Set List critique
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LiveForever:
DrivinFan:
moptops:
And on another note... I'm still staggered songs like Bluebird are deemed only soundcheck worthy. And why is Hope Of Deliverance wheeled out for certain South American countries only? And why would an uptempo audience pleaser like She's A Woman be played only in 2004 Euro tour? And why perform Please Please Me only on the 05 US tour? And if he's willing to play rarities like I'll Get You and Til There Was You, why play safe? And...on and on. What I'm getting at, and what would be obvious even to "Blind "Freddy" is why not rotate songs during shows. It's not difficult. This is a band of stellar musicians. And don't give me the guff about the lighting/staging guys couldn't cope.
Whatever Paul decides what to and what not to play is decided no doubt by Paul himself...possibly with input from his band. I understand the frustration of fans that want to hear certain songs, and those that want to see him in their cities. However, how can you honestly criticize what Paul's been doing when it comes to live performances? I have yet to see one negative review written, or heard one concert goer "complain" about any aspect of the show they've just witnessed. I said it before and I'll say it again..."WHY FIX IT IF IT'S NOT BROKEN"?
Because for the most part he is playing places for the first time ever or has not been there in quite a few years so to the reviewer this is new and exciting.
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audi:
True, the reviews are positive, but several within the past year have gingerly approached the issue being discussed in this thread. The Chicago Tribune review comes to mind, if memory serves.
NY papers have touched on this subject also.
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LiveForever:
When I saw him in 2002, for the first time, I clearly remember him playing the first bass note or two of Lonely Road. I knew what song it was within one note. And I stood up and cheered loudly like my favorite team had just won the Super Bowl or something. I looked around and I was the only one cheering for the song. It's one of those stories that has kind of stuck with me for whatever reason the last 12 years. I think it speaks to the mentality of the average concertgoer. Nobody at that concert was going to hear him play lonely road. Anyway, I know we've successfully beaten this topic to death, just wanted to share that little anecdote as I was thinking about it this morning as I heard lonely road come on my iPhone shuffle.
I did the same thing as you at 1989 concert when McCartney opened with "Figure Of Eight" - lol
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It seems there are two Paul McCartneys: Beatle Paul and Wings/solo Paul. Wings/solo Paul is a recording entity and Beatle Paul is a performing entity.
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RMartinez:
It seems there are two Paul McCartneys: Beatle Paul and Wings/solo Paul. Wings/solo Paul is a recording entity and Beatle Paul is a performing entity.
You may have nailed it.
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Studio Paul is creative, daring, prolific. Concert Paul is robotic, saccharine, greedy.
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DrivinFan:
moptops:
And on another note... I'm still staggered songs like Bluebird are deemed only soundcheck worthy. And why is Hope Of Deliverance wheeled out for certain South American countries only? And why would an uptempo audience pleaser like She's A Woman be played only in 2004 Euro tour? And why perform Please Please Me only on the 05 US tour? And if he's willing to play rarities like I'll Get You and Til There Was You, why play safe? And...on and on. What I'm getting at, and what would be obvious even to "Blind "Freddy" is why not rotate songs during shows. It's not difficult. This is a band of stellar musicians. And don't give me the guff about the lighting/staging guys couldn't cope.
Whatever Paul decides what to and what not to play is decided no doubt by Paul himself...possibly with input from his band. I understand the frustration of fans that want to hear certain songs, and those that want to see him in their cities. However, how can you honestly criticize what Paul's been doing when it comes to live performances? I have yet to see one negative review written, or heard one concert goer "complain" about any aspect of the show they've just witnessed. I said it before and I'll say it again..."WHY FIX IT IF IT'S NOT BROKEN"?
You're right, it's not broken...but it is starting to break. People outside of our little circle of diehards are catching on. I don't want to see our man lumped into an oldies act because he is so much more than that. Don't get me wrong, he could definitely ride this out until he cannot perform anymore or passes on. There will always be people willing to pay very good money to see it, myself included. But to be artistically true to himself and his catalog, something has got to give.
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audi:
Studio Paul is creative, daring, prolific. Concert Paul is robotic, saccharine, greedy.
