Paul McCartney has officially become an oldies act.
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left hand man:
Guys, sorry but you're wrong ... many people are still saying the same exact things today? Paul McCartney needs to change his set list!
I will say again, Paul does not play his concerts for people who can go see him 11 times, and even then complain about it! He plays for the general public most of whom can only see him once. It may be a once in a lifetime journey for some of them, they may have taken all their savings to see him. We aren't talking about journalists or critics, they don't matter, get it! He doesn't play for people who know all his songs or have all his albums. He plays for a general audience, and he also plays for himself. Thank goodness he doesn't have to worry about what the critics think, he's paid all his dues and then some! After all, he's still world famous and can still draw 2 or 3 hundred thousand people to see him, even in pouring rain! He can play what he likes.
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Guys, I don't buy the people who have never seen him argument! Why, because he's given them TWO DECADES, I repeat TWO DECADES to see and hear his Beatle heavy setlist! Is this man supposed to keep performing the same basic songs because some people haven't seen him in TWO DECADES? It's always going to be someones first time seeing McCartney, so he's supposed to play the same basic songs for the rest of his life just because of them! You've got to be joking! At least those people have had the chance to see his Beatle heavy show, when have the rest of his fans who want to hear more of his career had the chance? Also the last reviewer I posted clearly said that he was tired of those songs because they had been on other previous tours!
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you sound like a broken record...you're always harping on this. You have his recent CDs and everything post-Beatle probably, listen to them. that's how you can hear the songs anytime you want to. stating the obvious, but you know
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Susy, you say I sound like a broken record, what about all the people over the years who just want McCartney to keep performing the same basic songs for the rest of his life! Their reasons haven't changed one single bit, at least I'm asking for something different! Also it's amazing to me that anyone who is a McCartney fan wouldn't want to hear as much of this mans fantastic music live as is humanly possible! By the way I just shared that I will keep asking for this because maybe McCartney will see it, or maybe someone will get the message to him. He should know that many people absolutely want to see and hear more of his career performed live than just the Beatles! The rest of his career has been amazing as well!
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left hand man:
Susy, you say I sound like a broken record, what about all the people over the years who just want McCartney to keep performing the same basic songs for the rest of his life! Their reasons haven't changed one single bit, at least I'm asking for something different! Also it's amazing to me that anyone who is a McCartney fan wouldn't want to hear as much of this mans fantastic music live as is humanly possible! By the way I just shared that I will keep asking for this because maybe McCartney will see it, or maybe someone will get the message to him. He should know that many people absolutely want to see and hear more of his career performed live than just the Beatles! The rest of his career has been amazing as well!
He does NOT play the same songs on every tour. And he never has. There is always several changes to his setlist for every tour. Of course he is going to play Live And Let Die, Yesterday, Hey Jude....etc., but along with those standards, (and that is exactly what they are) he always adds some new songs for every tour and a few obscure ones as well. So what's wrong with that?????? Like I said, if you don't like it, don't go. You can do your groaning at home.
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DavidP, you and I agree on that, and that's exactly why I didn't attend McCartney's last tour, I wasn't going to pay good money to see the same basic show yet again! I have those concerts on DVD already. There's absolutely no excuse for McCartney to play some obscure song when he has #1 hits that have never been performed. The core of McCartney's setlist has been the same for TWO DECADES, and he hasn't performed much of his Wings material during that period at all. The Wings material he has performed has been basically the exact same. How many tours have contained... Hey Jude All My Loving yesterday Sgt Pepper Let It Be Can't Buy Me Love I've Got A Feeling Good Day Sunshine Back In The Ussr Blackbird We Can Work It out The Fool On The Hill Eleanor Rigby The Long And Winding Road Lady Madonna I Saw Her Standing There The End Got To Get you Into My Life Get Back Birthday Drive My Car All he does is interchange these songs from tour to tour. He does a few from his most recent album, he may throw in one or two obscure songs, and maybe the tributes to John and George. All of that still leaves out #1 smash hits that have never been performed, just no excuse for that? Once again I've shared the evidence, his set list has basically been the same and there's absolutely no denying it!
