Gianni Truvianni
Copyright ｩ 2012 by Gianni Truvianni
“Paul McCartney is dead” was a rumor which was going around in the 60s at the time of the release of the Beatles’ album “Abbey Road” in order to perhaps promote the album which at one point was in fact the Beatles’ best selling. Naturally, Paul McCartney’s death proved untrue despite many at the time believing the news of his demise and even getting that impression given how he appears barefoot on the cover of the album “Abbey Road” yet after hearing him perform “Hey Jude” at the opening of the London Olympics; I am pretty much convinced that he truly is dead or at least vocally speaking. It being his voice which cracked and failed to even reach the few high notes this basically simple pop song requires that should not be any problem for any professional singer to get right.
In all this McCartney’s loyal fans or at least those who are not tone deaf have come out in his defense by claiming that we can blame his age for his less than perfect singing yet I ask if one is performing in front of such a large audience and at such an important international event; should perfection not only be asked for but demanded as well? After all, there is a saying that “if one can not do something well it is better not to do it all” specially if one does not have to as McCartney could have simply refused the honor. All of which leading me to believe that perhaps Paul McCartney is desperate to promote sales of his music which I doubt even comes close to today’s pop singers like “Lady Gaga” or “Justin Bieber” or “Celina Gomez”.
My thoughts leading me to believe that it was his daughter Stella (designer of the clothes worn by team GB) who used her influence (and not the other way around as some might think) to help her father get a gig which otherwise would and should have gone to the London Philharmonic or Susan Boyle (no relation to the director of the failure which was the opening ceremony of the London Olympics) or Sarah Brightman. It being Sarah Brightman who performed a lovely piece in the opening ceremony in Beijing which though not a classic at least managed to capture those emotions of uniting for a celebration of humanity.
As for McCartney’s age, it is true that he is not only not young anymore or even middle aged as he is 71 years old yet if we think about it, his wasted years are the same as Placido Domingo’s (both of these men born in 1941) yet Domingo’s voice is still a wonder despite having to sing arias which are far more demanding than the simple pop songs performed by McCartney. McCartney without exaggeration or malice on my part not even managing to sing as well as Frank Sinatra did at the same age who was still capable of hitting high notes in songs such as “New York, New York” or “My Way”.
Of course one could also question what if anything does a song written to Julian Lennon in order to make him feel better about his parent’s divorce have to do with either the Olympics or its spirit? Paul McCartney also choosing to start his performance which was inaugurating the Olympic games with a piece entitled “The End”. This in a way reminding me of the time when in the “Life Aid” concert of 85, McCartney chose to sing “Let It Be” for an event which if anything was the total opposite idea of letting something be but of doing something about it. McCartney perhaps lacking all talent when it comes to choosing the right song for the occasion.
In conclusion, I would suggest to the “cute Beatle” that perhaps he would be better off retiring from singing or at least learning the proper technique that he might be able to get maximum use of what little voice he has left at his age. McCartney’s being a voice which in all truth was never all that great even when compared to other pop singers like “Meat Loaf” or “Joe Cocker” or “Elvis Presley”, not to mention opera singers like Pavarotti or Domingo yet at least there was a time when he could sing a song well and not off-key like he did during last Friday’s opening ceremony.
giotruvia 