Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in Video of the Week Tags: beatles, paul mccartney
05 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in Video of the Week Tags: badfinger, come and get it, paul mccartney, pete ham
01 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in Best of the Blog, Video of the Week Tags: beatles, get back, paul mccartney
In a remarkable moment fortuitously caught on film, Paul McCartney, feeling the pressure of an approaching deadline on the Beatles eventual Let it Be project, makes productive use of time waiting for John Lennon, who is late to arrive.
It’s a breathtaking glimpse of songwriting genius–the birth of a hit song, verse and chorus, takes place in less than four minutes as Paul strums a bass guitar.
I can’t say it any better than the YouTube comments, so I’ll paste them here:
Paul just casually shitting out a golden song at 10 in the morning.
Not only does the melody fall out, so does the chorus and half the lyrics. This is a mind-blowing piece of film.
It’s actually insane this was caught on camera
It’s just mind blowing, they’re sitting around waiting for John and this whole new song just falls out of Paul’s head. George is giving positive feedback, Ringo’s already working out the percussion… then John walks in, sits down and immediately picks up on it and joins in. The Beatles fully deserve to have their music listened to until the last human dies. To never be forgotten.
This is one of Paul’s most legendary songs and it was composed strumming his bass while waiting for John to show up. The guy was such a genius it’s not even funny.
The fact that this wasnt in the original Let It Be is baffling. What a moment. “We need another million selling hit single, lads” “Right, give me about 4 minutes”
We would never have Get Back if John wasn’t late, cheers John!!
It’s almost like he discovers the song. Like it existed before he wrote it but hadn’t been given form yet
Paul accomplished more in those few minutes than most musicians will in their entire careers.
something warms my heart about when ringo starts throwing in that extra ‘get back’
Watching Paul making this song out of nothing is so mesmerizing
My favorite song from the album and watching Paul just pull it out of his ass is pretty damn amazing. I’ve never understood how people can just create a song out of thin air like that.
This is the most monumental piece in the history of the docunentary films. An absolute treasure.
From zero to Get Back in a few minutes. Wow!
Paul was really the heart of this band. If it wasn’t for him, this group would have ended way before 1970. Thank you, Paul!!!
Christ imagine the pressure of being a songwriter in that band.
This is one of the most beautiful things to be able to witness.
I feel like I just watched something extremely magical
This is a writer’s dream on how to create a song you’re proud of. You’re just noodling around the guitar or piano and suddenly magic happens. I’m sure there were times when Paul couldn’t come up with an idea to save his life, then something like that happens as if it’s always this easy. lol I love it.
Harrison’s lead playing is so simple and full.
I had tears when I realized what was happening.
Paul is the Music Magician of the Band, if you watch the whole Documentary you find out Paul is the Beatles
This is an extraordinary recording. Extraordinary. To see a song just grow and manifest like this. It should be shown in schools
This should be in a museum
That folks is the genius that is Paul McCartney!
Easily the best video ever recorded.
This will never not blow my entire mind.
This gives me the chills every time I watch this.
3:35.. the moment even Paul realized what magical moment just unfolded.. this is so awesome to see
“Hi guys, what have you been doing so far?” “…well, no big deal. In the meantime Paul has composed a new hit that will go down in music history, but stay humble!”
Panning for gold
Ringo and George lend a hand, then John shows up late, and gets co-writing credit.
Brilliant! Wonderful we get to see the origins, half a century later, which is sooooo weird to think about!!
25 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in General Posts Tags: beatles, brian ray, paul mccartney
(via Guitar Player) by Joe Bosso
When Brian Ray joined Paul McCartney’s band in 2002, he was tasked with learning more than 40 songs — in one week.
“Fortunately, I listened to the Beatles nonstop throughout my life, so I already knew most of them,” he says. “Of course, it’s much different when you’re playing in a band that, oh yeah, is led by Paul McCartney himself. Needless to say, I immersed myself in the material.”
But Ray quickly discovered that there’s a difference between how the Beatles recorded the songs and how they need to be played onstage,
“It’s one thing to listen to these songs and appreciate them as a fan, as we’ve all done,” he says. “But when you start digging into them and analyzing them, you’re just astounded by the creativity and depth. Even stuff that sounds simple isn’t simple at all. I’m constantly amazed at the brilliance in these songs, and that feeling grows stronger all the time.”
Given his rarified position, Ray has some unique insights for guitar (and bass) players looking to incorporate Fab Four material into their repertoire.
“It’s important to have respect for the Beatles’ records,” he says. “On the other hand, you don’t want to sound like karaoke. And if you’re like me and you grew up on these records, they’re part of your DNA. You’ve memorized every upstroke and downstroke…
21 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in General Posts Tags: beatles, george harrison, john lennon, paul mccartney, yoko ono
(Answered by Gene Popa)
George asked both of them. Paul said he would participate, but only if the other three Beatles agreed to legally dissolve their partnership (which is what McCartney was at that point suing in court to achieve). George declined.
John actually showed up at the rehearsal, but when he asked what Yoko’s role in the concert would be (obviously expecting she would get a solo set of her own), George replied, “I would like her to enjoy the show.” In a huff, John and Yoko stalked out and did not perform.
John and Yoko did attend the film’s premiere in New York City, and he seemed to be enjoying himself by clapping and cheering the performances on the screen. However, during Bob Dylan’s performance segment, John and Yoko suddenly stood up and left the theater without explanation.
20 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in General Posts Tags: beatles, george harrison, paul mccartney, something
(Answered by Thomas Luton)
Paul McCartney was arguably the most musically gifted out of all 4 Beatles. As the groups bassist, he used this ability to create wonderfully intricate and melodic bass lines.
Perhaps his most intricate bass lines are found on the last Beatles album ‘Abbey Road’. You have to remember that by this point in 1969, the Beatles were at the absolute pinnacle of their musical ability after producing several incredible albums.
Abbey Road is a masterwork of production and musicality and Paul’s bass lines reflect his abilities as a bassist. I think this is reflected in the song ‘Something’, maybe George Harrison’s magnum opus.
An incredibly written love song , ‘Something’ is a beautiful ode to love and commitment. Although the song was written by Harrison, I would recommend listening to Paul McCartney’s incredibly melodic and interesting bass line.
Busy and richly melodic, this bass line emerges as one of the most prominent features of the track. Although accused of some, including Harrison himself, of being too busy, I think it clearly reflects Paul’s incredible creativity and ability as a bassist.
Every Moment Has A Song 