Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You
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We all love Paul and that is why we are on this board posting for the most part. That being said, there are times he can be annoying/frustrating with his actions. My top 5 is below, feel free to agree or disagree. Also, add your own if you would like. Here I go -lol!!
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Set List - Yes, we have beaten this subject to death (lol) but it is still the #1 thing that frustrates me about Paul as an artist. Years ago, he went to heavy Beatle setlist and never turned back. Myself and quite a few others think he has really done disservice to his solo career by not playing so many good songs in the 43 years since Wings.
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Interviews - 90% of all Paul interviews just make me shake my head in frustration. With almost any question he is asked, Paul will try to relate the answer with the something the Beatles or John Lennon did back in the 60's. Years ago, I suggested when watching Paul do an interview, drink a shot of liquor anytime he mentions the Beatles or John Lennon. If we did it, we all would probably get drunk pretty quick. I will let Paul "off the hook" a bit due to most people who interview him will usually ask the same old general Beatle type questions. I would pay big time money to read or hear interview with Paul where the Beatles or John Lennon are not mentioned. Let's remember everyone, the Beatles broke up 53 years ago.
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Voice - Paul had one of the greatest rock voices ever. Most artists voices will probably get a little worse as they age but Paul voice has gotten worse than most of the other artists in his era. This is due to his years of smoking cigarettes and weed and never doing simple things to help his voice like drinking more water at shows. Most artists do 3-4 song soundcheck but Paul does about an hour soundcheck so he can do big money grab charging top dollar for fans to watch it. You are not exactly helping your voice when you sing for an hour before doing 2-3 hour show. His current voice is frustrating because he has done so much damage to it by himself.
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Introducing the touring band - Every concert I have ever been to in 50 years the artists have always introduced the band members by name except Paul. This is done to give the band members some publicity but personal thanks for their contributions to the show. I actually think it is disrespectful not to do this and don't understand why Paul does not do it. I don't want to hear the BS that Paul thinks people know the band member's names because they have been touring with him since 2001. Most people attending Paul's concerts are first timers and they are clueless in regard to who is in his band. If any board member has heard Paul introduce the band, let me know. All the times I saw him, he never mentioned them.
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Stage Patter - Probably one of the most annoying things to me about a Paul concert is he tells the same stories year after year, tour after tour. Paul's shows are almost like a movie script with the same lines repeated night after night with very few ad-libs -lol. An artist like Paul must have so many stories he could talk about the songs he plays which would be wonderful to hear. Sadly, he will not share more of those experiences with us. One final thing is that I have noticed that Paul will never talk about a solo song (exception Here Today) and tell us something about it. He will basically say something like "this is a new song" and then play it. P.S. Paul, you may get better reaction to the new song if you actually seem to show the audience you like it and want to share with them what the song means to you.
Finally, I hope nobody takes offense to this post. I love Paul as an artist and have almost every album he has ever put out. I have also seen him live a bunch starting in 1976. I just would hope if he or his team every read my post, they would take it as constructive criticism.
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@yankeefan2 Hear, hear! I agree with everything you wrote! Great post!
I remember the last time I was entertained by his stage patter: 2002 (he told the story about getting a massage and the woman starts singing “Yesterday!”) Did he tell stories in 1976, 1990 0r 1993? I don’t recall! After 2002, I missed the 2005 tour and didn’t see him until 2013. After that, same old stories! ️
For all the reasons you listed, even though I’ll always love the man, I will never go see him in concert again. -
It's a great thread, this. Well done, Yankee.
Firstly, Paul certainly introduced some members of the band in Wings Over America. If not the band, the guys that were playing in the background. On sax, etc. Howard Casey?
On the subject of his voice, I'm not sure how much the cigarettes and weed have attributed to the decline of his voice. I think he was so brilliant vocally - peaking in '76, and I will argue his voice was top notch on Back to the Egg.... I think the problem is he set such high standards.... Nobody complains about the diminishing voices of Dylan, Springstein, Mark Knoffler and others.. cos they never had great voices to begin with.... So, Paul is a victim of having such a dynamic voice, to begin with... a victim of his own brilliance.... But I reckon he stopped "ripping" his voice in the early 80's. Ballroom Dancing, a hint of it. The Pound is Sinking, a touch of it. I reckon the last we heard of his rip-roaring voice was from Back to the Egg.... almost like it was a conscious decision? Well, in my view, he stopped his great roaring voice after Back to the Egg.
This being said, I don't like the "old" voice.