You speaketh the truth. There's an unspoken underlying vibe on this board where any criticism of Paul is bad form or uncalled for. I'm as big a Paul fan as any on this board, probably bigger. But to not argue, challenge, poke, prod, debate and discuss means we should just sit back and accept. That's not my style. Too many people holdin' back this is crazy and baby, it's not like me!
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moptops:
I'm as big a Paul fan as any on this board, probably bigger. But to not argue, challenge, poke, prod, debate and discuss means we should just sit back and accept.
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I can't even agree on the "if it ain't broken don't fix it"-theory. Based on his legend alone he could do a 90 minute set with the same 20 Beatles songs for the rest of his life, and the world would still keep on spinning. No, it is because of the fact he's still able to put on such amazing shows what makes his stale setlist so frustrating. I said it plenty of times before: he's no jukebox, the mainstream fans will get all the songs they want anyway, and would surely accept he's so much more than a hit machine from a long lost time. I never heard about "bathroom breaks" in Europe anyway, but if that would be a thing: so be it, their loss. So the fans who know more than 20 hits should obey to a group of people who can't even concentrate for a few hours on an event they spent 75-100 euros on, but oh dear what if they get to hear a number 1 solo hit which they might not know? Also, it isn't about 'Blue Sway' instead of 'Let It Be', it's about 'Take It Away' instead of 'Let Me Roll It' and 'She's A Woman' instead of 'Paperback Writer' every now and then. And bringing back a cut from 'Chaos And Creation' or a never played before song from 'Flaming Pie' because it's so damn good, and not because it was a promo tool to play those songs for 3 months. (Btw, on that subject, I think there was only one time in the last 25 years he brought back a solo song from 'the album before' after it was being dropped, and that was for 'Fine Line' during the rare one-off gigs in 2008, which were a strange beast anyway. And you know how he announced that song?!
) And yes, the press and local fans start catching up worldwide. Indeed I remember the US newspapers mentioning it, one even had stats on the setlist. But it's also over here, a territory he doesn't play that often as you might know by now. McCartney had about 10 different tours/setlists in that period, only played 3 times in The Netherlands in the last 12 years (2003, 2009, 2012), but after the last show the - of course still four/five-star - reviews almost all mentioned how though this was 2 tours after the last one, no more than 8 (!) songs, on a 35+ song and 2 hour and 45 minute show, were unique to the show in the last 12 years. (Not counting unlisted spontaneous jams 'Ram On' and 'Yellow Submarine' that evening, those were 'Junior's Farm', 'Venus And Mars/Rock Show', 'The Night Before', 'Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five', 'My Valentine', 'I Will', 'The Word', 'Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight'). And especially the fact that the talks in between, we all know them, were very alike, made it pretty obvious. -
nobodytoldme:
I can't even agree on the "if it ain't broken don't fix it"-theory... Also, it isn't about 'Blue Sway' instead of 'Let It Be', it's about 'Take It Away' instead of 'Let Me Roll It' and 'She's A Woman' instead of 'Paperback Writer' every now and then. And bringing back a cut from 'Chaos And Creation' or a never played before song from 'Flaming Pie' because it's so damn good, and not because it was a promo tool to play those songs for 3 months. ...
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I went back & found the Chicago article. Number of songs he performed that were released between 1982 (?Here Today?) and 2012 (?My Valentine?): 0. Given the numerous worthy albums and songs he released over that 30-year stretch, it?s a shame he doesn?t make the case for any of this material in concert the way that, say, former collaborator Elvis Costello revisits different phases of his career when playing live. This gets to the crux of a central tension with McCartney: the desire to please vs. the desire to get creative. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-paul-mccartney-concert-review-20140709-column.html#page=1
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Not as "gingerly" mentioned as I'd remembered.
