Set List critique
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WixRocks!:
Worth noting that Billy Joel regularly pulls out different deep cuts at each of his concerts too. He doesn't play quite as long as Paul, and obviously doesn't have as huge of a catalog but still comparable to a degree.
Yeah, I've been looking at this setlists over the last couple of years and watching videos on YouTube...he has some core songs he always plays (~50% of his set) and the rest, he constantly rotates not only the deep cuts and covers, but the order in which he plays them. THAT is how to build a setlist!
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moptops:
Setlist aside. The decline in his voice since the end of the Out There tour and now is dramatic. There is no power in his voice. I wouldn't be surprised if he can't even complete the tour. I will follow "voice watch" with interest as the dates unfold. Did he really fly to and from Fresno from LA on 3 consective days for full dress rehearsals then perform on the 4th day? Maybe time to kill off these insane 1 hour mini concert soundchecks now.. He's singing almost 4 hours every concert day - and it's killing his voice. Fool On The Hill and Here, There and Everywhere from Fresno were just two songs that had me reduced to tears.
Very valid concerns. However, I think he'd finish the tour, even if it meant relying on Abe to practically be a co-lead vocalist every night.
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audi:
moptops:
Setlist aside. The decline in his voice since the end of the Out There tour and now is dramatic. There is no power in his voice. I wouldn't be surprised if he can't even complete the tour. I will follow "voice watch" with interest as the dates unfold. Did he really fly to and from Fresno from LA on 3 consective days for full dress rehearsals then perform on the 4th day? Maybe time to kill off these insane 1 hour mini concert soundchecks now.. He's singing almost 4 hours every concert day - and it's killing his voice. Fool On The Hill and Here, There and Everywhere from Fresno were just two songs that had me reduced to tears.
Very valid concerns. However, I think he'd finish the tour, even if it meant relying on Abe to practically be a co-lead vocalist every night.
Watching videos from the first three shows for One On One, the other band mates are already doubling him on a good part of the set. Which is cool.
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The thing is, valid points about Paul's voice aside (and they ARE valid points), the man can still PLAY and play well. I don't mind if he has to take a bit of a backseat, vocally, while still performing instrumentally to his usual high standard.
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DrBeatle:
The thing is, valid points about Paul's voice aside (and they ARE valid points), the man can still PLAY and play well. I don't mind if he has to take a bit of a backseat, vocally, while still performing instrumentally to his usual high standard.
Well, yeah. This happened with Sinatra. When he was older, he really did not have a voice anymore. Fans went to his shows to see the LEGEND. Maybe that is where we are getting at in this situation.
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KingMacca:
RockyRaccoon68:
I'm really worried about his voice, it seems to be a new level of bad on this tour. Watching clips of him try to sing songs that he hasn't in a long time such as Here, There and Everywhere and The Fool on the Hill just made me feel sad. Could this really be the end of touring for him? What a difference compared to when he last sang these songs Here, There and Everywhere 2008
The Fool on the Hill 2003Hoping he's just warming up. If it was really a problem, he probably wouldn't be doing 30 shows this year. Sometimes it seems like he's crazy, but he knows what he's doing. But let's face it, his voice isn't even where it was in 2014. 2015 was pretty rough at some points.
For the first time I get a sense he might not make it through this tour. I really fear for his health. I'm sad for him not being able to sing his sings anymore.
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RMartinez:
DrBeatle:
The thing is, valid points about Paul's voice aside (and they ARE valid points), the man can still PLAY and play well. I don't mind if he has to take a bit of a backseat, vocally, while still performing instrumentally to his usual high standard.
Well, yeah. This happened with Sinatra. When he was older, he really did not have a voice anymore. Fans went to his shows to see the LEGEND. Maybe that is where we are getting at in this situation.
Except Sinatra did nothing BUT sing, so in that situation he was literally just standing there. Paul is still great at bass, guitar, acoustic, piano, uke...it's just the voice that needs bolstering.
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Paul's schedule is crazy for an artist his age. Billy Joel currently has twenty shows scheduled, but they are mostly in NYC (his back yard) with other markets spread out in between. He also allows for about a week or two weeks between shows. To rest his voice. And have a life!
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yankeefan7:
RMartinez:
RockyRaccoon68:
I'm really worried about his voice, it seems to be a new level of bad on this tour. Watching clips of him try to sing songs that he hasn't in a long time such as Here, There and Everywhere and The Fool on the Hill just made me feel sad. Could this really be the end of touring for him?
I am holding out that he just has a cold. Having said that, it doesn't have to be the end of touring. He may need to cut back even more though. While I can respect him wanting to hit as many small markets as he can, he should have done that in 2002 and 2005. And cut out the long sound checks! They really are unnecessary. Also, it is not unreasonable for him to cut down his set list to 25 songs and play for 1.5 hours. He would have to charge less. So what? He is McCartney, a legend. He needs to take better care of himself.
"And cut out the long sound checks! They really are unnecessary." Very simple answer to why they are long, he charges big bucks for soundcheck package. He could probably do four songs for a soundcheck and be done with it. One on bass, one on acoustic guitar, one on piano and add another just for the heck of it.
He apparently does a "rehearsal" too. This is usually the night before the show.
