Paul McCartney, Elton John Set for Coronavirus Charity Special
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love2travel wrote:
oobu24 wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
oobu24 wrote:
Hey did anyone see Charlie Watts air drumming? He was playing aerodrums. Check out this article for an explanation.
https://aerodrums.com/why-was-charlie-watts-air-drumming/
Charlie drumming...
That was very interesting to find out, thanks for sharing !!
You're welcome. I thought it was an interesting fact!
Yes Oobu, that was quite interesting, although he seems to be right on target with the cymbals every time. It must have been really late over in England, when they filmed this. I think Keith might have missed his solo in there somewhere. Enjoyed seeing them play.
I don't think any of the artists played live - they were live, but pre-recorded.
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~lady*madonna~ wrote:
First the positive, Paul looked good. Love the long gray locks. I am happy that he participated in this worthwhile project. My daughter is a doctor, and it's important for those in the medical profession to know they are appreciated and supported.
Now the negative....Paul's vocal quality was so sad to hear, it brought tears to my eyes. I really don't like criticizing Paul but I do believe the time has come for Paul to think seriously about using his many other talents instead of singing. (it pains me to say that)
The song arrangement was a bit strange. At one point it seemed like he briefly forgot the lyrics or maybe hesitated on purpose.
I've honestly been hearing about the deterioration of Paul's voice since his 1989 world tour - I'm not kidding.
His voice sounded kind of husky - as it does these days , and I'm not really sure what the problem with that is ? It still sounded like Paul McCartney singing Lady Madonna . His tuning was great , and nailed the falsetto great . Loved his little of the cuff piano bar arrangement of it , and it was nice and personal to the occasion. It was live, and it was him - unlike several others . J LO with her perfect Movie studio lighting , and outrageous use of autotune. Unlike Billie Ellish and Tylor Swift - you could hear Paul sing ...
I'll also tell you this now . I like the Stones, but there was nothing live about this . Apart from Charlie's missing drums , there was also the magic invisible bass and keyboards. This kind of thing is done live by one musician, then the other guys play along with video in their own time, and overdub their part just like when they are making an album . The videos are then edited together. The latency in broadband doesn't permit musicians to play live together without a noticeable delay.
Paul kept it real , and I loved listening to it.
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Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
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B J Conlee wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
I've never once said he sounds like a young man . I did however think he sounded absoutley fine . Just because you don't think so Bruce - it doesn't mean I have to agree with you.
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B J Conlee wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
As you stated BJ, age and all that touring will catch up to you. Think of McCartney now like a great athelete who is obviously in decline and is ready to retire. There are days where they can rise to the occasion and do ok but it is rare. As a NY Yankee fan, it was painful watching Derek Jeter in his last year struggle and you were praying to God that the manager would bench him more often. McCartney is still excellent writing songs (I can't think of anybody is age doing this !!) and in the right studio setting can sound pretty good like in Egypt Station. Being alone with no backup support exposed his voice and it was not good. There is a news show I watch at night that had entertainment section and they mentioned this concert. They mocked the performances of Elton John, McCartney and Jennifer Lopez while praising the Stones. I am not saying the world will end because of this but just stating people did notice his voice and were not complimentary. Like you, I hope he can enjoy travel (when virus thing settles down), continue to write wonderful songs and maybe record another album. I also excited to see how he does writing a musical (It's A Wonderful Life") and hope it turns out well.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
As you stated BJ, age and all that touring will catch up to you. Think of McCartney now like a great athelete who is obviously in decline and is ready to retire. There are days where they can rise to the occasion and do ok but it is rare. As a NY Yankee fan, it was painful watching Derek Jeter in his last year struggle and you were praying to God that the manager would bench him more often. McCartney is still excellent writing songs (I can't think of anybody is age doing this !!) and in the right studio setting can sound pretty good like in Egypt Station. Being alone with no backup support exposed his voice and it was not good. There is a news show I watch at night that had entertainment section and they mentioned this concert. They mocked the performances of Elton John, McCartney and Jennifer Lopez while praising the Stones. I am not saying the world will end because of this but just stating people did notice his voice and were not complimentary. Like you, I hope he can enjoy travel (when virus thing settles down), continue to write wonderful songs and maybe record another album. I also excited to see how he does writing a musical (It's A Wonderful Life") and hope it turns out well.