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oobu24:
I went back & found the Chicago article. Number of songs he performed that were released between 1982 (?Here Today?) and 2012 (?My Valentine?): 0. Given the numerous worthy albums and songs he released over that 30-year stretch, it?s a shame he doesn?t make the case for any of this material in concert the way that, say, former collaborator Elvis Costello revisits different phases of his career when playing live. This gets to the crux of a central tension with McCartney: the desire to please vs. the desire to get creative. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-paul-mccartney-concert-review-20140709-column.html#page=1
It really should not be that hard to satisfy both types of fans. Start with twenty Beatle songs that you feel must be played and arrange them in any order. Add five Wings or RAM songs (personally would love to hear "Dear Boy") that were popular and most fans would recognize. This gives you 25 songs of hits and is more songs than most artist play in entire concert. To satisfy me, do the following. Add eight songs from 1980 until today not including songs from "New" for example 1) Take It Away 2) Bad Boy 3) Run Devil Run 4) Little Willow 5) About You 6) House Of Wax 7) Dance Til We're High My Brave Face In addition, play four songs from "New". I have no problem with "Queenie Eye" or "New" since they were singles. I would personally love "I Can Bet" and would recommend "Early Days" replace "Here Today" as tribute Lennon song. These changes would make approx 1/3 of the show "minty-fresh" - lol. It would also represent his entire career better. I am quite sure Mr. McCartney could arrange this set list so the first timers would not have to put up with too many songs they did not know in a row.
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yankeefan7:
oobu24:
I went back & found the Chicago article. Number of songs he performed that were released between 1982 (?Here Today?) and 2012 (?My Valentine?): 0. Given the numerous worthy albums and songs he released over that 30-year stretch, it?s a shame he doesn?t make the case for any of this material in concert the way that, say, former collaborator Elvis Costello revisits different phases of his career when playing live. This gets to the crux of a central tension with McCartney: the desire to please vs. the desire to get creative. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-paul-mccartney-concert-review-20140709-column.html#page=1
It really should not be that hard to satisfy both types of fans. Start with twenty Beatle songs that you feel must be played and arrange them in any order. Add five Wings or RAM songs (personally would love to hear "Dear Boy") that were popular and most fans would recognize. This gives you 25 songs of hits and is more songs than most artist play in entire concert. To satisfy me, do the following. Add eight songs from 1980 until today not including songs from "New" for example 1) Take It Away 2) Bad Boy 3) Run Devil Run 4) Little Willow 5) About You 6) House Of Wax 7) Dance Til We're High My Brave Face In addition, play four songs from "New". I have no problem with "Queenie Eye" or "New" since they were singles. I would personally love "I Can Bet" and would recommend "Early Days" replace "Here Today" as tribute Lennon song. These changes would make approx 1/3 of the show "minty-fresh" - lol. It would also represent his entire career better. I am quite sure Mr. McCartney could arrange this set list so the first timers would not have to put up with too many songs they did not know in a row.
I would give Macca the biggest hummer of his life if he were to do those songs! But, seriously... ...it's a reasonable selection of songs that would make "my Flaming Pie crowd" (as he'd once referred to us) shreek with utter delight , and the fair-weather fans would still get their money's worth.
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audi:
yankeefan7:
oobu24:
I went back & found the Chicago article. Number of songs he performed that were released between 1982 (?Here Today?) and 2012 (?My Valentine?): 0. Given the numerous worthy albums and songs he released over that 30-year stretch, it?s a shame he doesn?t make the case for any of this material in concert the way that, say, former collaborator Elvis Costello revisits different phases of his career when playing live. This gets to the crux of a central tension with McCartney: the desire to please vs. the desire to get creative. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-paul-mccartney-concert-review-20140709-column.html#page=1
It really should not be that hard to satisfy both types of fans. Start with twenty Beatle songs that you feel must be played and arrange them in any order. Add five Wings or RAM songs (personally would love to hear "Dear Boy") that were popular and most fans would recognize. This gives you 25 songs of hits and is more songs than most artist play in entire concert. To satisfy me, do the following. Add eight songs from 1980 until today not including songs from "New" for example 1) Take It Away 2) Bad Boy 3) Run Devil Run 4) Little Willow 5) About You 6) House Of Wax 7) Dance Til We're High My Brave Face In addition, play four songs from "New". I have no problem with "Queenie Eye" or "New" since they were singles. I would personally love "I Can Bet" and would recommend "Early Days" replace "Here Today" as tribute Lennon song. These changes would make approx 1/3 of the show "minty-fresh" - lol. It would also represent his entire career better. I am quite sure Mr. McCartney could arrange this set list so the first timers would not have to put up with too many songs they did not know in a row.
