A self-taught musician, McCartney is proficient on bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums. He is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing (mainly playing with a plectrum), his versatile and wide tenor vocal range (spanning over four octaves), and his eclecticism (exploring styles ranging from pre-rock and roll pop to classical and electronica). McCartney began his career as a member of the Quarrymen in 1957, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Starting with the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, he gradually became the Beatles' de facto leader, providing the creative impetus for most of their music and film projects. His Beatles songs "And I Love Her" (1964), "Yesterday" (1965), "Eleanor Rigby" (1966) and "Blackbird" (1968) rank among the most covered songs in history.
In 1970, McCartney debuted as a solo artist with the album McCartney. Throughout the 1970s, he led Wings, one of the most successful bands of the decade, with more than a dozen international top 10 singles and albums. McCartney resumed his solo career in 1980. Since 1989, he has toured consistently as a solo artist. In 1993, he formed the music duo the Fireman with Youth of Killing Joke. Beyond music, he has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights, seal hunting, land mines, vegetarianism, poverty, and music education.
McCartney is one of the most successful composers and performers of all time. He has written or co-written 32 songs that have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2009, had sales of 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States. His honours include two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1999), 18 Grammy Awards, an appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1965, and a knighthood in 1997 for services to music. As of 2020, he is also one of the wealthiest musicians in the world, with an estimated fortune of £800 million.
Best known for primarily using a plectrum or pick, McCartney occasionally plays fingerstyle. He was strongly influenced by Motown artists, in particular James Jamerson, whom McCartney called a hero for his melodic style. He was also influenced by Brian Wilson, as he commented: "because he went to very unusual places". Another favourite bassist of his is Stanley Clarke. McCartney's skill as a bass player has been acknowledged by bassists including Sting, Dr. Dre bassist Mike Elizondo, and Colin Moulding of XTC.
During McCartney's early years with the Beatles, he primarily used a Höfner 500/1 bass, although from 1965, he favoured his Rickenbacker 4001S for recording. While typically using Vox amplifiers, by 1967, he had also begun using a Fender Bassman for amplification. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he used a Wal 5-String, which he said made him play more thick-sounding basslines, in contrast to the much lighter Höfner, which inspired him to play more sensitively, something he considers fundamental to his playing style. He changed back to the Höfner around 1990 for that reason. He uses Mesa Boogie bass amplifiers while performing live.
McCartney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Beatles and again as a solo artist in 1999. In 1979, the Guinness Book of World Records recognised McCartney as the "most honored composer and performer in music", with 60 gold discs (43 with the Beatles, 17 with Wings) and, as a member of the Beatles, sales of over 100 million singles and 100 million albums, and as the "most successful song writer", he wrote jointly or solo 43 songs which sold one million or more records between 1962 and 1978. In 2009, Guinness World Records again recognised McCartney as the "most successful songwriter" having written or co-written 188 charted records in the United Kingdom, of which 91 reached the top 10 and 33 made it to number one.
McCartney has written, or co-written, 32 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100: twenty with the Beatles; seven solo or with Wings; one as a co-writer of "A World Without Love", a number-one single for Peter and Gordon; one as a co-writer on Elton John's cover of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"; one as a co-writer on Stars on 45's "Medley"; one as a co-writer with Michael Jackson on "Say Say Say"; and one as writer on "Ebony and Ivory" performed with Stevie Wonder. As of 2009, he has 15.5 million RIAA certified units in the United States as a solo artist plus another 10 million with Wings.
Credited with more number ones in the UK than any other artist, McCartney has participated in twenty-four chart topping singles: seventeen with the Beatles, one solo, and one each with Wings, Stevie Wonder, Ferry Aid, Band Aid, Band Aid 20 and "The Christians et al." He is the only artist to reach the UK number one as a soloist ("Pipes of Peace"), duo ("Ebony and Ivory" with Wonder), trio ("Mull of Kintyre", Wings), quartet ("She Loves You", the Beatles), quintet ("Get Back", the Beatles with Billy Preston) and as part of a musical ensemble for charity (Ferry Aid).
"Yesterday" is one of the most covered songs in history with more than 2,200 recorded versions, and according to the BBC, "the track is the only one by a UK writer to have been aired more than seven million times on American TV and radio and is third in the all-time list ... [and] is the most played song by a British writer [last] century in the US". His 1968 Beatles composition "Hey Jude" achieved the highest sales in the UK that year and topped the US charts for nine weeks, which is longer than any other Beatles single. It was also the longest single released by the band and, at seven minutes eleven seconds, was at that time the longest number one. "Hey Jude" is the best-selling Beatles single, achieving sales of over five million copies soon after its release.