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left hand man:
DavidP, you and I agree on that, and that's exactly why I didn't attend McCartney's last tour, I wasn't going to pay good money to see the same basic show yet again! I have those concerts on DVD already. There's absolutely no excuse for McCartney to play some obscure song when he has #1 hits that have never been performed. The core of McCartney's setlist has been the same for TWO DECADES, and he hasn't performed much of his Wings material during that period at all. The Wings material he has performed has been basically the exact same. How many tours have contained... Hey Jude All My Loving yesterday Sgt Pepper Let It Be Can't Buy Me Love I've Got A Feeling Good Day Sunshine Back In The Ussr Blackbird We Can Work It out The Fool On The Hill Eleanor Rigby The Long And Winding Road Lady Madonna I Saw Her Standing There The End Got To Get you Into My Life Get Back Birthday Drive My Car All he does is interchange these songs from tour to tour. He does a few from his most recent album, he may throw in one or two obscure songs, and maybe the tributes to John and George. All of that still leaves out #1 smash hits that have never been performed, just no excuse for that? Once again I've shared the evidence, his set list has basically been the same and there's absolutely no denying it!
Every one of those songs are classics. Some of the best songs ever written. I would fully expect him to play them. My only complaint is I wish he'd play a few more tunes from the 80's and 90's. Just 2 or 3 songs, like the incredible "No More Lonely Nights". I know he usually plays the terrific "Calico Skies", but would love if he'd include "The World Tonight" which I think is a brilliant song. But either way, it's all good, and lets face it his career is winding down (sad to say) but it's true. Best try and see him while we still can. A living legend. There aren't many left.
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His #1 hits are classics as well, many of those songs I listed weren't even hits. I know people freak over them just because they are Beatle songs, but I'd rather hear a bonafide hit than a song just because it was recorded by the Beatles! And classics or not, for TWO DECADES, come on! It's because his live performance days may be winding down that I think he should change his setlist. As I said to me it will be a major shame if his live legacy is that he leaned too heavily on the Beatles in his later performing years. It just doesn't have to be that way. That's called resting on your laurels. That shouldn't have to be said about Paul McCartney!
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Listen to what paul said himself... He was interviewed to Israeli newspaper (last week), he said that he feels that people come to his show mainly to hear Beatles tunes and that's why they pay for and if he dosen't give it to them, he feels that he cheats them. I think that it makes sense. He also said that also when going to other artists show he expected them to play their biggest hits. In israel other newspaper there was an article about the songs that paul will play live, they completely ignored all his post-beatles songs, take a look (it's in hebrew but the list of songs is in english). http://www.mouse.co.il/CM.articles_item,404,209,27693,.aspx You see, they didn't even mention the solo songs because it's obvious that the Israeli people big excitement is from the Beatles songs. It's true that paul had many big hits after the beatles, but they survived much worst than the beatles hits. many beatles songs are still being played on the radio all the time, and it's can't be said on paul wings/solo material from which only handful of songs had survived (at least at the israeli radio) - maybe silly love songs, live and let die, band on the run and that's all, I don't remember any other paul wings/solo song being played on israeli radio in the last ten years. I think that it's true in other parts of the world as well, the beatles songs had survived the test of time much better than paul solo songs, I think that's the reason why's performing obscure beatles stuff and ignores his #1 songs, even beatles obscure stuff and b-side singles are known today better than many wings/solo hits. for example : rain, revolution, don't let me down, she's a woman - all these songs were b-sides and many people knows them and there's still being played. on the other hands, some of solo/wings huge hits like "listen to what the man said", "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey","with a little luck" were very known and big hits at the time, but they didn't survived the test of time very well. anthology 1,2,3 sold many many copies and they contained outtakes ! of the beatles work. So even outtakes ! of the beatles works solo more copies than any of paul solo or wings album. Nothing to do about it, the Beatles legacy is much bigger than paul solo stuff, it's remembered much better, and it's true that most of the people who come to hear paul comes mainly to see the legend from the Beatles and to hear the legendary beatles songs. In rolling stones last edition of the greatest 500 songs of all time please check how many paul's tunes from the beatles day appeared in there (many) and compare it to paul solo/wings songs (only maybe I'm amazed at place 324 or so). And it didn't only reflect "rolling stone" editor taste, it's the same in every other list, paul solo/wings career for what ever reason it may be, isn't even close to the Beatles legacy, and it's far behind also many other artists legacy (dylan, neil young, bowie, hendrix to name a few). Paul could have perform much more wings/solo stuff but with time less people would come to his shows, and as he admitted in the interview I mentioned, he knows it, he knows that people comes to hear Beatles stuff, he can add 1 and 1 together and understand that not rely heavily on Beatles material would cause much less people to come to his show. In 1975 wings were huge, almost like the beatles status in these years, and paul knew that he can afford himself to rely mainly on his own (wings) material. Now, in 2008, the Beatles are much much bigger than wings status, and he can't rely on this material unless he would settle performing in smaller venues to much less people. And obviously, he dosen't want to do it.