I would give Macca the biggest hummer of his life if he were to do those songs! But, seriously... ...it's a reasonable selection of songs that would make "my Flaming Pie crowd" (as he'd once referred to us) shreek with utter delight , and the fair-weather fans would still get their money's worth.
Sounds reasonable...
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audi:
yankeefan7:
oobu24:
I went back & found the Chicago article. Number of songs he performed that were released between 1982 (?Here Today?) and 2012 (?My Valentine?): 0. Given the numerous worthy albums and songs he released over that 30-year stretch, it?s a shame he doesn?t make the case for any of this material in concert the way that, say, former collaborator Elvis Costello revisits different phases of his career when playing live. This gets to the crux of a central tension with McCartney: the desire to please vs. the desire to get creative. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-paul-mccartney-concert-review-20140709-column.html#page=1
It really should not be that hard to satisfy both types of fans. Start with twenty Beatle songs that you feel must be played and arrange them in any order. Add five Wings or RAM songs (personally would love to hear "Dear Boy") that were popular and most fans would recognize. This gives you 25 songs of hits and is more songs than most artist play in entire concert. To satisfy me, do the following. Add eight songs from 1980 until today not including songs from "New" for example 1) Take It Away 2) Bad Boy 3) Run Devil Run 4) Little Willow 5) About You 6) House Of Wax 7) Dance Til We're High My Brave Face In addition, play four songs from "New". I have no problem with "Queenie Eye" or "New" since they were singles. I would personally love "I Can Bet" and would recommend "Early Days" replace "Here Today" as tribute Lennon song. These changes would make approx 1/3 of the show "minty-fresh" - lol. It would also represent his entire career better. I am quite sure Mr. McCartney could arrange this set list so the first timers would not have to put up with too many songs they did not know in a row.
I would give Macca the biggest hummer of his life if he were to do those songs! But, seriously... ...it's a reasonable selection of songs that would make "my Flaming Pie crowd" (as he'd once referred to us) shreek with utter delight , and the fair-weather fans would still get their money's worth.
Thanks, I could even freshen up his between song patter. For example: Take It Away - Bragg a little bit Paul!!! Tell crowd this is single from your #1 album/record "Tug Of War". My Brave Face - Mention you co-wrote this with Elvis Costello and that this partnership reminded you of writing with John Lennon. The boardies here will know this but the story would be fresh with 95% of crowd and probably some reviewers. Little Willow - Simply dedicate it to the memory of Maureen Starkey Run Devil Run - Tell audience your love of 50's rock and people like Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, Little Richard etc. Say this song is one of the original songs written in the style of the 50's songs on the album. Dance Til We're High - Introduce as Fireman song, collaboration with Youth. Tell audience that first two albums with Fireman were instrumental and EA was first with vocals.
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So, I was doing some research on some of the shows I've been to, and found this review from the Washington Post on the 2005 show, which as I said in an another thread was my favorite setlist I've seen. Anyway, here is the opening line from the review: "Paul McCartney's audience is like the crowd at the Louvre: A small percentage knows about and appreciates the contemporary works, but most folks come for the old stuff. At MCI Center on Saturday night, McCartney unveiled enough of his vintage art to keep the Mona Lisa smiling." I find that to be interesting and quite relevant to our discussion. Granted, it's 9 years old but I think the same came be said of the current tour. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/09/AR2005100901562.html
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LiveForever:
So, I was doing some research on some of the shows I've been to, and found this review from the Washington Post on the 2005 show, which as I said in an another thread was my favorite setlist I've seen. Anyway, here is the opening line from the review: "Paul McCartney's audience is like the crowd at the Louvre: A small percentage knows about and appreciates the contemporary works, but most folks come for the old stuff. At MCI Center on Saturday night, McCartney unveiled enough of his vintage art to keep the Mona Lisa smiling." I find that to be interesting and quite relevant to our discussion. Granted, it's 9 years old but I think the same came be said of the current tour. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/09/AR2005100901562.html
With respect, the fact it is 9 years old speaks volumes. I see where you are coming from but...
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It wasn't an old hat then.