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.
Birthday
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's you birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Ooo, dance, yeah
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Ooo, dance
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's you birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
The lyrics to Paul McCartney's song "Birthday" are about celebrating someone's birthday and having a good time. The repetition of the phrase "It's my birthday too" suggests that the singer is excited to celebrate alongside the person having their birthday. The lyrics also include an invitation to a party and a request for the birthday person to dance, indicating the festive atmosphere.
The lyrics of "Birthday" are simple and straightforward, but they capture the joy and energy of a birthday celebration. The upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it an ideal party song. The repetition of the phrase "birthday" reinforces the central theme of the song and creates a sense of excitement and anticipation.
Line by Line Meaning
You say it's your birthday
You have stated that today is your birthday, which has special significance
It's my birthday too, yeah
As it also happens to be my own birthday, we share a common experience worth celebrating
They say it's your birthday
According to popular knowledge, today is the anniversary of the day you were born
We're gonna have a good time
Together, we will enjoy a fun-filled celebration with laughter and joy
I'm glad it's your birthday
I am sincerely happy for you on this special day and wish to express my joy
Happy birthday to you
A traditional phrase said to express good wishes to someone on their birthday
Yes we're going to a party, party
We are definitely going to attend a party, which will be filled with fun and excitement
I would like you to dance (birthday)
I request that you take part in dancing activities as part of the festivities, given the festive occasion of your birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I encourage you to try dancing in a new or bold way, possibly with the cha-cha-cha rhythm
Ooo, dance, yeah
An exclamation of encouragement to freely enjoy and express oneself through dancing
You say it's your birthday
Repeating the initial sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the day to the person
It's my birthday too, yeah
Repeated again to accentuate the shared experience and the joy of the occasion
They say it's you birthday
Repeated again with slight variation, to reinforce that this day is a widely accepted anniversary day for the person
We're gonna have a good time
Reaffirming the potential for a fun and memorable celebration
I'm glad it's your birthday
Repeated again to showcase the sincere happiness and good wishes that the singer has for the person
Happy birthday to you
Repeated once again as a final good wish for the person
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patrick Stocks
You say it’s your birthday 🎂
It’s my birthday 🍰 too, yeah
They say it’s your birthday 🎂
We’re gonna have a good time
I’m glad it’s your birthday 🎂
Happy birthday 🥳 to you
Yes we’re going to a party party 🎈
Yes we’re going to a party party 🎈
Yes we’re going to a party party 🎈
I would like you to dance 💃 birthday 🎂
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance, birthday 🎂
I would like you to dance 💃 birthday 🎂
Dance 💃
I would like you to dance 💃 birthday 🎂
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance, birthday 🎂
I would like you to dance 💃 birthday 🎂
Dance 💃
You say it’s your birthday 🎂
Well it’s my birthday 🎂 too, yeah
You say it’s your birthday 🎂
We’re gonna have a good time
I’m glad it’s your birthday 🎂
Happy birthday 🥳 to you
Andrea Soares
Sonho!! No meu aniversário ver o Paul cantar essa música ❤️
Arga SmB
Linda ❤
A A
Happy birthday, Paul! 78 today! Long live Beatles!
katsujinkin60
Thank you, Paul. I am 71 today, ridiculously healthy, with a brand new titanium hip, and ready for some brand new adventures!
Funny responses
Love it
Mirek Goldberg
It's a gas, gas, gas !
Tight as anythin' - wow !
One of the best Macca's live.
✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️
wolverine3566
What a show! Good old rock!*****
Shawn M Cohen
Yessss! It was my birthday and someone sent this to me! Fabulous! xoxo <3
Beatles❤Girl
Paul looks pretty darn good here!!
Mr. Tin_88
¡ ¡ ¡ HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY PAUL ! ! !