McCartney writes first musical, stage version of...
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https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/paul-to-write-first-musical
More detail from the News page, so it's official!
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Kestrel wrote:
I hope we get an album of Paul's demos and not an album of studio recordings sung by a bunch of unknowns?
Equally hopefully, the songs will be a bit more memorable than those on Egypt Station.
Kestrel,
I enjoy many of your posts but here I have to disagree with you regarding "Egypt Station". I think ES is one of Paul's best Solo Albums (Top 3 for me) and I find most of the songs very memorable. Even my new wife who is just a "casual" Beatles/Paul fan at best has remarked that she can't get some of the ES songs out of her head. Her favorites are...I Don't Know, Happy With You, Who Cares, Confidante, People Want Peace, Hand in Hand, Dominoes, Back in Brazil and Do It Now.
Like others have stated, I am also very excited about this latest news story about Paul writing music for this legendary movie. Like Bob Dylan's complements about Paul a few years ago in Rollingstone...the man never stops writing music.
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B J Conlee wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
I hope we get an album of Paul's demos and not an album of studio recordings sung by a bunch of unknowns?
Equally hopefully, the songs will be a bit more memorable than those on Egypt Station.
Kestrel,
I enjoy many of your posts but here I have to disagree with you regarding "Egypt Station". I think ES is one of Paul's best Solo Albums (Top 3 for me) and I find most of the songs very memorable.
I usually return to the album about once every six weeks but I find it very hard to concentrate on it. Its just something tuneful that plays in the background but within half an hour of playing it,I've basically forgotten the songs again. In recent weeks I've heard both Jet & Listen To What The Man Said on the radio and it made me think, 'Will anyone be playing the songs on Egypt Station in 45 years time? Or even in four years time? Personally I think ES is a pretty average album and far below what Paul is capable of making...its okay but it doesn't grab or hold my attention. Btw, my favourite Top 3 solo albums would be Ram, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard & New.
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Kestrel wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
I hope we get an album of Paul's demos and not an album of studio recordings sung by a bunch of unknowns?
Equally hopefully, the songs will be a bit more memorable than those on Egypt Station.
Kestrel,
I enjoy many of your posts but here I have to disagree with you regarding "Egypt Station". I think ES is one of Paul's best Solo Albums (Top 3 for me) and I find most of the songs very memorable.
I usually return to the album about once every six weeks but I find it very hard to concentrate on it. Its just something tuneful that plays in the background but within half an hour of playing it,I've basically forgotten the songs again. In recent weeks I've heard both Jet & Listen To What The Man Said on the radio and it made me think, 'Will anyone be playing the songs on Egypt Station in 45 years time? Or even in four years time? Personally I think ES is a pretty average album and far below what Paul is capable of making...its okay but it doesn't grab or hold my attention. Btw, my favourite Top 3 solo albums would be Ram, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard & New.
No problem Kestrel. To each his own and albums/songs are so subjective anyway. Your Top 3 Solo Paul albums did make me think. On Top Solo Paul albums, I was thinking from 1980 on/Post Back to the Egg and beginning with McCartney 2. You're right that Ram would be considered Solo as it was pre-Wings. Even considering those early Paul Solo albums, my Top 3 Solo would be...Tug of War, Chaos & Creation and ES. Again, just my opinion and Ram would surely be a Top 3 choice for many hard core Macca fans.
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B J Conlee wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Kestrel wrote:
I hope we get an album of Paul's demos and not an album of studio recordings sung by a bunch of unknowns?
Equally hopefully, the songs will be a bit more memorable than those on Egypt Station.
Kestrel,
I enjoy many of your posts but here I have to disagree with you regarding "Egypt Station". I think ES is one of Paul's best Solo Albums (Top 3 for me) and I find most of the songs very memorable.
I usually return to the album about once every six weeks but I find it very hard to concentrate on it. Its just something tuneful that plays in the background but within half an hour of playing it,I've basically forgotten the songs again. In recent weeks I've heard both Jet & Listen To What The Man Said on the radio and it made me think, 'Will anyone be playing the songs on Egypt Station in 45 years time? Or even in four years time? Personally I think ES is a pretty average album and far below what Paul is capable of making...its okay but it doesn't grab or hold my attention. Btw, my favourite Top 3 solo albums would be Ram, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard & New.
No problem Kestrel. To each his own and albums/songs are so subjective anyway. Your Top 3 Solo Paul albums did make me think. On Top Solo Paul albums, I was thinking from 1980 on/Post Back to the Egg and beginning with McCartney 2. You're right that Ram would be considered Solo as it was pre-Wings. Even considering those early Paul Solo albums, my Top 3 Solo would be...Tug of War, Chaos & Creation and ES. Again, just my opinion and Ram would surely be a Top 3 choice for many hard core Macca fans.
It certainly is subjective!
I would have Flaming Pie at #1!
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Nancy R wrote:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-mccartney-working-first-ever-18331484?a1
Really looking forward to seeing this!! Absolutely the best Christmas time movie!!!
Didn't Paul write music for a British wartime animation about a couple that met during the war. I remember that I really enjoyed it, however, I can't locate it, probably Googling wrong.
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love2travel wrote:
Really looking forward to seeing this!! Absolutely the best Christmas time movie!!!
Didn't Paul write music for a British wartime animation about a couple that met during the war. I remember that I really enjoyed it, however, I can't locate it, probably Googling wrong.
Probably thinking of this:
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love2travel wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/paul-mccartney-working-first-ever-18331484?a1
Really looking forward to seeing this!! Absolutely the best Christmas time movie!!!
