Perhaps the greatest compliment to the Beatles’ catalog is that when people think about their songs individually, they can remember the whole thing. Someone will shout, “Oh, I love that song,” and can recite each verse. This is because the Beatles knew how to craft a pop song that would keep a person’s interest the whole way through. You may think you’re hearing repetition, but listen closely, and those tiny, clever variations will surprise you – now matter how many times you’ve listened. Of course, one would expect magic when dealing with such a cohesive foursome of talent. The Beatles came to prominence in the early sixties, and miraculously contained two of rock and roll’s most intriguing songwriters at the same time. Of the two, Paul McCartney brought a traditional songwriter’s craftsmanship to the group – a student’s touch to balance bandmate John Lennon’s quirky leanings.
McCartney grew up in a musical household, as his father was a trumpet player and pianist. Although surrounded by the jazz and big brass band sound his father brought around, McCartney eventually fell in love with rhythm and blues, especially Little Richard. Listening to the mop top hits, that influence is there in full force. Really, his early singing style is more reminiscent of Elvis Presley than his English contemporaries.
Also, we all owe Paul a huge “thank you.” Who knows what would have happened to the Beatles if he hadn’t agreed to play bass after Stuart Sutcliffe left the group. Already turning into an adroit multi-instrumentalist, McCartney took up the instrument with an intensity the band needed. Many will overlook McCartney’s bass playing because of his popularity as a singer and songwriter, but that’s unfair. Listen closely to his playing on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band if you want a to hear when he discovered how powerful a bass can sound. His lines bubble and drive, almost as if they’re ahead of the songs they’re enriching.
And that voice. How versatile. McCartney could sing and simultaneously convince every listener to have a night out on the town – a simply thunderous tone. However, he could also go soft, treading higher over John or with a tenderness fitting for a whimsical ballad.
Somehow, he’s still not finished. Even after the Beatles, his run with Wings and his multiple solo efforts, McCartney seems to have no intentions of closing shop. Despite the fact that he’s a Beatle and that he doesn’t have to do a damn thing for anyone, he’s willingly participated in the evolution of musical culture, having worked with Rock Band and performing at Coachella.
McCartney is everywhere, and it seems like it’s never been any different.
Paul McCartney Quotes
“None of us wanted to be the bass player. In our minds he was the fat guy who always played at the back.”
“When we were starting off as kids, just the idea of maybe going to do this as a living instead of getting what we thought was going to be a boring job, was exciting.”
“I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird. “