He was the one half of the Lennon & McCartney songwriting team that gave the world such gems as Love Me Do and Yellow Submarine but his solo work since leaving The Beatles is a body of work which eclipses that of most artists’ full musical career.
Since the rise of the sub-celebrity in the noughties and their dominance of our media there are not many people in the public eye that we can shine a light on and say for certainty that they are living legends. But Sir Paul McCartney is one person that does fall into the category of ‘living legend’ and we would do well to remember that.
To attempt to condense Sir Paul’s work into one article would be ludicrous, it would be like trying to write ‘War and Peace’ on the back of a fag packet so it would be best to try and throw a few highlights in between copious amounts of praise.
Firstly why is it that ‘Pipes of Peace’ can’t be found on every Christmas compilation album? the song and video are both moving and contain a moralistic message sadly missing from most modern Christmas songs.
Perhaps its because ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ is already on nearly every Christmas album and it would seem unfair for him to dominate the now camp world of Christmas songs like he has dominated the rest of the musical world for the past forty something years.
The man wrote Eleanor Rigby for goodness sake, a song that crosses all known musical boundaries and deserves a genre of its own to house it. Or if that isn’t good enough what about Hey Jude? It is probably true that no single person on planet earth over the age of 12 hasn’t sung along with the end chorus to Hey Jude.
Sir Paul is still going strong and continues to pull in new fans to his music and it is most likely that he always will even after death.
He has just finished his latest tour with a mesmerising gig in the O2 arena in London and shows the young scallywags of today’s music who wear guitar’s around their necks a thing or two.
Mull of Kintyre is another example of his post Beatles work where you are left wondering where the hell all these songs come from. Lets face it the man is a walking song factory but it doesn’t end there. He isn’t just a bass player he is a multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer, producer and arranger.
He is more than capable of playing every instrument on an album and play them with great proficiency which is not something the so called ‘talented’ X-Factor competitors and winners are anywhere near capable of.
We as a nation should stand shoulder to shoulder and have a day where we acknowledge Paul McCartney whilst he is still alive. We have already lost his cohorts John Lennon and George Harrison whilst Ringo is another we should recognise for his contribution, but that is an article for another day.
Lets ‘Come together’ for Paul McCartney for one day in the new year.
Beatles T-Shirts
------ Other articles of interest ------
Whip It – a review
Arcade Fire, The Suburbs – a review
Shutter Island
John Cage 4′33″ bid for Christmas No 1 spot
Tags: Christmas album, Culture, Eleanor Rigby, George Harrison, John Lennon, National Treasure, News, O2 Arena, Paul McCartney, Pipes of Peace, Ringo Starr, The Beatles
[...] SOURCE [...]
A very good atricle. Paul McCartney is a living legend, and along with John Lennon, should always be remembered at least one day of each year.
Nice piece Ricardo. It would be a shame to wait until our Paul has reached the end of the end before we mark our appreciation of his towering musical talent.
Ken McNab, author of The Beatlesi n Scotland
Excellent choice
I agree that Paul McCartney is a living legend! Basically there is no one in the pop world who can shine a torch to him, but sadly not many young people or otherwise,
recognise this! I live in New Zealand and have found very few people like or even have the time for Paul,I feel very much on my own.I have always been a Beatles fan, and have been since I was 14 years old! way back in ‘64, when I was living in Australia. My dream is one day to go to a Paul McCartney gig. I greatly admire Paul for his creativity his musical genius and his modesty in the face of being such a celebrity! Long may he continue to bring joy to the world through his music.
Very good article. He’s not just a National treasure, he is an International Treasure more than anyone else in the business alive today.
The Beatles are a national treasure.
Don’t forget paul mcCartneys ego broke up the Beatles!
What a nice piece, sir. I am not familiar with your writings or The Economic VOICE (an American here ) but got linked via a Beatles news website. It is a well written essay and indeed it would be “ludicrous” to try to describe all of Paul’s work into just one article.
The sentiment of “where do all these songs keep coming from” when you alluded to Mull of Kintyre is just a teaser when one considers the immense diversity included in the collaborative team of John Lennon with Paul McCartney..They certainly came a long way from Love Me do in such a relatively short span of time.
Looking forward to a day to especially acknowledge Sir Paul in 2010.
