I agree Macca wasn't up to it. Same as his daughter wasn't up to designing the ridiculous 'fries with that' uniforms!
So I had a think about alternatives and I came up with 2 that I'd have quite enjoyed and that the crowd could have sung along to.
In second place: Blur with Song Number 2 - I'd have liked to hear the stadium belting out WooHoo until they got bored with it
In first place: (purely a personal dream this one) stadium goes dark and the instantly recognisable guitar intro to Sweet Child of Mine rings out - spotlight, top hat, leather trousers and it's Slash from Stoke with a band of UK rockers to give out a belting rendition (OK, original GnR would be better but even I have to accept that they're not Brits!!) with the crowd and athletes all singing along to a lovely extended version.
Neither have sod all to do with the Olympics but neither does Hey Jude..
All the brown wigs and face lifts in the world will not detract from the fact that he can not sing in tune.
Lennon was the genius and Harrison wasn't far behind him.
Nonsense
Sgt Pepper concept = Paul's idea
Abbey Road medley = Paul's idea
Sound effects and loops in Tomorrow Never Knows = Paul's idea
Plus Paul was the one that got John to write songs in the first place and start recording again in 1980
I didn't notice anything, I'm surprised people pick up on all these things. I was very tired though. Was it really that bad? I remember listening to the Arctic Monkey's first song and I thought that was poor but can't really recall McCartney's song other than him getting the crowd to sing along..
He has a history of fuc*ing up events like this. LiveAid, Jubilee etc etc
Ahem. The Live Aid organisers didn't mike him and his piano properly for this. They profusely apologised for this, as Paul had kept asking about mikes and sound, weeks before the event.
This is complete and utter rubbish. Unfortunately dire performances like the one last night allow people to hold that view but I would put money on you not knowing the vast majority of his post-Beatles work, particularly the last 15 years or so.
He didn't lose his sense of melody once 1970 hit and I would argue he was at the height of his powers in 1976 on the Wings Over America tour.
To dismiss 35 years worth of work is ridiculous.
Agree, It's just so tired and lame to say all he has ever done is the Frog Chorus. It's boring! These performances are doing him no favours and I agree it's time for him to retire from these big events. Pass the baton on. But it's just really uneducated to say he hasn't done anything for 35 yrs, just because you don't know his back catalogue.
But a problem with sound and backing tracks proved at least he is the conssumate professional and worked hard to get the song back in time.
He was absolutely awful - a national embarrassment actually. He'll probably always be remembered for that last night, and rightly so - instead of retiring gracefully, these people just can't seem to let go.
Sir Elton John or Dame Shirley Bassey would have been sooo much better.
Nah-nah-nah-nah went on for far too long aswell... :rolleyes:
Lennon is often quoted as The Leader of the Beatles (usually by Yoko Ono), but after 1966 his interest diminished. The ideas for most if not all of the albums were Paul's ideas - even The Magical Mystery Tour was his idea. John wanted out of the Beatles and his love for Yoko gave him a new focus. As one of Lennon's friends said, he went into a toilet, locked the door and yelled "I don't want to be a Beatle!"
The fact is that Paul McCartney has got more musical talent in his little fingernail than Dylan Mills (D.Rascal) has got in his entire body for one example.
There have been some outstanding solo efforts in the past 35 years, even without Wings.
Pipes Of Peace, a UK No1.
Ebony & Ivory, with Stevie W, another UK No1.
Coming Up, a UK No2.
No More Lonely Nights, a UK No2.
Waterfalls, a UK No9.
Take It Away, a UK No15.
Say Say Say with Jacko, a UK No2.
The Girl Is Mine with Jacko, a UK No8.
Let 'Em In, with Wings, a UK No2.
Silly Love Songs, with Wings, another UK No2.
With A Little Luck, with Wings, a UK No5.
Oh, and just the biggest selling single of all time between 1977 and 1984 with Mull Of Kintyre, bigger than any Beatles hit.
Not to mention the albums, and soundtracks, and plenty more I've likely missed out, and album tracks that are likely great that I've not heard.
If you are over 30 then I will be amazed!
Anyway, you mention "simplistic dross". Well some of the greatest music, and best tunes, longest living in the memory are the ones created from simplicity.
From such a massive catalogue of fab songs I just wish Sir Paul would vary it a bit at these events. He had songs that were quite appropriate to the Olympic ideal, such as Ebony & Ivory, his old duet with Stevie Wonder.
The fact is that Paul McCartney has got more musical talent in his little fingernail than Dylan Mills (D.Rascal) has got in his entire body for one example.
There have been some outstanding solo efforts in the past 35 years, even without Wings.
Pipes Of Peace, a UK No1.
Ebony & Ivory, with Stevie W, another UK No1.
Coming Up, a UK No2.
No More Lonely Nights, a UK No2.
Waterfalls, a UK No9.
Take It Away, a UK No15.
Say Say Say with Jacko, a UK No2.
The Girl Is Mine with Jacko, a UK No8.
Let 'Em In, with Wings, a UK No2.
Silly Love Songs, with Wings, another UK No2.
With A Little Luck, with Wings, a UK No5.
Oh, and just the biggest selling single of all time between 1977 and 1984 with Mull Of Kintyre, bigger than any Beatles hit.
Not to mention the albums, and soundtracks, and plenty more I've likely missed out, and album tracks that are likely great that I've not heard.
If you are over 30 then I will be amazed!
Anyway, you mention "simplistic dross". Well some of the greatest music, and best tunes, longest living in the memory are the ones created from simplicity.
From such a massive catalogue of fab songs I just wish Sir Paul would vary it a bit at these events. He had songs that were quite appropriate to the Olympic ideal, such as Ebony & Ivory, his old duet with Stevie Wonder.