From a concert set point of view, I'm not all that upset that he does so many Beatles' and Wings tracks... I would like a substitution to allow Rocky Raccoon or Oh! Darling (and yes, his voice wouldn't manage the original, but he could adapt/improvise... there is a version on one of the Anthologies where he does Why Don't We Do it in the Road with a certain softness)..... ps. a great song from Chaos.
I do agree, however, that he has short-changed his post-Wings career.
I'd like him to drop seven or eight songs and replace them with his post-Wings career. I've always advocated him doing a Tug of War/Pipes of Peace medley. And, if it was a part of an accoustic set (ala Wings over America) I'd like him to throw in Hope of Deliverance and Put it There.
Now, many will disagree with this.... but I would love him to perform Say, Say, Say and/or Ebony and Ivory... from memory, I think they were both Number Ones. The audience would know them, and Paul could do a bit of banter beforehand to keep the audience engaged.
One of my fave Paul songs is Beautiful Night.... He should do that in the last three or four songs of the concert, cos noone will be taking a toilet break cos they know the concert is almost over.
I am aware I've mentioned no songs since the tick of 2000.. This is where he cannot go overboard.... Whilst they are not necessarily my favourite songs from the Last 23 years....
I'd go "Who Cares".... cost it sends a wonderful message.
The End of The End (took me a long time to even like that song, but it eventually grabbed me.... quite haunting)
I love Dominoes.... would it resonate in a concert?
That Was Me.... might work. He could do that against the background of a screen showing his highlights.
Queenie Eye... I really like... but does it make the cut for a concert? A lot of celebs in that video. Might help.
He has so many great songs over the last 22 years.... but.... in my humble view, they do not usurp the brilliance of time gone by.
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@toris ps. I am so sick of hearing about scrambled eggs.... I do them hard boiled!
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@toris And I love Paul!!! I'm not trying to be provocative.... But come up with Paul's best 14 songs since 2000..... there are some great songs in the mix... but... they don't measure to his best songs with the Beatles or Wings... or even the period from the 80's-90's.... we will agree to disagree.... It doesn't really matter.... cos, either way, we all love Paul.
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@yankeefan2
Yes, I hear your frustration with Paul as much as you do. To me it starts with your #1 of the Top 5 Reasons.
I still remember his Tours/ Setlist after his last 2 Albums...McCartney3 and Egypt Station. In my opinion, both Albums were generally very good. With great anticipation we were guessing which great songs were going to be played. With Both tours I was equally disappointed with the results.
On the tour after McCartney 3, I was the most annoyed. As everyone here remembers, we got only 1 song from McCartney 3. Where was "Slidin"? Where was "Find My Way" and "Seize the Day"? Where was "When Winter Comes" and "Kiss of Venus"? We got none of them and yet Paul trots out the same Beatle songs he's been doing for years. I was so anxious to hear how Paul and his "Full Band" were going to interpret these great "new" songs. And yet we only got "Women and Wives" at only some of the Shows. What a wasted opportunity for big time fans like you and me.During the tour after Egypt Station it was equally frustrating. Instead of getting great songs like "I Don't Know", "Happy With You", "Dominoes ", and "Who Cares", he trots out "meaningless" songs like "Fuh You" and " Come On To Me". How frustrating!
I remember the 2002 Tour after "Driving Rain" was Released. At that time I thought Paul was the Best "Live" Show on the Planet. After the 2005 and 2009 Tours, it has gone downhill from there. In all honesty, his Tours have become an " Oldies Concert" with Macca just concentrating on his Beatle songs. Instead of Paul being a "Cutting Edge and Unpredictable" artist, his shows are a model for "predictable" hits. I no longer go to his shows for the reasons I hav given above.
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@b-j-conlee said in Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You:
@yankeefan2
Yes, I hear your frustration with Paul as much as you do. To me it starts with your #1 of the Top 5 Reasons.
I still remember his Tours/ Setlist after his last 2 Albums...McCartney3 and Egypt Station. In my opinion, both Albums were generally very good. With great anticipation we were guessing which great songs were going to be played. With Both tours I was equally disappointed with the results.
On the tour after McCartney 3, I was the most annoyed. As everyone here remembers, we got only 1 song from McCartney 3. Where was "Slidin"? Where was "Find My Way" and "Seize the Day"? Where was "When Winter Comes" and "Kiss of Venus"? We got none of them and yet Paul trots out the same Beatle songs he's been doing for years. I was so anxious to hear how Paul and his "Full Band" were going to interpret these great "new" songs. And yet we only got "Women and Wives" at only some of the Shows. What a wasted opportunity for big time fans like you and me.During the tour after Egypt Station it was equally frustrating. Instead of getting great songs like "I Don't Know", "Happy With You", "Dominoes ", and "Who Cares", he trots out "meaningless" songs like "Fuh You" and " Come On To Me". How frustrating!
