Set List critique
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Sgt._Pepper:
beatlesfanrandy:
As I said, Paul has explained the setlist to people very clearly, and very recently. I don't need to defend him, he's perfectly capable. I don't even disagree with other opinions, I would love to see a whole section of just 80's, 90's, and 2000's songs live, but it's not gonna happen. People do not go and see him for those songs, unfortunately. So for people to continue to say it's boring or stale here is only being disrespectful to him. To me it's the discussion that's boring and stale, not his concerts. I'm not saying anything new, but neither is anybody else on this thread.
Look, I love Paul. I think everyone on this board does. But it isn't disrespectful to make comments or suggestions about his setlist in a thread called "Set List critique." This thread (and this board) both exist to help facilitate discussion. If people want to complain about the setlist, that's their prerogative. And if you want to say that the setlist is fine the way it is, then that's ok, too. I'm just saying that it's silly for you to call folks "disrespectful" in a thread that is supposed to allow people to make suggestions for Paul's setlist.
agreed
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I have seen McCartney eight times between 1976 and 2009 and enjoyed every concert. In fact, I find hard to say one is the best since they are all so exciting. But Paul has so many songs, I would like to see him do a show of songs I have not heard him perform live. It doesn't mean he HAS to just for me. It's just something I'd like to see in concert. If he came to Albuquerque with the current set list, I would pay top dollar to see him. Having said that, I would like to see a set list broken up by decades, so each period of his career gets SOME representation. Something like this: 1963-1973 Let It Be Hey Jude The Long And Winding Road Yesterday Can't Buy Me Love Hello Goodbye Too Many People My Love Maybe I'm Amazed Band On The Run Jet 1974-1984 Venus and Mars/Rock Show Listen To What The Man Said Junior's Farm Letting Go Silly Love Songs Let 'Em In Mull Of Kintyre With A Little Luck I've Had Enough Tug Of War Ebony and Ivory 1985-1995 No More Lonely Nights My Brave Face Hope Of Deliverance 1996-2006 Flaming Pie Young Boy Beautiful Night Lonely Road From A Lover To A Friend Fine Line This Never Happened Before 2007-present My Valentine Only Momma Knows Save Us New Queenie Eye
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beatlesfanrandy:
oobu24:
Not my words...Taken from a friend's post on another board: "Another problem is the overwhelming Beatleness of the set list. Fans of Wings and his solo work are constantly short changed so Paul can continue to fill stadiums with Beatle obsessed casual fans. In his current set, there is not one song taken from a thirty year span between "Here Today" and "My Valentine". That's a whole career for some folks, but Paul doesn't acknowledge any of his work from that period." A very accurate observation.
As I said, Paul has explained the setlist to people very clearly, and very recently. I don't need to defend him, he's perfectly capable. I don't even disagree with other opinions, I would love to see a whole section of just 80's, 90's, and 2000's songs live, but it's not gonna happen. People do not go and see him for those songs, unfortunately. So for people to continue to say it's boring or stale here is only being disrespectful to him. To me it's the discussion that's boring and stale, not his concerts. I'm not saying anything new, but neither is anybody else on this thread.
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I don't think Paul knows how to put a good show together anymore. He's said in recent radio interviews that he likes the pacing of the current show. I think it's his worst setlist since 2002. As tired as I am of "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," "My Love" and "Long & Winding Road," those songs were easier for me to tolerate with previous setlists. This current set just isn't doing it for me. And if I seem disrespectful, that's not my goal -- however, after all, we're talking about an artist who described his very own solo songs as "sh-t." The encouraging thing is that he's going back to South America. And although they'll lap up whatever he does on stage, the South Americans tend to get the obscure goodies.
