Set List critique
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love2travel:
Perhaps in another key? I was just noticing a song of Elton's today, that he is singing in a lower key now.
He sings nearly his whole show in lower keys. It usually works for him, but sometimes it makes his voice very muddy. Billy Joel does this as well, but I think he moves the entire show down like two steps or something instead of going song by song. Has Paul ever done this? I can't think of any instance off hand. Anytime I've checked, they've been the original keys.
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WixRocks!:
love2travel:
Perhaps in another key? I was just noticing a song of Elton's today, that he is singing in a lower key now.
He sings nearly his whole show in lower keys. It usually works for him, but sometimes it makes his voice very muddy. Billy Joel does this as well, but I think he moves the entire show down like two steps or something instead of going song by song. Has Paul ever done this? I can't think of any instance off hand. Anytime I've checked, they've been the original keys.
Lovely Rita is down a small bit.
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It's so nice to hear Lovely Rita, isn't it?
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KingMacca:
WixRocks!:
love2travel:
Perhaps in another key? I was just noticing a song of Elton's today, that he is singing in a lower key now.
He sings nearly his whole show in lower keys. It usually works for him, but sometimes it makes his voice very muddy. Billy Joel does this as well, but I think he moves the entire show down like two steps or something instead of going song by song. Has Paul ever done this? I can't think of any instance off hand. Anytime I've checked, they've been the original keys.
Lovely Rita is down a small bit.
True! Just played 'em back to each other...no instrument near me, but I would guess just a whole step.
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WixRocks!:
love2travel:
Perhaps in another key? I was just noticing a song of Elton's today, that he is singing in a lower key now.
He sings nearly his whole show in lower keys. It usually works for him, but sometimes it makes his voice very muddy. Billy Joel does this as well, but I think he moves the entire show down like two steps or something instead of going song by song. Has Paul ever done this? I can't think of any instance off hand. Anytime I've checked, they've been the original keys.
'Fine Line' for some television show once, on tour 'Fixing A Hole' (different arrangement), 'I Will', 'I've Just Seen A Face' (in G instead of A since 1976), 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' and indeed 'Lovely Rita' (sped up on the studio version anyway, it's in between E and E flat on the stereo, the mono version is lower and more in key, live he's playing it in D). Plus 'Ram On' and 'Big Barn Bed' if that counts.
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nobodytoldme:
WixRocks!:
love2travel:
Perhaps in another key? I was just noticing a song of Elton's today, that he is singing in a lower key now.
He sings nearly his whole show in lower keys. It usually works for him, but sometimes it makes his voice very muddy. Billy Joel does this as well, but I think he moves the entire show down like two steps or something instead of going song by song. Has Paul ever done this? I can't think of any instance off hand. Anytime I've checked, they've been the original keys.
'Fine Line' for some television show once, on tour 'Fixing A Hole' (different arrangement), 'I Will', 'I've Just Seen A Face' (in G instead of A since 1976), 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' and indeed 'Lovely Rita' (sped up on the studio version anyway, it's in between E and E flat on the stereo, the mono version is lower and more in key, live he's playing it in D). Plus 'Ram On' and 'Big Barn Bed' if that counts.
I wouldn't have expected "Fine Line" or "I've Just Seen a Face"....they're already sitting in nice keys. Ob La Di is an odd one too....Lovely Rita and I Will make sense. All very interesting!
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5th-beatle:
He mentioned "Beware My Love" in a recent interview, saying he had not listened to that one in a long time and he likes it a lot. Maybe it will be added to the setlist when the remasters are released in november?
That's a great one! Do you remember what interview?
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WixRocks!:
nobodytoldme:
WixRocks!:
love2travel:
Perhaps in another key? I was just noticing a song of Elton's today, that he is singing in a lower key now.
He sings nearly his whole show in lower keys. It usually works for him, but sometimes it makes his voice very muddy. Billy Joel does this as well, but I think he moves the entire show down like two steps or something instead of going song by song. Has Paul ever done this? I can't think of any instance off hand. Anytime I've checked, they've been the original keys.