I agree with RHD. But Paul McCartney is not only a national treasure in the UK. Since Beatlemania actually started when John, Paul, George and Ringo returned from a tour in Sweden in october of -63, a lot of swedes have many fond memories of The Beatles. And I guess it+s like that all over the world. Perhaps Paul and his band mates are the ones who have been most successful in promoting LOVE since… well ever I guess.
Very nice article, I totally agree. No one comes near Paul in the realm of “living legend”. It would be fantastic to have a Paul McCartney day in 2010! Happy New Year everybody everywhere.
I was really moved reading the article written by Mr Richard Henley Davis. Sir Paul McCartney is the world treasure!. Since the day i was interviewed by the BBC Polish Service journalist ii the Bush House I have spent twenty eyears on mission of popularizing this artist’s music in Poland. While in my country he is still in the shadow of Lennon’s legend to some jounalists with communist-media origin (that is why it’s rather impossible to hear “Pipes of Peace” on the Polish Radio) I feel the winner. Due to my journalist mission those Polish people who are sensitive to melody lines finally found out whose side the truth is on! My mission will be fullfilled the moment Paul leaves the plane at the Warsaw Airport and his feet finally touch the ground of Poland.
From Denmark i agree; he is a international Treasure.
The Beatles, hej jude………..and let us not forget Wings where he was able to bee just as succesful (ore more) than with the Beatles. I grew up beend a Wings fan and later learned about The Beatles,,,,,,,and his work even after The Beatles and wings where there still is some outstanding music, flowers in the dirt, flaming pie, backyard and so on.
Thank you all for your kind comments. I will be writing a brief article on the Beatles early on in the new year. One song I wish I mentioned by Paul McCartney is ‘Put it there’ which is a song I have tried to sing and play on guitar but always fail miserably every time because it always chokes me up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fvKr8MOlJI
A happy new year to you all.
You are spot on, Richard Davis. Paul McCartney is an English treasure that transcends globally. He has remarkable god given gifts and we listeners are the beneficiaries…isn’t it great to live in Sir Paul’s time?
The man wrote Eleanor Rigby for goodness sake
I like your “for goodness sake”. It speaks volumes.
We need to have that one day a year NOW. You’re right, we shouldn’t wait until he’s dead. I have so many friends and family members who would join in celebration of Sir Paul’s life. Let’s make it happen in 2010!!
After I personally organized the unique concert un Poland in January 1998 and i called it “McCARTNEY’S DAY”, I came to the idea of permanent presence of Paul McCartney’s music in the Polish or East European cultural calendar. So I’m telling you my friend one day I’m gonna organize annual PAUL McCARTNEY FESTIVAL – in Warsaw, St Petersburg, whenever it will be tremendously welcomed. I’ m turned on.
No, Juan Aulet, you are wrong, The Beatles broke up because they as individuals grew up and matured. After all 3 of them met while they were adolescents. So it is nothing to do with egos getting in the way.
Have you ever met him ? You can’t have, to make such a comment!
I went to see Paul in concert in Paris on 10 December and his show was as superb as ever (I have been attending his concerts since 1975).
I have also had the privilege to meet him on several occasions and I have never been disappointed.
AMAZING!
I get so happy when i read articles like this..incredibly well written – great job!
I too honestly agree that we should have a mega-celebration of his life while Paul is still alive. It would be wonderful..definitely a must..
now im excited! haha
From India, I agree whole-heartedly with you Richard. It is all too often people acknowledge the greatness of someone only after their passing. If I remember correctly John’s Double Fantasy tracks didn’t get all that good reviews or sales in the beginning.
And hes the only Artist in the Guiness Book Of Records with a RHODIUM Disc ( Never mind a gold or silver )
Thanks a lot Richard for reflecting part of the truly feelings we share for Paul.We Turks are proud for having Ataturk for coming from our roots that every British citizen should have been proud too for having such a great personal and artistic value (has no equal in the universe) like Paul.I believe god is proud too of his creation as he uses all his talents he has been granted with at the extreme level.Well, Paul I wish 2010 becomes for you a real good year and my offer is still pending….Let us see you at a special concert looking through the hills of Istanbul from the mid point of Bosphorus Bridge connecting Asia and Europe.That will be a good point to thank God, to greet the Universe with love and to take in their eternal love and respect they feel for you.
ISTANBUL is waiting for you PAUL.