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RMartinez:
I have seen McCartney eight times between 1976 and 2009 and enjoyed every concert. In fact, I find hard to say one is the best since they are all so exciting. But Paul has so many songs, I would like to see him do a show of songs I have not heard him perform live. It doesn't mean he HAS to just for me. It's just something I'd like to see in concert. If he came to Albuquerque with the current set list, I would pay top dollar to see him. Having said that, I would like to see a set list broken up by decades, so each period of his career gets SOME representation. Something like this: 1963-1973 Let It Be Hey Jude The Long And Winding Road Yesterday Can't Buy Me Love Hello Goodbye Too Many People My Love Maybe I'm Amazed Band On The Run Jet 1974-1984 Venus and Mars/Rock Show Listen To What The Man Said Junior's Farm Letting Go Silly Love Songs Let 'Em In Mull Of Kintyre With A Little Luck I've Had Enough Tug Of War Ebony and Ivory 1985-1995 No More Lonely Nights My Brave Face Hope Of Deliverance 1996-2006 Flaming Pie Young Boy Beautiful Night Lonely Road From A Lover To A Friend Fine Line This Never Happened Before 2007-present My Valentine Only Momma Knows Save Us New Queenie Eye
Again: I have to use Eric Clapton as an example. He is almost like Neil Young -- he clearly does the songs that he wants to do. And he represents all eras of his career, often rotating songs from certain eras from one tour to the next. What Clapton has in common with McCartney is that he will always do his two or three signature songs, but you never know what the rest of the show will be.
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Fresh from the Twitter Q&A: Q: "There's another song from the 'NEW' album that you would like to put on the setlist? Paul McCartney: "We've been playing with 'Appreciate' but it's kind of hard to do" Q: "Will you be playing Hope (the Destiny theme) live in concert?" Paul McCartney: "HOPEfully!"
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audi:
I don't think Paul knows how to put a good show together anymore. He's said in recent radio interviews that he likes the pacing of the current show. I think it's his worst setlist since 2002. As tired as I am of "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," "My Love" and "Long & Winding Road," those songs were easier for me to tolerate with previous setlists. This current set just isn't doing it for me. And if I seem disrespectful, that's not my goal -- however, after all, we're talking about an artist who described his very own solo songs as "sh-t." The encouraging thing is that he's going back to South America. And although they'll lap up whatever he does on stage, the South Americans tend to get the obscure goodies.
It's still a good show and I'm having my fingers crossed I ever get to see this set with the solo goodies I longed for when he was still performing the same set in Europe - and even then I will be haaaaaapy when - if - 'Hi Hi Hi' kicks in in the whole overly stale block during the last 15 songs) but maaaaan the ratio is off. Regarding Beatles: no 'Penny Lane', 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'For No One', 'Here There & Everywhere' for about 10 years but 'All Together Now' AND 'Lovely Rita' AND 'Ob-La-Di' AND 'Mr. Kite' every evening for the past 2 years?! And in spite of that only one song from 1976 to 2012, which is even Beatles-related?!
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And when I watch the band, they seem to be "acting" half the time. I don't care what Macca is paying 'em: They just can't be that thrilled doing so many of the same songs over and over and over and over...
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audi:
And when I watch the band, they seem to be "acting" half the time. I don't care what Macca is paying 'em: They just can't be that thrilled doing so many of the same songs over and over and over and over...
I agree with you. After awhile, no matter how much you are getting paid it most get boring doing a bunch of those songs. The only sign of life they seem to show IMO is when they do songs off "New" because they have not played them to death yet.
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Songs that have gotz ta' go: -All My Loving -Let Me Roll It -The Long and Winding Road -Blackbird -Eleanor Rigby -Band on the Run -Back in the U.S.S.R. -Let It Be -Hey Jude -Get Back -Yesterday Paulie: As we say in the south: You have plum wore these dang things out!
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I really hope he will do "Appreciate" in Brazil!
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oobu24:
thenightfish:
Paul has *never been one to vary his setlist from show to show. I do not expect him to start now. Yes he has enough catalog to do so, but it is not his style, whereas someone like Springsteen has been doing it forever, and gets ragged on by fans when he doesn't change his shows enough. I would welcome it should Paul ever decide to do it, but I do not expect it to happen or let it affect my enjoyment of seeing him live.