Not quite sure what was so praiseworthy about the stones . Charlie Watts "performance" I have to say was cringeworthy . Keith played about 3 chords during the entire appearance . Add the studio trickery - Paul could have done that . Also , in my opinion Mick Jagger isn't in the same league as Paul for singing - then or now ...
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stuartshire wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
As you stated BJ, age and all that touring will catch up to you. Think of McCartney now like a great athelete who is obviously in decline and is ready to retire. There are days where they can rise to the occasion and do ok but it is rare. As a NY Yankee fan, it was painful watching Derek Jeter in his last year struggle and you were praying to God that the manager would bench him more often. McCartney is still excellent writing songs (I can't think of anybody is age doing this !!) and in the right studio setting can sound pretty good like in Egypt Station. Being alone with no backup support exposed his voice and it was not good. There is a news show I watch at night that had entertainment section and they mentioned this concert. They mocked the performances of Elton John, McCartney and Jennifer Lopez while praising the Stones. I am not saying the world will end because of this but just stating people did notice his voice and were not complimentary. Like you, I hope he can enjoy travel (when virus thing settles down), continue to write wonderful songs and maybe record another album. I also excited to see how he does writing a musical (It's A Wonderful Life") and hope it turns out well.
Not quite sure what was so praiseworthy about the stones . Charlie Watts "performance" I have to say was cringeworthy . Keith played about 3 chords during the entire appearance . Add the studio trickery - Paul could have done that . Also , in my opinion Mick Jagger isn't in the same league as Paul for singing - then or now ...
Plain and simple Jagger still sounded good, McCartney did not and they are close to the same age. The Stones also did not totally change the arrangement of their song. Yes, McCartney was a much more talented singer than Jagger but that is not the point now. Did you read the link "OOBU24" shared about Charlie Watts "drumming". Considering the circumstances, I think most people thought it was cool that he tried part of the performance in spirit. The Stones obviously made more of an effort to put on a more polished performance under the circumstance than McCartney.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
As you stated BJ, age and all that touring will catch up to you. Think of McCartney now like a great athelete who is obviously in decline and is ready to retire. There are days where they can rise to the occasion and do ok but it is rare. As a NY Yankee fan, it was painful watching Derek Jeter in his last year struggle and you were praying to God that the manager would bench him more often. McCartney is still excellent writing songs (I can't think of anybody is age doing this !!) and in the right studio setting can sound pretty good like in Egypt Station. Being alone with no backup support exposed his voice and it was not good. There is a news show I watch at night that had entertainment section and they mentioned this concert. They mocked the performances of Elton John, McCartney and Jennifer Lopez while praising the Stones. I am not saying the world will end because of this but just stating people did notice his voice and were not complimentary. Like you, I hope he can enjoy travel (when virus thing settles down), continue to write wonderful songs and maybe record another album. I also excited to see how he does writing a musical (It's A Wonderful Life") and hope it turns out well.
Hey Yankeefan...Like you I can't wait when "It's a Wonderful Life" musical is finished. I also liked your "athlete" comparison. I was a big time fan of Joe Montana and the 49ers but it was tough watching Joe in those last couple of years in KC.
I guess I wasn't as down with his performance as you were after watched the "full" video later on in this thread. It was probably worse for you seeing him on TV and not knowing what he was going to do especially when he did the different arrangement of Lady Madonna. i'm sure it was a shock.
