Writing about Paul McCartney in an Observer Magazine article of a few weeks ago, it was observed how he is revered as an artist and performer around the world, and especially in the States, whereas here in his English homeland he is regarded as the annoying uncle who keeps turning up uninvited to the party, or an allusion very close to this. My wife recently commented in a far less scathing – quite endearing really – yet equally relative-related encapsulation that when a teenager she had always wanted Paul McCartney to be her boyfriend, but she would now quite like him to be her granddad.
It is quite shameful really to treat McCartney as that
unwanted, or at the very least, simply tolerated metaphoric uncle when
considering his historic contribution to popular music, especially [and fucking
obviously] as a key songwriter of The Beatles. I’ll accept that some may not
like The Beatles – though I really can’t understand this if you have any genuine
liking of and appreciation for good music – but any belittling and simple sour denigration
of McCartney as a musician is ludicrous.
This isn’t to say his latest album New is an exemplification of all that makes him rightly revered, wherever
that may be, because it isn’t. By the exceptionally high standards we might
expect of him, it does fall short, but that ‘descent’ is still so much more meaningful
and acceptable than the drivel from more contemporary artists with which it
competes.
The album is an unashamedly pop vehicle for Paul’s current
songwriting journey and in this respect I find it easy enough to join the ride
for all of its straight roads and cruising speeds. Songs like second Alligator and third On My Way To Work are rather twee delights that echo his pop
proclivities of the significant past both musically and lyrically – playful and
jolly – and fourth Queenie Eye
reminds very much of his Wings days, and honestly and not one bit paradoxically
these are not great songs affecting me greatly: but they are notably the work
of McCartney and clever and well produced and effective. And I give him credit
for that. What lifts me out of just respectful appreciation is listening to a
song like fifth Early Days which I do
believe is genuinely endearing as a classic McCartney song, and one where he
takes risks in the falsetto singing, risks that reflect both a Beatles’ echo
but also the fragility and even vulnerability of the voice today. The lyrics
too speak out in a way I can respect, Paul putting right, to his mind, the
criticisms he has had to endure over the years from those who preferred John to
him [and this personality-battle was so much to do with fashion and inclination
and even I readily accept how John was so much ‘cooler’ than the often
seemingly arrogant and blander Paul] and also those who perhaps resent his
success and establishment acceptance,
Now everybody seems to
have their own opinion
Of who did this and
who did that
But as for me I don’t
see how they can remember
When they weren’t
where it was at
The song is infused with nostalgia that is both warm and
joyous but also defiant. It is beautiful too.
Of course sixth, title song New, is a Beatles number through and through and that for me is
enough of a statement to affirm credibility and respect, even accepting, again,
its poptunefulness!
In all, the album is actually quite eclectic, sometimes
trying too hard to modernise and make the production reflect its contemporary
awareness, and where it is blatantly nostalgic, my preference for this simply reflects
my age and own wistful likings. In reality, this review is more a defence of
McCartney’s right to be respected and indeed revered than attributing glowing
accounts of this latest release from the great man. I don’t see him as an uncle
nor want him to be my granddad and have never dreamed of him being my boyfriend.
But in always feeling a part of a musical family inhabited by those with whom I
have grown up and who had an impact on my aural joys over the years, Paul
McCartney is surely an important member, though I don’t think he will be making my Christmas
dinner this December.
No comments:
Post a Comment