I like Paul McCartney, but I’m not a fan of his solo work. As a member of The Beatles he was the poster boy (along with his bandmates) that the sum is greater than the parts.
I sat down and listened to his last CD and decided to tread a bit on the icon because it didn’t do a thing for me. I mean I’m sorry he married Heather. Nothing against her but that was really a dumb thing to do because he would have better off just having her as a girlfriend (She gained a lot of fans during her stint on Dancing With the Stars). And I think that the trip to protest the seal hunt in Newfoundland might have pushed his marriage to the brink because they broke up shortly afterward.
1. He’s A Great Singer
No doubt about it. I dare almost any singer to try and follow his range in the Beatles stuff and beyond. And only Burton Cummings and Roger Dalton have better rock voices. Paul could really belt it out but, unlike Dalton, could sing a convincing ballad. (Cummings could do both in his prime. He’s my pick for greatest rock and ballad singer)
2. He’s A Great Bass Player
Again, no doubt about it. In fact he was Brian Jones-type in that he lusted to learn the instruments. Later, post-Sgt. Pepper, he taught the rest of the guys their parts for his tunes on their own instruments. This virtuosity, as it did for the rest of The Beatles, began when The Beatles played day and night in Hamburg. They went to Germany a garage band and came back a polished rock and roll band.
3. Wrote and Sang the Most Popular Beatles Song Ever
Hey Jude, written for John Lennon’s son, Julian, This is the most commercially successful Beatles song. It was #1 in at least 12 countries and by the end of 1968 had sold more than 5 million copies. It was credited to both, as all the songs were, but John didn’t want a line changed. He thought it was great the way it was.
4. Wrote and Sang the Most Covered Song in History
Yesterday is the most commercially successful Beatles song with over 3,000 versions, making it the most recorded cover tune in history. As well, it takes the place of being the most publicly performed song in history including one version by Frank Sinatra.
5. He Always (or almost always) Said Good Things About John Lennon
This is his most endearing feature, in my opinion. Because as bright and artistic as John Lennon was I don’t know if I could have put up with Yoko Ono second-guessing me in the recording studio. (I mean, just listen to her sing!) There has been way too much written about this subject but McCartney, who has lots of opinions, doesn’t dwell on it. I think maybe Ono and he are on good terms now because he knows that Lennon was going in another direction before he met Ono. The Japanese artist was just the catalyst. if it wasn’t her it might have been someone, or something, else.
So, if McCartney could just do another decent album I could be a fan again. But I still admire the guy.