'Fine Line' for some television show once, on tour 'Fixing A Hole' (different arrangement), 'I Will', 'I've Just Seen A Face' (in G instead of A since 1976), 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' and indeed 'Lovely Rita' (sped up on the studio version anyway, it's in between E and E flat on the stereo, the mono version is lower and more in key, live he's playing it in D). Plus 'Ram On' and 'Big Barn Bed' if that counts.
I wouldn't have expected "Fine Line" or "I've Just Seen a Face"....they're already sitting in nice keys. Ob La Di is an odd one too....Lovely Rita and I Will make sense. All very interesting!
Yes, I agree, it's not like any of these choices are screaming "can't hit the notes any more", although 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' proved to be a tough one. 'I've Just Seen A Face' might have to do with the potential capo-situation of the studio version. I just realise 'Fine Line' was transposed every live performance, not just the Ellen Show, but this is another case of which the original studio recording was sped up with about half a semitone.
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forget 64:
5th-beatle:
He mentioned "Beware My Love" in a recent interview, saying he had not listened to that one in a long time and he likes it a lot. Maybe it will be added to the setlist when the remasters are released in november?
That's a great one! Do you remember what interview?
I think it's this one, correct me if I'm wrong:
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5th-beatle:
forget 64:
5th-beatle:
He mentioned "Beware My Love" in a recent interview, saying he had not listened to that one in a long time and he likes it a lot. Maybe it will be added to the setlist when the remasters are released in november?
That's a great one! Do you remember what interview?
I think it's this one, correct me if I'm wrong:
Paul actually mentions "Call Me Back Again" in that interview.
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left hand man:
More and more people are asking why McCartney doesn't change it up more? Look at the Youtube videos when he performs 1985 Listen To What The Man Said Junior's Farm letting Go Rockshow Hi Hi Hi Too Many People and some others, there's no one heading for the exits or bathrooms, especially in those other countries, those people are screaming and cheering their heads off, they absolutely love it! There's no change in the audience, and besides he could perform many songs that Wings did on their early tours, those songs are already tested, and he knows how much crowds would still like them. He thought they were good enough to perform then, and it has nothing to do with Linda, because if it did, he wouldn't perform any of them! Silly Love Songs wasn't any departure from rock for McCartney, on the very same album is the totally hard rocking Beware My Love, so anyone coming to that conclusion just isn't paying attention! Some love to say that no one knows those songs, but that's not true, who do they think bought all those albums? Those people are still around and still going to see McCartney! He could and should change it up more, let the people who look at us like we are from Mars, look all they want!
I mention Linda in regard to "Silly Love Songs" because she had solo vocals in it, in the part that develops into all the overlapping vocals (would they do that part with Paul, Abe, and Rusty? I mean, really??). And it was absolutely a departure from rock, especially being the lead single from an album. Rock critics hated, hated, hated it, and said Paul had sold out by embracing that Philly soul sound (almost disco) instead of rock. That was when I was just getting into music (about 12 years old); I remember the backlash very well. (I always liked the song, but the rock press was vicious about it.) As for the other songs, audiences will tolerate a couple of those here and there, but that's about it. I mean, I would love it if Paul changed it up some more, but it's just not gonna happen, for the reasons above, plus he would have to re-learn them, which he may not feel like doing. Based on his recent comments, he barely remembers "Beware My Love," and it's quite a long song, so I don't know what chance there is, though it would be great.
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DrivinFan:
5th-beatle:
forget 64:
5th-beatle:
He mentioned "Beware My Love" in a recent interview, saying he had not listened to that one in a long time and he likes it a lot. Maybe it will be added to the setlist when the remasters are released in november?
That's a great one! Do you remember what interview?
I think it's this one, correct me if I'm wrong:
Paul actually mentions "Call Me Back Again" in that interview.
Ooooops, that's the one I was thinking: "Call Me Back Again". I guess my subconscious really wants him to perform "Beware My Love" live, so I wrote that one instead!