I think most people who were Beatles' fans already knew the deterioration of Paul's voice from the numerous times he has been on TV live whether it was on Saturday Night Live or other big events. They already know that Paul can't sing close to the way he did as a Beatle but I'm sure many were still shocked who happened to see this event. You and I continued to be big Paul fans over the last 20 years so we are far more familiar with his "older" voice. Looking at the big picture, most Beatle fans know how great he was and what a great singer/songwriter he was. That is why I was saying in my later posts that I don't think it is such a big deal. Aa a big fan, I wished he would have done better and wouild have spent more time in preparation so it would have been more professional, but I don't think his reputation as a great musician is ruined in any way. It just makes people realize that age and his constant touring has really hurt that wonderful voice he once had.
More than anything elso (and as we have stated many times) his Solo career should be recognized much better than it is. And unfortunately Paul has been part of that opinion. He hasn't showcased so many of this great songs from Tug of Wa onward. Even in his appearances on national talk shows, he rarely talks about his very underrated Solo career. He always talks about writing with John, playing with George and Ringo but he has written so many great songs Post Beatles. He has worked with great guitarists, drummers after the Beatles but he never talks about those era's and the very underrated albums. That is why I was pushing so hard on why he needs a Solo Anthology. Anyway, we've talked so much about this in the past so I hope he spends the next few years musically with writing new songs and a new album or two. Unlike the great athletes, Paul can still write songs as good as he did years ago. The only reason that most people wouldn't agree with this is because they haven't heard the songs. I hope he never stops writing songs.
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Like the many times of yesterdays gone by.....
I was parked near the television waiting to see Paul. It was good to see him and I am glad that he is still playing his songs. It was nice that he was on earlier as (I am sorry to say) I cannot stick through many of these types of shows. I know they mean well, but the doom and gloom just brings me down and becomes a chore to stick around. If I missed anyone else that created a buzz, I would be able to find a way to see it - So I wouldn't be bummed out for missing it.
I know he is not voice wise the Paul of long long ago, but I always enjoy seeing him.
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The_Fool wrote:
Like the many times of yesterdays gone by.....
I was parked near the television waiting to see Paul. It was good to see him and I am glad that he is still playing his songs. It was nice that he was on earlier as (I am sorry to say) I cannot stick through many of these types of shows. I know they mean well, but the doom and gloom just brings me down and becomes a chore to stick around. If I missed anyone else that created a buzz, I would be able to find a way to see it - So I wouldn't be bummed out for missing it.
I know he is not voice wise the Paul of long long ago, but I always enjoy seeing him.
Loved what you said "Fool".
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
stuartshire wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
bernie1cat wrote:
Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
As you stated BJ, age and all that touring will catch up to you. Think of McCartney now like a great athelete who is obviously in decline and is ready to retire. There are days where they can rise to the occasion and do ok but it is rare. As a NY Yankee fan, it was painful watching Derek Jeter in his last year struggle and you were praying to God that the manager would bench him more often. McCartney is still excellent writing songs (I can't think of anybody is age doing this !!) and in the right studio setting can sound pretty good like in Egypt Station. Being alone with no backup support exposed his voice and it was not good. There is a news show I watch at night that had entertainment section and they mentioned this concert. They mocked the performances of Elton John, McCartney and Jennifer Lopez while praising the Stones. I am not saying the world will end because of this but just stating people did notice his voice and were not complimentary. Like you, I hope he can enjoy travel (when virus thing settles down), continue to write wonderful songs and maybe record another album. I also excited to see how he does writing a musical (It's A Wonderful Life") and hope it turns out well.
Not quite sure what was so praiseworthy about the stones . Charlie Watts "performance" I have to say was cringeworthy . Keith played about 3 chords during the entire appearance . Add the studio trickery - Paul could have done that . Also , in my opinion Mick Jagger isn't in the same league as Paul for singing - then or now ...
