PAUL MCCARTNEYBiography Composition History Listening Guide

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Childhood James Paul McCartney was born June 18, 1942 in Liverpool.His biggest musical influences were Elvis Presley, Little Richard and his father.His father was a pianist, trumpet player and lead the of Jim Mac’s Jazz Band in Liverpool.Paul McCartney learned music by ear since he dropped his music classes.He lost his mother when he was 14 years old which inspired him to write.

BeatlesOn July 6, 1957,Paul McCartney met John Lennon at Woolton Village Fete and form the Beatles.McCartney and Lennon became the songwriters of the group.The Beatles were writing almost all their own music.

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BeatlesIn 1962 they signed with EMI-Parlophone.They became the biggest musical sensation in rock and roll history.McCartney became a vocalist, songwriter, composer, multiple instruments player, poet, and painter.McCartney contributed with songs such as “Back in the USSR,” “Lady Madonna,” and “Helter Skelter”, “Hey Jude” and more.In 1966 The Beatles stop playing live concerts and in 1970 they split up.

After the BeatlesMcCartney went through a phase of anger and isolation.He wrote autobiographical songs such as "Maybe I'm Amazed," "Dear Friend," and "Too Many People”.Among all the Beatles, Paul McCartney has the most successful solo career.He recorded two solo albums, McCartney in 1970; followed by Ram in 1971.He created the number 1 hit "Uncle Albert/Admiral Hasley"

WingsIn 1969 McCartney Married Linda Eastman who was an American musician and photographer.They formed the band WingsBy the mid-'70s they were touring and offering the kind of brilliant rock performances

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WingsThey became the best-selling pop group of the 1970sThey had 27 U.S. Top 40 hits and five consecutive number one albums.Some of their famous songs are “Band on the Run” in 1973 and “Wings at the Speed of Sound” in 1976, “Standing Stone” in 1997, “Working Classical” in 1999, and “Ecce Cor Meum” in 2006In 1980, after a drug related issue in Japan The Wings split up.

Solo CareerAfter the split McCartney created the self-recorded piece “McCartney II” which contained the famous singles “Coming Up”, “Standing Stone” in 1997, “Working Classical” in 1999, and “Ecce Cor Meum” in 2006.He also created “Run Devil Run” as a tribute to American Rock.He Released the “Beatles Anthology” and “Wingspan”. Paul McCartney received an Oscar nomination for his contribution to the song for the movie Vanilla Sky.

CareerMcCartney’s prolific career includes 60 gold records.Sold more than 100 million singles.Paul McCartney is one of the most commercially successful composers and performers of our times.

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Paul McCartney’s Best Songs

The Long and Winding RoadEleanor RigbyLet it BeI saw Her Standing ThereLovely RitaThe Fool in the HillThings We Say TodayHey JudeI’m looking Through You

Composition History

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 Blackbird It is part of The White Album and was recorded on June 11, 1968.Accredited to Lennon/McCartneyPerformed by The BeatlesIt was influenced by J.S. Bach’s Bourree in E minor.It is a lute piece.Paul McCartney did the vocal, acoustic guitar and foot taps.

Maybe I’m Amazed• Written in 1969, just before the Beatle’s

break up.• Dedicated to his son and his wife Linda .• McCartney played all the instruments;

piano, guitars and drums.• Performed by Paul McCartney and Wigs• From the album Wings Over America.

Golden Slumber• Based on the poem written by Thomas

Dekker’s called “Cradle Song”.• The recording session was on July 1969.• Song accredited to Lennon/McCartney.• From the Abbey Road Album.• Paul McCartney on vocals and piano,

George Harrison with bass guitar and Ringo Star with drums.

Hey Jude• Created for Julian, John Lennon’s son.• Accredited to Lennon/McCartney and

performed by the Beatles. • Apple Records released it on august 1968

with the 1967/1970 album.• Considered the longest single with 7:11

minutes, in the top of British Charts.• Eight million copies were sold.

Listening Guide

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BlackbirdListen to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5CUHHGlQg0

0:00 Introduction: Common meter, quadruple meter/ simple division 0:03 Verse 1: G major, Acoustic guitar strumming and foot tapping as

motif, 4 very singable lines, conjunct melody0:29 Verse 2: Changes on the second line0:47 Chorus 1: Double vocals, melodic contour is conjunct.0:59 Fill: Guitar strumming solo1:16 Chorus: Same dynamics, tempo and text as the first one 1:46 Verse 3: Coda is introduced in an unanticipated way2:03 Coda: Fourth line is repeated two more times2:18 End

Maybe I’m AmazedListen to the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWrGSa-Asdk0:00 Introduction: Begins with a short piano solo, in slow

tempo. Duple meter with simple division.0:15 Verse 1: A laud vocal accompanied by the piano,

smooth melody. 0:43 Chorus : More energetic beat accompanied by the

drum1:10 Bridge: No words but contains an instrumental

lead solo guitar 1:38 Chorus: Same dynamics and tempo as the first

one.2:05 Verse 2: 3rd and 4th lines are different from the

first one. 3:51 End

0:00 Introduction: Piano solo, 8 beat introduction with a medium tempo, 4/4 meter, quadruple meter/ simple division and common time.

0:08 Verse 1: Conjunct melody, small melodic intervals, the cellos, violas and violins, along with the piano and the voice create an homophonic texture.

0:39 Chorus: No fill between this chorus and the second verse

1:07 Verse: Lauder strings , words “lullaby” fading away

1:40 End

Golden SlumberListen to the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e_j66mgTDE

Hey JudeListen to the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDdI7GhZSQA

0:00 Verse 1: The meter is 4/4, quadruple meter, simple division0:26 Verse 2: Conjunct melody, tambourine is introduced to the vocals

and piano’s harmony0:50 Bridge 1: Same tempo but harmony and lyrics are different from the

verses1:33 Verse 3: Contrast and variety on the vocals2:33 Verse 4: . Volume gradually raises in the word “better” that ends on

a collective scream form the band members3:10 Coda: No beat interval, of “na na na… Hey Jude” along with all

the instruments, repeated several times.6:45: Song fades away7:02 End

CitationMiles, B. (1997). Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now. New York: Henry Holt & Company

Deacon, M. (2010, June 18). Paul McCartney Best Songs. The telegraph. Retrieved June 2, 2011,from http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaeldeacon/100043963.

Ndedina. (2010). Paul McCartney Website, Rhapsody music. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://www.rhapsody.com/Paul-McCartney

Miles, B. (2011). Sir Paul McCartney. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/353926/Sir-Paul-McCartney

Shelokhonov, S. (2011). Biography for Paul McCartney. IMDB. Retrieved June 8, 2011,from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005200/bio