Set List critique
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I gave up on radical set list changes a long time ago. I'm just happy he is still performing and that I can still go to see him. And I was very worried about his voice on this tour, but it sounds better than I expected it to. It's never going to be what it was, of course, but he was not croaking into the mic for 2 hours, either.
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thenightfish wrote:
I gave up on radical set list changes a long time ago. I'm just happy he is still performing and that I can still go to see him. And I was very worried about his voice on this tour, but it sounds better than I expected it to. It's never going to be what it was, of course, but he was not croaking into the mic for 2 hours, either.
100% agree. Since I stayed away from YouTube videos until after the Knoxville concert, I went with lowered expectations that didn't turn out to be true.
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Seems he added Jet tonight (Boston night 2) but I don't think it replaced anything...
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Not a bad go at it, either:
First time with horns in concert since '76, no?
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thomascbullock wrote:
Not a bad go at it, either:
First time with horns in concert since '76, no?
Sounds great with horns!
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thomascbullock wrote:
Not a bad go at it, either:
First time with horns in concert since '76, no?
Yes. He didn't sing Jet in 2019 when the horns first returned. He did a good job of it!
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Here's hoping it stays for Baltimore!
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NJR wrote:
thomascbullock wrote:
Not a bad go at it, either:
First time with horns in concert since '76, no?
Yes. He didn't sing Jet in 2019 when the horns first returned. He did a good job of it!
He was doing it in soundcheck with the horns in 2019, I heard it a couple of times and it sounded great!
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thenightfish wrote:
NJR wrote:
thomascbullock wrote:
Not a bad go at it, either:
First time with horns in concert since '76, no?
Yes. He didn't sing Jet in 2019 when the horns first returned. He did a good job of it!
He was doing it in soundcheck with the horns in 2019, I heard it a couple of times and it sounded great!
I see! Didn't do SC in 2019.
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Nice to see JET back in the setlist for two consecutive shows. I also like the placement of it too. Hope it remains there for Thursday night!
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So in terms of the setlist and critiquing...after attending last night...
"Can't Buy Me Love" is a TOUGH opener. Such a strange choice. Completely exposed vocal lead-in. Makes it obvious from the beginning that his voice has declined.
The rest of the opening electric set is tight. Every single song got a great response, even "Come on To Me" as a new tune. It was nice to hear "Got To Get You Into My Life" again as it had been a long time for me, and to hear "Getting Better" for the first time. Moving into the piano set, it was nice to hear "Let Em In" again after a long time of it not being played, too.
The rest of the piano set is when things slowed down a bit in the crowd. We were in the 7th row, dead center, and when "My Valentine" began, nearly every butt hit the chairs. That one just brings all the momentum to a halt. But, "1985" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" pick it right back up (no matter the condition of the vocals...)
The acoustic set was fantastic. While I'm personally tired of most of it, the crowd was swinging between on fire and in tears with the likes of "Dance Tonight" and "Blackbird". To me, this is where it would be very easy to throw in some acoustic-band songs that haven't been done in awhile for us repeat offenders, but still keep the first timers engaged with stuff like "Two of Us" "Mother Nature's Son", "Every Night" etc.
From there on out, the energy just grew and grew climaxing at the end, as it should. It was nice to get a reprieve from "Eleanor Rigby" and "Back in the USSR" after a long overstayed welcome. I was also impressed at the number of people around me singing along to "Fuh You" and "New"! The only changes I'd like to see here are on the encore. He's just screaming through it. All three songs leading to the Abbey Road Medley, he's just shouting. The master of melody, shouting...there's got to be a better way...nevertheless, a splendid time was indeed guaranteed for all, and t'was delivered! Here's hoping there is indeed, a next time to see ya...
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I must say I don't get the round of hurrahs for him bringing "Jet" back into his set in recent shows. Yeah, it plays well live and nice to hear it with live horns again, but he's done it on most of his tours. To me it' s just an "oh, that one again." I know it's hopeless, but I still dream of one complete, total surprise -- With a Little Luck, That Was Me, Dominoes, something he never plays. Yeah, I'm dreaming, but oh well.