Plain and simple Jagger still sounded good, McCartney did not and they are close to the same age. The Stones also did not totally change the arrangement of their song. Yes, McCartney was a much more talented singer than Jagger but that is not the point now. Did you read the link "OOBU24" shared about Charlie Watts "drumming". Considering the circumstances, I think most people thought it was cool that he tried part of the performance in spirit. The Stones obviously made more of an effort to put on a more polished performance under the circumstance than McCartney.
Yes I did read it . I appreciated Paul's more honest performance . There will be people worldwide who think that Charlie's drums aside - this was fully live and all happening simultaneously . I think that's unfortunate . Give me the approach Paul took any day of the week .
The forensic examination of Paul's voice deterioration on this forum continues to astonish me . As I said , I've been hearing it for 30 years . I'm not getting what the fascination is with it . I can totally enjoy Paul's voice now . I couldn't care less thats it's roadworn and showing signs of its age . I don't believe it to be " shot " .
i appreciate that you thought Jagger / the stones sounded better . I just happen to disagree , and know many others that feel the same . Its remarkable that some of Paul's harshest critics post on this forum . I'd love to contribute to this forum more , but every time Paul does something , the same tired voice put downs emerge , and I feel the need to say I disagree . It's quite depressing really .
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I said before the performance that I would enjoy seeing Paul no matter what he played, and I did. I was surprised by the song choice but I quite liked the arrangement (which he's done before, as others have mentioned already in this thread).
I expected the comments about his voice, as it's always an issue that is raised whenever he does anything these days. It's not something that has ever shocked or bothered me. He spent many years pushing his vocal cords to the limit and of course that was bound to take its toll eventually, not to mention his age. But I'm honestly okay with it. I think for the most part, he makes it work. On a side note, I can't count the number of times non-McCartney fans have asked me why I would bother going to see him with his voice the way it is etc. I just know it's a privilege to be in his presence and that he puts on an amazing show, so why wouldn't I?
Anyway, I'm so glad he's safe and well and it was lovely to see him, plus his speech about his mother was really touching.
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There are really no harsh critics of McCartney on this board. For every post that somebody like me says his voice is going downhill, there are 5 times as many posts saying how much I love his solo albums the last 40 years. In addition, I can't count the number of times I have said he is fantastic songwriter, incredible musician and had one of the best rock and roll voices ever. For example, I have said quite a few times that nobody does 50's rock as well as McCartney and his vocals on RDR were fantastic. I have also said he is the best rock act I have ever seen live and only Springsteen came close IMO. With the possible exception of BJ, there has been nobody on this board who has been dying for McCartney to do more of his great songs live from his solo albums. BTW - I would love somebody to show me a post where I said his voice sucked on any album. The fascination with his voice is that some people do not want to see McCartney finish his career sounding like a washed up Chuck Berry or Frank Sinatra which was sad. We want him to finish his career on a positive note and that is why some of us worry about his voice live.
Before last weekend, the most critical thing I probably have said about his voice during concerts is that he really should not sing "Maybe I'm Amazed" anymore. I think quite a few people have agreed with me that he just can't handle that song very well anymore. I don't know what threads you are reading but most of them are 99.9% favorable to McCartney. Some of us are not fanboys/fangirls and will occasionally say something he did was not wonderful.
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stuartshire wrote:
~lady*madonna~ wrote:
First the positive, Paul looked good. Love the long gray locks. I am happy that he participated in this worthwhile project. My daughter is a doctor, and it's important for those in the medical profession to know they are appreciated and supported.
Now the negative....Paul's vocal quality was so sad to hear, it brought tears to my eyes. I really don't like criticizing Paul but I do believe the time has come for Paul to think seriously about using his many other talents instead of singing. (it pains me to say that)
The song arrangement was a bit strange. At one point it seemed like he briefly forgot the lyrics or maybe hesitated on purpose.
I've honestly been hearing about the deterioration of Paul's voice since his 1989 world tour - I'm not kidding.
His voice sounded kind of husky - as it does these days , and I'm not really sure what the problem with that is ? It still sounded like Paul McCartney singing Lady Madonna . His tuning was great , and nailed the falsetto great . Loved his little of the cuff piano bar arrangement of it , and it was nice and personal to the occasion. It was live, and it was him - unlike several others . J LO with her perfect Movie studio lighting , and outrageous use of autotune. Unlike Billie Ellish and Tylor Swift - you could hear Paul sing ...
I'll also tell you this now . I like the Stones, but there was nothing live about this . Apart from Charlie's missing drums , there was also the magic invisible bass and keyboards. This kind of thing is done live by one musician, then the other guys play along with video in their own time, and overdub their part just like when they are making an album . The videos are then edited together. The latency in broadband doesn't permit musicians to play live together without a noticeable delay.
Paul kept it real , and I loved listening to it.
I'm sorry, but what show were you watching? He Paul made it work, in a way, but he sounded like hell.
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Have to agree with the negative posts...Poor song choice and voice, I'll leave the arrangement for others to debate. I thought Mick sounded great and proper song choice. Elton was good. My surprise performance was Billy Joe Armstrong...I really liked it and I don't really listen to Green Day.
Paul tried to sing in a way that suited his vocal limitations (the other way to do it, of course, would be to surround himself with loud band and backing vocals, but that wasn't an option here). I do think it kind of worked, but it's also obvious that his voice is mostly shot. I find it oddly touching that some people on here insist he sounded fine, but ... no, he didn't. He's about to turn 78. It's okay to recognize he doesn't sound like a young man anymore.
Good points as usual Bruce. It's not just that he's almost 78, he has been touring incessantly since 2002. He's been doing 3 hour shows at almost all of them and singing hard songs like Maybe I'm Amazed, Let Me Roll It, Helter Skelter etc. Some people have mentioned Mick Jagger (almost his age) sounding much better but Mick hasn't toured nearly as much as Paul and when he has toured, he always has plenty of backup singers (I'm not talking about members of the Band but people who are strictly there to sing and support him. I'm not knocking Mick and maybe he's been smarter than Paul in protecting his voice. I give Paul all the credit in the world in that he has that blue collar mentality and has always given every show his all and for his fans but for a man his age, it will finally catch up to you.
This is why Yankeefan and I have repeatedly said that we wish Paul would stop these long tours, protect the limited voice he still has, and just concentrate on writing songs and maybe another album or two. How many of his contemporaries are still writing teriffic new and original songs like Paul. Not many in my opinion. That is still his strength even in his 70's so that is where my hope for Paul is. I keep on thinking about how good the bulk of songs on Egypt Station are and how good in general his "older voice" sounded. I just hope he slows down, enjoys traveling and works with Greg Kurstin again. Judging by the results of Egypt Station, Greg seems to have been a really good influence for Paul as his Producer so that is where I hope Paul concentrates after this Pandemic is over.
As you stated BJ, age and all that touring will catch up to you. Think of McCartney now like a great athelete who is obviously in decline and is ready to retire. There are days where they can rise to the occasion and do ok but it is rare. As a NY Yankee fan, it was painful watching Derek Jeter in his last year struggle and you were praying to God that the manager would bench him more often. McCartney is still excellent writing songs (I can't think of anybody is age doing this !!) and in the right studio setting can sound pretty good like in Egypt Station. Being alone with no backup support exposed his voice and it was not good. There is a news show I watch at night that had entertainment section and they mentioned this concert. They mocked the performances of Elton John, McCartney and Jennifer Lopez while praising the Stones. I am not saying the world will end because of this but just stating people did notice his voice and were not complimentary. Like you, I hope he can enjoy travel (when virus thing settles down), continue to write wonderful songs and maybe record another album. I also excited to see how he does writing a musical (It's A Wonderful Life") and hope it turns out well.