Come to think of it, The Beatles – and Paul McCartney ever since – have been a tremendeaus unifier for peace & love in the world..! Shouldnt anyone write about that..? I know Ringo is working on it, but I think he needs a little help from Macca to get the whole worlds attention.
Yes! i am sure that Sir Paul McCartney deserves the Peace Nobel Prize and I hope my friends from Norway (can Oslo hear me?) will take him into considearation in the end. These are his words: “We all live in a yellow submarine”, “We can work it out”, “Play the pipes of peace”, “Peace in the neighbourhood”, “Only love remains”, “We live in a hope of deliverance from the darkness that surrounds us”, “…and if you love your life, everybody will love you too” etc. He personally organized “Concerts for the People of Kampuchea” and “Concert for New York City” ro commemorate victims of Pol Pot and 9/11.He composed the first great protest song of the 21st century – “Freedom”. While playing his music for people he brought message of peace and friendship to Red Square in Moscow, to Kiev, Bethlehem, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Dublin, Colloseum in Rome, to Santiago de Chile, Quebec and hundreds of other places all over the world. Yes i share your opinion Steffan. God bless Sweden.
Very true! There is one thing that has struck me, while reading the reply ahead of me mentioning Peace Price. I agree! I believe that Beatles was a concrete reason for not blowing the atom bomb in late 60’s! Heard about the butterfly-effect? Yes, of course. With all the joy and love spreading messages that Paul and the rest of the band poured out as a cultural bomb with more loaded dynamite than all the atom-bombs together, the cruel leaders was forced to listen to the “naive” truth about not killing, but enjoy life and be happy and do good things.
God bless them! they are heaven sent!
Really good article. I totally agree – Sir Paul is a living legend. I am 21 and was not even born when The Beatles graced us with their musical presence back in the 60s but I can appreciate the contribution that this man has made to the world of music. My parents are Beatles fans too and I can think of very few artists that appeal to multi-generations in the way that Sir Paul does. He is a genius, a legend, an inspiration and indeed – a national treasure.
I think I was born in the wrong decade because no modern musician has the ability to excite me and elicit such strong emotions on hearing their music in the way that Sir Paul can. He is, in my eyes, the greatest singer and songwriter of all time and I believe that no other artist could achieve the level of success that he has and no other artist is more deserving than him.
Methinks the article doth protest too much! How can an otherwise articulate piece of writing use ‘Mull of Kintyre’ as an example of the craft of song writing. I am a Scot and it is a woeful dirge that was only missing a tartan cover and designed to clear out pubs at closing time. ‘Yellow Submarine’ sits in comparison to the excoriating ‘Frog’s Chorus’.The man who wrote the best Bond theme ever and has had the courage to face the snobbery of the classical music fraternity deserves praise. But when all is said and done his work ‘eye to eye’ with John Lennon as one quarter of the most influential ans succesful group of all time is a bench mark far beyond the vast portion of his solo work. The same applies to John. Lastly ‘Come Together’ was written by John for Abbey Road!
Mull of Kintyre is a beautful Scottish waltz full of nostalgia for homeland. I am not sure if the “pipes” were introduced for the first time to a pop/rock ballad in that case, nevertheless the song was pretty revolutionary and innovative in the punk and new wave era. People in this country still remember punks playing “Kintyre” on the pub jukeboxes. Furthermore the best selling non-charity single in history of Britain? What else should I add apart from the fact that my Scottish friend Avril loves it. Musical tradition of Britain and Ireland is strongly represented in Paul’s music – e.g. “Save The Child”, “Warm and Beautiful”, “English Tea”. And the same man composed “Run Devil Run”, “Get Out of My Way” and “Helter Skelter”!Amazing! As for John “Happy Christmas” is not less poppish than “Wonderful Christmas Time” and the best rock critics in Poland generally consider “Mind Games” LP boring pop, definitely less intelligent than “Red Rose Speedway Medley”
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by economicvoice: National Treasure: Paul McCartney – http://www.economicvoice.com/national-treasure-paul-mccartney/5004964…
[...] … diane commented: July 6th, 2007 at 6:43 pm. what a fabulous post! very inspiring! *diane. 9 …National Treasure: Paul McCartney The Economic VoiceLong may he continue to bring joy to the world through his music. Diane Carroll says: December 30, [...]