Posted on 10/04/2023 2:54:47 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Every musician Paul McCartney parodies in the 'Coming Up' video Tom Taylor WED 4TH OCT 2023 19.00 BST
“That’s maybe my number one career highlight!” Ron Mael of Sparks told Far Out when we caught up with him recently. “To have a former Beatle, who could’ve chosen any keyboard to imitate, so to imitate me was certainly a very flattering moment.” He is, of course, talking about Paul McCartney‘s impersonation in the video for his solo hit ‘Coming Up’.
The track comes from McCartney II which, like its predecessor, saw Macca play every instrument. As such, the album is a purified look at his artistry, it showcases the inspirations in his creative welter without any second-hand filtering. Moreover, it saw him attempt to enter the 1980s renewed, digging back through any lingering disillusionment and getting to the heart of the music that moved him.
Therefore, the characters that cropped up in the music video for ‘Coming Up’ were very notable. In some ways, they were like the animated version of the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Cover – an assortment of influences brought together in a collage form to showcase McCartney’s inspirations. And it worked; the song went to number one in the US and settled at second in the UK behind ‘Geno’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Returning to what he loved had worked.
So, what was it that he did love exactly? Well, aside from the idiosyncratic Ron Mael, there are a slew of other artists that McCartney imitates in some fashion in the video. These can also be detected in the smorgasbord of sounds he tries out in the instrumentation styles too. We’ve collated a run-down of the characters below.
Who does Paul McCartney imitate in the ‘Coming Up’ video? Hank Mavin – Commonly known as the hungriest man in rock, Marvin was the lead guitarist for the Shadows, who, along with The Beatles, dominated the British charts in the 1960s. With his straight-arm strumming style, heavy echo and vibrato, Marvin helped to invent the sound of the era thanks to his unique playing.
Ron Mael – The famed keyboardist from rock ‘n’ roll turned electro group the Sparks. As he told us of the imitation: “It was also British bands that meant something to us other than maybe The Beach Boys who sort of encapsulated the Southern California lifestyle, but other than that, it was British bands and then just to have Paul McCartney do that was wow! There is a show here, Saturday Night Live, and McCartney was making his appearance and presenting that for the first time, and it was just like, well, I had a swelled head for a couple of weeks.”
Beatlemania Macca: McCartney tackles a younger version of himself. Unlike many musicians who have moved on from their past, Paul is never shy of celebrating his former glory, and holds The Beatles dearly, as well as the influences that inspired him at the time.
John Bonham: Led Zeppelin’s thunder of drums. Often considered the greatest drummer of all time, McCartney admired his abilities but often felt that he wouldn’t have melded as well with many bands. However, they eventually got to play together on the Wings tack ‘Beware My Love’, and McCartney later reflected: “It was fantastic! He was always on my top 5 drummer list. A great friend and ballsy drummer!”
Andy Mackay: The English oboe and saxophone player best known for being a founder of the art rock extraordinaires Roxy Music. McCartney would eventually recruit Mackay to work on the Tug of War track, ‘What’s That You’re Doing’.
Frank Zappa: The iconoclastic rock star, guitarist and composer who was famously mixed when it came to The Beatles; he put ‘I Am the Walrus’ among his favourite singles of all time, and said Revolver was his favourite album from 1966, but also stated: “Everybody else thought they were God! I think that was not correct. They were just a good commercial group.” As for McCartney, he once cited ‘Freak Out!’ as the key inspiration behind Sgt. Pepper’s.
Buddy Holly: A firm hero to The Beatles. Speaking about the American rockabilly pioneer, McCartney once said that it was Buddy Holly who encouraged him and John Lennon to start writing their own original songs together.
There is no “musician” that I loathe more than Pussy McCartney. Insipid fool that he is.
Yes, precisely!! Thanks for the link, you made my evening. :-)
I few years ago my 26 year-old godson was at Sloan Kettering in NYC being treated for a very rare cancer. How rare? He was the eighth case on record.
As he was spending the last two weeks of his life, there was a knock on his hospital room door. The fellow introduced himself, said he used to be in a band and asked if he could spend some time talking and playing his guitar. He spent about an hour and then autographed his $1400 Taylor guitar and left it with my God Son. After he died his mother put it on his childhood bed and no ones played it since.
That’s how Paul got to be my favorite Beatle.
Wait. That’s not what I posted a link to. You got sideswipped.
There are certain parts to songs that I can enjoy as much as the completed piece. Example; Paul’s song “My Love”.
I am no trained musician, but listen to that very first note; That introduction.
I think it’s a trombone or synthesized simulation. It made me stop what I was doing and wait.
I only know that it’s a whole note. That one sustained note gently ushers the listener into Paul’s inner thoughts for a few moments. The note lasts as long as one deep breath, a breath then slowly released. Pro Music Men; What is that pitch or that note?
**Another brief, though artistic introduction would be Mariah Carey’s “I Can’t Let Go”. Mariah takes you to a celestial Black Hole and throws you in!
How about P. F. Sloan’s guitar introduction to “California Dreaming”? It sets the table perfectly for the Mamas and Papas’ vocals.
Their music was very polished and stylized.
Every harmony properly triaded.
Almost the opposite of the ‘loose, free, easy rider’ lifestyle that was their stage presence and their brand.
The harmony wasn’t easy. Michelle’s voice was weak enough that Cass had to dial her own voice down several notches.
What is that pitch or that note?
A natural.
A
A as in between G and B.
Thanks.
I’m not a pro, but you’re welcome.
/-).
George stayed true to his rock roots while McCartney has always tried to be socially relevant. Just look at his collaborations with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Kanye. Coming Up was his attempt at disco.
I think it was Bill Maher who had an interesting theory on their breakup was because Lennon was losing the battle for A side releases at the end.
Doesn't surprise me. McCartney saw himself as the leader of the Beatles (or at least, "all equal but Paul more equal than the others"), and in subsequent years the others made comments to the effect that Paul's overbearing, controlling attitude contributed to the breakup in a major way (e.g. the Maxwell's Silver Hammer recording sessions).
Granted that toward the end, Lennon was losing his way as he was increasingly devoured by Yoko's insanity, so the quality of his songwriting suffered. But it's hard to sort out which was cause vs. effect at this distance. I imagine it wasn't very inspiring to be in a band with such discord.
My theory is that a band pretty much has about 7 years to be relevant, before they turn into a nostalgia act, and the members start growing apart. Some hang on just because they need the money.
Basically, The Beatles broke up at precisely the right time, before The Law of Diminishing Returns started setting in. By 1970, a new generation had taken the reins.
Speaking of parodies, I stumbled on this one a few days ago and can’t stop listening to it.
It’s Okay To Leave Your Dog In A Hot Car
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwCL3HahgS8
Great story!
Wow
Crappy song, as 90% of McCartney solo songs are. (I say this as a huge Beatles fan.) I do know than Lennon admired it. Not sure why.
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