the First Degree (Bananarama song)|Love in the First Degree]]".<ref name=":3" />

"Help!" was released with a B-side different version of the song, entitled as the bracketed "Straight Version" which removed the comedic parts by Lananeeneenoonoo. The 12-inch single featured another collaboration with Lananeeneenoonoo, "Love In The Factory", which was an improvised conversation sketch comedy featuring the two groups meeting in the studio.

For the 7-inch single release in Europe (outside of the UK) and Japan, the sides were switched, with the "Straight Version" of the song on the A-side.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> This was due to the fact the three comedians were not so well known outside of the UK.

=== Music video ===
The comedic music video was directed by [[Andy Morahan]]<ref name="Bananarama booklet"/> and features the members of Bananarama and Lananeeneenoonoo all dressed in matching outfits. Their choreographed performance of the song is interspersed with scenes of the two groups attempting to ski and ride kick scooters around the film studio. Several shirtless male backup dancers — credited as Bassie, Norman, and Paul — accompany them as they perform the song.<ref name="Bananarama booklet"/> Lananeeneenoonoo are featured with dialogue in the recording studio, and the production team look on in despair at their attempts at backing vocals.

=== Track listings ===
'''7-inch: London / LON 222 (UK)'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bananarama detailed discography – Help !|url=http://www.bananarama.co.uk/disco/singles/hp.htm|access-date=2020-10-24|website=bananarama.co.uk}}</ref>
# "Help!" – 2:58
# "Help" (Straight Version) – 2:22

'''7-inch: London / 886 492-7 / SOOP 1111 (Europe & Japan)'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Bananarama – Lananeeneenoonoo – Help!|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bananarama-Lananeeneenoonoo-Help/release/985296|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Discogs|year=1989 |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=discogs.com is not considered a reliable source, see WP:NOTRSMUSIC|date=October 2020}}<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Bananarama – Help|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bananarama-Help/release/1862514|access-date=2020-10-24|website=Discogs|year=1989 |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=discogs.com is not considered a reliable source, see WP:NOTRSMUSIC|date=October 2020}}
# "Help!" (Straight version) – 2:22
# "Help!" (Comedy version) – 2:58

'''12-inch: London / LONX 222 (UK)'''<ref name=":0" />
# "Help!" (Extended version) – 6:31
# "Love In The Factory" (Extended version) – 4:17

'''CD: London / LONCD 222 (UK)'''<ref name=":0" />
#"Help!" – 2:58
# "Help" (Straight version) – 2:22
#"Love In The Factory" (Extended version) – 4:17

'''CD Mini: London / 886 598-3 / P00L 40008 (Germany & Japan)'''<ref name=":0" />
# "Help" (Straight Version) – 2:22
# "Help!" – 2:58

=== Personnel ===
'''Musicians'''
* [[Sara Dallin]] – vocals
* [[Jacquie O'Sullivan]] – vocals
* [[Keren Woodward]] – vocals
* [[Dawn French]] – backing vocals
* [[Jennifer Saunders]] – backing vocals
* [[Kathy Burke]] – backing vocals
* [[Matt Aitken]] – guitar, keyboards
* [[Mike Stock (musician)|Mike Stock]] – keyboards
* George De Angelis – additional keyboards
* As on other Stock Aitken Waterman productions, the drummer is credited as 'A. Linn' (based on the [[Linn 9000]])<ref name="Bananarama booklet"/>

'''Technical'''<ref name="Bananarama booklet">{{Cite AV media notes|title=Help! 7" single|author=Bananarama |author2=Lananeeneenoonoo|year=1989|type=liner|publisher=[[London Records]]}}</ref>
* Karen Hewitt, Yoyo – engineering
* Pete Hammond – mixing
* Chris McDonnell, Gordon Dennis, Jason Barron, [[Pete Day]], Steve Davies – assistant mixing
* [[Terry O'Neill (photographer)|Terry O'Neill]] – photography