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Well he certainly cannot scream that one out either!!! No matter WHAT key! He might as well add "Oh! Darling"
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favoritething:
left hand man:
More and more people are asking why McCartney doesn't change it up more? Look at the Youtube videos when he performs 1985 Listen To What The Man Said Junior's Farm letting Go Rockshow Hi Hi Hi Too Many People and some others, there's no one heading for the exits or bathrooms, especially in those other countries, those people are screaming and cheering their heads off, they absolutely love it! There's no change in the audience, and besides he could perform many songs that Wings did on their early tours, those songs are already tested, and he knows how much crowds would still like them. He thought they were good enough to perform then, and it has nothing to do with Linda, because if it did, he wouldn't perform any of them! Silly Love Songs wasn't any departure from rock for McCartney, on the very same album is the totally hard rocking Beware My Love, so anyone coming to that conclusion just isn't paying attention! Some love to say that no one knows those songs, but that's not true, who do they think bought all those albums? Those people are still around and still going to see McCartney! He could and should change it up more, let the people who look at us like we are from Mars, look all they want!
I mention Linda in regard to "Silly Love Songs" because she had solo vocals in it, in the part that develops into all the overlapping vocals (would they do that part with Paul, Abe, and Rusty? I mean, really??). And it was absolutely a departure from rock, especially being the lead single from an album. Rock critics hated, hated, hated it, and said Paul had sold out by embracing that Philly soul sound (almost disco) instead of rock. That was when I was just getting into music (about 12 years old); I remember the backlash very well. (I always liked the song, but the rock press was vicious about it.) As for the other songs, audiences will tolerate a couple of those here and there, but that's about it. I mean, I would love it if Paul changed it up some more, but it's just not gonna happen, for the reasons above, plus he would have to re-learn them, which he may not feel like doing. Based on his recent comments, he barely remembers "Beware My Love," and it's quite a long song, so I don't know what chance there is, though it would be great.
He barely remembers "Beware My Love" but it was no problem for him to remember and learn again "All Together Now" - lol.
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love2travel:
OohYou:
I don't think we'll ever hear the great change-up we all want, since he plays these huge stadium tours where many people really are expecting Beatles songs and have NO IDEA what he's done since then. Of course they're all missing out. He even remarked in a recent interview that he sees how people get less interested in the show when he pulls out the new or more obscure stuff. I think it's a shame, but Paul's instincts are probably right here?he wouldn't sell out the large venues once word got around that no one's going to hear all those Beatles hits. Though I've given up on a solo-only or deep cuts tour, I'm hoping that he'll do something like an Oobu Joobu-type live webcast with none of the big hits, to give the hardcore fans something that focuses on the deep cuts. I'd pay for that!
Why are you giving up on a solo-only or deep cuts show in a smaller venue?! Why does he have to always do a large venue? He doesn't have to, I guess he chooses to... Oh us hardcore fans...we're such pains, always wanting to hear the largest part of his collection... His very talented band would probably not like it either... : Paul did the studio bit for Chaos and Creation and that was to me, one of the most fascinating things he's ever done! I really wish he would do something like that for NEW. It is most fascinating to see Paul putting songs together... Just amazing...you can see him focus on it and the beautiful music just comes out! Now I would pay to see that!!!
If he did one for NEW, it would be magical. Especially with the four producers angle. It would be really interesting to hear how each one of them worked with Paul. I LOVED the Chaos special. I also loved "Put it There," that similar video he did for Flowers in the Dirt. It seems like when he does these things, and when he does the smaller live appearances, they're almost always in conjunction with new album promotion. There were the "secret" Amoeba shows for MAF, and then he did a number of smaller promotional events for New, like the show at the NYC high school, and showing up unannounced in a bus in NYC and London (I wonder if that was inspired by the early Wings days?). There have also been a few smaller shows, like the one at the Apollo in Dec. 2010 and some other small pub show he did at the time. But if I recall, those were for charity and other than doing Hitchhike, I don't know if he veered much from the standard setlist. I SO HOPE he switches it up after the last leg of Out There, and does something for the fans who love his WHOLE career, not just the hits. I wonder if he (or his promo people) think it would look like a downgrade going from stadium shows to small venues? Or they can't figure it out financially, with all the people paid to promote it and the security he needs? Could they be worried about him really not selling out, or getting booed when people realize there are no Beatles hits being played? I think the smaller venue events would be the hottest ticket in town, and would probably INCREASE his street cred, not diminish it. His stadium shows sell out in 5 seconds! Imagine what the press would be around tons of people desperate to get into a small-venue deep cuts show?
