As 2024 comes to an end, Paul McCartney has shared a video feature in which he looks back at the highlights of the past year. You can check out the Beatles legend’s “2024 Year In Review” presentation on his official YouTube channel and social media pages.
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In the video, which runs about two minutes and change, McCartney is heard commenting on his tour, his “Eyes of the Storm” photo exhibition, the One Hand Clapping archival live album and film, and the commemorative coin issued by the U.K.’s Royal Mint that celebrates his amazing music career.
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The feature also boasts film footage and photos to accompany Paul’s commentary.
The video begins with a segment focusing on McCartney’s 2024 Got Back Tour.
“Wow, what a year 2024 has been!” Paul said. “Amazing being on tour. Down to South America first of all, where we started at the bottom of the continent! The crowds, and the band, and the whole show has been amazing. We’ve had a great time! It’s been great fun getting back on the road with the Got Back Tour because of these enthusiastic audiences in Latin America, in South America, and Europe!”
The trek began with a series of Latin American dates that ran from an October 1 concert in Montevideo, Uruguay, to a November 17 performance at the Corona Capital Festival in Mexico City. The European portion of the tour featured four two-show engagements: December 4-5 in Paris; December 9-10 in Madrid; December 14-15 in Manchester, U.K.; and December 18-19 in London.
The final concert included surprise guest appearances by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
On McCartney’s “Eyes of the Storm” Exhibition
McCartney then discussed his “Eyes of the Storm” exhibit, which mainly features photos he took while The Beatles were visiting the U.S. for the first time in February 1964.
“I had my ‘Eyes of the Storm’ exhibition, which has been to many places across the globe, and then moving to America,” he noted in the clip. “I saw it in Brooklyn [New York,] which was great. They did a great job! It’s amazing to see my old photos displayed so wonderfully. And, of course, they bring back great memories to me, ’cause it’s all the boys. It’s memories of our ’64 tour, basically!”
During the segment, the names of the cities where the exhibit visited flashed on the screen, including Brooklyn; Osaka and Tokyo, Japan; Portland, Oregon; and Norfolk, Virginia.
About the One Hand Clapping Project
The presentation next featured McCartney discussing One Hand Clapping, an archival album and documentary focused on a four-day recording session he did with his post-Beatles band Wings in August 1974 at Abbey Road Studios in London. Both the recordings and the footage originally were intended to be used in a documentary in 1974, but the plans didn’t come to fruition at the time.
The sessions featured McCartney and Wings performing a variety of songs live in the studio. They included new and older Wings songs, some Beatles tunes, and select covers.
“Another great thing was to see the One Hand Clapping recordings finally getting released, and seeing the film in cinemas for the first time!” McCartney said in the video feature. “[L]ooking at it now, it captured a really special little period.”
He continued, “Beautiful to see [his late wife] Linda, good to see Geoff Britton on drums, and, of course Denny [Laine], who we sadly lost [in 2023], and Jimmy McCulloch. So, it was lovely to see them in full flow, and that’s what made One Hand Clapping such a nice memory for me!”
The One Hand Clapping album was released in June 2024, while the film began a limited run in select theaters in September.
On the McCartney Commemorative Coin
Paul also talked about the commemorative coin the U.K.’s Royal Mint issued in early December in his honor.
The £5 coin’s design, which was created with input from McCartney, includes images that celebrate various important aspects of his musical history. The Royal Mint is selling the coin in various finishes and sizes, and in an array of different packaging options.
“It feels like a huge honor,” McCartney said about the coin. “It’s not anything I would’ve expected as a kid, when you used to collect coins in order to go to the cinema. This is something completely different.”
He added, “They’re pretty cool. There’s a colored version, which I like! So yeah, I’m excited.”
The Conclusion of the Video
The video recap ended with a statement from McCartney addressing his fans.
“So, I’d like to say thank you to all the fans, for coming to the shows, and listening to the music, and watching the film and photo exhibits,” he said. “You’ve been really great. Thanks for showing up! We love ya!”
The clip concluded with a message on the screen that reads, “See you in 2025.”
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