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.
Hello Goodbye
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh no - You say goodbye, and I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
I say high, you say low, you say why, and I say I don't know - Oh
Oh no - You say goodbye, and I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
Why, why, why, why, why do you say goodbye, goodbye - wow
Oh no - You say goodbye, and I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
You say yes, I say no, you say stop, and I say go, go, go
Oh no - You say goodbye, and I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say Hello - Hello
Hey-la, He-be Hello
Hey-la, He-be Hello
Hey-la, He-be Hello
Hey-la, He-be Hello
Paul McCartney’s song “Hello Goodbye” is a playful exploration of the communication breakdown that can happen between two people who are not on the same page. The song features contrasting statements that are frequent in any conversation between two people with different perspectives. Countering viewpoints such as “you say yes, I say no”, “I say high, you say low” and “you say stop, and I say go, go, go” are all highlighted to emphasize communication issues. The chorus, “You say goodbye, and I say hello” reinforces the idea that, even if one person isn't on board, the other is still willing to move forward, even if they aren't sure what's going on. The repetition of “Hello, hello” adds an element of confusion, almost as if the singer is questioning the cohesiveness of the conversation.
The song can be interpreted to be about personal relationships, but it can also be applied in a broader context, such as society and politics. In society, individuals, groups and parties can have different opinions and agendas that may impede communication and cooperation. Similarly, the political world is replete with power struggles and differing beliefs which can frequently result in communication breakdowns. The timely message of “Hello Goodbye” is that when opposing parties are focused on themselves, they will always be at odds, but if they work towards understanding each other, things can move forward in a positive and productive way.
Line by Line Meaning
You say yes, I say no, you say stop, and I say go, go, go
We have opposite opinions and attitudes towards things, where you want to put a stop, I want to keep moving forward.
Oh no - You say goodbye, and I say hello
Our viewpoints and feelings towards things are different, where you want to leave, I want to stay and continue.
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
I am trying to understand why you want to leave while I am excited to stay and be with you.
I say high, you say low, you say why, and I say I don't know - Oh
We have different levels of enthusiasm and curiosity about things, where you are unsure and questioning, I just don't have the answer.
Why, why, why, why, why do you say goodbye, goodbye - wow
I am perplexed and curious about your motive and intention in choosing to depart.
Hello, hello - I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello
My eagerness to stay and be together is in direct contrast with your desire to leave, but I don't understand why you would want to leave.
Hey-la, He-be Hello
Despite our differences in attitude, I am still excited and happy to see you and remain positive about our time together.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Vincentlpp08
This whole video just radiates “This was Paul’s idea” energy
@dyanapomp
😂😂😂😂😂
@5seb
drugs.
@lepetitchat123
John and George look painful lol
I agree this song can be very annoying with that repetitive hello goodbye refrain
@FKMDC
1967-1969 Paul was in control
(This was a joke)
@maxwelledison9954
@@FKMDC The good and bad years
@JavierBustacara
George: Hey guys, where are your hats?
Everyone else: 😁
@lukaapic3109
You think😂😂😂😂😂
@0805eder
Considering the cover of Sgt Peppers, only Ringo who forgot his hat, the other two didn't have it.
@sakurasayonara6387
To be fair, George Harrison is known for being fashionable Beatle. I think he initiates Apple Fashion Boutique.