We never thought we’d say this in our lifetime: we saw The Beatles live on stage! Well, not all of them, just one: Paul McCartney — but that’s already incredible. Here’s the story of how we saw a living legend.
Paul McCartney is an extraordinary artist; there’s no debate about that. The author of Penny Lane, Get Back, Yesterday, and Let It Be doesn’t often perform in France. Back in 2020, we almost saw him live, but, like many concerts that year, our dream was crushed by Covid. Paul had promised to return, though, and we’re delighted he kept his word. At 82 years old, is Paul McCartney still up to his legendary status? Here’s the answer.
Almost missing a Paul McCartney concert
Honestly, when Paul McCartney announced a new tour, we didn’t think we’d stand a chance of getting tickets. Events like this sell out in the blink of an eye. But nothing ventured, nothing gained!
So, we braced ourselves and signed up for the presale, ready to fight for our spot. As luck would have it, the day before tickets officially went on sale, a private sales website released a few seats. If Audrey weren’t such a die-hard fashionista, we might have missed them out. And these were not just any tickets — we managed to select prime seats (as close to the stage as possible!). Still can’t believe this.
Feeling confident, we strolled through Paris, thinking that with numbered seats, we were in no rush. Big mistake! By 5 PM, the City of Light was overrun by swarms of drooling fans. Public transportation was packed, and we had to jump into the first Uber we could find — only to end up stuck in massive traffic jams. Forty-five minutes before showtime, we arrived in a panic, staring at the endless lines of people waiting to get in. Paul had made it clear that the concert would start at 8 PM sharp, and no one wanted to keep this gentleman waiting.
Thankfully, we made it inside 15 minutes before the show. Just enough time to glance at glittery souvenir booklets, marvel at the stage design, and find our seats. Of course, we tried to make selfies. As always, they ended up being a complete failure.
How was Paul McCartney’s show?
When you’re Paul McCartney, you don’t need an opening act. However, the concert started 40 minutes late — the legendary French event organization had gotten the better of British punctuality.
But the moment Paul stepped on stage, surrounded by a band of seasoned musicians, he immediately won everyone over. The show kicked off with A Hard Day’s Night, sung in unison by the entire audience, before transitioning into a few Wings tracks.
The setlist was masterfully curated, blending timeless classics with lesser-known Beatles gems like Got To Get You Into My Life, I’ve Just Seen A Face, and Getting Better. While some choices may seem obscure to casual fans, die-hard enthusiasts were thrilled. Before long, even those seated in the stands were up on their feet, dancing.
The visuals accompanying the songs alternated between touching archival footage and vibrant, tasteful artistic creations. A special mention goes to the montage for Now & Then, the glorious final Beatles track, and the sign language performance by Natalie Portman and Johnny Depp during My Valentine, a love song dedicated to Paul’s wife, Nancy Shevell.
60 years of bangers in one Night
With 60 years of concerts in his pockets, Paul had plenty of material to choose from. The hits kept coming: Love Me Do, Michelle, Lady Madonna, and, of course, the hauntingly beautiful Blackbird, performed solo on a platform that gently rose toward the sky, surrounded by gorgeous animations of birds.
The tributes to his late Beatles bandmates were deeply moving. Here Today, dedicated to John Lennon, and Something, played for George Harrison, brought tears to many eyes, included ours. But Paul also knows how to lighten the mood: after an intense moment of remembrance, he launched into Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da with a playful grin. Also, a special shoutout to his drummer, whose enthusiasm and spontaneous dance moves added an extra layer of joy to the whole performance !
While the lesser-known Beatles tracks were a treat for fans, the classics were also present, including Get Back and Let It Be. But the undeniable highlight was Live And Let Die, performed on the piano amidst a dazzling display of pyrotechnics that left everyone in awe. It was so breathtaking, we couldn’t hold back our tears.
As the flames subsided, Paul transitioned seamlessly into Hey Jude, a moment so powerful it nearly knocked us out.
What about the encore?
For the encore, Paul returned with his band, waving the British, French, and LGBTQIA+ flags. They treated us to six final songs, including I’ve Got A Feeling, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and an electrifying Helter Skelter that we’ll never forget.
We left with tears in our eyes, our souls shattered into pieces, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for having heard such iconic and universal music live. We might never recover from this and that’s probably what it feels like to see a legend!
Thank you, Paul! You deserve all the cakes in the world.