Not quite sure what was so praiseworthy about the stones . Charlie Watts "performance" I have to say was cringeworthy . Keith played about 3 chords during the entire appearance . Add the studio trickery - Paul could have done that . Also , in my opinion Mick Jagger isn't in the same league as Paul for singing - then or now ...
Plain and simple Jagger still sounded good, McCartney did not and they are close to the same age. The Stones also did not totally change the arrangement of their song. Yes, McCartney was a much more talented singer than Jagger but that is not the point now. Did you read the link "OOBU24" shared about Charlie Watts "drumming". Considering the circumstances, I think most people thought it was cool that he tried part of the performance in spirit. The Stones obviously made more of an effort to put on a more polished performance under the circumstance than McCartney.
Yes I did read it . I appreciated Paul's more honest performance . There will be people worldwide who think that Charlie's drums aside - this was fully live and all happening simultaneously . I think that's unfortunate . Give me the approach Paul took any day of the week .
The forensic examination of Paul's voice deterioration on this forum continues to astonish me . As I said , I've been hearing it for 30 years . I'm not getting what the fascination is with it . I can totally enjoy Paul's voice now . I couldn't care less thats it's roadworn and showing signs of its age . I don't believe it to be " shot " .
i appreciate that you thought Jagger / the stones sounded better . I just happen to disagree , and know many others that feel the same . Its remarkable that some of Paul's harshest critics post on this forum . I'd love to contribute to this forum more , but every time Paul does something , the same tired voice put downs emerge , and I feel the need to say I disagree . It's quite depressing really .
There are no harsh critics of Paul on this forum that I've seen. There are people who are honest about the greatly deteriorated state of his voice and those who pretend that it's not so. I'm with those who wish Paul would quit touring, save what's left of his voice -- which he can still put to good use under controlled studio conditions, as Egypt Station proves -- and give us a couple more great albums while he still can. Recognizing reality is not a "put down."
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Bruce M wrote:
There are no harsh critics of Paul on this forum that I've seen. There are people who are honest about the greatly deteriorated state of his voice and those who pretend that it's not so.
Those of us that write positive posts are not pretending, we know Paul's voice has matured and isn't the same as it was in 1964, 1979, 1992, etc. We just choose to be supportive of whatever he would like to give to us, and appreciate that he's still willing to do that. I don't understand why he needs a harsh reality check. If making music makes him happy, he has the right to keep rocking it in whatever way he chooses.
I respect your right to your opinion, Bruce, and don't mean to direct this at you personally, this post is addressed to anyone who has an opposite opinion. I know you care just as much as anyone about Paul and his music, and want to make sure it's presented in the best possible light. I'm sure that's the place that you're writing from.
If Paul's people/advisors or family members read this board and let him know what's being written here, or by some small chance he reads it himself, I don't know what good it does for him to read posts that his current efforts are lousy and aren't appreciated. It just seems unkind. But this discussion about his voice has been going on for years, he's probably got a tough skin and is used to it by now.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
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With the possible exception of BJ, there has been nobody on this board who has been dying for McCartney to do more of his great songs live from his solo albums.
Before last weekend, the most critical thing I probably have said about his voice during concerts is that he really should not sing "Maybe I'm Amazed" anymore. I think quite a few people have agreed with me that he just can't handle that song very well anymore. I don't know what threads you are reading but most of them are 99.9% favorable to McCartney. Some of us are not fanboys/fangirls and will occasionally say something he did was not wonderful.
I've been in the more solo camp for years. Been there, done that years before you were a member here. I just got tired of saying the same thing over & over.
And mentioning not singing MIA is a perfect example of someone in his camp possibly reading this board & discussing the situation with Paul. Having someone tell him the truth is better than everyone walking around saying the emporor's clothes look fine.
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I think Paul still sings well, for me it is a privilege every time I hear something new from him, and regardless of what each person thinks here, Paul in the end does what provokes him with his life, he does not belong to us, we are only Observers and nobody can tell you not to play live anymore, or to make a couple of new albums in the future. He does what he wants! and for me happy to see that he wants to be active and to see his future live performances, as well as his future albums. Anything I do in the future other than retiring is fine with me.