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Bruce M. wrote:
I must say I don't get the round of hurrahs for him bringing "Jet" back into his set in recent shows. Yeah, it plays well live and nice to hear it with live horns again, but he's done it on most of his tours. To me it' s just an "oh, that one again." I know it's hopeless, but I still dream of one complete, total surprise -- With a Little Luck, That Was Me, Dominoes, something he never plays. Yeah, I'm dreaming, but oh well.
Agree with you 100%.
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"Can't Buy Me Love" is a TOUGH opener. Such a strange choice. Completely exposed vocal lead-in. Makes it obvious from the beginning that his voice has declined."
"Find My Way" would have been much better, good uptempo song from "McCartney III" recorded with his current voice. Then you follow it up with Beatle song.
"The rest of the opening electric set is tight. Every single song got a great response, even "Come on To Me" as a new tune. It was nice to hear "Got To Get You Into My Life" again as it had been a long time for me, and to hear "Getting Better" for the first time. Moving into the piano set, it was nice to hear "Let Em In" again after a long time of it not being played, too."
Personally, don't like "Come On To Me" but to each their own. "Got To Get You Into My Life" is much better with live horn section. If he has to bring back a Beatle song, "Getting Better" is a good choice. "Let Em In" needs to be put back on the shelf IMO.
"The acoustic set was fantastic. While I'm personally tired of most of it, the crowd was swinging between on fire and in tears with the likes of "Dance Tonight" and "Blackbird". To me, this is where it would be very easy to throw in some acoustic-band songs that haven't been done in awhile for us repeat offenders, but still keep the first timers engaged with stuff like "Two of Us" "Mother Nature's Son", "Every Night" etc."
This part of the show is where Paul needs to make some changes with songs he has not done live. It is not going to happen but "Little Willow and "Early Days" would have been great additions IMO.
"The only changes I'd like to see here are on the encore. He's just screaming through it. All three songs leading to the Abbey Road Medley, he's just shouting. The master of melody, shouting...there's got to be a better way...nevertheless, a splendid time was indeed guaranteed for all, and t'was delivered! Here's hoping there is indeed, a next time to see ya..."
The encore for the most part has pretty much stayed the same for many years. I guess Paul feels if it is not broke don't fix it. Sure it would be great if he did "Soily" again ( in my dreams -lol). As for him "shouting", he is 79 year old man who has played thousands of concerts, does soundcheck of around 1 hr and never really took care of his voice that well. In other words, this is totally expected outcome.
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Lord knows I would love to see a show that went deeper on Wings and solo material. And I get that people sense a certain "sameness" to the sets. But I've now seen him 13 times, and I count 107 different songs. If I count the soundcheck, it pops to 115. That's actually pretty remarkable, especially when compared to many of his peers. The challenge he faces, of course, is that he probably has more "must play" songs than anyone -- and to his credit, he has scrapped a handful of them in recent years regardless. My only real quibbles with the current set are, in order, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (was cool one time), Let 'Em In (I mean, if we're going to do WATSOS hits, SIlly Love Songs would have the entire crowd singing) and My Valentine. I'd welcome fresh ways to honor John and George, but have to admit that the audience respond deeply to both.
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Aipotu wrote:
Lord knows I would love to see a show that went deeper on Wings and solo material. And I get that people sense a certain "sameness" to the sets. But I've now seen him 13 times, and I count 107 different songs. If I count the soundcheck, it pops to 115. That's actually pretty remarkable, especially when compared to many of his peers. The challenge he faces, of course, is that he probably has more "must play" songs than anyone -- and to his credit, he has scrapped a handful of them in recent years regardless. My only real quibbles with the current set are, in order, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (was cool one time), Let 'Em In (I mean, if we're going to do WATSOS hits, SIlly Love Songs would have the entire crowd singing) and My Valentine. I'd welcome fresh ways to honor John and George, but have to admit that the audience respond deeply to both.
First, everyone now understands his set list will be Beatle heavy with a few Wings hits. The problem for a bunch of us is that he does not mix it up and play different solo songs which he has never performed live with the remaining songs in his set list. It is mind boggling that he currently does not play one song from his latest album "McCartney III".
Fresh ways to honor John and George are pretty simple IMO. For George, play "All Things Must Pass" which he did wonderfully at the "Concert For George" . Why not go back to the "Get Back" documentary and do "Old Brown Shoe" which would be cool. Poster NJR had good idea and said why not do "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Paul at the piano like he did at "Concert For George". As for John, the song "Early Days" from the album "New" would be perfect. Song reflects on Paul and John from their younger days seeking someone who would listen to their music. You would not have to do these changes every night, just alternate nights with his current songs for George and John.
I agree with "Benefit For Mr. Kite" being axed from set list, one tour is about it IMO. I would loved to have seen Paul replace it with song from "McCartney III" but if not, play Beatle song you have never done live before like "Rocky Raccoon" for example.
"My Valentine is his love song to his wife Nancy and she seems to always be in the audience every night so that is never going to be cut. Sure, it would be nice if he did another song and dedicated it to her but not going to happen.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
Aipotu wrote:
Lord knows I would love to see a show that went deeper on Wings and solo material. And I get that people sense a certain "sameness" to the sets. But I've now seen him 13 times, and I count 107 different songs. If I count the soundcheck, it pops to 115. That's actually pretty remarkable, especially when compared to many of his peers. The challenge he faces, of course, is that he probably has more "must play" songs than anyone -- and to his credit, he has scrapped a handful of them in recent years regardless. My only real quibbles with the current set are, in order, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (was cool one time), Let 'Em In (I mean, if we're going to do WATSOS hits, SIlly Love Songs would have the entire crowd singing) and My Valentine. I'd welcome fresh ways to honor John and George, but have to admit that the audience respond deeply to both.
First, everyone now understands his set list will be Beatle heavy with a few Wings hits. The problem for a bunch of us is that he does not mix it up and play different solo songs which he has never performed live with the remaining songs in his set list. It is mind boggling that he currently does not play one song from his latest album "McCartney III".
Fresh ways to honor John and George are pretty simple IMO. For George, play "All Things Must Pass" which he did wonderfully at the "Concert For George" . Why not go back to the "Get Back" documentary and do "Old Brown Shoe" which would be cool. Poster NJR had good idea and said why not do "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Paul at the piano like he did at "Concert For George". As for John, the song "Early Days" from the album "New" would be perfect. Song reflects on Paul and John from their younger days seeking someone who would listen to their music. You would not have to do these changes every night, just alternate nights with his current songs for George and John.
I agree with "Benefit For Mr. Kite" being axed from set list, one tour is about it IMO. I would loved to have seen Paul replace it with song from "McCartney III" but if not, play Beatle song you have never done live before like "Rocky Raccoon" for example.
"My Valentine is his love song to his wife Nancy and she seems to always be in the audience every night so that is never going to be cut. Sure, it would be nice if he did another song and dedicated it to her but not going to happen.
What, if anything else, has he written for Nancy? Fuh You? That sounds more like something he'd write to Linda!
Deep Deep Feeling? Deep Down? Maybe. -
NJR wrote:
Yankeefan2 wrote:
Aipotu wrote:
Lord knows I would love to see a show that went deeper on Wings and solo material. And I get that people sense a certain "sameness" to the sets. But I've now seen him 13 times, and I count 107 different songs. If I count the soundcheck, it pops to 115. That's actually pretty remarkable, especially when compared to many of his peers. The challenge he faces, of course, is that he probably has more "must play" songs than anyone -- and to his credit, he has scrapped a handful of them in recent years regardless. My only real quibbles with the current set are, in order, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (was cool one time), Let 'Em In (I mean, if we're going to do WATSOS hits, SIlly Love Songs would have the entire crowd singing) and My Valentine. I'd welcome fresh ways to honor John and George, but have to admit that the audience respond deeply to both.
First, everyone now understands his set list will be Beatle heavy with a few Wings hits. The problem for a bunch of us is that he does not mix it up and play different solo songs which he has never performed live with the remaining songs in his set list. It is mind boggling that he currently does not play one song from his latest album "McCartney III".
Fresh ways to honor John and George are pretty simple IMO. For George, play "All Things Must Pass" which he did wonderfully at the "Concert For George" . Why not go back to the "Get Back" documentary and do "Old Brown Shoe" which would be cool. Poster NJR had good idea and said why not do "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with Paul at the piano like he did at "Concert For George". As for John, the song "Early Days" from the album "New" would be perfect. Song reflects on Paul and John from their younger days seeking someone who would listen to their music. You would not have to do these changes every night, just alternate nights with his current songs for George and John.