=== Charts ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

==== Weekly charts ====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Help!" by Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo
!Chart (1989)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|25|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|9|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Denmark ([[IFPI Danmark|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|date=5 May 1989|title=B.T.|magazine=[[B.T. (tabloid)|B.T.]]}}</ref>
|5
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-03-25.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=6|issue=12|pages=24–25|date=25 March 1989|access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref>
|9
|-
!scope="row"|European Airplay Top 50 (''[[Music & Media]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-04-01.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=6|issue=13|page=29|date=1 April 1989|access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref>
|6
|-
!scope="row"|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref name=Finland/>
|2
|-
{{single chart|France|6|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=Help|rowheader=true|refname=IEBanarama}}
|-
!scope="row"|Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref name=Italy/>
|15
|-
!scope="row"|Luxembourg ([[Radio Luxembourg]])<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDay=&ChMonth=&ChYear=&ChBand=Bananarama&ChSong= |title=Radio Luxembourg Singles |publisher=umdmusic.com|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|25|artist=Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|24|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|35|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|6|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|Portugal ([[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|AFP]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-05-27.pdf|title=Top 3 Singles in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=6|issue=21|date=27 May 1989|page=22|access-date=25 September 2020}}</ref>
|3
|-
!scope="row"|Quebec ([[ADISQ]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Franco/Franco-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf |title=Compilation des succès par ordre alphabétique d'interprètes |publisher=[[Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec]] |author=Michel Gignac |website=banq.qc.ca |page=50 |language=French |accessdate=3 April 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|42
|-
!scope="row"|Spain ([[Productores de Música de España|AFYVE]])<ref name=Spain/>
|4
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|2|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|8|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|3|artist=Bananarama|artistid=30294|rowheader=true|refname="UK 1989"}}
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|8|artist=Bananarama / Lananeeneenoonoo|song=Help|songid=1938|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}

==== Year-end charts ====
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Help!" by Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo
!Chart (1989)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1989|title=Jaaroverzichten 1989|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=nl|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
|82
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1989/M&M-1989-12-23.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 1989|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=6|issue=51|page=6|date=23 December 1989|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
|26
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Year End Singles|magazine=[[Record Mirror]]|page=44|date=27 January 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-top-40-best-selling-songs-of-1989__33088/|title=Official Top 40 best-selling songs of 1989|publisher=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] |first=Rob |last=Copsey |date=7 May 2021|access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>
|35
|-
!scope="row"|West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1989|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1989|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|language=de|access-date=9 February 2021}}</ref>
|53
|}
{{col-end}}

