Somebody forwarded this clip of Paul McCartney performing "A Day in the Life"/"Give Peace a Chance" in a tribute to John Lennon at the recent Live at Liverpool 2008 festival, which was attended by both Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. He pulls it off pretty well, too, but there's an awkward moment when Paul flubs a line (which really isn't surprising seeing that he probably hasn't performed the song in more than 40 years).
What is ironic, however, is that McCartney's mistake comes in the part of the song *he* wrote. What's more, this bit has apparently always given Paul trouble. In a well-known outtake from Sgt. Pepper, he can be heard tripping up in the same place and adding "Oh, shit!"
Words fail me.
9 comments:
Nice.
I've heard about this but this was my first chance to see it.
I'm just sorry he cut the song short to make it a medley with Give Peace A Chance. A Day In the Life deserves better.
He's been playing with this same band lineup(Rusty Anderson, Paul Wickens, Brian Ray, and Abe Laboriel, Jr.) for a good six years now, a longer stretch than with any lineup, Wings and Beatles included, during his career. It's not hard to see why--he'd be a fool to look for another one. But yes, it would have been nice to have the last verse and coda of "A Day In The Life"
They're a damn good little band, aren't they?
TJWood said...
He's been playing with this same band lineup(Rusty Anderson, Paul Wickens, Brian Ray, and Abe Laboriel, Jr.) for a good six years now, a longer stretch than with any lineup, Wings and Beatles included, during his career.
Not quite. It's perhaps true of Wings since they had an ever-changing roster. But if we say the Beatles lineup "officially" started with the addition of Ringo in 1962, and that the group broke up in 1969 (although the announcement wasn't made until April 1970), that's still 7 years.
That said, they are a great backup band, and I wouldn't be surprised if they ultimately stay together longer than the Beatles. (Btw, I didn't see Paul Wickens, who has been with McCartney longer than any other member of the group, in that clip.)
I believe the keyboard player is Wix, who, yes, has been playing with Macca since 1989. I actually meant to say this is the longest band he'd been playing live with throughout his career. (The Beatles, one memorable rooftop concert aside, retired from live performances in 1966). But since I didn't, the Beatles lineup with Ringo still does have the slight edge over the this band in regard to length of service.
From all accounts, Paul seems to be at home with this band and they seem to be at home with their position (which wasn't the case with certain Wings members), so it's likely he'll be playing with them for awhile. Rusty Anderson, BTW, did put out a solo album, Undressing Underwater, a couple of years ago that I remember being quite good.
Wow. This is incredibly touching, like Ringo singing Photograph on the concert for George.
Trey
well, this is what i said when this clip was posted on my local music forum...
May we all make music for as long as we are able.
by whiskeyina, 6/3/08 16:22 ET
That was very sweet. He looks young and happy when he's playing.
Of course, typical Ina, I like it when he messes up the words, and recovers.
Give peace a chance.
Since he started touring regularly again in 1989, McCartney's had nothing but top-notch bands with him.
It's gotta be hard to play with him - you have to be an excellent player, but most of the Beatles arrangements are Holy Writ leaving no room for interpretation or improvisation (allowing a lead guitar player to insert his own rock-n-roll solo into I Saw Her Standing There is not exactly giving him a forum for self-expression).
So that's all the more credit to these guys, that they play these time-worn and well-known songs and arrangements with so much enthusiasm and energy.
I watched all the clips from this concert, and I noticed a couple of obvious flubs by the lead guitar player on some "not that difficult" George solos. Not a big deal and flubs are part of what makes live music great, but still a little surprising given the professionalism of the band and the beautiful simplicity of the solos.
Post a Comment