Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre - Oct. 17, 2015 - ARCHIVE
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For the guy in the audience that he talked to a little and said he wasn't the only pebble on the sand, he had a sign that said "If you [can't remember, maybe sign me or my sign?] I'll go vegan." For the couple that was having their 35 anniversary that he brought on stage, the guy said something to the effect of, no disrespect to Nancy, but we've modeled our marriage after Paul and Linda.... Never spent a night apart...except for the time in a Japan prison after the pot bust. I couldn't believe he went there! (He did say that, right? It wasn't just in my head??) Then the mother and daughter came out, and the mom had a sign something like, Please sign my daughter's shirt, she's too young for a tattoo. I don't think the guy said that. When he said that, like Paul and Linda, they hadn't spent a night a part, I myself thought that they had spent time apart when he was in jail in Japan but I don't think the guy on stage said that. He said that they hadn't spent the night apart, except for maybe a hockey tournament. (He didn't reference Japan.)
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moptops:
SusyLuvsPaul:
Why does he perform "Mull of Kintyre" only in Toronto?
He doesn't! He sings it in many places!
He plays it in Canada because it was a hit in Canada but also because it is not only part of the British Commonwealth but because there are a lot of people of Scottish ancestry living in Canada. Toronto certainly has a lot of people of English, Scottish and Irish extraction but I wouldn't say that would be particularly different than anywhere else in Canada except of course for Quebec. If the question is why doesn't he play it in the US I think it is because Paul never forgets. The song was not a hit in the US because the record company pushed Girls School as the single and that was the song that radio played instead of Mull and, at that time, a record could not become a hit without radio play. It likely would have been a hit in the States if that had been the song that was played.
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beatcomber:
moptops:
SusyLuvsPaul:
Why does he perform "Mull of Kintyre" only in Toronto?
He doesn't! He sings it in many places!
He plays it in Canada because it was a hit in Canada but also because it is not only part of the British Commonwealth but because there are a lot of people of Scottish ancestry living in Canada. Toronto certainly has a lot of people of English, Scottish and Irish extraction but I wouldn't say that would be particularly different than anywhere else in Canada except of course for Quebec. If the question is why doesn't he play it in the US I think it is because Paul never forgets. The song was not a hit in the US because the record company pushed Girls School as the single and that was the song that radio played instead of Mull and, at that time, a record could not become a hit without radio play. It likely would have been a hit in the States if that had been the song that was played.
Bingo. There was also the school of thought that the song would not resonate with septics. And it doesn't.
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beatcomber:
moptops:
SusyLuvsPaul:
Why does he perform "Mull of Kintyre" only in Toronto?
He doesn't! He sings it in many places!
He plays it in Canada because it was a hit in Canada but also because it is not only part of the British Commonwealth but because there are a lot of people of Scottish ancestry living in Canada. Toronto certainly has a lot of people of English, Scottish and Irish extraction but I wouldn't say that would be particularly different than anywhere else in Canada except of course for Quebec. If the question is why doesn't he play it in the US I think it is because Paul never forgets. The song was not a hit in the US because the record company pushed Girls School as the single and that was the song that radio played instead of Mull and, at that time, a record could not become a hit without radio play. It likely would have been a hit in the States if that had been the song that was played.
_______________________________________________________ In my opinion, if that is the main reason (see above) that Paul doesn't play Mull of Kintyre in the US, then it is a stupid reason and only hurts Paul's legacy. First of all, so many years has passed since Mull wasn't played on US radio. It's like 38 years ago. People under 50 weren't even born yet or would be too young to even remember. If I was Paul's manager I would tell him that Mull of Kintyre should be another US "Signature Solo Song in his Catalog" and the only way to change that fact is by playing it in his US live shows like it was Maybe I'm Amazed. An artist should always give their audiencet more credit. If they hear a great song and the excitement that goes with it (Bag pipes etc.) they will gravitate towards loving the song. Again, if it is a great song and I believe it is. Unfortunately, many Beatle fans who are not Beatle solo fans don't really know Mull of Kintyre. Paul is the only person that can change that fact. On top of the reasons above, Mull is not only a great song but it is still in Paul's vocal wheelhouse even in 2015. I think the Toronto U-tube clips prove that.
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B J Conlee:
beatcomber:
moptops:
SusyLuvsPaul:
Why does he perform "Mull of Kintyre" only in Toronto?
He doesn't! He sings it in many places!
He plays it in Canada because it was a hit in Canada but also because it is not only part of the British Commonwealth but because there are a lot of people of Scottish ancestry living in Canada. Toronto certainly has a lot of people of English, Scottish and Irish extraction but I wouldn't say that would be particularly different than anywhere else in Canada except of course for Quebec. If the question is why doesn't he play it in the US I think it is because Paul never forgets. The song was not a hit in the US because the record company pushed Girls School as the single and that was the song that radio played instead of Mull and, at that time, a record could not become a hit without radio play. It likely would have been a hit in the States if that had been the song that was played.
_______________________________________________________ In my opinion, if that is the main reason (see above) that Paul doesn't play Mull of Kintyre in the US, then it is a stupid reason and only hurts Paul's legacy. .