Eggshell, your post was a bad yoke!
Very good list, but this is all from when he could still sing properly.
"I should be so lucky" - 1988. UK No.1 for 5 weeks.
I'm a huge Beatles fan but a lot of McCartney's output post 1970 was mediocre, to say the least. Even most of the songs on the "All the best" compendium are hummable little ditties but leave little impression. But then so was Lennon's. I haven't heard enough of Harrison's or Starr's solo work to comment on.
Very good list, but this is all from when he could still sing properly.
I bet if you went to a small venue with just a couple of hundred people he would sound fantastic. These huge shindigs, that the artist only has a 3 minute bit part in, are always going to be a bit rough at the edges, for almost anybody, except the late Freddie Mercury maybe!
Comments
So I had a think about alternatives and I came up with 2 that I'd have quite enjoyed and that the crowd could have sung along to.
In second place: Blur with Song Number 2 - I'd have liked to hear the stadium belting out WooHoo until they got bored with it
In first place: (purely a personal dream this one) stadium goes dark and the instantly recognisable guitar intro to Sweet Child of Mine rings out - spotlight, top hat, leather trousers and it's Slash from Stoke with a band of UK rockers to give out a belting rendition (OK, original GnR would be better but even I have to accept that they're not Brits!!) with the crowd and athletes all singing along to a lovely extended version.
Neither have sod all to do with the Olympics but neither does Hey Jude..
Nonsense
Sgt Pepper concept = Paul's idea
Abbey Road medley = Paul's idea
Sound effects and loops in Tomorrow Never Knows = Paul's idea
Plus Paul was the one that got John to write songs in the first place and start recording again in 1980
Redgrave=Past it
McCartney=Past it
Industrial Revolution=In the past
Red Arrows=Fly Pas(t)
The Queen=Past it.
McCartney deliberately sung rubbish to fit in with the theme of the opening ceremony.:(
My whole family were cringing, so we all sung it and drowned him out. We probably sounded worse, but we didn't care.
Her Twitter account was very quick to point out she didn't design those!! I wonder why!
Couldn't have put it better myself, that's when I went to bed.
Ahem. The Live Aid organisers didn't mike him and his piano properly for this. They profusely apologised for this, as Paul had kept asking about mikes and sound, weeks before the event.
Agree, It's just so tired and lame to say all he has ever done is the Frog Chorus. It's boring! These performances are doing him no favours and I agree it's time for him to retire from these big events. Pass the baton on. But it's just really uneducated to say he hasn't done anything for 35 yrs, just because you don't know his back catalogue.
But a problem with sound and backing tracks proved at least he is the conssumate professional and worked hard to get the song back in time.
You think those three tracks are all he has written in 40 yrs. I'l give you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C2z1PaF8Cs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ma4jlE_VbI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLFFC600C79E20040E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NNWDlviFGY
He was pants at the Jubilee concert, why in hell they got him out a second time is beyond me.
Problem is that they're quite rubbish as well.
He is , for me, so twee and uninspiring in his music , its beyond belief.
He and John were good counterbalances to each other, without that balance he's just a silly love song merchant. IMHO
"i used to be in the beatles you know ......."
"yes dear now eat your tea".
Nonsense, he was one of the greatest singers of our time. Hugely hugely hugely underrated as a singer!!
Even with a bad performance THIS is the power of Paul McCartney and The Beatles, all these years later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAfhSvNBHoA
Haters gonna hate but do these people wish he hadn't showed up? Do these people want him to retire?
Sir Elton John or Dame Shirley Bassey would have been sooo much better.
Nah-nah-nah-nah went on for far too long aswell... :rolleyes:
The fact is that Paul McCartney has got more musical talent in his little fingernail than Dylan Mills (D.Rascal) has got in his entire body for one example.
There have been some outstanding solo efforts in the past 35 years, even without Wings.
Pipes Of Peace, a UK No1.
Ebony & Ivory, with Stevie W, another UK No1.
Coming Up, a UK No2.
No More Lonely Nights, a UK No2.
Waterfalls, a UK No9.
Take It Away, a UK No15.
Say Say Say with Jacko, a UK No2.
The Girl Is Mine with Jacko, a UK No8.
Let 'Em In, with Wings, a UK No2.
Silly Love Songs, with Wings, another UK No2.
With A Little Luck, with Wings, a UK No5.
Oh, and just the biggest selling single of all time between 1977 and 1984 with Mull Of Kintyre, bigger than any Beatles hit.
Not to mention the albums, and soundtracks, and plenty more I've likely missed out, and album tracks that are likely great that I've not heard.
If you are over 30 then I will be amazed!
Anyway, you mention "simplistic dross". Well some of the greatest music, and best tunes, longest living in the memory are the ones created from simplicity.
From such a massive catalogue of fab songs I just wish Sir Paul would vary it a bit at these events. He had songs that were quite appropriate to the Olympic ideal, such as Ebony & Ivory, his old duet with Stevie Wonder.
Eggshell, your post was a bad yoke!
Very good list, but this is all from when he could still sing properly.
Witness:
"I should be so lucky" - 1988. UK No.1 for 5 weeks.
I'm a huge Beatles fan but a lot of McCartney's output post 1970 was mediocre, to say the least. Even most of the songs on the "All the best" compendium are hummable little ditties but leave little impression. But then so was Lennon's. I haven't heard enough of Harrison's or Starr's solo work to comment on.
And he didn't have of a voice to start with...
I bet if you went to a small venue with just a couple of hundred people he would sound fantastic. These huge shindigs, that the artist only has a 3 minute bit part in, are always going to be a bit rough at the edges, for almost anybody, except the late Freddie Mercury maybe!