You’re Never Too Old to be Hip
Paul McCartney at FedEx Field -- photo courtesy jackbyte.net
Paul McCartney took the stage at FedEx field on August 1, to the delight of tens of thousands of fans lucky enough to have tickets. D.C. is one of only a handful cities to host one of McCartney’s limited tour dates this year.
Taking the stage first was Thievery Corporation, a D.C.-based DJ duo who set the mood for an eclectic night of music.
McCartney’s grand entrance? He simply walked on stage. No big entrance — just McCartney with his guitar. Even the stage design was elegantly simple: to large vertical monitors and one large screen at the back, displaying a mix of stills and video to compliment the song.
And rockin’ to the music were two generations: Baby Boomers and their kids. In the Beatles’ heyday, the Boomers would scream so loudly Paul complained, “you couldn’t hear yourself sing.” The Boomers’ kids (I counted four mother/daughter pairs on my row alone), who grew up listening to their parents’ music, may know McCartney’s songs from movies, like “Across the Universe,” or from animated iPod commercials.
McCartney’s even got a role in one of the most popular interactive music videogames; his avatar rocks some of the Beatles’ playlist on Rock Band. Click here to watch a clip from the game.
During the concert, the avatar played along behind McCartney on the big screens.
McCartney Performing in Washington -- photo courtesy jackbyte.net
It’s hard to argue the timelessness of McCartney; he’s inspired every generation since the ’50s. McCartney’s acoustic rendition of Blackbird was particularly touching — and may have even drawn a tear or two. But it’s amazing to see everyone on their feet rocking along with this 67-year old man and his guitar. His lyrics transcend every trend in the music business, something he displayed for a full two and a half-hours.
And being in Washington, McCartney added a special song to the set list: he said it was “something Barack might want to sing … to someone in his house,” leading into Michelle. He finished the song saying, “That one’s for you Mr. President.” In a later song, Barack Obama even appeared in bursting red and white pixels on the big screen.
McCartney continued to roll between piano-laced ballads like, “Let it Be,” to the pyrotechnic-filled “Live and Let Die.” It was an impressive show that only scratched the surface of his catalogue of music over the years.
I only hope I’m that cool when I’m 67 … or, if I’m lucky, animated like this.