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hi nirose I disagree with you about the radio. try to listen to 88FM channel and you'll hear a lot of paul's solo career songs.
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TZUR:
hi nirose I disagree with you about the radio. try to listen to 88FM channel and you'll hear a lot of paul's solo career songs.
Maybe, but I'm referring to the big radio stations, 88FM was almost close few weeks ago, few people listen to it. What about galgalatz ? 100FM, 102FM,103FM ? in the big station his solo career is absent almost completely.
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Nirose, I understand about special shows like the one he's about to do in Israel. yes those type shows will be mostly Beatles because it's a one time event. I'm talking about his setlist when he starts his regular world tour, there's no excuse to present the same basic setlist to the world yet again! That's when he has the opportunity to strecth out and present a show that is much more representative of his fantastic career. No one is asking him to rely on his post Beatles material, that would be the same mistake he's making now with the Beatles material. We're saying include much more of it and stop rehashing the same old songs over and over and over. When I say same old songs I'm referring to post Beatles and Beatles! Sure, give the people the hits, no one is saying he shouldn't, but give them the hits from all phases of your career, not just one! Think about it, they were hits for a reason, millions of people like them! I don't go by the radio anyway, radio lost it's way back in the 80's. With radio if it's not top 40 forget it. McCartney has songs that hit the charts from his Wings and solo career that still haven't been performed, and people are asking for them. So the excuse that people only want to hear the Beatles just isn't true! Check out McCartney's post Beatles songs on Youtube and read the comments from people all over the world, they are loving this music and they do want McCartney to perform it! If they didn't (and I've shared the evidence) people wouldn't be questioning his setlist!
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When i've seen Paul live in the UK the Wings songs have had as great a reception as his Beatle music.It's unfortunate that Paul has the Beatles casting a giant shadow over all that he does,even if he had released better albums than the group,it still would dominate his every waking public hour. I think comparing Dylan,David Bowie and Neil Young's solo careers with Paul's is misleading,they haven't had that phenomenal worldwide success the Beatles had.It was always going to pale in comparison no matter what post Beatle music they put out.The same would have happened to John as well had he lived to continue making music.The Beatles are the best selling recording artists of all time,an impossible thing to beat.
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BOYCIE:
When i've seen Paul live in the UK the Wings songs have had as great a reception as his Beatle music.It's unfortunate that Paul has the Beatles casting a giant shadow over all that he does,even if he had released better albums than the group,it still would dominate his every waking public hour. I think comparing Dylan,David Bowie and Neil Young's solo careers with Paul's is misleading,they haven't had that phenomenal worldwide success the Beatles had.It was always going to pale in comparison no matter what post Beatle music they put out.The same would have happened to John as well had he lived to continue making music.The Beatles are the best selling recording artists of all time,an impossible thing to beat.
No, you're wrong. The comparisons I made are not misleading. If paul had solo career in the quality of neil young career the beatles wouldn't cast a giant shadow over him. Another wrong point of yours, it wouldn't happen to john. John best loved song is "imagine" which is a solo song for him. Out of the about 120 songs John was the lead writer and singer and the beatles NONE casted a shadow over it. In israel, if John would have perform here in two weeks people would come to see also John biggest songs from his solo career, imagine, woman, love, jealous guy, beautiful boy,give peace a chance - All of these songs had the power of the Beatles songs, plastic ono band is considered a classic album in the level of the Best beatles album. The beatles cast a shadow over paul solo career not only because the beatles was so huge but also because paul career didn't present even one important album in the level of "plastic ono band", "imagine" - of neil young, bowie best albums. I'm sure you won't agree because you're Paul fan, (I also like some of his solo/wings stuff) but I'm sure that Paul artistic decline after the beatles was the biggest quality decline I ever heard. I think that most people would agree on that (other than people from this forum). Even they knew it, Paul admitted many times that his solo stuff were weaker than the Beatles while John said ""'Imagine,' 'Love' and those Plastic Ono Band songs stand up to any song that was written when I was a Beatle. Now, it may take you 20 or 30 years to appreciate that, but the fact is, if you check those songs out, you will see that it is as good as any fucking stuff that was ever done." Ask people to name the best songs of paul mccartney, I'm sure most would name mostly his beatles stuff. Ask people to name the best songs of lennon, I'm sure there would be many beatles songs, but also many john solo songs. I'm sure that if john was still around and performing "imagine" and "give peace a change" would be the encore of most show. Again, I like some paul solo/wings very much, but As john and others thought, Paul stopped making important music when he left the beatles, and this is why his past cast such a shadow over his present.
