Set List critique
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RMartinez:
audi:
OK, so we're not gonna get the dream setlist we've been waiting and waiting for. At the very, very, very least, all we can hope for is that he'll occasionally throw us a bone. But Paul McCartney possesses neither the interest nor the discipline to learn "The Pound Is Sinking" or "About You."
In a sense, he called his own solo material sh*t.
And he also underestimated the intelligence of his own audience.
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I don't like the "bunch of s#@%" comment either but the rest of it doesn't really surprise me, as he says, "But it's not like I'm Phish, you know." He's never been one for drastically altering the set lists and I never expected him to change into somebody who will start. I'm just happy to be getting 4 songs from NEW on this tour.
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In that DVD that came with the so-called "deluxe" version of NEW, he expressly acknowledge that many fans have seen their show several times. WTF about them/us???? I give up.
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I don't even need "deep cuts"...just a fair representation of his musical career. It did last a lot longer than 1969. Or wait...who have I been listening to?
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My hunch is that nobody in his camp is going to suggest rocking the boat. Why mess up their gravy-train?
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At least he's being ASKED about it now. This Rolling Stone quote -- plus the Tribune review last week -- maybe a seed has, at least, been planted in ol' Macca's mind.
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audi:
My hunch is that nobody in his camp is going to suggest rocking the boat. Why mess up their gravy-train?
Yep...as it is it is now a well oiled machine.
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Ok, back to fantasy-land. The ultimate set list that will never happen but would be mind-blowing (I added a few more tweaks in bold). And a real shame that Paul absolutely just will not touch that Rickenbacker... Venus & Mars / Rockshow (complete with "Green Metal Suit" spoken verse and with Rickenbacker) Jet Letting Go Ticket To Ride All My Loving Listen to What the Man Said Silly Love Songs (with Rickenbacker) Another Girl My Valentine Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five Mrs. Vanderbilt The Long and Winding Road Maybe I?m Amazed I?ve Just Seen a Face I'm Looking Through You Put It There Another Day So Bad (with Rickenbacker) And I Love Her Bluebird Young Boy New Queenie Eye Lady Madonna All Together Now Lovely Rita She's A Woman Everybody Out There Ever Present Past A Day In The Life All Things Must Pass Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Band on the Run Back in the U.S.S.R. Let It Be Live and Let Die Hey Jude Encore: I Want To Hold Your Hand A Hard Day's Night No Values (with Rickenbacker) Hi, Hi, Hi (Wings song) Encore 2: Yesterday Backseat Of My Car No More Lonely Nights Soily
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well I just have to say this about that. Paul got into this thing to meet girls and have fun! it would seam to me that is what Paul is doing. he is having a Blast! he never Imagined all of this, happening to him. and so fans are disappointed in what set list Paul has. well I say TB to that! I have paid several hundred dollars to be MACCA- MAGIC! yeah sometimes my seating sucks, but so what, I am their, and I am HAPPY to be! I make the best of it! and when I see Paul IN CONCERT, I AM THRILLED AND APPRECIATED AND honored TO BE a Part of someone Music, who has given me hope faith and love to carry on! in my Life he means more to me than life, for he is my music Instructor! Meantor and friend. a Creative Music Challenge for me! when I see him, I am looking back at me! in all creativity!! saw the Beatles, for $8 in 64, was thrilled! my life changed forever! so now, he does not play out of Sequence, or impromptu for you? who said he would do that to please you. he does what Paul sees what people our age 50 and up, want and the young ones to with "NEW" . he owes us really nothing. he cant do some songs cause it may just hurt him to much to perform now. ever think of that? he did over 25 yrs with the most Wonderful Lady in his Life. he may not want to perform those songs as what they meant personally for him. too close to home songs, he may to Intimate before folks who are more Respectful Kind and Honorable to what he has gone thru in his past. those sensitivities we MUST leave it be! and let him be what he wants to be. were just his stage, for him to preform his creativeness, of which he spends over 17thousand hours prepping for tours and proudicing and Making of CD and more! I shall never say, he did not do this or what I wanted. he does exactly what he wants to please us Humanitarrians, who love and serve him well! us Humanitarians are APPRECIATIVE HONORED and THANKFULL and Grateful he is doing well! and Performing better than anyone on the Planet! I shall Appreciate him and I reciprocate to him back the love and energy he give to me! I only wish I could serve him up a smile, and anything he needs to make him Happy and feeling Youthful and making him feel loved and Honored, to be in his presence! I have such respect, and kindness to him, I send with love, sent by angels up above. to make him feel as tho they have healed Paul's heart mind and spirit! and you should all be in this mindset! that is what LILY asked me to keep this all in mind. you stop critiquing and be thankful, grateful and appreciate his love he gives us! thru his music. Paul is Beauty Love and Kindess. as I wrote all of this, I broke out crying. just now, as I see Paul as my blessing! with love Vicki
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You're right....Paul doesn't owe us anything. Until we start paying anywhere from $50-$2,000 to attend a show. Then he owes approx. 20,000 QUITE a lot every night.