Of course it does not affect one's enjoyment of his concerts.
I would hope not! but it's hard to tell based on some of the comments on this thread.
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audi:
And when I watch the band, they seem to be "acting" half the time. I don't care what Macca is paying 'em: They just can't be that thrilled doing so many of the same songs over and over and over and over...
I really starting to notice the difference in this when I was lucky enough to attend 4 gigs in 4 months in 4 different countries late 2011/early 2012. The feeling when they blasted into 'The Word', 'Come And Get It', 'Venus And Mars'/'Rock Show' and 'Junior's Farm' was something else.
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audi:
Songs that have gotz ta' go: -All My Loving -Let Me Roll It -The Long and Winding Road -Blackbird -Eleanor Rigby -Band on the Run -Back in the U.S.S.R. -Let It Be -Hey Jude -Get Back -Yesterday Paulie: As we say in the south: You have plum wore these dang things out!
I know you're tired of these songs, but if I were seeing Paul for the first time and he didn't do "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday," I'd feel cheated.
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I'm reading this article on Billy Joel: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/thirty-three-hit-wonder?intcid=mod-most-popular And it occurs to me that this may be a window into Paul's live shows, too. Billy is tired of certain hits of his, but his people push him to do them to keep the energy level up, so he does them. Also interesting is that Billy never puts the first two rows on sale, because it was ending up with rich fat cats looking bored and impatient, as if to say, "Entertain me, Piano Man," as he says. So now he just has his crew pick people out of the crowd personally to sit in those rows. "That this usually results in a foreground that is both young and female may or may not be an unintended consequence, but Joel believes that it helps buck up the band." And of course those young women would be excited just to be there, but it's also a good idea to play songs they know, that get them even more excited, that they may likely know the words to. Does Paul's crew do this? I'd be kind of surprised if they don't, because of the reasons above, and also it "brightens up" the audience shots on the DVD. Anyway, this could be one reason he's not doing things like "Take It Away" or "Hope Of Deliverance" or "I've Had Enough."
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favoritething:
I'm reading this article on Billy Joel: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/thirty-three-hit-wonder?intcid=mod-most-popular And it occurs to me that this may be a window into Paul's live shows, too. Billy is tired of certain hits of his, but his people push him to do them to keep the energy level up, so he does them. Also interesting is that Billy never puts the first two rows on sale, because it was ending up with rich fat cats looking bored and impatient, as if to say, "Entertain me, Piano Man," as he says. So now he just has his crew pick people out of the crowd personally to sit in those rows. "That this usually results in a foreground that is both young and female may or may not be an unintended consequence, but Joel believes that it helps buck up the band." And of course those young women would be excited just to be there, but it's also a good idea to play songs they know, that get them even more excited, that they may likely know the words to. Does Paul's crew do this? I'd be kind of surprised if they don't, because of the reasons above, and also it "brightens up" the audience shots on the DVD. Anyway, this could be one reason he's not doing things like "Take It Away" or "Hope Of Deliverance" or "I've Had Enough."
Very good and interesting article on Billy Joel. I still remember him saying at concert he was going to play this song now because he did not want to hear people screaming for it all night, the song was "Piano Man"
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favoritething:
I'm reading this article on Billy Joel: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/thirty-three-hit-wonder?intcid=mod-most-popular And it occurs to me that this may be a window into Paul's live shows, too. Billy is tired of certain hits of his, but his people push him to do them to keep the energy level up, so he does them. Also interesting is that Billy never puts the first two rows on sale, because it was ending up with rich fat cats looking bored and impatient, as if to say, "Entertain me, Piano Man," as he says. So now he just has his crew pick people out of the crowd personally to sit in those rows. "That this usually results in a foreground that is both young and female may or may not be an unintended consequence, but Joel believes that it helps buck up the band." And of course those young women would be excited just to be there, but it's also a good idea to play songs they know, that get them even more excited, that they may likely know the words to. Does Paul's crew do this? I'd be kind of surprised if they don't, because of the reasons above, and also it "brightens up" the audience shots on the DVD. Anyway, this could be one reason he's not doing things like "Take It Away" or "Hope Of Deliverance" or "I've Had Enough."