=== Certifications ===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|access-date=9 February 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Bananarama & Lananeenoonoo|title=Help|award=Silver|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|id=2842-524-1|access-date=9 February 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Other cover versions==
* [[John Farnham]] released a much-slower tempo, piano-based [[Sentimental ballad|ballad]] version of the song in 1980. His version peaked at No.&nbsp;8 on the Australian [[Kent Music Report]] singles chart.<ref name="Kent">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970&ndash;1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
* [[Tina Turner]] recorded a version of Farnham's arrangement of the song. This was recorded prior to, and then included on, her 1984 album ''[[Private Dancer]]''. Her version was a top forty hit in several countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/5864/Tina-Turner-Help|title=ultratop.be – Tina Turner – Help|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|access-date=2020-11-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21088/tina-turner/|title=Official Charts > Tina Turner|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=2019-05-28}}</ref>
* [[Carpenters (band)|The Carpenters]]  recorded the song on their album ''[[Close to You (The Carpenters album)|Close To You]]'', accidentally leaving off the exclamation point. After this, McCartney invited the Carpenters to socialise with him one evening at [[Strawberry Studios]] while he was recording the album ''[[McGear]]'' with his brother [[Mike McCartney|Mike]]. Lennon approved of the cover version, telling Karen, "I think you've got a fabulous voice."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2XkIEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1971 |first=Paul |last=Tornbohm |date=2024 |title=Carpenters On Track |publisher=Sonicbond Publishing |isbn=9781789522204}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{YouTube|4cro7kZKG2c|"Tina Turner - Help! (Official Music Video)"}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Badman |first=Keith |title=The Beatles Diary, Volume 2: After the Break-Up | publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London  |year=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2UA5rymtaQC&pg=PA352 |isbn=978-0-85712-001-4 }}
* {{cite book|last=Compton |first=Todd |year=2017 | title = Who Wrote the Beatle Songs? A History of Lennon-McCartney |publisher=Pahreah Press |location=San Jose |isbn=978-0-9988997-0-1 }}
* {{cite web
| title=Playboy Interview With Paul and Linda McCartney
| work=Beatles Interview Database
| year=1984
| url=http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/dbpm.int2.html
| access-date=6 December 2009
| ref={{SfnRef|Beatles Interview Database|1984}}
}}
* {{cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |title=The Complete Beatles Chronicle |publisher=Hamlyn |location=London |year=2000 |isbn=0-600-60033-5 }}
* {{cite book
| last=Miles
| first=Barry
| year=1998
| author-link=Barry Miles
| title=Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now
| publisher=[[Henry Holt and Company]]
| location=New York
| isbn=0-8050-5249-6
| url-access=registration
| url=https://archive.org/details/paulmccartneyman00mile
}}
*{{cite book|last=Miles|first=Barry|title=The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years|year=2001|publisher=Omnibus Press|location=London|isbn=0-7119-8308-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Miller |first=Mark Crispin |title=Boxed In: The Culture of TV |publisher=Northwestern University Press |year=1988 |url=https://archive.org/details/boxedincultureof00mill |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/boxedincultureof00mill/page/198 198] |isbn=0-8101-0792-9 }}
* {{cite web
| last=Pollack
| first=Alan W.
| year=2000
| author-link=Alan W. Pollack
| title=Notes on "Help!"
| work=Notes On ... Series
| url=https://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/h.shtml
| access-date=5 December 2009
}}
* {{cite book
| last1=Ryan 
| first1=Kevin 
| last2=Kehew 
| first2=Brian 
| author-link2=Brian Kehew 
| title=[[Recording The Beatles]] 
| publisher=Curvebender
| location=Houston  
| year=2006
| isbn=0-9785200-0-9}}
* {{cite book
| last=Spitz
| first=Bob
| year=2005
| author-link=Bob Spitz
| title=The Beatles: The Biography
| url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesbiography00spit
| publisher=[[Little, Brown]]
| location=Boston
| isbn=0-316-80352-9
}}
* {{cite book
| last=Wallgren
| first=Mark
| year=1982
| title=The Beatles on Record
| publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]
| location=New York
| isbn=0-671-45682-2
}}
* {{cite book
| last=Winn 
| first=John C. 
| title=Way Beyond Compare: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, 1957-1965 
| publisher=Random House 
| location=New York
| year=2008 
| isbn=978-0-307-45157-6
}}
* {{cite web
 |title=An Interview with Stanley Parks 
 |year=2004 
 |work=Lennon.net 
 |url=http://www.lennon.net/reflections/s_parkes5.shtml 
 |ref={{SfnRef|Lennon.net|2004}} 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115093028/http://www.lennon.net/reflections/s_parkes5.shtml 
 |archive-date=15 January 2009 
}}
* {{cite book 
|last=MacDonald 
|first=Ian 
|year=2005 
|author-link=Ian MacDonald 
|title=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties 
|edition=Second Revised 
|publisher=Pimlico (Rand) 
|location=London 
|isbn=1-84413-828-3 
}}
{{Refend}}

{{Wikiquote|Help! (album)}}
{{Help! (album)}}
{{The Beatles singles}}
{{John Farnham}}
{{Tina Turner singles}}
{{Bananarama}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Help! (Song)}}
[[Category:1965 singles]]
[[Category:1968 singles]]
[[Category:1984 singles]]
[[Category:1989 singles]]
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
[[Category:The Newbeats songs]]
[[Category:Tina Turner songs]]
[[Category:Bananarama songs]]
[[Category:The Damned (band) songs]]
[[Category:The Carpenters songs]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by George Martin]]
[[Category:Songs written by Lennon–McCartney]]
[[Category:Parlophone singles]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
[[Category:London Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs about depression]]
[[Category:Songs published by Northern Songs]]
[[Category:Film theme songs]]
[[Category:Comic Relief singles]]
[[Category:1965 songs]]
[[Category:British folk rock songs]]
[[Category:Songs about John Lennon]]