Paul has done many things through the years that appear "stupid" to us. However like anything he has his reasons, whatever they might be. Will not playing MOK in the USA hurt his legacy? Nup.
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moptops:
Will not playing MOK in the USA hurt his legacy?
Legacy.........I'm not half the man I used to be..............
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If Paul won't play Mull in the USA because Girl School was the single instead, then he should play Girl School at every US gig.
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RMartinez:
If Paul won't play Mull in the USA because Girl School was the single instead, then he should play Girl School at every US gig.
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veggieburgher:
RMartinez:
If Paul won't play Mull in the USA because Girl School was the single instead, then he should play Girl School at every US gig.
Girls' School would be a great song to hear live! Maybe it wasn't fair of me to imply that he doesn't play Mull in the States because he's bitter that the record company pushed Girls' School instead of Mull, which possibly cost him another number 1 single and a lot of money as a result. While that is possibly true maybe he simply doesn't play it because he seeks to please his audience and since it wasn't a hit in the States he doesn't feel that it would get as positive a reception as a song that was a hit? Girls' School peaked at 33 or 34 or something like that so I guess that would be considered a deep cut from his catalogue if he thinks that the average concert goer is not familiar with many of his songs that weren't "hits" or Beatles songs. I would expect that any of the folks who are on this forum are likely die hard fans and would welcome an entire show of hidden gems and deep cuts, but he doesn't plan set lists for us. I do agree with whomever said that Mull is great for him to play now because it isn't one of his most challenging vocal performances and the spectacle of the pipe band joining him on stage is terrific for the show. I guess the other consideration is whether or not the place he is playing has a really good local pipe band that could join him on stage. (I'm would think that would be fairly easy in the American midwest and north east.)
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America in the 70's would never have understood a Scottish waltz, nor the sentiment I doubt the majority would now.
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Growing up, all I ever knew was Mull of Kintyre was the biggest selling single of all time in Britain/England/The United Kingdom/The Empire.... that general region.... And I loved it!... and still do... I was actually at the time confused when I read it never took on in the U.S.... a simple song. Simple in its beauty. Largely ignored, when it should be lauded as one of his greats.... still confused by it all
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toris:
Growing up, all I ever knew was Mull of Kintyre was the biggest selling single of all time in Britain/England/The United Kingdom/The Empire.... that general region.... And I loved it!... and still do... I was actually at the time confused when I read it never took on in the U.S.... a simple song. Simple in its beauty. Largely ignored, when it should be lauded as one of his greats.... still confused by it all
Not and NEVER largely ignored. Let's get that straight.
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moptops:
toris:
Growing up, all I ever knew was Mull of Kintyre was the biggest selling single of all time in Britain/England/The United Kingdom/The Empire.... that general region.... And I loved it!... and still do... I was actually at the time confused when I read it never took on in the U.S.... a simple song. Simple in its beauty. Largely ignored, when it should be lauded as one of his greats.... still confused by it all
Not and NEVER largely ignored. Let's get that straight.
Not ignored by me.... But ignored by the biggest market at the time.... Or rather, not particularly well sold to the biggest market!
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moptops:
America in the 70's would never have understood a Scottish waltz, nor the sentiment I doubt the majority would now.
And why would we? Or should we? It's hardly his greatest song. I don't miss not hearing it in concert. I am a folk musician so can appreciate it. But it would be lost on most folks.
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RMartinez:
moptops:
America in the 70's would never have understood a Scottish waltz, nor the sentiment I doubt the majority would now.
And why would we? Or should we? It's hardly his greatest song. I don't miss not hearing it in concert. I am a folk musician so can appreciate it. But it would be lost on most folks.
I wasn't questioning anything. I was simply saying it would not have been understood or appreciated by most folks in the US. I think we agree on that point though, don't we?
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I think Mull Of Kintyre is right up there with his greatest songs (and there are so many) but I do think that. I really do.
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moptops:
I think Mull Of Kintyre is right up there with his greatest songs (and there are so many) but I do think that. I really do.
It is a good 'un! But not so much for me to run up to Canada to hear it live. Not for me, anyway.
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moptops:
RMartinez:
moptops:
America in the 70's would never have understood a Scottish waltz, nor the sentiment I doubt the majority would now.
And why would we? Or should we? It's hardly his greatest song. I don't miss not hearing it in concert. I am a folk musician so can appreciate it. But it would be lost on most folks.
I wasn't questioning anything. I was simply saying it would not have been understood or appreciated by most folks in the US. I think we agree on that point though, don't we?
No, not really. I have performed at many folk music festivals and at the Smithsonian Institutions Folk Life Festival many times, and if there is one thing I have learned, it is that ALL people can enjoy good music, regardless of the cultural context or meaning. The Beatles proved that by playing sitars and other Indian instruments in their songs. Paul playing a modern Scottish folk tune with bagpipes would be loved by everyone, not just people of Scottish background or with roots in the British Isles.
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But "it would be lost on most folks?"
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moptops:
But "it would be lost on most folks?"
Wrong. You mean more than playing Temporary Secretary? Sorry, but no. If Paul pulled a full bagpipe band on stage in Phoenix or Denver, NO it would not be "lost on most folks."