I remember the 2002 Tour after "Driving Rain" was Released. At that time I thought Paul was the Best "Live" Show on the Planet. After the 2005 and 2009 Tours, it has gone downhill from there. In all honesty, his Tours have become an " Oldies Concert" with Macca just concentrating on his Beatle songs. Instead of Paul being a "Cutting Edge and Unpredictable" artist, his shows are a model for "predictable" hits. I no longer go to his shows for the reasons I hav given above.
No offence, BJ,..... I love ya.... but those songs you mention - from McCartney 3... in the fullness of the McCartney catalogue - are-C-grade. deep, deep, deep.... D-Grade... McCartney 3 was very ordinary.... Please don't take offence. Just my view! ... I'll always take Mary Had a Little Lamb above them all! Far superior melody.
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@toris
Tori's, I think Paul still had a great voice during "Run Devil Run". His "Live" shows with his David Gilmour Band in 1999 was amazing. Also if you dig out his 1992 "Up Close" Concert at the Ed Sullivan Theater his voice was terrific. Vocally, his voice especially on the "Off the Ground" songs were so much better than what we got on the studio album. I thought his voice was strong as late as 2010 and 2011 but from that point it has gone downhill significantly. -
@b-j-conlee said in Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You:
@toris
Tori's, I think Paul still had a great voice during "Run Devil Run". His "Live" shows with his David Gilmour Band in 1999 was amazing. Also if you dig out his 1992 "Up Close" Concert at the Ed Sullivan Theater his voice was terrific. Vocally, his voice especially on the "Off the Ground" songs were so much better than what we got on the studio album. I thought his voice was strong as late as 2010 and 2011 but from that point it has gone downhill significantly.Mate, in my view, his voice was never the same after Back to the Egg.... that was full-on raw.... I loved his voice on that album.... never the same after that.... got the occasional lift in Ballroom Dancing and The Pound is Sinking.... but never the same after that. It's like he withdrew it. He has never fully vocally pushed himself since Back to the Egg. A most underrated album. He has restricted himself ever since.
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@toris said in Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You:
" Now, many will disagree with this.... but I would love him to perform Say, Say, Say and/or Ebony and Ivory... from memory, I think they were both Number Ones. The audience would know them, and Paul could do a bit of banter beforehand to keep the audience engaged."Paul did do "Ebony and Ivory" on 1990 tour and it did not go over well IMO. While Hamish did a good vocal with Paul on the song, he is not Stevie Wonder. The same thing with "Say Say Say", you can't replace IMO Michael Jackson, song would not be the same.
"I am aware I've mentioned no songs since the tick of 2000.. This is where he cannot go overboard.... Whilst they are not necessarily my favourite songs from the Last 23 years....
"I'd go "Who Cares".... cost it sends a wonderful message."
Paul did this a few times live and I agree 100% with you. He should have played it regularly on tour and I thought it should have been the first single. The message would have been perfect for Paul to pitch song to radio station DJ's.
"The End of The End (took me a long time to even like that song, but it eventually grabbed me.... quite haunting)"
Love the song but concert is not the place for song about the day that you die IMO.
"I love Dominoes.... would it resonate in a concert?"
I think it would in acoustic part of show.
"That Was Me.... might work. He could do that against the background of a screen showing his highlights."
Check out youtube clip of Paul doing this song in Paris, it was great and got good crowd reaction. Not sure if he ever did it again after that show.
"Queenie Eye... I really like... but does it make the cut for a concert? A lot of celebs in that video. Might help."
Paul did this on several tours and I think it can be cut and add another solo song like "Promise To You Girl".
"Firstly, Paul certainly introduced some members of the band in Wings Over America. If not the band, the guys that were playing in the background. On sax, etc. Howard Casey?"
My main point about introductions were his 1990/1993 touring band and his current one.
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We will have to Agree to Disagree Nancy about McCartney 3. Yes, a couple of the tracks (like the "Feeling" songs) could be considered "C" Grade but the specific songs I mentioned in my Reply to Yankeefan are very very good imo. The main reason I was so disappointed in the absence of "Find My Way", "Seize the Day" "Slidin" etc. was I wanted to hear how those songs sounded "Live" with the Full Band and Paul. Unfortunately we will never know because Paul went back to his Beatle Songs (And Wings Hits) we always get. I can only imagine how great a rocker like "Slidin" could have sounded. Instead we got "Helter Skelter" again that he has done a hundred of times.
