Paul McCartney’s songwriting talents have resulted in songs that have been loved across several generations. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and he doesn’t seem to have that big of a head about it. In fact, Paul McCartney has had no issue with gushing about the songwriters he personally loves and looks up to. Let’s look at just a few examples, shall we?
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson’s recent death is still a raw wound that many fans of The Beach Boys are still dealing with. Like McCartney, Wilson was a generational talent, and few were as good at songwriting and composing as he was. And McCartney has sung Wilson’s praises before.
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“Beach Boys, ‘God Only Knows’, I think that’s a great classic,” McCartney told James Daunt back in the day. “In a way, I could say I wish I’d written them, but I’ve written enough. I’ve got enough to go on with. But yeah, there are some great writers and artists out there. I love to feel that when I’m writing something here, they’re writing something there. You get a little bit of rivalry going.”
Respect often comes from rivalries, after all. In that same interview, he praised Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and others. But his comment about The Beach Boys really sticks out.
John Lennon
Despite their often difficult and complicated relationship as the two main songwriters of The Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney had a lot of respect for each other. McCartney even once said that he felt a unique sort of pride on the rare occasion when Lennon would praise his songwriting. And years later, long after Lennon’s passing, McCartney still considers him one of his favorite songwriters.
“Obviously, the biggie I miss working with is John because that was something very special, and you know it’s very difficult to replicate that,” McCartney told NPR in 2016. “In fact, it’s almost impossible because we met each other as teenagers and went through a lot of life together.”
Paul Simon
Paul McCartney loves a ton of songwriters, but Paul Simon is one of the few that he has praised repeatedly through the years. Simon has praised McCartney as well, telling Mojo Magazine back in 2011 that he considered McCartney to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
“I think Paul Simon has written some amazing songs,” said McCartney in the earlier-mentioned chat with James Daunt. “I wouldn’t want to just say one of them, but he’s certainly written some great stuff.”
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
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UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: Photo of Jessi COLTER; posed, (Photo by Charlie Gillett Collection/Redferns) -
Beatles tour of USA 1964. Left to right: Beatles members Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney wave to fans prior to boarding their plane at London airport for their tour of USA. 18th August 1964. (Photo by Eyles/Daily Herald/Mirrorpix via Getty Images) -
1967: Superstar group "Buffalo Springfield" pose for a portrait in 1967. (L-R) Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Dewey Martin, Richie Furay, Bruce Palmer. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 01: (left to right) Boz Burrell, Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke and Mick Ralphs of Bad Company perform on the BBC television show 'Top of the Pops' in June 1974. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
