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.
She Is So Beautiful
Paul McCartney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been waiting, waiting to long
In my soul is, constant yearning
Always singing, singing this song
Only love is strong enough, to take it on the chin
When did I begin, to fall
You feel free, to make yourself, at home - woh-oh, ahhhhhh, ohhhhh
If we could be, closer longer
That would help me, help me so much
We can cure each other's sorrow
Won't you please, please, please get in touch
If our love is strong enough, it may never end
Why would I pretend, to fall, woo-ew
Anyway, anyway, you can make, that call
You feel free, to make yourself, at home - woh-oh, ahhhhhh
Anyway, anyway, anyway, at all
Anyway, you can make that call.
In Paul McCartney's song "She Is So Beautiful," the lyrics express a deep longing for connection and communication with a loved one. The opening verses beg the listener to reach out and make contact, as the singer has been waiting for far too long. The constant yearning in the singer's soul is portrayed through the repetition of the phrase "always singing this song." Love is presented as the only thing powerful enough to withstand the trials of life - strong enough to "take it on the chin." The singer seems to be questioning themselves, wondering when they began to fall in love, but ultimately declaring that if their love is strong enough it will never truly end.
The chorus, repeated twice throughout the song, reinforces the message of the verses. "Anyway, anyway, you can make that call" - the singer is willing to put aside any past hurts or misunderstandings in order to hear from their loved one. They want them to feel at home, welcomed and safe with the singer. The repetition of the phrase "woh-oh, ahhhhh, ohhhhh" adds an emotional intensity to the plea for connection.
Overall, "She Is So Beautiful" is a powerful expression of the human need for love and understanding. It reminds us that even in the midst of pain and confusion, we can always reach out for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
If you love me, won't you call me
I have been waiting for you to call and I hope you love me enough to finally do it.
I've been waiting, waiting too long
I have been waiting for you for a long time and I hope you come soon.
In my soul is, constant yearning
I have a deep yearning in my soul that never goes away and it is for you.
Always singing, singing this song
I cannot stop singing this song because it is about you and my love for you.
Only love is strong enough, to take it on the chin
Love is the only thing powerful enough to endure hardship and still thrive.
When did I begin, to fall
When did I begin to fall in love with you and lose control of my emotions?
Anyway, anyway, you can make, that call
At any rate, please make that call to me.
You feel free, to make yourself, at home - woh-oh, ahhhhhh, ohhhhh
Feel free to be yourself and make yourself at home when you come to me.
If we could be, closer longer
If we could be closer and spend more time together, it would be a great relief for me.
That would help me, help me so much
Being close to you would help me in every aspect of my life.
We can cure each other's sorrow
Our love has the power to heal and take away the sadness in our lives.
Won't you please, please, please get in touch
Please, I beg of you, get in touch with me.
If our love is strong enough, it may never end
If our love is strong, it may be eternal and never end.
Why would I pretend, to fall, woo-ew
I have no reason to pretend to fall in love with you because I truly and deeply love you.
Anyway, anyway, anyway, at all
No matter what, I still want you to make that call.
Anyway, you can make that call.
At any rate, please make that call to me.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shakonikonhri:yosta Daniel Crosmas
McCartney is, truly, the Mozart of our time.
A musical genius whom without benefit of any formal lessons, understands, so acutely the language of music. Music that is, literally, reflections of ourselves. This shared 'conversation' seeds an affinity that endears people to his works, globally.
The Beatled were the first group of musicians that affected social and political change, globally.
It was their music, smuggled underground in the forder USSR, that generated the hunger for freedom. As with Berlin, when it was once divided.
They song of love and, also of subjects that were, prior to, simply not considered material for
'pop-music'.
Theirs was much more than music, as 50 year old recordings continue to lead sales in the music industry.
Paul is a centuries long, one-off with such an expansive range of talents, creating what would be compared as 'magical.'
Gabriela L
I really loved your comment, I have the same thoughts about Paul 💚
Gabriela L
It's a exquizite song, really precious and soft... Only Paul could do these type of songs. That's a pity that he didn't include this track in the regular album but I think it's the type of songs that Paul just want his fans listen, I think so. It's like a gift for his fans who enjoy and love a lot his legacy
Mathew Haughton
He's an angel! Lennon fans piss me off, always talking shit about him. He never hurt anyone, he loves love and silly love songs, and whats wrong with that? I'd like to know :P
Beatriz Anzures Trejo
BoyGeorge84 he is the most wonderful soul I have ever met 😍
James Dunn
I would not say this is a silly love song however; pretty serious stuff.
PJ BDX
I totally agree with you
TanteA
You speak from my heart. It's time to appreciate the huge work that Paul McCartney created in all these many years. Saying that Paul is an outstanding musician doesn't make John smaller.
Mathew Haughton
@TanteA didn't say John was any smaller. Said he made Paul feel smaller. Just watch interviews from the 1970's or even John's music. How Do You Sleep is a terrible disrespectful song towards Paul for no reason.
Juan Zárate
This song is so beauiful, fine and divine