Set List critique
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I understand the fact that it's 9 years old speaks volumes. The larger point I was trying to make (and I think the point the author of the article is trying to make) is that the typical concert-goer is there for the "old stuff" and hasn't much of an appreciation for the "contemporary" stuff. Sad as this is. The fact that this is 9 years old doesn't change that though. I witness it every tour (much to my chagrin too, mind you). The reality is is that the same is true for most (obviously not all, but most) of today's audience - they are there for the old stuff, aka the Beatles and MAYBE 1 or 2 Wings songs. Clearly there are exceptions, but Paul is catering to the masses at his concerts. The ones there for the "old stuff."
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I keep thinking of other artists like Elton John, Billy Joel, or Eric Clapton. They seem able to tour and play songs from their hits and obscure ones too. Why can't Paul? Is it the whole Beatles thing? Is it just too big to overcome? He did in 1976. But even by 1979 he was opening with Got To Get You Into My Life.
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They are the biggest musical act of all time and one of the most significant cultural icons in history as well. You cannot get around that, escape from it, etc. I keep referencing the book Man on the Run but it speaks to this. Paul spent the 70s trying to outrun his past, which, like you point out is probably one reason why in 1976 he played no Beatles songs. Then, for whatever reason (Maybe Lennon's death spurred it somehow as he realized life is short or had some sort of moment of clarity - who knows, I am simply speculating) he stopped running from it and hasn't since.
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If you haven't done so already, next time you're at Paul's show listen to the crowd reaction when he plays an "iconic" Beatle song -vs- any other song performed that evening....it's really amazing. I'm sure that plays into setlist choices.
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I was listening to disc one of Good Evening New York City last night, and it occurs to me that it's pretty much a perfect Paul set. We get a decent sprinkling of Beatles classics (Got to Get You Into My Life, Long and Winding Road), Wings hits (My Love, Band on the Run), a peek at deeper Wings cuts (Mrs. Vandebilt), and a nice assortment of solo stuff (Calico Skies, Only Mama Knows, Sing the Changes, etc.). And from the crowd reactions on both the album and the DVD, everyone seems to be having a good time. Of course, disc two of GENYC is Paul in Beatles tribute band mode, but disc one has a really nice balance. If he did a whole show like that, I'd be a happy man. I also don't expect it.
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Just saw The Stones, and they to a large extent play the same set of 19 or 20 songs each time. BUT!!! They might open with Start Me Up one night and close with Jumping Jack Flash and the next night reverse that. So you CAN mix the order of songs too. And I have seen The Stones each time here since Voodoo Lounge in 95. They've been here 4 times since Paul was here. And another thing is Mick doesn't tell the same story each time before each song in each venue. So, it keeps it fresh. When Mick talks it feels like he is genuine EVEN if he is not. It's Showbiz!!! Anyway...as much as I love The Rolling Stones, and I see them each time they come to Australia (this IS the last time), it will always be a consolation prize. I WANT McCARTNEY IN AUSTRALIA! By the way...without actually saying goodbye to Melbourne, Jagger said, "We first played Melbourne at the Palais nearly 50 years ago, and we've loved coming here each time since - we want to THANK YOU ALL HERE FOR SUPPORTING US AND COMING TO SEE US!" Absolutely Mick. To you and the boys...right back at ya! Paul can at LEAST speak to audiences without doing the spiel by rote.
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moptops:
Just saw The Stones, and they to a large extent play the same set of 19 or 20 songs each time. BUT!!! They might open with Start Me Up one night and close with Jumping Jack Flash and the next night reverse that. So you CAN mix the order of songs too. And I have seen The Stones each time here since Voodoo Lounge in 95. They've been here 4 times since Paul was here. And another thing is Mick doesn't tell the same story each time before each song in each venue. So, it keeps it fresh. When Mick talks it feels like he is genuine EVEN if he is not. It's Showbiz!!! Anyway...as much as I love The Rolling Stones, and I see them each time they come to Australia (this IS the last time), it will always be a consolation prize. I WANT McCARTNEY IN AUSTRALIA! By the way...without actually saying goodbye to Melbourne, Jagger said, "We first played Melbourne at the Palais nearly 50 years ago, and we've loved coming here each time since - we want to THANK YOU ALL HERE FOR SUPPORTING US AND COMING TO SEE US!" Absolutely Mick. To you and the boys...right back at ya! Paul can at LEAST speak to audiences without doing the spiel by rote.
Regarding Paul's between song banter, although it's only stating the obvious to say that he repeats the same story, it doesn't come off as a strictly scripted thing...it's more like he's talking casually, then you can almost see an 'oh yeah' expression on his face when he realizes he's supposed to repeat one of his stories....so in my mind, Paul's banter is a mixed bag of casual, off the cuff conversation and scripted stories (but people chose to focus on the repeated stories)
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To be fair, he does throw in a mix of new and "local" stories too that vary based on where he is playing. In Jacksonville a few weeks ago, he talked about his recent trip to Disney World earlier that same week, for example. And he definitely did when I saw him in DC over the years too (once even dedicating a song to the First Lady), so I can only assume he does it everywhere. So he isn't entirely scripted for sure.
