Paul McCartney's music as a encyclopedia of styles and genres

PAUL McCARTNEY'S MUSIC AS A ENCYCLOPEDIA OF STYLES AND GENRES

One of the most appreciated qualities in Paul McCartney's music is its variety. Since The Beatles' days, McCartney was able to write and perform songs of any kind. The well-known example of how he recorded "I'm Down" and "Yesterday" the very same day, gives us an idea of how easy is for him to afford such different styles with incredible results.

I think this side of his music is really outstanding. He has no rivals in this field. Let's see some of the musical styles and genres that McCartney has inclued in his solo albums over the years.

1. THE ACOUSTIC BALLAD. Since the Beatles' "And I Love Her", Paul has always found room for a gentle acoustic ballad in his records. Fine examples are "Junk", "I'm Carrying", "One of These Days", "Somebody Who Cares", "Here Today", "Distractions" and "Jenny Wren".

2. THE PIANO BALLAD. Also in this case, there's plenty of great songs...Although it's hard to define "Maybe I'm Amazed" as a ballad (it's a kind of song that you can't include in any genre, 'cause it's simply...McCartney!), I would place it here. Other notable examples: "My Love", "Only Love Remains", "Warm and Beautiful", "Wanderlust", "No More Lonely Nights", "Beautiful Night, "Loveliest Thing"...

3. MUSIC-HALL/VAUDEVILLE. This is a style that I find very amusing and entertaining and Paul succeeds in creating pastiches of this genre. Songs that come to mind: "You Gave Me the Answer", "Suicide", "Baby's Request", "Goodnight Princess".

4. POP SONGS. The typical catchy hit that Paul can write over 15 minutes. "Listen to What the Man Said", "Silly Love Songs", "Ebony and Ivory", "My Brave Face", "Young Boy", "New".

5. ROCKING TRACKS. Another style that McCartney handles easily. "Too Many People", "Oh Woman, Oh Why?", "Old Siam, Sir", "Beware My Love"...

6. BLUES-DRENCHED TRACKS. McCartney is not a bluesman, let's admit it. But the best results are those tracks that have a blues "flavor" (a chord sequence, Paul's vocals)...like "Letting Go", "Call Me Back Again", "On the Way", "Three Legs", "Arrow Through Me", "Let Me Roll It".

7. CHILDREN MUSIC. He likes to compose little dities or melodies that are addressed to a children audience: "We All Stand Together", "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Hey Diddle" and the whole unreleased Rupert the Bear soundtrack.

8. REGGAE. Paul also ventured in this genre. "C Moon", "How Many People'", "Good Times Coming".

9. SOUNDTRACKS. Another field with outstanding results. "Live and Let Die" is first. Other songs for movies (used and unused): "Vanilla Sky", "Same Time Next Year", "Did We Meet Somewhere Before'", "Twice in a Lifetime".

10. CHRISTMAS SONGS. Although there's only one Christmas-inpired song in Paul's catalogue as a composer ("Wonderful Christmastime"), there are other songs that have a Christmas flavor, like "Once Upon a Long Ago" or "Pipes of Peace".

11. DISCO. During the Seventies, Paul also ventured into some disco track. "Goodnight Tonight" is the most famous example. Also "Silly Love Songs" has an arrangement that uses the flowing strings that were featured by many disco hits at the time. There's plenty of remixes that were intended for disco or clubs in McCartney's discography.

12. LATIN FLAVORED TRACKS. Paul seems to be attracted by Latin rhythms and flavors. Some songs feature an exotic touch ("Bluebird" or the unreleased "Sunshine Sometime"), other have Spanish guitars very prominent ("Hope of Deliverance", "A Certain Softness", "Hotel in Benidorm", the intro of "We Got Married", "Deliver Your Children").

The list can go on and on. Paul is a master at blending influences and styles, creating unique pieces of music that stand out as fine examples of the art of popular music.

Copyright Luca Perasi