April 5, 2024
"I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place."
Instagrams Paul McCartney, gently but pointedly pushing back those who are crediting Beyoncé with adding a civil-rights meaning to "Blackbird."
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65 comments:
I just listened to it. Is Beyonce intentionally singing it flat or am I not hearing something correctly?
He's older than Joey
What year did Paul McCartney write silly love songs?
1964-????
When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now.
Where?
Listened to it - not bad (and I was way worried what a Black pop singer would do to it).
But of course it is very difficult to make 'Blackbird' sound bad. All the more so if you simply back it with the original incredible guitar riffs, as she did.
I had no idea people were being turned away from school.
"...and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now."
Where are those places in the US, Sir Paul? I understand that there are many, many places that will no longer accept White males. But I'm pretty sure Black females are still the hot commodity, no matter their actual accomplishments. (Look no further than our VP).
Anyway...I never hear "Blackbird" as a civil rights song and I'm not about to start hearing it that way now. I'd prefer to keep it in my own vein, the way I first heard it and hear it through decades now.
It seems though, that Sir Paul is a genuinely good guy. You hear stories about him with other people, other musicians and the stories typically sound like he's a mensch. A gentleman.
What a travesty. I just heard Beyonce's 'Jolene' and it is beyond awful.
Not only did she fuck up the message, the singing is Abu Ghraib torture-worthy. Put that on 24/7 and prisoners would spill their guts after the second playing. If Dolly 'praised' it, it is only because she is the world's nicest person.
How is this woman rich, successful, and popular?
She is awful.
Oh, and not every motherfucking thing in life is about race. Some birds are black.
JFC.
Butkus51 said...
He's older than Joey
But 100 times sharper.
Today the government is rounding up black kids and forcing them to go to school.
Paul reclaims credit with obligatory faint praise?
Maybe he’s thinking about the church bombing?
Now some democrat blacks WANT to segregate.
So weee cool, man.
Come on Paul - don't be a leftist suck-up.
Beyonce's not the first black female to have performed this 56-year-old classic, so enough of that already.
Also, she obviously didn't add a "civil rights" message to a song merely by singing it, with the original lyrics.
That said, while not everything is about race, it's a fact that McCartney wrote it with the racial connotations firmly in mind. It's not like it's being given that spin for the first time.
And, of course, one needn't interpret any version of the song in racial terms in order to appreciate it.
Yeah, it's happening today in NYC, little black girls being turned away from school because the adults have given the school to illegal aliens to live in. Shameful.
'Come on Paul - don't be a leftist suck-up.'
Paul is fighting with John to be the stupidest, most obnoxious Beetle.
George was talented and kept to himself.
And everybody still wants to be Ringo...
And another thing.
Beyonce would be admitted to country clubs before me and most of my Italian friends (especially the Sicilians).
Like Kamala, she's whiter than me.
Is Paul the only one left? Anyway, I give it a try. I always get the one-name female singers mixed up, so I don't know if I've heard her sing.
Wow! Beyonce's really gonna make it popular! And meaningful! Maybe she and her hubby will discover Let It Be!
"Where are those places in the US, Sir Paul? I understand that there are many, many places that will no longer accept White males. But I'm pretty sure Black females are still the hot commodity, no matter their actual accomplishments. (Look no further than our VP)."
He's talking about back in the early 60s, as is obvious from his statement and the vintage of his song. As for your indignant lament about "White males" no longer being accepted in "many places"...boo hoo hoo...wah wha! Where? The privileged always consider the demands by others to share in the "privileges" (ordinary social equality) an imposition on them...unfair and unjust.
From Genius Lyrics: "McCartney’s explanation of the song’s origin has changed over the years."
If it's in the original lyrics, and it could be, it's kind of cryptic. I don't blame Beyoncé for punching it up a little bit.
I heard him say that on the Beatles Sirius channel long ago. That was his intent with the song.
I heard Beyonce's version of 'Blackbird' on the Beatles channel - I didn't like it. First and foremost, it's Paul's song and he does it best!
There is one great cover version of this song though - Crosby, Stills and Nash at Woodstock. It's available on YouTube if anyone is interested.
My good feelings toward Sir Paul hardened recently when President Magill of U Penn was in the news at the same time that Rocky Raccoon cued up on Pandora.
Her name was Magill, she called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy got in my head and wouldn't go away. Rocky checked into my room and wouldn't leave. It was awful. The Bible didn't help.
Multiple replays of Mountain's Mississippi Queen at volume cleared it out.
If you know what I mean.
To todays music writer no one even existed before Bay-yon-say. Charlie Pride never had 21 number one singles in the country charts. No musician ever advocated for civil rights. Queen Bee amnesia, I'd call it. But if you have to make shit up to make her look good is she really that good?
Sir Paul, I respect. He can still jam with Dave Grohl and get into it. Forget queen bee. Watch "Sound City" tonight instead.