I agree with "Benefit For Mr. Kite" being axed from set list, one tour is about it IMO. I would loved to have seen Paul replace it with song from "McCartney III" but if not, play Beatle song you have never done live before like "Rocky Raccoon" for example.
"My Valentine is his love song to his wife Nancy and she seems to always be in the audience every night so that is never going to be cut. Sure, it would be nice if he did another song and dedicated it to her but not going to happen.
What, if anything else, has he written for Nancy? Fuh You? That sounds more like something he'd write to Linda!
Deep Deep Feeling? Deep Down? Maybe.Maybe "Happy With You" from "Egypt Station".
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So with the tour done, let's do quick overview. Only one "McCartney III" song was played at selected couple of shows, major disappointment IMO. "Can't Buy Me Love" was a major letdown for new opening song, was hoping for either "Find My Way" or Beatle song he had never played live before in concert. His voice has declined over the years but for the most part it was better than I expected when I heard him sing "Get Back" with the "Foo Fighters" months ago. He still puts on 2 1/2-3 Hr show which is incredible for a man who is 80 !!! I loved that he continues to have a live horn section, really is great addition on several songs. Sadly, he still telling the same old stories for the most part -lol.
Finally, Paul drives me crazy at his last concert in NJ. He and his band can learn Springsteen song "Glory Days" quickly for a one night only appearance but can't seem to find the time to rehearse/learn a McCartney III" songs to play on the tour. Just curious if they can learn "Glory Days" so quick, why not other great McCartney solo songs never played live. I think this shows Paul and band can learn things quickly, it is just Paul does not want to do solo songs.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
So with the tour done, let's do quick overview. Only one "McCartney III" song was played at selected couple of shows, major disappointment IMO. "Can't Buy Me Love" was a major letdown for new opening song, was hoping for either "Find My Way" or Beatle song he had never played live before in concert. His voice has declined over the years but for the most part it was better than I expected when I heard him sing "Get Back" with the "Foo Fighters" months ago. He still puts on 2 1/2-3 Hr show which is incredible for a man who is 80 !!! I loved that he continues to have a live horn section, really is great addition on several songs. Sadly, he still telling the same old stories for the most part -lol.
Finally, Paul drives me crazy at his last concert in NJ. He and his band can learn Springsteen song "Glory Days" quickly for a one night only appearance but can't seem to find the time to rehearse/learn a McCartney III" songs to play on the tour. Just curious if they can learn "Glory Days" so quick, why not other great McCartney solo songs never played live. I think this shows Paul and band can learn things quickly, it is just Paul does not want to do solo songs.
Agree 100% Yankeefan. My biggest disappointment with the Got Back tour was that, for the most part, Paul totally ignored McCartney 3. Just blows my mind that he would ignore his latest well received album. Where was the Paul from 1976 or even 1989 when he opened a new tour with a non-Beatles song. Find My Way would have been a great opener. So if some in the audience didn't know it...So What? Another missed opportunity! And for that matter, why not do 3-4 songs from McCartney 3 with the full band (including Paul's new "horn" section). That alone would have made McCartney 3 songs on the tour sound a little different than his studio versions.
After this tour, my biggest question is...what is Paul's "love affair" with "Fuh You"? Of all the songs on Paul's "Got Back" Setlist, "Fuh You" would have been the first song in my opinion to replace. It's not that "Fuh You" was a hit. At least "Come On to Me" made the charts and did pretty well.
I noticed that Paul even included "Fuh You" on his latest "Sticking Out of My Back Pocket"section on his website. It's like he's trying to make "Fuh You" a hit. It was never a hit but Paul continues to play it. Of all the songs on Egypt Station, it's got probably the worst lyrics. Forget the wrong title, it has terrible lyrics. Looking at the words..."Come on baby now, help me work it out...I won't let you down so you don't need to shout...I could stay up half the night, playing with your head...I could stay up half the night, but I'd rather go to bed". What does that even mean? It's not like the audence at any of Paul's shows is thinking "when he's going to play Fuh You? Why does Paul think "Fuh You" is one of his "hidden classics"? On this "Got Back"tour (and he had plenty of time) why not play "I Don't Know" or "Dominoes" from Egypt Station. They are 2 of Paul's all time best Solo songs and they are recent songs. I can't figure it out. Paul definitely has a "blind spot" with "Fuh You". Just my opinion.
