Paul McCartney Plays Citi Field, Dedicates Song To Linda (VIDEO)

(AP Text, YouTube videos)

NEW YORK - Sir Paul McCartney knighted another New York Mets ballpark Friday night, playing the first concert ever at Citi Field.

"Long time since I've been here," the former Beatle told the crowd, then paused to take it all in.

Citi Field is the successor to Shea Stadium, where the Beatles played a historic concert in 1965 that's regarded as the precursor to the stadium rock concert.

Patty Parker attended Friday night's show and remembers the 1965 show well.

"I was three rows from the top. I was 10 years old," she said. "He captured that same tune; I'm so blown away."

Several times on Friday, McCartney alluded to that magical night 44 years ago. But he was also made it clear that it was less than perfect at times, saying: "The first time we played here, we couldn't hear a thing because of all the girls screaming and the stadium sound system."

Friday's two-and-a-half-hour show went more smoothly, highlighted by fireworks on and off the stage for "Live and Let Die" near the show's end.

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McCartney played more than 30 songs, covering the Beatles, Wings and his solo catalog. When he introduced "I'm Down," he said it was also played at the Shea Stadium concert.

The crowd rocked most of the night, which was also filled with heartfelt dedications. The most poignant went to McCartney's late wife before an emotional version of "My Love."

"We'd like to do a song dedicated to Linda," McCartney said. "She was a New York girl."

He also played the Beatles classics "Hey Jude," Let It Be" and "Back in the USSR."

When he performed "A Day in the Life," McCartney swapped out John Lennon's part at the end with a version of Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance," asking the crowd to join in.

For the encore, McCartney brought out Billy Joel for "I Saw Her Standing There." Last year, McCartney joined Joel on stage for the last concert at Shea Stadium.

WATCH. SGT PEPPER:

Baby You Can Drive My Car:

Live and Let Die:

Helter Skelter:

Daytripper;

Hey Jude;

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Comments

[Former Lee Warmer]

It's great to see that Paul is still doing what he does best, and enjoying it 50 years on from joining John's little band The Quarrymen after their fateful coming together at a Liverpool summer fete. Many folks are posting reports of the shows in glowing terms and it's heart-warming to know that huge numbers of people in the States and around the world are still eager to witness this lovely fella playing his truly great songs. Such is the majesty of The Beatles and the magic of music.

[MarryMePaul]

I held up a sign that said “Marry Me Paul” at Citi Field on Saturday, July 18th. This incredible moment has been getting a lot of buzz on the internet including this youtube post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJkJQtDO7eQ

I was also interviewed on the radio this morning.

I had a feeling that Paul was going to say something to me because as soon as he saw the poster he waved his finger back and forth like no, no, no. I never imagined that it would have played out the way it did.
Paul has such comedic timing that it sent the crowd wild!
Friends of mine told me that they even heard DJ's talking about it on the radio. They are now calling me the "Marry Me Girl"!!

I will be back at Citi Field on Tuesday with my sign and a bit of a twist!
Wish me luck!

My sign is posted to my facebook - I will cherish it forever!

Jamie Moroni

http://www.worleygig.com/2009/07/secret-identity-of-paul-mccartneys-marry-me-girl-revealed/

[cydRN]

I never got over the Beatles and still listen to them frequently. Wings was a great band also. Sir Paul continues to capture my heart despite (our) advancing age. I wish him the best and hope he finds peace and happiness away from the gold digging harpy. Rock on Sir Paul!

[boxman15]

Paul McCartney and the Beatles music is timeless. Music today owes almost everything to the innovation and genius of the Beatles.

[msoverall]

I was there, it was GREAT!!!

[lvtunes]

In August 1963, a 19 year old US airman flew into Great Britain with no idea what life would bring.
Haviing a failed family(Divorce, alcoholism) and coming from a very unremarkable town, this airman,
me, was greeted with unprecedented excitment. The Beatles had just started what would become the
British invasion. Great Britain had awakened the musical world and popular music changed forever.
It was a great time and a great place to be. I will never forget it.

[NoSillyName]

How exciting!

[talkingdog]

So what happened?
Meet a nice english girl, get married and have kids?
Travel to India?
Meet the Queen?
Become a queen?

You left us hanging,..­..........­..inquirin­g minds need to know,.....

[lvtunes]

What was supposed to be a 3 year assignment was curtailed and I was sent to
West Pakistan for 15 months. Never met that English Girl but others who did and
married sometimes ended it unhappily. I did get to Kashmir, India briefly and was
stuck in the middle of the India-Pakistan war of 1966. That was my last year of
heavy drinking. 40 years later am back in contact with those who were there thanks
to the Internet. Also am now seeing those bands from England, here in Las Vegas.
Just saw Clapton and Winwwod, Eric Burden, The Moody Blues, The Police. I will
Continue going either before I die or they do.

[rimofheaven]

I can't believe how good he still is. Simply incredible. I grew up singing all of those songs. My friends and I in between playing with our Stars Wars action figures learned the entire Sgt Pepper album by heart. Wow. We need to declare a Beatles holiday.

[wideawakenow]

Paul still Rocks! He can still hit the high notes. Love Paul, Love the Beatles!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!

[MightyMeno]

Paullllll! Oh, