Paul learning his own songs
-
When Paul is adding in a new song of his for a tour/show that has an interesting or difficult bassline (or any other instrument) do you reckon he has to look up the Tab like the rest of us?
i mean, he surely can't remember all of them! 
-
I'm sure he has to refresh his memory on some of the chords and the lyrics. I actually wonder sometimes whether lyrics are the toughest thing to remember for all of them ... it's the area where I feel like I've seen the most mistakes over the years (George, for example, messed up the lyrics for Here Comes the Sun and Something during the Concert for Bangladesh and John definitely messed up lyrics a lot). -
CJAllen:
When Paul is adding in a new song of his for a tour/show that has an interesting or difficult bassline (or any other instrument) do you reckon he has to look up the Tab like the rest of us?
i mean, he surely can't remember all of them! Depends on what song. Remember many of these songs - throughout his various careers, Beatles, Wings and Solo - were laid down in the studio - and never played again. From each studio album only a couple or so would appear as live performances - usually those selected as single releases. The idea that any song requested could be recalled and performed by Paul is a complete misnomer. For those chosen as show specials, Paul will to have to relearn the song, work up parts for the Band (a role usually done by Wix) and rehearse it up to performance standard - and pass to the video/lighting guys for a suitable stage presentation. And even then we see Paul fluff new songs until he gets them down pat in front of an audience. So whatever the "new" song a lot of effort goes on in the rehearsal rooms and with the production team before they see the light of day. Martin
-
martinput:
CJAllen:
When Paul is adding in a new song of his for a tour/show that has an interesting or difficult bassline (or any other instrument) do you reckon he has to look up the Tab like the rest of us?
i mean, he surely can't remember all of them! Depends on what song. Remember many of these songs - throughout his various careers, Beatles, Wings and Solo - were laid down in the studio - and never played again. From each studio album only a couple or so would appear as live performances - usually those selected as single releases. The idea that any song requested could be recalled and performed by Paul is a complete misnomer. For those chosen as show specials, Paul will to have to relearn the song, work up parts for the Band (a role usually done by Wix) and rehearse it up to performance standard - and pass to the video/lighting guys for a suitable stage presentation. And even then we see Paul fluff new songs until he gets them down pat in front of an audience. So whatever the "new" song a lot of effort goes on in the rehearsal rooms and with the production team before they see the light of day. Martin
Excellent points. Sure, McCartney can probably just recall and play something like CAN'T BUY ME LOVE, which he did live with the Beatles many times. But get into RUBBER SOUL, REVOLVER and SGT. PEPPERS and periods beyond, and these were not likely ever performed in the traditional sense. Paul would lay down a bass line for a song like LOVELY RITA and he probably has not played it since for the last 45 years.
-
I remember at a soundcheck in Philly, someone yelled out "Martha My Dear" while Paul was sitting at the magic piano. He replied back something to the effect of "we don't know that one" or "we would have to learn that one" -- I forget his exact words.
-
Paul heard a record of Eight Days a Week on the rehearsal before Belo Horizonte's concert, on May 3. He heard the original Beatles record without playing anything, and then played right after the record finished.
-
AndreMesquita:
Paul heard a record of Eight Days a Week on the rehearsal before Belo Horizonte's concert, on May 3. He heard the original Beatles record without playing anything, and then played right after the record finished.
I'm fairly sure they were already rehearsing Eight Days A Week, along with all the other new songs, during the weeks leading up to the show... I sincerely doubt it was just a spur of the moment addition, decided the day before the show!
-
I saw the video of him doing Lovely Rita during Saturday's show and I was so disappointed to see him playing guitar. Lovely Rita's bass line is one of my all time favorites (along with Hey Bulldog and Something, which he also plays guitar on live). Anyone know why he does guitar instead of bass for some songs? Is it just the difficulty level and fear of messing up?
-
If he can make up the songs out of this air, I'm sure he can relearn them from just listening.
-
dappa-macca:
I saw the video of him doing Lovely Rita during Saturday's show and I was so disappointed to see him playing guitar. Lovely Rita's bass line is one of my all time favorites (along with Hey Bulldog and Something, which he also plays guitar on live). Anyone know why he does guitar instead of bass for some songs? Is it just the difficulty level and fear of messing up?
Playing guitar and singing at the same time is easier than playing bass and singing at the same time. Paul McCartney is a MASTER at singing complex bass lines while singing, just watch ALL MY LOVING or even EIGHT DAYS A WEEK. Still, on those SGT. PEPPER'S tracks, McCartney went back and created amazing orchestrated bass lines for those songs AFTER he laid down the vocals, never thinking about whether he would be playing the songs live later on. It is just more relaxing to sing and strum the guitar. BTW, is McCartney playing a 12 string guitar on LOVELY RITA?? Looks like it, and a nice one at that!!