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LiveForever:
To be fair, he does throw in a mix of new and "local" stories too that vary based on where he is playing. In Jacksonville a few weeks ago, he talked about his recent trip to Disney World earlier that same week, for example. And he definitely did when I saw him in DC over the years too (once even dedicating a song to the First Lady), so I can only assume he does it everywhere. So he isn't entirely scripted for sure.
True but he needs to get rid of the Hendrix (Sgt. Pepper) and Harrison (ukele) stories. The "Blackbird" one is also very old by now. My other "complaint" is he never seems to tell stories about writing solo or Wings songs.
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LiveForever:
They are the biggest musical act of all time and one of the most significant cultural icons in history as well. You cannot get around that, escape from it, etc. I keep referencing the book Man on the Run but it speaks to this. Paul spent the 70s trying to outrun his past, which, like you point out is probably one reason why in 1976 he played no Beatles songs. Then, for whatever reason (Maybe Lennon's death spurred it somehow as he realized life is short or had some sort of moment of clarity - who knows, I am simply speculating) he stopped running from it and hasn't since.
Wings played 4 or 5 Beatle songs on the 1976 WOA tour.
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4 or 5 vs. 25+
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moptops:
Just saw The Stones, and they to a large extent play the same set of 19 or 20 songs each time. BUT!!! They might open with Start Me Up one night and close with Jumping Jack Flash and the next night reverse that. So you CAN mix the order of songs too. And I have seen The Stones each time here since Voodoo Lounge in 95. They've been here 4 times since Paul was here. And another thing is Mick doesn't tell the same story each time before each song in each venue. So, it keeps it fresh. When Mick talks it feels like he is genuine EVEN if he is not. It's Showbiz!!! Anyway...as much as I love The Rolling Stones, and I see them each time they come to Australia (this IS the last time), it will always be a consolation prize. I WANT McCARTNEY IN AUSTRALIA! By the way...without actually saying goodbye to Melbourne, Jagger said, "We first played Melbourne at the Palais nearly 50 years ago, and we've loved coming here each time since - we want to THANK YOU ALL HERE FOR SUPPORTING US AND COMING TO SEE US!" Absolutely Mick. To you and the boys...right back at ya! Paul can at LEAST speak to audiences without doing the spiel by rote.
The Stones put on a great show, I have seen them three times and loved them each time. I have seen McCartney eight times, so my preferences are obvious.
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Bruce M.:
I was listening to disc one of Good Evening New York City last night, and it occurs to me that it's pretty much a perfect Paul set. We get a decent sprinkling of Beatles classics (Got to Get You Into My Life, Long and Winding Road), Wings hits (My Love, Band on the Run), a peek at deeper Wings cuts (Mrs. Vandebilt), and a nice assortment of solo stuff (Calico Skies, Only Mama Knows, Sing the Changes, etc.). And from the crowd reactions on both the album and the DVD, everyone seems to be having a good time. Of course, disc two of GENYC is Paul in Beatles tribute band mode, but disc one has a really nice balance. If he did a whole show like that, I'd be a happy man. I also don't expect it.
Totally agree. I stopped listening to the second half of GENYC a long time ago. "yankeefan7" has the perfect alternative.
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DrivinFan:
If you haven't done so already, next time you're at Paul's show listen to the crowd reaction when he plays an "iconic" Beatle song -vs- any other song performed that evening....it's really amazing. I'm sure that plays into setlist choices.
I sat next to a couple at the 2012 St. Louis show who kinda' relied on me to identify the songs they didn't know (My Valentine, Here Today); however, to my surprise, they were on their feet for "Mrs. Vandebilt" and "Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five." So, it's not just Beatle songs that get the crowd jumpin'.
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audi:
Bruce M.:
I was listening to disc one of Good Evening New York City last night, and it occurs to me that it's pretty much a perfect Paul set. We get a decent sprinkling of Beatles classics (Got to Get You Into My Life, Long and Winding Road), Wings hits (My Love, Band on the Run), a peek at deeper Wings cuts (Mrs. Vandebilt), and a nice assortment of solo stuff (Calico Skies, Only Mama Knows, Sing the Changes, etc.). And from the crowd reactions on both the album and the DVD, everyone seems to be having a good time. Of course, disc two of GENYC is Paul in Beatles tribute band mode, but disc one has a really nice balance. If he did a whole show like that, I'd be a happy man. I also don't expect it.
Totally agree. I stopped listening to the second half of GENYC a long time ago. "yankeefan7" has the perfect alternative.
Yes, I pretty much only listen to the first disc, though I didn't mention that. Sigh...
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Well over 20 years now since Paul toured Australia. Still baffled as to why he has chosen not to come back. There was one attempt, but that fell off, back in 2002. Some mystery still surrounds that decision. The Stones got pretty good reviews this last week, although just cancelled one of their gigs in Melbourne. Copping a bit of flak. Thank Goodness I saw Paul both times at the M.C.G back in '93 or I'd be most unfulfilled as a McCartney fan. It'll be huge when or if he does come back to these shores. In the meantime, I don't have to tell you that you folks in the States are very lucky he keeps on coming back.
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audi:
That Scorsese documentary on George Harrison was basically The Beatles Anthology + a few segments about the Dark Horse Tour and The Concert For Bangladesh. However, major points for Paul for letting people know that the main-riff for "And I Love Her" was 100% George's.
Yes, I have to agree with you there: I don't think the doc even mentions Cloud Nine, for cryin' out loud! Clearly, Scorsese was one of millions of people who were turned off by the Dark Horse tour and album and just ignored him for the most part after that, choosing to focus only on the Beatle years and a bit of the early seventies forevermore. Paul's setlist reflects pretty much that same mentality, with just a couple of extra years in the seventies. Since the Wings Over America tour in '76, no new material has endured except "Here Today" and perhaps "My Valentine," so ZERO uptempo numbers are considered to have caught people's imagination since 1976 to become must-hears at Paul's shows! I know we've beaten this to death, but this is obviously the formula for Paul's shows that he feels is the right one. He sells loads of tickets, he gets great reviews, he gets great press, he STILL gets female fans swooning over him at 72, and he still only gets asked Beatles questions in interviews. A handful of disappointed fans on a message board aren't going to change what he plays. It's fun to talk about, and fun to imagine what he COULD play, but that's as far as I would go. I still think the only chance of hearing the kind of show WE want to hear is some one-off charity thing or TV special or webcast. I don't want to end on a negative note, so I'll just say I hope that he can slip in maybe a FEW of the forgotten gems we love! Maybe?
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favoritething:
audi:
That Scorsese documentary on George Harrison was basically The Beatles Anthology + a few segments about the Dark Horse Tour and The Concert For Bangladesh. However, major points for Paul for letting people know that the main-riff for "And I Love Her" was 100% George's.
Yes, I have to agree with you there: I don't think the doc even mentions Cloud Nine, for cryin' out loud! Clearly, Scorsese was one of millions of people who were turned off by the Dark Horse tour and just ignored him for the most part after that, choosing to focus only on the Beatle years and a bit of the early seventies forevermore. Paul's setlist reflects pretty much that same mentality, with just a couple of extra years in the seventies. Since the Wings Over America tour in '76, no new material has endured except "Here Today" and perhaps "My Valentine," so ZERO uptempo numbers are considered to have caught people's imagination since 1976 to become must-hears at Paul's shows! I know we've beaten this to death, but this is obviously the formula for Paul's shows that he feels is the right one. He sells loads of tickets, he gets great reviews, he gets great press, he STILL gets female fans swooning over him at 72, and he still only gets asked Beatles questions in interviews. A handful of disappointed fans on a message board aren't going to change what he plays. It's fun to talk about, and fun to imagine what he COULD play, but that's as far as I would go. I still think the only chance of hearing what WE want to hear is some one-off charity thing or TV special or webcast. I don't want to end on a negative note, so I'll just say I hope that he can slip in maybe a FEW of the forgotten gems we love! Maybe?
Cloud Nine.... Now, how good was that! One of my favourite post-Beatle records. Most underrated.
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favoritething:
A handful of disappointed fans on a message board aren't going to change what he plays.
It all comes down to this in the end!
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favoritething:
audi:
That Scorsese documentary on George Harrison was basically The Beatles Anthology + a few segments about the Dark Horse Tour and The Concert For Bangladesh. However, major points for Paul for letting people know that the main-riff for "And I Love Her" was 100% George's.
Yes, I have to agree with you there: I don't think the doc even mentions Cloud Nine, for cryin' out loud! Clearly, Scorsese was one of millions of people who were turned off by the Dark Horse tour and album and just ignored him for the most part after that, choosing to focus only on the Beatle years and a bit of the early seventies forevermore. Paul's setlist reflects pretty much that same mentality, with just a couple of extra years in the seventies. Since the Wings Over America tour in '76, no new material has endured except "Here Today" and perhaps "My Valentine," so ZERO uptempo numbers are considered to have caught people's imagination since 1976 to become must-hears at Paul's shows! I know we've beaten this to death, but this is obviously the formula for Paul's shows that he feels is the right one. He sells loads of tickets, he gets great reviews, he gets great press, he STILL gets female fans swooning over him at 72, and he still only gets asked Beatles questions in interviews. A handful of disappointed fans on a message board aren't going to change what he plays. It's fun to talk about, and fun to imagine what he COULD play, but that's as far as I would go. I still think the only chance of hearing the kind of show WE want to hear is some one-off charity thing or TV special or webcast. I don't want to end on a negative note, so I'll just say I hope that he can slip in maybe a FEW of the forgotten gems we love! Maybe?
Good post. Even now, I don't lose sleep over what he chooses to play in concert or do on the stage. It's his show! But it is fun to discuss and critique.