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Some random thoughts on the whole thing: I have now seen Paul in concert seven times -- soon to be eight when I take my kids to see him in Minneapolis next month. I saw him in Fargo and loved the show, but I have to admit, if I wasn't taking my kids to a show for the first time, I would consider not going. The show is getting to be very repetitive, from the set lists, to the story he tells (seriously, they are word for word the same) to the preshows. Add to that that I constantly get distracted by obnoxious, and sometimes rude seatmates, and it almost isn't worth it. Money is getting tight and I can't justify spending it anymore. And unless he significantly changes the setlist next tour (let's hope he tours again!), I probably won't be going, at least I won't be forking over $250 for floor seats. And just so you know my situation. I live four hours away from the biggest city. So a concert stop also includes hotel/parking/gas and food. A trip to Fargo/Minneapolis for a show can easily top $1,000 for two. Second, I was over the moon when Paul announced he was going to tour again. I knew the tour was the same name as his 2013 swing, but I figured the setlist would probably be changed a bit. So I stayed off messages boards and forums to stay spoiler free. And then I went to the concert, and it was exactly the same as 2013, save for the four new songs I was expecting him to perform. Which leads me to my next few points. I think we all know that Paul McCartney is a crowd pleaser. He wants to provide the best possible show for the majority of fans. What's the best possible show? The hits. And that's what he gives them. And when he does bring in new songs, they are of the up-tempo variety. Paul is a victim of his own success. He was in the most succesful band in history, and since he charges so much for tickets, people expect to see the songs from the most succesful band in history. But just imagine this for a second: Take away the fact that Paul was ever in the Beatles and look at his solo career as a standalone piece of work with no prior history. If THAT artist was coming to town, it would still be a HIGHLY ANTICIPATED show. He could perform for three hours of songs that were nothing but hits (sure, some of them might be top 40 or even top 100, but most will be familiar to the casual fan). My Brave Face, The World Tonight, Dance Tonight, Hope of Deliverance, Beware My Love, I've Had Enough, Uncle Albert, No More Lonely Nights, Lonely Road, Tug of War. Most acts in the same generation would kill for a set list like that, and they aren't even the biggest hits of his. My point being, the average fan expects a Beatles show and they get a Beatles show, but there is a wiggle room. When I go to a Tom Petty concert or a Elton John concert, I expect to hear the hits, sure. But I remember one time I went to see Paul Simon and he played a few songs I was unfamiliar with. After the show, I turned to my dad and said, 'Hey, what was that song he played after xxx.' I then went home and downloaded it. Paul will never have a better opportunity to promote his catalogue than at a concert. Just stick with some uptempo/catchy tunes. Doesn't have to be a hard rocker, but playing a slow ballad to an audience that hasn't heard it before probably won't work. Those songs take a while to digest. Rant over. Thanks for listening.
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And two more: Let Me Roll It HAS TO GO. I still cannot understand what his love affair with that song is. It wasn't even that big of a hit. I love Wix, but the synth strings/horns/band parts are old. We pay $250 for a ticket and get that? How hard would it be to add a small strings/horn/saxophone player to the show every night? Maybe work with the local universities/symphonies and get them to play one or two songs with Paul everynight. Would be the highlight of their lives, and it would be fun to see. Just an idea.
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After recently seeing Paul in Fargo and seeing how the set list hardly ever changes and the stories stay the same, I was honestly thinking how the band members feel about it all. I'm sure they pinch themselves that they are playing for Paul McCartney, but do you think they get sick of it? Combined with the 89 and 93 tours, Wix has probably played Hey Jude, Band on the Run, Let Me Roll it and others 2,000 times. And the rest of the band , night after night, they do the exact same show. No changes. Stories stay the same. Fireworks the same. Songs the same. Think they ever complain to each other over a beer?
