Set List critique
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NJR wrote:
paulfan11 wrote:
NJR wrote:
paulfan11 wrote:
NJR wrote:
B J Conlee wrote:
Can anyone put one or two of the Orlando reviews from last night's Concert. I saw a review from the Orlando Sentinel but couln't read it because the "paper" blocks it out. I am interested in an estimate of the crowd size and how Paul sounded. I saw the setlist and it was the one that didn't contain "Women and Wives". It still contained "let 'm in", "new" and "I've Just Seen a Face".
Again, just blows my mind...nothing from McCartney 3 and he's still doing "Come On to Me" and "Fuh You".
Thanks
The place looked completely sold out. Like I said, normally it fits 41,000, so add how many seats were on the field - there were probably more than 45,000 people there.
As far as professional reviews go, I stopped reading them years ago. And most fan reviews are ridiculous - just read this one guy talking about how he heard Paul tell the Blackbird/civil rights story and he'd never heard that! I asked him if he hadn't seen a Paul McCartney concert in the last 20 years as he tells that story every tour! Most fans just gush over him and how great he was etc. etc.
The only really truthful, realistic reviews will be in Beatlefan magazine. They will call Paul out, I bet, for doing Fuh You and Come On To Me. Will let you know what they say in the next issue.
Wait, so fans that say they had a great time at the concert and that they thought he was great aren't being truthful or realistic? I had a wonderful time at both concerts I went to and I did think he was great and the concert was great, so I'm not telling the truth? Heaven forbid some people just like things for what they are and don't want to bother with nitpicking every little thing to death.
Doesn't mean they aren't telling the truth or being realistic.
I didn't say anything about "having a great time!" I said that people gush and say how great HE was etc. Listen, I saw Paul last in May 2019 with my BFF who is a huge Paul/Beatles fan too. We drove from Atlanta to Greenville, SC for the concert. We had a great time! But if I was reviewing it, I would say his voice was weak, especially on certain songs. That is called being truthful & realistic. I decided then that I probably would not see him again and pay the high prices. (had a $750 Gold VIP ticket in 2019, got Hot Sound Packages in 2013, 2014 & 2017 for $1500-$1600) As soon as the setlists were revealed, I knew I'd made the right decision.
If you choose to spend outrageous sums to go see him and enjoy it and have a fantastic time, more power to you! But unless you are mostly deaf you can't say his voice sounds "great." Unless you just want to live in a fantasy world. I'm not stopping you. I just prefer to look at the "situation" realistically.
Nobody is living in this fantasy world. We all know his voice isn't what it used to be and we aren't mostly deaf. Yes we have the right to spend the money to see him just as you and others have the right to choose to not go and see him. Yes Paul was great for how his voice is now at the shows I was at. Because I'm saying that it doesn't mean I live in a fantasy world, it means I'm going into it knowing his voice is not what it was and expecting certain songs to be weaker than others. We get that you and others on this board don't like his set list, his voice etc but it just goes on and on and on with the complaining. Yes, again you all have the right to speak your mind but good grief, it's the same thing after every city Paul plays.
Sorry. I was still wound up over that woman on FB. I am just tired of all the people on FB who gush over how great he sounds. Those are the ones living in a fantasy world.
I shouldn't have made it personal to you. There really are people that don't seem to realize how much his voice has weakened. It's just sad to me since even in 2002 he sounded sublime!I wouldn't even be commenting on this thread (and I probably shouldn't any more) if it wasn't for B J's numerous posts. I keep telling him he's beating a dead horse...
Again...apologies.
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Thank you Nancy, and I apologize as well for sounding so defensive.
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B J Conlee wrote:
Can anyone put one or two of the Orlando reviews from last night's Concert. I saw a review from the Orlando Sentinel but couln't read it because the "paper" blocks it out. I am interested in an estimate of the crowd size and how Paul sounded. I saw the setlist and it was the one that didn't contain "Women and Wives". It still contained "let 'm in", "new" and "I've Just Seen a Face".
Again, just blows my mind...nothing from McCartney 3 and he's still doing "Come On to Me" and "Fuh You".
Thanks
I just talked to someone yesterday on FB who said that in Orlando, all the newspaper accounts were saying that the crowd size was 62,000!!! 🤯
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Let me add my voice to the discussion...a fan since the late 60s. I remember buying McCartney after it cameout and Maybe I'm Amazed remains my fave. Yeah, his voice isn't what it used to be but neither am I.
Knoxville marked my 18th concert since first seeing him at Madison Square on December 11, 1989. Knoxville was a great show despite McCartney III being MIA. After missing the Greenville 2019 show giving our tickets to our daughter-in-law's parents, I am happy to have recovered from a near-death hospital visit and thankful to be alive, thankful he is alive and wants to hit the road so let's all enjoy the Rock Show!!!!
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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.