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Only one song from "McCartney III" was mind blowing and the song he selected made me shake my head. "Find My Way" IMO is almost pop perfection and should have been played. The last straw for me with Paul's setlist is when he started playing a song like "Being for The Benefit of Mr. Kite" instead of a good solo song. Really, does a "first timer" go to a show and say "Gee, I hope Paul plays "Being for The Benefit of Mr. Kite" tonight - lol!!!
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@yankeefan2 said in Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You:
@toris said in Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You:
" Now, many will disagree with this.... but I would love him to perform Say, Say, Say and/or Ebony and Ivory... from memory, I think they were both Number Ones. The audience would know them, and Paul could do a bit of banter beforehand to keep the audience engaged."Paul did do "Ebony and Ivory" on 1990 tour and it did not go over well IMO. While Hamish did a good vocal with Paul on the song, he is not Stevie Wonder. The same thing with "Say Say Say", you can't replace IMO Michael Jackson, song would not be the same.
"I am aware I've mentioned no songs since the tick of 2000.. This is where he cannot go overboard.... Whilst they are not necessarily my favourite songs from the Last 23 years....
"I'd go "Who Cares".... cost it sends a wonderful message."
Paul did this a few times live and I agree 100% with you. He should have played it regularly on tour and I thought it should have been the first single. The message would have been perfect for Paul to pitch song to radio station DJ's.
"The End of The End (took me a long time to even like that song, but it eventually grabbed me.... quite haunting)"
Love the song but concert is not the place for song about the day that you die IMO.
"I love Dominoes.... would it resonate in a concert?"
I think it would in acoustic part of show.
"That Was Me.... might work. He could do that against the background of a screen showing his highlights."
Check out youtube clip of Paul doing this song in Paris, it was great and got good crowd reaction. Not sure if he ever did it again after that show.
"Queenie Eye... I really like... but does it make the cut for a concert? A lot of celebs in that video. Might help."
Paul did this on several tours and I think it can be cut with another solo song like "Promise To You Girl".
"Firstly, Paul certainly introduced some members of the band in Wings Over America. If not the band, the guys that were playing in the background. On sax, etc. Howard Casey?"
My main point about introductions were his 1990/1993 touring band and his current one.
But the Tug Of War/Pipes of Peace medley?..... Even if it was Followed by Tug of Peace?
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I don't remember him saying anything in 1976 outside of a quick intro of the next song and it was rare. I do remember him talking a bit between songs in 1993 tour. My last Paul concert was in 2010 and only reason I went to it was my daughters had never seen him and wanted to share the experience with them.
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"Slidin" would have been awesome live with this band, another missed opportunity by Paul.
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@yankeefan2 said in Top 5 Reasons Paul Frustrates/Annoys You:
I don't remember him saying anything in 1976 outside of a quick intro of the next song and it was rare. I do remember him talking a bit between songs in 1993 tour. My last Paul concert was in 2010 and only reason I went to it was my daughters had never seen him and wanted to share the experience with them.
He did little introductions in 76. Nothing major. I recall Fred Astaire getting a mention.
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@toris
Nancy
Mary Had a Little Lamb over Find My Way, Seize the Day, Slidin! Are you kidding me?
There is probably no one on this Board who loves Paul's Solo Career more than me but when I was putting my Flip Sides/Leftovers Proposed CDs together I listed plenty of Rare/Unknown Paul Songs but I never included Mary Had a Little Lamb.
It was a cute little Children's Type song but not one of his best Solo Songs by a long stretch. To each his own I guess. I have no remember that music is a subjective thing. -
@yankeefan2
I realize that some on this Board don't particularly like McCartney 3 like you and me. I respect their opinions nevertheless. I'm still thinking how terrific songs like "Find My Way", "Slidin", "Seize the Day", When Winter Comes,etc might have sounded on Tour with Paul and his "Full Band". You're so right about a "Missed Opportunity". It might have changed some minds as to the relative strength of those songs. Paul hurts himself so often just going back to his "comfort" zone with his Setlist choices in my opinion. As we have continually said very often that Paul's "Live" renditions can be so much better than what he does in the Studio. -
@b-j-conlee
In my limited view, I think Mary Had A little Lamb and the flipside Little Woman Love had more melody and soul than 80% of McCartney 3.... No offence.... Just the way I evaluate it. To each his or her own. All good.