Didn't Paul write music for a British wartime animation about a couple that met during the war. I remember that I really enjoyed it, however, I can't locate it, probably Googling wrong.
Didn’t Paul have something to do with Ethel & Ernest?
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Nancy R wrote:
Didn’t Paul have something to do with Ethel & Ernest?
Yes! The music.
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paulfan11 wrote:
I'm excited about this, I'm a huge musical theater geek!
I've been wondering if Paul was ever going to work on a musical, seeing as he's such a fan himself. Many Broadway shows have done their out of town tryouts where I live, so I'm hoping this one does as well.
Where do you live? I am big Broadway fan myself and know they have Broadway tryouts in cities like Seatle, Denver and Washington DC for example.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
paulfan11 wrote:
I'm excited about this, I'm a huge musical theater geek!
I've been wondering if Paul was ever going to work on a musical, seeing as he's such a fan himself. Many Broadway shows have done their out of town tryouts where I live, so I'm hoping this one does as well.
Where do you live? I am big Broadway fan myself and know they have Broadway tryouts in cities like Seatle, Denver and Washington DC for example.
I live in the Bay Area, outside of San Francisco.
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Looking forward to this, this is one of the classic greats of Christmas movies...
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paulfan11 wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
paulfan11 wrote:
I'm excited about this, I'm a huge musical theater geek!
I've been wondering if Paul was ever going to work on a musical, seeing as he's such a fan himself. Many Broadway shows have done their out of town tryouts where I live, so I'm hoping this one does as well.
Where do you live? I am big Broadway fan myself and know they have Broadway tryouts in cities like Seatle, Denver and Washington DC for example.
I live in the Bay Area, outside of San Francisco.
Gotcha, hope they have great theater there for you. I live in Charlotte and we get touring productions of the big Broadway hits pretty soon after tours start. Try to make it to NYC 1-2 times a year to catch a few shows, was in London last year at this time and saw several shows on the West End like "Harry Potter And The Cursed Child" and "Hamilton".
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I have not heard anything about this and now with the coronavirus I wonder if they still are preceding with doing this show. If anybody has any update, I would appreciate the information.
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Pretty sure there have been no reports, but that's not unusual when a show is in development. But if they were getting at all clost to the point of beginning rehearsals, no doubt everything is on hold, as no one has a clue when large theaters will be able to reopen.
By the way, save a good thought for all the thousands of non-famous actors, singers, dancers, etc., who have had their ability to make a living yanked out from under them. Many just barely get by, and they're hurting badly right now.
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Bruce M. wrote:
Pretty sure there have been no reports, but that's not unusual when a show is in development. But if they were getting at all clost to the point of beginning rehearsals, no doubt everything is on hold, as no one has a clue when large theaters will be able to reopen.
By the way, save a good thought for all the thousands of non-famous actors, singers, dancers, etc., who have had their ability to make a living yanked out from under them. Many just barely get by, and they're hurting badly right now.
I know "Broadway Cares" is raising money for the artists that are effected byt this virus and out of work, I am not sure if the "West End" is doing something similar. FYI- My daughters teach dance and are effected by this situation also, they have been using "Zoom" to teach some classes but it is not the same.
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It's a wonderful life, for me, is the greatest non-musical film ever made, and Jimmy Stewart is my favourite actor. So the idea of a musical version makes me feel a tad uneasy. This sort of thing doesn't always work, Sunset Boulevard and Singin' in the rain being the only exceptions I can recall. But good on you Paul for taking the risk. Paul has never stood still with his music, he's always ready for a challenge. We all miss the theatre at the moment and theatre people must be really struggling.
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dirkmcquickly wrote:
It's a wonderful life, for me, is the greatest non-musical film ever made, and Jimmy Stewart is my favourite actor. So the idea of a musical version makes me feel a tad uneasy. This sort of thing doesn't always work, Sunset Boulevard and Singin' in the rain being the only exceptions I can recall. But good on you Paul for taking the risk. Paul has never stood still with his music, he's always ready for a challenge. We all miss the theatre at the moment and theatre people must be really struggling.
Understood but as a lover of Broadway, I have seen a bunch of musicals from movies I never would have dreamed of happening. (exp. "Rocky"). I think this movie has more potential as a musical than a bunch of others. Is it risky, yes but you can say that about almost any Broadway/West End show.
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"It's a Wonderful Life" is a great film classic with a theme and plot I can see could lend itself to McCartney compositions in the style of his that's upbeat, feel good and positive. Could be some great songs to result from this project. He's had a few songs before that seemed "Broadway" to me. One scene I find jarring from this classic is a shot of Donna Reed's character in her librarian career when she was single making her look miserable and bereft. I would assume most librarians are avid bookworms and find their careers highly fulfilling and rewarding even if they remain single and childless, so I disliked that aspect of the film. I love the movie overall and find this idea of turning it into a Broadway musical interesting and intriguing. Especially since Paul is involved.
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The transition from stage to film or vice versa is tough. Sometimes it just doesn't work. Lots of wildly successful broadway musicals have crashed and burned as films --"Cats" being the latest example -- while some make the transition just fine, like "Into the Woods" a few years ago. Disney's recent efforts to turn animated movies into Broadway shows have been commercially successful, though having not seen them I can't speak to their artistic merit. The best transitions manage to keep the spirit and spark of the original, even if the form and details change. We'll just have to see. But with Broadway still on indefinite hold, it will probably be a while.