In July 2005, McCartney's performance of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with U2 at Live 8 became the fastest-released single in history. Available within forty-five minutes of its recording, hours later it had achieved number one on the UK Official Download Chart.
In December 2020, the release of his album McCartney III and its subsequent charting at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 earned McCartney the feat of being the first artist to have a new album in the top two chart positions in each of the last six decades.
Bip Bop
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bip bop, bip bip band
Dig your bottom dollar
put it in your hand
Try to hang out
underneath the stand
Put your hands together
gonna see a band
Treat me like a good boy
Treat me like a man
Take me hair and curlers
But treat me like a man
The lyrics of Paul McCartney's song "Bip Bop" may seem nonsensical at first, but a closer reading suggests themes of humility, camaraderie, and simple pleasures. In the opening lines, "Bip bop, bip bip bop/Bip bop, bip bip band," McCartney sets the tone for a casual, fun-loving attitude that suggests a common bond with his listeners. He encourages them to join in the fun by "Dig your bottom dollar/Put it in your hand" and "Try to hang out/Underneath the stand." These lyrics invite participation and suggest that music is something to be enjoyed together, rather than experienced in isolation.
The second half of the song takes on a more personal tone, with McCartney asking to be treated with respect and dignity ("Treat me like a good boy/Treat me like a man"). He acknowledges that his appearance may not conform to societal norms ("Take me hair and curlers"), but asks to be valued for who he is, rather than judged based on superficial traits. These lyrics could be interpreted as a plea for empathy and understanding, and a call for a more accepting, less judgmental world.
Overall, "Bip Bop" is a lighthearted, fun-loving song that encourages listeners to enjoy music together and to treat each other with respect and empathy. It may not have the depth or complexity of some of McCartney's later work, but its catchy melodies and joyful spirit make it an enduring favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
Bip bop, bip bip bop
Let's make music, let's jam together
Bip bop, bip bip band
Let's start a band and play some music
Dig your bottom dollar
Put all of your money into this, give it your all
put it in your hand
Be in control of your money and your destiny
Try to hang out
Find a cool spot to relax and enjoy the music
underneath the stand
Perhaps somewhere off the beaten path or hidden
Put your hands together
Clap along to the music and have a good time
gonna see a band
Looking forward to see a live performance
Treat me like a good boy
Talk to me nicely, don't be mean
Treat me like a man
Respect me as an equal
Take me hair and curlers
I don't mind if you take care of me
But treat me like a man
I still want to be respected and treated like an equal
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Todd Larson
This is an overlooked gem from "Wild Life," an album that was so hostilely received when it came out, but, as with most of McCartney's solo outings, deserves a second look. This is a delightful fusion of bluegrass and R&B in the "Get Back [to Basics]" vein of the Beatles' final "Let it Be" sessions. Had the Beatles jammed with this number, it would have been a shining moment on that album. Thanks for posting!
sal economos
+Todd Larson
Agreed.
A "gem" from this misconstrued LP.
So much of this LP had Paul saying "This is me doing what I want to do now."
He could afford to do that musically and professionally, having just left the biggest band in the world at that time.
Jordi Jordà Aragay
+Todd Larson
I absolutely agree!!!
Krikor Tersakian
True
sdgakatbk
Rock doesn't have to be complicated to be good and this is a song that shows that. I like it the same way I like Hanky Panky by Tommy James and the Shondells. Just a simple rock song that is fun and sounds great.
Floydthefuckbag
This deserved every bit of hostility it got. Still can't believe Paul wrote such an abysmal song.
Galina Gringauz
Мы выросли на этой чудесной музыке!!!!!Спасибо,Пол!!!
Fleerode
Забавный факт, сам Пол Маккартни ненавидит эту песню, и сожалеет о том, что её написал. И правда, в Дискографии Маккартни есть более приятные на слух песни, по типу Pipes of Peace, или Band On The Run, ну, или Maybe I’m Amazed.
Galina Gringauz
@Fleerode конечно,уважаемый,были и эти,названные вами песни,но они,на мой взгляд,совсем другое,а вот Bip Bop,это то,что мне надо было для радости в 14лет!
Bella
I'm flabbergasted. Being into the Beatles and Macca's work for about two years, i keep discovering new songs like every day! and what songs!, Paul's a genius!