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have you got an ear for music, nirose? much less two. paul sings with such feeling, such joy in his voice, and his songs are wonderful and make the listener (if they have ears for music) feel exuberant happiness. Each song is distinctive, exquisite, and he is in love with words, and makes the listener love words. He's a poet and a dreamer, creative & original, and full of surprises. He's great, unique & irreplacable. we love you, MACCA
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nirose:
Ask people to name the best songs of paul mccartney, I'm sure most would name mostly his beatles stuff. Ask people to name the best songs of lennon, I'm sure there would be many beatles songs, but also many john solo songs.
I don't know where you're from, but on my side of the planet casual music fans do not regard John's solo music as exceptional, except for "Imagine." As a whole, I wouldn't say his catalog has endured time any better than Paul's. If you want to go by what's played on the radio, "Imagine" is really the only John solo song in rotation, and even that I rarely hear anymore. In general people are familiar with his Beatles songs, though, like "In My Life" or "Strawberry Fields." Paul has a few solo songs still played regularly - "Silly Love Songs", "Maybe I'm Amazed", "Band on the Run" come to mind. While I do agree most people would say Paul's best songs were his Beatles material, I think the same would be said for John. I could be wrong but that's my impression.
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beatlesfanrandy:
moptops:
joe9657:
DavidP, that's just it, people are starting to groan when he plays those songs!
I've read quite a few of the left hand man rantings on this topic, but this comment destroys any shred of credibility for him. From here on I'll just skip over his comments.
I was at Anfield, and the groans were very audible when he launched into Long and Winding Road, C-Moon, Let Me Roll It... I saw it first hand. It is happening.
That's just bull.
With all respect I was there seated in the Kop, and the groans around me were real and they were AUDIBLE.
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left hand man:
Guys, I don't buy the people who have never seen him argument! Why, because he's given them TWO DECADES, I repeat TWO DECADES to see and hear his Beatle heavy setlist! Is this man supposed to keep performing the same basic songs because some people haven't seen him in TWO DECADES? It's always going to be someones first time seeing McCartney, so he's supposed to play the same basic songs for the rest of his life just because of them! You've got to be joking! At least those people have had the chance to see his Beatle heavy show, when have the rest of his fans who want to hear more of his career had the chance? Also the last reviewer I posted clearly said that he was tired of those songs because they had been on other previous tours!
Always enjoy reading your posts LHM. I agree all the way. Keep the faith, and keep pressing the point. I'm sure there are many who agree with you too, who don't post...but keep it up. You have a like-minded contributor in me. Rob
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To answer Nirose's point on Neil Young is probably true, Paul artistically hasn't hit his Beatle heights consistantly,and Neil has had a great career but the Beatles phenomenal success would overshadow anybodies career. As for John having equalled his Beatle songs in his solo career,i might give you the point on Imagine and Jealous Guy and his first solo record,but as for the Double Fantasy songs you are definately barking up the wrong tree.You have too remember also Paul's solo career has been so much more successful than John's commercially,even before his death.so John's deification is to do with his premature death not his artistic integrity. Also, Paul has had a 28 year career longer than John's so it is not a fair comparison,the Beatles are bigger than ever even now. Also i'm not keen on your tone of your reply,we can all have a different point of view but we don't necessarily have to be aggressive about it. I do love John's music by the way but i think people are overstating it's greatness to Paul's.
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moptops:
beatlesfanrandy:
moptops:
joe9657:
DavidP, that's just it, people are starting to groan when he plays those songs!
I've read quite a few of the left hand man rantings on this topic, but this comment destroys any shred of credibility for him. From here on I'll just skip over his comments.
I was at Anfield, and the groans were very audible when he launched into Long and Winding Road, C-Moon, Let Me Roll It... I saw it first hand. It is happening.
That's just bull.
With all respect I was there seated in the Kop, and the groans around me were real and they were AUDIBLE.
I could not make it to Anfield through ill health......i am so glad i didnt go.