-
There's a fab youtube clip of Paul doing an unplugged session in about 1996. One of the songs is We can work it out. He starts and stops the song 3 times because he can't remember the words and actually has to get a piece of paper to read them before performing it in full. The live audience love it!!!
-
micmat:
There's a fab youtube clip of Paul doing an unplugged session in about 1996. One of the songs is We can work it out. He starts and stops the song 3 times because he can't remember the words and actually has to get a piece of paper to read them before performing it in full. The live audience love it!!!
Yeah, we talked about that extensively in the "Paul Forgot the Words" thread!
-
RMartinez:
BTW, is McCartney playing a 12 string guitar on LOVELY RITA?? Looks like it, and a nice one at that!!
yes indeed he is
first time live with one since 1976 (WOA) 
although not the same one Rusty is also on an electric 12-string for 'Lovely Rita' -
It is well known now that Paul uses autocue for the lyrics during the concert, if you see concert footage filmed looking out to crowd you can see it on the floor to pauls right. I was looking at footage of Being For The benefit Of Mr Kite last night and you can quite clearly see him keepo on looking down to the right to read the words
-
Boggle:
It is well known now that Paul uses autocue for the lyrics during the concert, if you see concert footage filmed looking out to crowd you can see it on the floor to pauls right. I was looking at footage of Being For The benefit Of Mr Kite last night and you can quite clearly see him keepo on looking down to the right to read the words
That's because last time he premiered a Lennon song from Sgt. Pepper...
-
simplyrahil:
RMartinez:
BTW, is McCartney playing a 12 string guitar on LOVELY RITA?? Looks like it, and a nice one at that!!
yes indeed he is
first time live with one since 1976 (WOA) although not the same one Rusty is also on an electric 12-string for 'Lovely Rita' Very cool! Yeah, that acoustic 12 string has a cool burst finish, I may have to get one! I play a Taylor 6 string that looks like that, kind of.
-
rlj1010:
AndreMesquita:
Paul heard a record of Eight Days a Week on the rehearsal before Belo Horizonte's concert, on May 3. He heard the original Beatles record without playing anything, and then played right after the record finished.
I'm fairly sure they were already rehearsing Eight Days A Week, along with all the other new songs, during the weeks leading up to the show... I sincerely doubt it was just a spur of the moment addition, decided the day before the show!
That's not a surprise. Eight days a Week, is a quite simple walking bassline played around the chords, so a guy with Pauls bass playing technique could easily do that. What amazes me is how he can play bass lines like Day Tripper, and Mr Kite whilst singing. By the way, who plays bass on the live version of Lovely Rita?
-
Eppyphone Casino:
rlj1010:
AndreMesquita:
Paul heard a record of Eight Days a Week on the rehearsal before Belo Horizonte's concert, on May 3. He heard the original Beatles record without playing anything, and then played right after the record finished.
I'm fairly sure they were already rehearsing Eight Days A Week, along with all the other new songs, during the weeks leading up to the show... I sincerely doubt it was just a spur of the moment addition, decided the day before the show!
That's not a surprise. Eight days a Week, is a quite simple walking bassline played around the chords, so a guy with Pauls bass playing technique could easily do that. What amazes me is how he can play bass lines like Day Tripper, and Mr Kite whilst singing. By the way, who plays bass on the live version of Lovely Rita?
Looks like Brian plays bass on that one.
-
RMartinez:
simplyrahil:
RMartinez:
BTW, is McCartney playing a 12 string guitar on LOVELY RITA?? Looks like it, and a nice one at that!!
yes indeed he is
first time live with one since 1976 (WOA) although not the same one Rusty is also on an electric 12-string for 'Lovely Rita' Very cool! Yeah, that acoustic 12 string has a cool burst finish, I may have to get one! I play a Taylor 6 string that looks like that, kind of.
yes, beautiful
and he used it on 'another day' also! i'm a regular 12-string player when playing live (and on my albums), so i was overjoyed to see him using it on 'lovely rita' live here's it from the Goiania show - -
-
simplyrahil:
RMartinez:
simplyrahil:
RMartinez:
BTW, is McCartney playing a 12 string guitar on LOVELY RITA?? Looks like it, and a nice one at that!!
yes indeed he is
first time live with one since 1976 (WOA) although not the same one Rusty is also on an electric 12-string for 'Lovely Rita' Very cool! Yeah, that acoustic 12 string has a cool burst finish, I may have to get one! I play a Taylor 6 string that looks like that, kind of.
yes, beautiful
and he used it on 'another day' also! i'm a regular 12-string player when playing live (and on my albums), so i was overjoyed to see him using it on 'lovely rita' live here's it from the Goiania show - -
Thanks for posting! Nice guitar looks like a Gibson, but I am not sure. I want a Taylor 12 string in sunburst finish, time to start saving money! Here is my friend and I doing WE CAN WORK IT OUT:
That is my sunburst Taylor 6 string guitar.