I have never had the opportunity to see him live, I live in a country where he has never played and probably never played and I made a great effort to plan to see him in Barcelona this year. Everything that happens makes this maybe not going to be impossible and it breaks my heart, I still hope there is a reprogramming and not a cancellation, since I do not want the money for my return ticket, I want to see it live, it is one of My most cherished dreams of life, and even if I do it like Brian Wilson, now I would be happy to be there, as long as he is also happy and is not a problem for his health.
Lucky you who have been able to see it by generation or for other reasons, I envy those who were there in the 70s or 60s a lot! but for me it is good 2020 or 2021, the videos of the concerts are fantastic and I would love to hear the stories that many here say are boring already, I tell you that those boring stories I listen to or read here at home enchanted before, now, and I will surely continue reading or listening to them in my lifetime.
Excuse me for talking a little bit like a McCartney and The Beatles fan, what happens is that in fact I am, I love his music, and the truth is that he is the daddy of all the music that anyone who dares to criticize him listens to, including to Stones fans ... and this is a forum for McCartney fans after all, right?
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Caesmo79 wrote:
I think Paul still sings well, for me it is a privilege every time I hear something new from him, and regardless of what each person thinks here, Paul in the end does what provokes him with his life, he does not belong to us, we are only Observers and nobody can tell you not to play live anymore, or to make a couple of new albums in the future. He does what he wants! and for me happy to see that he wants to be active and to see his future live performances, as well as his future albums. Anything I do in the future other than retiring is fine with me.
I have never had the opportunity to see him live, I live in a country where he has never played and probably never played and I made a great effort to plan to see him in Barcelona this year. Everything that happens makes this maybe not going to be impossible and it breaks my heart, I still hope there is a reprogramming and not a cancellation, since I do not want the money for my return ticket, I want to see it live, it is one of My most cherished dreams of life, and even if I do it like Brian Wilson, now I would be happy to be there, as long as he is also happy and is not a problem for his health.
Lucky you who have been able to see it by generation or for other reasons, I envy those who were there in the 70s or 60s a lot! but for me it is good 2020 or 2021, the videos of the concerts are fantastic and I would love to hear the stories that many here say are boring already, I tell you that those boring stories I listen to or read here at home enchanted before, now, and I will surely continue reading or listening to them in my lifetime.
Excuse me for talking a little bit like a McCartney and The Beatles fan, what happens is that in fact I am, I love his music, and the truth is that he is the daddy of all the music that anyone who dares to criticize him listens to, including to Stones fans ... and this is a forum for McCartney fans after all, right?
I hope you'll fulfil your dream and see him in Barcelona when things eventually get better! It looks like the tour will be postponed rather than cancelled (that's the word Paul used in his interview with Howard Stern) and I'm sure we'll hear more when new dates are decided on. Don't give up hope!
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oobu24 wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
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With the possible exception of BJ, there has been nobody on this board who has been dying for McCartney to do more of his great songs live from his solo albums.
Before last weekend, the most critical thing I probably have said about his voice during concerts is that he really should not sing "Maybe I'm Amazed" anymore. I think quite a few people have agreed with me that he just can't handle that song very well anymore. I don't know what threads you are reading but most of them are 99.9% favorable to McCartney. Some of us are not fanboys/fangirls and will occasionally say something he did was not wonderful.
I've been in the more solo camp for years. Been there, done that years before you were a member here. I just got tired of saying the same thing over & over.
And mentioning not singing MIA is a perfect example of someone in his camp possibly reading this board & discussing the situation with Paul. Having someone tell him the truth is better than everyone walking around saying the emporor's clothes look fine.
Exactly. It is never kind or helpful to hide the truth from someone you care about. Thank you for saying this.