B/blackbird
"As for the lyrics, Paul relates: “I had in mind a black woman, rather than a bird. Those were the days of the civil-rights movement, which all of us cared passionately about, so this was really a song from me to a black woman, experiencing these problems in the States: 'Let me encourage you to keep trying, to keep your faith, there is hope.' As is often the case with my things, a veiling took place so, rather than say 'Black woman living in Little Rock' and be very specific, she became a bird, became symbolic, so you could apply it to your particular problem." During Paul's "Driving USA" tour, he would introduce the song by saying that the term "bird" was British slang for "girl," so in essence the song was about a "black girl.”"
http://www.beatlesebooks.com/blackbird
--
"What a travesty. I just heard Beyonce's 'Jolene' and it is beyond awful."
Not at all. It falls short of the Beatles' (Paul's) original rendering, but it is a perfectly respectable and enjoyable cover.
"Oh, and not every motherfucking thing in life is about race."
If only that were true for everyone, not just for the fortunates who take that for granted.
I had no idea people were being turned away from school.
DEI
That said, diversity of individuals, minority of one.
Oh, yeah! Sir Paul wants to ease him some racial tensions!
It appears he's conflating and misremembering Ruby Bridges in Louisiana and Vivian Malone and James Hood at Uni of Alabama three years later, with George Wallace in the schoolhouse door.
That kind of conflation and poor memory is normal. What's not normal is believing it's still going on. He is, after all, Biden's age.
Ebony and Ivory, right? Now go find a picture of Sir Paul with a black person who is not a musician.
Mary Beth said...
When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now.
Where?
Afghanistan. China. Africa. Pretty much everywhere in the world except the US and Britain to be honest.
The song is still in my campfire playlist for the guitar. Funny story: Back in 1972 we were camped along the Appalachian Trail making our way north. Another trail guy showed up toting a guitar and we started swapping tunes and our Columbian Gold for his mushroom tea. He taught me Blackbird while I was tripping and I still remembered it when I came down off the shrooms. To this day I call it the shroomer arrangement. People do love the song which lends itself to a crackling fire and stars up above. In return I taught him Norwegian Wood, a much less complicated tune.
I credit Ernest Bloch with adding a message of whining to Suite Hebraique
"Not at all. It falls short of the Beatles' (Paul's) original rendering, but it is a perfectly respectable and enjoyable cover."
Umm. Cookie? The Beatles never "rendered" Jolene.
And yeah, she did fuck it up.
"It appears he's conflating and misremembering Ruby Bridges in Louisiana and Vivian Malone and James Hood at Uni of Alabama three years later, with George Wallace in the schoolhouse door."
What does this mean? In past interviews, McCartney has specifically referenced the Little Rock Nine, as well as Alabama (where public school desegregation was fought out in 1963) and Mississippi (where it took until 1970). There was also Virginia, which closed its public schools altogether; one county didn't reopen until 1964.
I don't think any entertainer would Dave be critical- or anything short of effusive - about "Cowboy Carter'. You have to praise it to be part of the in crowd.
"What a travesty. I just heard Beyonce's 'Jolene' and it is beyond awful."
Not at all. It falls short of the Beatles' (Paul's) original rendering, but it is a perfectly respectable and enjoyable cover.
The Beetles did not write nor record 'Jolene.' This new version of 'Jolene' is a travesty. I've heard better singing standing in line at Safeway.
"Oh, and not every motherfucking thing in life is about race."
If only that were true for everyone, not just for the fortunates who take that for granted.
Nobody in my family has ever taken an unearned dime from anyone. Ever. Don't tell me about being 'fortunate.'
From Paul: "Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud."
What a bunch of horseshit. Every democrat politician alive does everything humanly possible to stoke racial animosity. The left lives to pit groups against each other in the name of holding power.
Robert Cook said...
"What a travesty. I just heard Beyonce's 'Jolene' and it is beyond awful."
Not at all. It falls short of the Beatles' (Paul's) original rendering, but it is a perfectly respectable and enjoyable cover.
How to say "I love hearing myself talk about topics on which I'm completely ignorant and too lazy to do any research" without saying a word.
Anybody who remembers Beyonce's Super Bowl halftime show would be likely to wonder where 'easing racial tensions' appears on her bucket list.
As a pre-teen in the UK when this was released, I thought of it as a children's song. Better late than never to learn of another meaning.
As far as I'm concerned, "Blackbird" is about a blackbird.
"Rocky Raccoon" is about a raccoon.
"I am the Walrus" is about a walrus, albeit on acid.
@Temujin,
"It seems though, that Sir Paul is a genuinely good guy. You hear stories about him with other people, other musicians and the stories typically sound like he's a mensch. A gentleman."
Agreed. If you'd like to see that side of Paul, watch his karaoke car pool with James Corden. It honestly causes me to tear up.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjvzCTqkBDQ&pp=ygUbamFtZXMgY29yZGVuIHBhdWwgbWNjYXJ0bmV5
Paul McCartney wrote Blackbird in 1968. I was there in 1968 and civil rights was probably the biggest issue of the year. I think that it's pretty obvious that Blackbird reflected the times and was making a statement about race relations.
Plus, I really admire Beyonce for doing songs that take her out of her comfort zone.
