Paul McCartney has officially become an oldies act.
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To add to the lucid arguments that "mikeskapla" bestows us with, the Anfield crowd went absolutely euphoric with "Hippy Hippy Shake" (not even a McCartney composition), and most of us thought we died and went to heaven hearing Paul play a song NEVER performed live "A Day In The Life", which then segued into John's "Give Peace A Chance". Granted, the former was the show opener and most any song in that slot would have gotten a rapturous reception but its surprising choice was fresh and fit perfectly. The latter two, songs of anthemic proportions, multiplied the thrilling frenzy that permeated Anfield Stadium by the time of the encores. Great choices which by their novelty in the context of the live setting made them all the more special. No one seemed disappointed hearing any of THESE songs. No one I talked to after the concert said he should have repeated some often-played song instead. I bet they wouldn't have felt disappointed hearing many other seldom or never before performed live songs either. It was only next day that I realized that Paul didn't play "Get Back" or "Maybe I'm Amazed", two of my favorite songs. I didn't realize it because I was too happy knowing I had heard 'new' songs. I would also like to point out, at least from my own observations at concerts or ticket lines I've been in, that the majority of people had seen at least one concert previously or were at the very least aware of a lot of Paul's catalog (post Beatles included). I've also met many first timers during these years too, but my impression is that these people were often times introduced to the Beatles, Wings or Paul's solo career through knowledgeable family or friend fans so they in turn weren't totally oblivious to the fact that this man has a solid almost 50 year song writing output. I know there was, and always will be, someone completely green to Paul's music performed live, but that shouldn't be a reason to limit the choice of songs imho. My feeling is that the demographic represented by some vocal adherents of not changing the set list much is not fully representational of the concert going public as a whole. It seems that many posters voicing their opinion on this and other threads bring valid arguments to support the idea of rejuvenating the set list so our beloved Paul doesn't turn into an oldies act. If Paul truly wants to please a majority of his new and old fans, his set list should stay fresher than he has made it in recent years.
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The reason no one complained about the show despite having a couple of different choices thrown in is because they were masked by the typical Macca template. If Paul filled the set list with Hippy Hippy Shake type songs that weren't as well known or not even his songs, they would not be received nearly as well, although I'm also certain that the respect people have for Paul would prevent fans from 'hating' the show. That's why these little Run Devil Run/Unplugged shows are typically 'one off' and in front of small audiences. He couldn't tour that and expect good success (in terms of both box office sales and critical).
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"...these little Run Devil Run/Unplugged shows are typically 'one off' and in front of small audiences. He couldn't tour that..." That's not the type of show I, or anyone else here advocating more diversity is suggesting. There probably will always be a "typical Macca template", surely it can allow inclusion of more variety from Paul's phenomenal output. "He couldn't tour that and expect good success (in terms of both box office sales and critical)." To ponder on this thought, although probably not so financially successful, critical success might not be so elusive if Paul dared to do something different at this stage. Witness his classical music or even his Fireman output. I'm happy he's prolific!
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I disagree, I think McCartney could tour with that type show. Many people are ready for McCartney to do something totally different. I just believe in my heart that if McCartney stepped on stage with a whole new lineup of Beatles, Wings and solo songs people would be absolutely thrilled!! He wouldn't have to repeat himself at all. He should test it out, pick a 5000 seat theartre, and put on this type show and watch the reaction. Very quickly he would see that the show should go on the road. Imagine him and his current rocking band ripping thru... Juniors Farm Getting Closer The Mess Girlschool I've had Enough 1985 Only Mama Knows House Of Wax Rockestra Theme Cafe On The Left Bank Smile Away Big Barn Bed Rinse The Raindrops Stranglehold Yeah I know these are all rockers, but as someone posted earlier these songs just scream play me live! The house would be shaking and the crowd would be rocking so hard absolutely no one would be dissappointed!! I get excited just thinking about these awesome songs being performed live!
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left hand man:
Juniors Farm Getting Closer The Mess Girlschool I've had Enough 1985 Only Mama Knows House Of Wax Rockestra Theme Cafe On The Left Bank Smile Away Big Barn Bed Rinse The Raindrops Stranglehold
From that list, I think the only songs he might perform would be Junior's Farm, 1985, Only Mama Knows, and House of Wax. I don't see the others happening.
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Left hand man, it would be great to hear most of those rocking songs at a Paul gig.I still have a soft spot for Spin It On as a rocker,rather than The Mess,which i'm not keen on,but the rest would be cool. As been said before,the core Beatles and Wings songs need refreshing and other great songs need airing.
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What if Paul play old tunes? They are great. There's always the choice of not hearing them.
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Just read the set list from Kiev Drive My Car Jet All My Loving Only Mama Knows Flaming Pie Got To Get You Into My Life Let Me Roll It C Moon My Love Let Em In The Long And Winding Road Dance Tonight Blackbird Calico Skies Follow The Sun Mrs Vanderbilt Eleanor Rigby Something Good Day Sunshine Penny Lane Band On The Run Birthday Back In The USSR I Got A Feeling Live And Let Die Let It Be Hey Jude A Day In The Life/Give Peace A Chance Lady Madonna Get Back I Saw Her Standing There Yesterday Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band The End Only one surprise "Mrs. Vanderbilt" last played in 1976 (apparently, top request from poll of Ukrainian fans). So, the special one-off concert in Kiev is true to recent form; keep the majority of the show the same, only switch out or mix up a couple of songs at a time. Remains to be seen if we can expect to hear many more changes for a tour of recently played markets like U.S. or Europe. Maybe there should be more polls to suggest injecting refreshing changes in the set list!
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Interesting he does a poll with the fans there and Mrs. Vanderbilt comes out on top not a Beatles song. Cool, that he did that one, I'd LOVE for him to keep that one in his set list. I suspect if he does a poll on this site -- decent chance we'd pick a solo one, too. As I've said, nothing wrong with the Beatles, great music, but he has so covered the gamut of his Beatle catlogue and is barely even touching the surface of his solo stuff.
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Dear Boy, the other songs on my list have just as much a chance as 1985 does. Great that he performed Mrs. Vanderbilt, but now it's time for Juniors Farm!
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Quote..."Only one surprise "Mrs. Vanderbilt" last played in 1976 ..." Never performed in concert before Kiev show.
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left hand man:
Dear Boy, the other songs on my list have just as much a chance as 1985 does. Great that he performed Mrs. Vanderbilt, but now it's time for Juniors Farm!
I'd love for that to be the case, but I kind of doubt it. 1985 is pretty popular because of its close association with Band on the Run (as the B-side). The other songs you list--Cafe on the Left Bank, Rinse the Raindrops, and Stranglehold in particular--are pretty much unknown by the general public.
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Can someone please clarify what the deal was re: the song poll for Kiev? I think I read somewhere that fans there could actually vote to fill 10 song spots... Cheers.
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moptops:
Can someone please clarify what the deal was re: the song poll for Kiev? I think I read somewhere that fans there could actually vote to fill 10 song spots... Cheers.
All I know about it is that this seems to be the site where the vote was held: http://beatlesinmylife.org.ua/competition And the results were: # Mrs. Vanderbilt (25%, 4,279 Votes) # London Town (20%, 3,453 Votes) # Pipes Of Peace (14%, 2,467 Votes) # Hope Of Deliverance (9%, 1,609 Votes) # My Brave Face (9%, 1,509 Votes) # All My Loving (9%, 1,507 Votes) # Yesterday (7%, 1,266 Votes) # No More Lonely Nights (7%, 1,203 Votes) # Hey Jude (7%, 1,140 Votes) # Your Mother Should Know (7%, 1,122 Votes) # Tug Of War (6%, 1,099 Votes) # Let It Be (6%, 1,041 Votes) # Oh Darling (5%, 929 Votes) # Silly Love Songs (5%, 835 Votes) # Back In The U.S.S.R. (5%, 808 Votes) # Wanderlust (4%, 757 Votes) # Obladi Oblada (4%, 675 Votes) # All You Need Is Love (3%, 598 Votes) # Michelle (3%, 484 Votes) # Ballroom Dancing (3%, 447 Votes) # Girl (3%, 434 Votes) # Freedom (2%, 427 Votes) # We Can Work It Out (2%, 405 Votes) # Can't Buy Me Love (2%, 366 Votes) # We All Stand Together (2%, 303 Votes) # Eleanor Rigby (2%, 280 Votes) # The Long And Winding Road (1%, 237 Votes) # Band On The Run (1%, 222 Votes) # Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hears Club Band (1%, 215 Votes) # Maxwell?s Silver Hammer (1%, 179 Votes) # Penny Lane (1%, 178 Votes) # When I?m 64 (1%, 164 Votes) # Lady Madonna (1%, 147 Votes) # Paperback Writer (1%, 146 Votes) # Birthday (1%, 129 Votes) # I Saw Her Standing There (1%, 125 Votes) # Helter Skelter (1%, 120 Votes) # Blackbird (1%, 115 Votes) # Live And Let Die (1%, 109 Votes) # Drive My Car (1%, 106 Votes) # Get Back (1%, 89 Votes) # Jet (0%, 75 Votes) # Magical Mystery Tour (0%, 29 Votes)
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Do we know the poll was official and related to Paul? I didn't get the impression that it was. IMO, he played Mrs. Vanderbilt because the song is apparently very popular there.
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DrivinFan:
Quote..."Only one surprise: "Mrs. Vanderbilt" last played in 1976 ..." Never performed in concert before Kiev show.
Was it played in 1976? If so it didn't make the Wings Across America album. Unless he did it in an obscure venue or two. I don't recall him ever doing that one, that's why I am asking. Got his bootleg 1979 Scotland one, and he didn't do that song then either.
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[quote="DrivinFan"]Quote..."Only one surprise "Mrs. Vanderbilt" last played in 1976 ..." Never performed in concert before Kiev show. You're right! I stand corrected. (researched) Even more of a reason to enjoy the surprise.
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From official site
Show highlights included a version of the Wings track ?Mrs. Vanderbilt?, which fans had petitioned for Paul to play and of course a storming version of ?Back In The USSR?.
So, I guess he was ware of the petition
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Dear Boy, McCartney made a video for Stranglehold, it was featured on VH1 and MTV so that song might be more known than you think. I understand what you mean though.
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Just saw the footage for Mrs. Vanderbilt -- it was really cool. Actually it wetted my appetitie even more for some solo variety -- hopefully it has that affect on Paul, he seemed into that song.