No one can control their legacy. Try as they may, artists will always be at the mercy of public opinion. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t hold on to hope. Take Paul McCartney, for example. The rock giant has a pretty good idea of how he’d like to be remembered. Discover which artists McCartney hopes to be compared to for years to come, below.
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Each member of the Beatles had a specific personality and creative style. While John Lennon was seen as an often scathing revolutionary, McCartney is a pop purveyor, blending radio-friendly melodies with the appeal of roots music. If we had to pick one Beatle to call the entertainer of the bunch, it would be McCartney. And, according to McCartney, he’s okay with that descriptor.
McCartney has been (and could be) compared to many of his peers. Moreover, he’s an artist many people use for comparison. He already has a mammoth legacy, but in Macca’s eyes, he won’t be fully satisfied until he reaches the heights of the crooners he grew up listening to.
“I’d Be Very Happy”
When discussing who he would want to be compared to at the end of his career, Paul McCartney name-dropped many artists he likely listened to as a kid. Fred Astaire and Nat King Cole were on his short list.
“If I’d have to choose anyone, I’d be very happy to be thought of as a channeller of Nat King Cole or Fats [Waller] or Fred [Astaire],” McCartney once said. “I don’t think there’s any denying the idea of being a medium. I definitely dreamt ‘Yesterday,’ so I’m sure I’ve channelled many other songs.”
From this quote, we can assume that McCartney wants to be remembered as a multifaceted talent. The artists he listed had excellent stage presence, great voices, and great songs. They are remembered for having no trouble exciting an audience, yet without sacrificing groundbreaking artistry.
We can assure McCartney that he has already established a reputation of that kind. Few songwriters (if any) have the catalog he has earned. He’s a must-see live act, and he often surprises us with his vocal range. McCartney’s name can be easily said in the same sentence as any of the artists he mentioned.
(Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
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