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 Ā£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 Hƶfner 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 Hƶfner, which inspired him to play more sensitively, something he considers fundamental to his playing style. He changed back to the Hƶfner 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.
Maybe I
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you
Maybe I'm amazed at the the way you pulled me out of time
And hung me on a line
Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you
Maybe I'm a man and maybe I'm a lonely man
Who's in the middle of something
Maybe I'm a man and maybe you're the only woman
Who could ever help me
Baby won't you help me understand
Maybe I'm a man and maybe I'm a lonely man
Who's in the middle of something
That he doesn't really understand
Maybe I'm a man and maybe you're the only woman
Who could ever help me
Baby won't you help me understand
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you're with me all the time
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I leave you
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you help me sing my song
Right me when I'm wrong
Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you
The song "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney was released in 1970, shortly after the Beatles broke up. It is a love song that McCartney wrote for his wife, Linda McCartney. In the song, he expresses his amazement and fear at the depth of their love for each other.
The lyrics of the song reflect the uncertainty and vulnerability that McCartney feels in his relationship. He is amazed at the way his wife loves him all the time, but he is also afraid of the way he loves her. The line "Maybe I'm a man and maybe I'm a lonely man" suggests that he is unsure of himself and his place in their relationship.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Maybe you're the only woman who could ever help me," highlighting the importance of his wife in his life. He needs her to help him understand himself and the feelings he has for her.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt expression of love and vulnerability that McCartney feels towards his wife. It showcases his talent as a songwriter and his ability to convey deep emotions through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you love me all the time
I am awestruck by the consistency and depth of your love for me.
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I love you
I may be scared of how intense and consuming my feelings for you are.
Maybe I'm amazed at the the way you pulled me out of time
I am overwhelmed by how you have taken me out of my mundane existence and made my life extraordinary.
And hung me on a line
You have exposed me to vulnerability by making me depend on you completely.
Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you
I am surprised at how much I rely on and crave your presence in my life.
Maybe I'm a man and maybe I'm a lonely man
I am uncertain of my identity and may feel lonely in this struggle for self-discovery.
Who's in the middle of something
I am caught in the midst of an internal conflict or a challenging situation.
That he doesn't really understand
I am struggling to comprehend or make sense of what is happening around me.
Maybe I'm a man and maybe you're the only woman
I am a man who may have found his soul mate in you, a woman who completes me.
Who could ever help me
You are the only person who has the power to guide me through my inner turmoil.
Baby won't you help me understand
I am earnestly asking you to assist me in comprehending my conflicting emotions.
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you're with me all the time
I am awed by how you are always present and supportive of me, no matter what.
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I leave you
I am fearful of causing you any harm or pain through my actions, and this scares me.
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you help me sing my song
I am astonished at how you inspire and motivate me to express my true self through my art.
Right me when I'm wrong
You correct me when I make mistakes and guide me towards righteousness.
Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you
I am amazed at the extent to which I depend on you and how integral you are to my life.
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geoffrobson23
Music and lyrics by Paul McCartney
Lead vocals: Paul McCartney
Backing vocals: Paul McCartney
Guitar: Paul McCartney
Bass: Paul McCartney
Piano: Paul McCartney
Organ: Paul McCartney
Drums: Paul McCartney
Best Musician of my lifetime: Paul McCartney
@1985indeed
I don't always get along with my mother.
It's complicated, but it is what it is. We don't always see eye to eye.
I am 37. My mother is now 60. In 2015, I took her to see McCartney at London 02 on the second night. My 6th McCartney gig but her first.
It was such an emotional bonding experience for the two of us, and I feel one of my favourite memories of the two of us. Being older than me, she grew up not only knowing the Beatles, but also McCartney's solo music and Wings. I will never forget him playing this song, with these visuals, and seeing her cracking up and getting extremely emotional to this song.
Such priceless memories. Testament to the power of this man songs and how he can connect with the human emotions in all of us, and bring us together despite what differences we may have.
Thank you, Paul.
@Buddycoop1
For all the craziness of being a Beatles he's a good and down to earth guy. He adopts Linda's oldest daughter, great father, great friend to Julian Lennon and hung out with him when Julian was little, never was violent, always made us feel better with his songs, an animal and wild life protector, and definitely made the world a better place.
@ThaKunzlermichael
Succinct.....never ever violent...how refreshing, sane
@tonycoppin5734
Iāll even forgive him for the meat free Mondayās clip. Thanks Macca for a lifetime of truly great songwriting arranging and human positivity. X
@gwencampus5691
Wow, your comment honestly made me respect him even MORE! Itās good to know that heās actually good people.
@retpraetorianmutineer
The first Paul McCartney malfunctioned and blew his brains out in a car. John wrote a song about him called "a day in the life". Wonder if the original Paul or Faul as the band called him could have written "baby you amaze me".
@skylordowl792
@@retpraetorianmutineer haha thats a pretty funny joke
@fortherecord1569
"Best thing I ever saw, was a man who loved his wife" - Paul McCartney
@playbackvintagehifihunter9669
For the Record Peace in the Neighbourhood ššš
@althealligator1467
No comma
@rossieroman3642
The love that they had for each other was something beautiful