Paul McCartney in 1997, after the premiere of his first symphonic opera. Photo: Reuters.
Since the breakup of the Beatles, Paul McCartney hasn’t stopped composing all kinds of songs, so many that one could put together a playlist for each of the facets of his style, from the sweetest and most cliché Paul to the most experimental and daring.
Both alone and with his group Wings, Paul has not stopped having success as a solo artist, and each new album is an event that brings him back to the top.
Paul McCartney in 1993.
Here, more extravagant than ever, is a playlist of hits and songs that cannot be left out when reviewing the best of this unstoppable composer.
1. Band on the run
A fascinating combination of ballad, funk-rock and country all rolled into one. Undoubtedly one of Paul’s most famous solo songs, belonging to one of his great albums outside the Beatles, gang on the runsince 1973.
The cover of Band on the Run, by Paul McCartney with the Wings.
The original demo was stolen in Nigeria at gunpoint and they had to recreate it from memory. The recording was done half in Lagos and half in London.
2.This
A 100% Paul theme on an album made with Elvis Costello. It’s a typical McCartney love song. Oddly, it was never included in an official compilation of Paul’s best.
Paul McCartney.
It was released in July 1989, as a single by flowers in the earth.
3. Saying, saying, saying
Paul McCartney.
The union of two stars, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, has paid off Thriller (The girl is mine) Y Peace pipes (Saying, saying, saying).
4. Past always present
A perfect little pop song in which Paul reflects on the speed with which time has passed: “I hope it’s never too late / In search of the time that has passed so quickly / The time I thought would last / My past always present” .
he’s out Almost full memorysince 2007.
5. My brave face
Composed with Elvis Costello, with whom Macca collaborated in 1989 to make the album flowers in the earth. A little new wave rock with the best of both musicians.
Paul McCartney.
6. Jenny Wren
another gem of Chaos and creation in the backyard. An acoustic guitar theme in the best style black bird. Basically it’s Paul alone with his guitar, plus the addition of Venezuelan Pedro Eustache’s duduk (an aerophone).
7. The world tonight
At first it was an acoustic song, but producer Jeff Lynne gave it more specific weight to become one of the album’s strengths. flaming foot.
8. Live and let die
Paul McCartney.
Another great song and one of his biggest hits as a solo artist, boosted years later by Guns N’Roses and a great version, as bombastic and explosive as the original.
It was composed for a James Bond film. Unusually, the producers wanted Shirley Bassey to sing it, but George Martin convinced them to let her do it himself. Luckily.
9. Fine line
The album Chaos and creation in the backyard it is considered one of his best works from start to finish. And there is this song, powered by a great piano line and masterfully recorded by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.
Paul McCartney.
10. Stupid love songs
Typical theme used by detractors to speak ill of Paul. But it is actually Paul’s ironic response to those who criticized him for making “stupid love songs”.
With touches of disco music, it was a hit in 1976.
11 Coming Soon
In 1979, shortly before disbanding his group Wings, Paul shut himself up in his cottage in Scotland and started playing on synthesizers and an almost new wave song came out.
The live version with Wings was # 1, but the original is out McCartney II. According to Paul, John liked the song so much that it made him want to make music again.
Paul McCartney.
12. No more lonely nights
The film was a flop, but the main theme was immortalized at the height of the rage of MTV and video clips. An often forgotten fact is that the guitar solo is by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
13. My love
A sincere love song for Linda, released in red rose highwayfrom 1973. It is a ballad for piano with orchestral arrangements, with a guitar solo by Henry McCullough.
14. Mull of Kintyre
An absolute rarity: a bagpipe tune that became the best-selling tune in British history until it was supplanted by Band Aid with Do they know it’s Christmas?.
It is simply Paul’s homage to where he lives in Scotland.
15.Here today
Paul composed it two years after the assassination of John Lennon and is dedicated to his partner. It is a ballad with the structure of an intimate conversation between two friends.
It’s so exciting that Paul himself said that when he includes her on a tour, there’s always a show where he breaks down and cries.
mfb
Source: Clarin