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DrBeatle:
RMartinez:
DrBeatle:
The thing is, valid points about Paul's voice aside (and they ARE valid points), the man can still PLAY and play well. I don't mind if he has to take a bit of a backseat, vocally, while still performing instrumentally to his usual high standard.
Well, yeah. This happened with Sinatra. When he was older, he really did not have a voice anymore. Fans went to his shows to see the LEGEND. Maybe that is where we are getting at in this situation.
Except Sinatra did nothing BUT sing, so in that situation he was literally just standing there. Paul is still great at bass, guitar, acoustic, piano, uke...it's just the voice that needs bolstering.
If you really watch Paul now, most songs on bass are where he hits straight notes, not much melodic playing like he used to do. Those songs now tend to be handled by Brian on bass. Piano is good, but not his main instrument. Again, he isn't playing like Billy Joel or Elton on the instrument. Except for Blackbird, he is essentially strumming on the acoustic guitar. As for electric guitar, he does well, but really, not a lead player. No one goes to a McCartney show to hear him play lead guitar, like they do for Clapton or Jeff Beck. So, while I admire the spirit of what you are saying, I tend to disagree. People go see Paul mainly to see and hear him sing THOSE songs.
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No questioning his playing ability, it's his voice. Check out Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da from Fresno. Holy cow. If it's killing us God knows what he's feeling about the situation, which has arisen seemingly very suddenly. Of course nobody will dare tell him. And that's probably sadder. As Martinez suggested perhaps he has a bug.
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KingMacca:
RockyRaccoon68:
I'm really worried about his voice, it seems to be a new level of bad on this tour. Watching clips of him try to sing songs that he hasn't in a long time such as Here, There and Everywhere and The Fool on the Hill just made me feel sad. Could this really be the end of touring for him? What a difference compared to when he last sang these songs Here, There and Everywhere 2008
The Fool on the Hill 2003Hoping he's just warming up. If it was really a problem, he probably wouldn't be doing 30 shows this year. Sometimes it seems like he's crazy, but he knows what he's doing. But let's face it, his voice isn't even where it was in 2014. 2015 was pretty rough at some points.
For the first time I get a sense he might not make it through this tour. I really fear for his health. I'm sad for him not being able to sing his sings anymore.
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Well, I agree his voice has been ROUGH this tour so far, but I'm also excited to go knowing it'll be my 2nd and probably *final* time seeing Paul, and I'm glad I'm getting to take my wife, too. I only wish I could afford to take my kids, too
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DrBeatle:
Well, I agree his voice has been ROUGH this tour so far, but I'm also excited to go knowing it'll be my 2nd and probably *final* time seeing Paul, and I'm glad I'm getting to take my wife, too. I only wish I could afford to take my kids, too
His voice may improve, if he has a bug or something. Enjoy the concert!
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It's like he's singing with one lung. There is no power in his voice. It's been croaky or wobbly before sometimes but not like this. It's weak, and sometimes feeble. Interestingly the press reviews have made no issue of it. Not yet.
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moptops:
KingMacca:
RockyRaccoon68:
I'm really worried about his voice, it seems to be a new level of bad on this tour. Watching clips of him try to sing songs that he hasn't in a long time such as Here, There and Everywhere and The Fool on the Hill just made me feel sad. Could this really be the end of touring for him? What a difference compared to when he last sang these songs Here, There and Everywhere 2008
The Fool on the Hill 2003Hoping he's just warming up. If it was really a problem, he probably wouldn't be doing 30 shows this year. Sometimes it seems like he's crazy, but he knows what he's doing. But let's face it, his voice isn't even where it was in 2014. 2015 was pretty rough at some points.
For the first time I get a sense he might not make it through this tour. I really fear for his health. I'm sad for him not being able to sing his sings anymore.
And Cleveland is expected to be announced sometime today.
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Maybe he could do a full night of autograph tattoos?
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RMartinez:
audi:
moptops:
Setlist aside. The decline in his voice since the end of the Out There tour and now is dramatic. There is no power in his voice. I wouldn't be surprised if he can't even complete the tour. I will follow "voice watch" with interest as the dates unfold. Did he really fly to and from Fresno from LA on 3 consective days for full dress rehearsals then perform on the 4th day? Maybe time to kill off these insane 1 hour mini concert soundchecks now.. He's singing almost 4 hours every concert day - and it's killing his voice. Fool On The Hill and Here, There and Everywhere from Fresno were just two songs that had me reduced to tears.
Very valid concerns. However, I think he'd finish the tour, even if it meant relying on Abe to practically be a co-lead vocalist every night.
Watching videos from the first three shows for One On One, the other band mates are already doubling him on a good part of the set. Which is cool.
I noticed that too. The other boys are doubling heaps more of his vocals. Would that be because it was a directive from Paul or would they have license to do that if they sensed he was unwell or vocally way off?
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It's like he's singing with one lung. There is no power in his voice. It's been croaky or wobbly before sometimes but not like this. It's weak, and sometimes feeble. Interestingly the press reviews have made no issue of it. Not yet.
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moptops:
It's like he's singing with one lung. There is no power in his voice. It's been croaky or wobbly before sometimes but not like this. It's weak, and sometimes feeble. Interestingly the press reviews have made no issue of it. Not yet.
I think his voice sounds like its younger self on the bridge to "Ob La Di." The verses are a challenge, though.