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Have you guys seen the Living Room Tour that Paul did?
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Oh, right! I forgot about that one--I watched the live webcast, so much fun! Interesting how he refers to Kanye so casually. This partnership must have been in the works for a while now.
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McCartney doesn't remember Beware My love, how absolutely ridiculous! Also McCartney doesn't care about some rock critic, if he did, he would try and cater to them, and that's something that McCartney has never ever done! McCartney cares about his vision for his music! Yes, Abe, Rusty and Brian could easily do the harmonies for Silly Love Songs, after all, and I mean no disrespect to Linda, but they are all better singers than she ever was! Silly Love Songs does have the Philly horns, but there's absolutely nothing disco about that song, it's pure pop! So if they thought that, no wonder their opinions were ridiculous! Again if they had that opinion, they weren't paying attention because he included some hard rock right along with that song on the same album, so how did they miss that? As long as McCartney throws in the predictable Beatle song here and there, the audience will tolerate whatever he does, that's been proven over and over by some of the setlist choices he has already made over the years! So he could very easily perform some more of the big Wings/solo numbers that he did on earlier Wings tours, such as ... Big Barn Bed The Mess Smile Away Wildlife Getting Closer I've Had Enough Eat At Home Best Friend Little Woman Love, and I haven't really mentioned many of the solo songs he could be doing like... House Of Wax That Was Me Take It Away Friends To Go I Can Bet Lonely Road Hope Of Deliverance Fine Line Too Much Rain Angry Stranglehold Cafe On The Left Bank No More Lonely Nights Somebody Who Cares One Of These Days McCartney has so much fantastic music he could do, and the crowds would absolutely love it!
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Paul should make his setlist together Bob Dylan I can hear Bob to say: "Hey Paul fuck off the audience! Open the show with Mumbo! Then play all "Ram" and "Tug of war" album!!
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left hand man:
McCartney doesn't remember Beware My love, how absolutely ridiculous! Also McCartney doesn't care about some rock critic, if he did, he would try and cater to them, and that's something that McCartney has never ever done! McCartney cares about his vision for his music! Yes, Abe, Rusty and Brian could easily do the harmonies for Silly Love Songs, after all, and I mean no disrespect to Linda, but they are all better singers than she ever was! Silly Love Songs does have the Philly horns, but there's absolutely nothing disco about that song, it's pure pop! So if they thought that, no wonder their opinions were ridiculous! Again if they had that opinion, they weren't paying attention because he included some hard rock right along with that song on the same album, so how did they miss that? As long as McCartney throws in the predictable Beatle song here and there, the audience will tolerate whatever he does, that's been proven over and over by some of the setlist choices he has already made over the years! So he could very easily perform some more of the big Wings/solo numbers that he did on earlier Wings tours McCartney has so much fantastic music he could do, and the crowds would absolutely love it!
He certainly has not played "Beware My Love" live for 38 years, which would make it kind of hard to remember how to play as a musician, I would think. As for "Silly Love Songs," being that it was one of his biggest hits ever, why do YOU think he hasn't done it in 38 years? There must be a reason. He can throw in the occasional obscure Beatles song because Beatles albums have consistently sold well over the years, have never gone out of print, and have been re-released in the past five years as stereo CDs, mono CDs, stereo LPs, and now mono LPs. "Abbey Road" is in the Billboard Top 200 right now. McCartney's solo catalogue hasn't sold anywhere near those numbers, so he has chosen the easier way. Do I think it kind of sucks? Yes! I would love to hear any of the songs you listed; I'm just not going to expect it to happen, and I'll be happy with the occasional "Too Many People" or "1985" and enjoy the show for what it is.