McCartney plays about 25 very well know Beatle songs and if that is not enough to keep the energy going, I don't know what will. Really, does every song have to be a showstopper - geez.
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The article also said Joel played Just The Way You Are at his manager's request, and had not played it in five years. Can you imagine McCartney not playing Yesterday or Hey Jude for a tour? Or five years? Time would stop!!
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yankeefan7:
favoritething:
I'm reading this article on Billy Joel: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/thirty-three-hit-wonder?intcid=mod-most-popular And it occurs to me that this may be a window into Paul's live shows, too. Billy is tired of certain hits of his, but his people push him to do them to keep the energy level up, so he does them. Also interesting is that Billy never puts the first two rows on sale, because it was ending up with rich fat cats looking bored and impatient, as if to say, "Entertain me, Piano Man," as he says. So now he just has his crew pick people out of the crowd personally to sit in those rows. "That this usually results in a foreground that is both young and female may or may not be an unintended consequence, but Joel believes that it helps buck up the band." And of course those young women would be excited just to be there, but it's also a good idea to play songs they know, that get them even more excited, that they may likely know the words to. Does Paul's crew do this? I'd be kind of surprised if they don't, because of the reasons above, and also it "brightens up" the audience shots on the DVD. Anyway, this could be one reason he's not doing things like "Take It Away" or "Hope Of Deliverance" or "I've Had Enough."
McCartney plays about 25 very well know Beatle songs and if that is not enough to keep the energy going, I don't know what will. Really, does every song have to be a showstopper - geez.
I know what you're saying. That just seems to be their thinking, as far as I can gather. And I loved the part about "Just The Way You Are," and how he gets everybody teary-eyed and then finishes the song saying, "And then we got divorced." Apparently, RM, Paul does think time would stop if he didn't play "Yesterday" or "Hey Jude". I think he has boxed himself in where he can't avoid certain tracks anymore but, to audi's point a few posts back, he can ditch "Let Me Roll It" at this point!!
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favoritething:
yankeefan7:
favoritething:
I'm reading this article on Billy Joel: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/27/thirty-three-hit-wonder?intcid=mod-most-popular And it occurs to me that this may be a window into Paul's live shows, too. Billy is tired of certain hits of his, but his people push him to do them to keep the energy level up, so he does them. Also interesting is that Billy never puts the first two rows on sale, because it was ending up with rich fat cats looking bored and impatient, as if to say, "Entertain me, Piano Man," as he says. So now he just has his crew pick people out of the crowd personally to sit in those rows. "That this usually results in a foreground that is both young and female may or may not be an unintended consequence, but Joel believes that it helps buck up the band." And of course those young women would be excited just to be there, but it's also a good idea to play songs they know, that get them even more excited, that they may likely know the words to. Does Paul's crew do this? I'd be kind of surprised if they don't, because of the reasons above, and also it "brightens up" the audience shots on the DVD. Anyway, this could be one reason he's not doing things like "Take It Away" or "Hope Of Deliverance" or "I've Had Enough."
McCartney plays about 25 very well know Beatle songs and if that is not enough to keep the energy going, I don't know what will. Really, does every song have to be a showstopper - geez.
I know what you're saying. That just seems to be their thinking, as far as I can gather. And I loved the part about "Just The Way You Are," and how he gets everybody teary-eyed and then finishes the song saying, "And then we got divorced." Apparently, RM, Paul does think time would stop if he didn't play "Yesterday" or "Hey Jude". I think he has boxed himself in where he can't avoid certain tracks anymore but, to audi's point a few posts back, he can ditch "Let Me Roll It" at this point!!
Yeah, I have said as much before, keep the BIGGIES like Yesterday, Hey Jude, Let It Be, The Long And Winding Road, and Live and Let Die. That leaves 32 songs he can move around and change every concert.