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Maccafan82:
And one more: Let Me Roll It HAS TO GO. I still cannot understand what his love affair with that song is. It wasn't even that big of a hit.
he chooses that song cause Nancy Loves it. that is why
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maccalindandme:
Maccafan82:
And one more: Let Me Roll It HAS TO GO. I still cannot understand what his love affair with that song is. It wasn't even that big of a hit.
he chooses that song cause Nancy Loves it. that is why
It's been in constant rotation well before Nancy came along. He started playing it every show in1993 and hasn't stopped since, unless I am missing a show here or there. He has played it everytime in the seven times I have seen him since 2002.
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Maccafan82:
And two more: Let Me Roll It HAS TO GO. I still cannot understand what his love affair with that song is. It wasn't even that big of a hit. I love Wix, but the synth strings/horns/band parts are old. We pay $250 for a ticket and get that? How hard would it be to add a small strings/horn/saxophone player to the show every night? Maybe work with the local universities/symphonies and get them to play one or two songs with Paul everynight. Would be the highlight of their lives, and it would be fun to see. Just an idea.
Your second point is something I've had a problem with for a long time. And it's exactly the reason why I hate the arrangement of "Eleanor Rigby" live. I love Wix, too, but those cheesy sounding synths makes the song sound terrible.
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I think the reason "Let Me Roll It" is staying is just simply because Paul uses it as a chance to Rock. It is also a song that most people remember even though it was a bside and and album cut. Thus, with people remembering it goes over well with the crowd. I can't honestly put it into words.. For some reason I think it's the only Wings rocker he think he can play and please the crowd. Which is not true. I personally don't think anyone would be heartbroken if he replaced it for "Letting Go", "Beware My Love", "Girls School", "Old Siam, Sir" or other Wings rockers.
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I think he plays Let Me Roll It because that song was often compared favourably by contemporary critics of the BOTR album to Lennon's solo material. It doesn't sound particularly Lennon-esque to me but perhaps he plays it at least partly because it was critically acclaimed as a more 'serious' song compared to his pop hits. It certainly doesn't fit the bill in terms of playing the big hits & could/should easily be replaced. There's also something ironic in playing a few more 'obscure' numbers to the devoted fans who are willing/able to pay massive sums to attend soundcheck & then totally ignore those people when it comes to the actual show! Those comment in RS are confused as has been pointed out by posters on this thread-from the ( presumably unintentional) implication that a lot of his solo songs are sh.t to the remarks about "loads" of people wanting to hear one show and "loads" wanting another type of show. That implies a 50/50 split so surely the sensible thing would be for 'crowd pleasing' Paul to cater to both needs by playing a more balanced set. In the end though I'm sure he plays so many familiar tunes because they are guaranteed to get a massively positive crowd reaction. Paul seems to determine success in terms of the size of crowd and the audience response to each number. Dylan on the other hand has said he couldn't care less if a venue he plays is sold out or not! I actually remember a band member once said Bob is often more determined to 'do his own thing' if he senses the crowd are getting restless/displeased. That theory mask sense-his first electric tour with the booing crowds and then his 'gospel' shows in the late 70's early 80's. no coincidence that both of those tours contain some of the greatest and most intense shows of his ( or anybody else's) career. I have a bootleg of one of the gospel shows and right near the start he sarcastically says ' we won't be playing any of the old songs tonight so if anyone wants to walk out you better do it now...there might be somebody outside who wants the ticket' Ironically these days Dylan does play a largely static set ( with the occasional mad night when the set list goes out of the window) but the songs he plays are almost all drawn from his recent ( post 1997) albums with the latest album Tempest providing the basis for the show. Amusingly the change has resulted in some of his best live reviews in years from both audiences & critics.
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SoilyCompany76:
I think the reason "Let Me Roll It" is staying is just simply because Paul uses it as a chance to Rock....... For some reason I think it's the only Wings rocker he think he can play and please the crowd. Which is not true. .
I agree with both the notion that Paul probably believes what you said, but that in reality it's not true. I've never taken a bathroom or concession stand break during one of Paul's shows...but that song is definitely marked as my 'just in case - emergency break' slot
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He is going for the easy money and the easy applause. I am not knocking that. He has said his main audience at this point for live performance are first timers and casual concert goers who want a Beatles thrill. He said that. I won't travel to see him anymore. Having said that, if he did a show in my city, I would go and be thrilled. In a 38 song set list five songs should be obscure deep cuts. No excuse. Or even change the set list around, bring in some rarities. If songs can be played at sound check, they can be in the set list in rotation. There are ways to do it. He just won't.