He’s smoked more than his share of weed…
PS
On the subject of "Jolene", the best cover version is Bardcore (Medieval):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugqQlB5fpuc&pp=ygUPam9sZW5lIG1lZGlldmFs
On the subject of Dolly Parton, one of the most surprisingly good cover versions of a song is hers of "Stairway to Heaven," which supposedly Robert Plant loved.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw_Codf29Pw&pp=ygUfZG9sbHkgcGFydG9uIHN0YWlyd2F5IHRvIGhlYXZlbg%3D%3D
I'm a little disappointed in you guys. So far not one person has said "The Beatles sucked. I never liked a single one of their songs. Bunch of untalented twits."
Don't let me down.
OK, that one kind of sucked.
Christopher B seems to have a bee in his B.....! Frankly, I have no clue what you're on about. Is it that I stated Paul performed "Blackboard," (as opposed to the Beatles as an ensemble)?
"Paul McCartney recorded ‘Blackbird’ alone on 11 June 1968, with just a guitar for accompaniment. It was taped in Abbey Road’s studio two, while John Lennon worked on ‘Revolution 9’ next door in studio three. McCartney recorded 32 takes of ‘Blackbird’, only 11 of which were complete."
Blackbird – song facts, recording info and more! | The Beatles Bible
www.beatlesbible.com/songs/blackbird/
If it's something else--that I think Beyonce's version is ok?--you'll have to clarify. Lay off the coffee a bit, though. You'll sleep better.
I was able to see McCartney when he played Lambeau a few years back. When he played Blackbird, he referred to it as a civil rights song. I hadn't realize that n but it makes sense.
It was cool to see him live. I'm not a huge fan him or the Beatles, but I figured I'd you have the opportunity, you really should take it. Great show!
I always thought the Blackbird was a song about personal spiritual freedom - a joyful song, in its own way. Now we have someone asserting it's a song about endemic, pervasive racial prejudice.
I disagree. But I accept, some people just have to make themselves miserable.
'As a pre-teen in the UK when this was released, I thought of it as a children's song. Better late than never to learn of another meaning.'
It's still a children's song, as is 'Imagine.'
He's talking about back in the early 60s, as is obvious from his statement and the vintage of his song.
Maybe you should actually read his statement.
"When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now."
So again, just WHERE in the United States is this happening now?
'Plus, I really admire Beyonce for doing songs that take her out of her comfort zone.'
Big risk when you're a billionaire and the US media kisses your ass 24/7.
Very brave...
"The Beetles did not write nor record 'Jolene.' This new version of 'Jolene' is a travesty. I've heard better singing standing in line at Safeway."
Well, obviously I erred in quoting the reference to "Jolene," which I just noticed--a hasty copy and paste--but it is crystal clear from my comment I was complimenting Beyonce's version of "Blackbird," as compared with the Beatle's version.
RCOCEAN II said...
Is Paul the only one left?
Ringo.
****
Achilles said...
Afghanistan. China. Africa. Pretty much everywhere in the world except the US and Britain to be honest.
4/5/24, 2:10 PM
I thought about adding, "other than ISIL controlled areas", but didn't because that's not racial, they turn away all girls.
Speaking of flat . . . I have never paid enough attention to Beyonce' to notice her small breasteses. At least that's what the photo shows me.
And speaking of that, look up "Itty Bitty Titties" by the Honky Tonk Juke Box Band.
That's real music.
When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now.
And yet another reminder that he is talking about the Democrat South.
It was a legacy of democrat slavery and the democrat KKK.
Paul is a musical genius but I doubt he even knows this.
Joe Smith said:
From Paul: "Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud."
What a bunch of horseshit. Every democrat politician alive does everything humanly possible to stoke racial animosity. The left lives to pit groups against each other in the name of holding power.*****************
Paul's a democrat politician now. Who knew?
'Black woman living in Little Rock'
Eisenhower desegregated the Little Rock public schools in the fall of 1957. The Arkansas universities and law schools were desegregated in 1949.
I was told that the Blackbird song was a signal to commence the race war. Charles Manson would create a Reichstag moment of violence against the Hollywood elites that would cause minorities to kill the majorities and thus become the majorities.
The new majority would then devolve into multiple minorities and the cycle of Gaia would turn in Her relentless majesty. The mills of the Gods grind fine. From the ore of humanity a new majority, yet purified in composition, is separated from the dross, the clay of commonman.
As eons pass a new reality emerges, forged by the hammer and fire of time. Minorities and Majorities become the same to an infinitesimal difference, and they still hate each other.
'Paul's a democrat politician now. Who knew?'
You are a simpleton...
Robert Cook's intention was perfectly clear to anyone who wasn't being deliberately obtuse.
Annoying fraud is that woman. Paul hosn’t done well in choosing praiseworthy women since Linda died and he married the timber-toe, as Holmes would have styled the peg legged mercenary he legally allied himself with for a time.
Loud dog blog - I would contend the biggest thing is ‘68 was Vietnam. Beyoncé is a cultural imperialist, a settler if you will
none of these covers need to be re-done.
Beatles are great. Beyonce - meh. her voice is not that great at all.
Bardcore...
That's a nice Saturday morning rabbit hole. "Hasten to Church" is excellent.
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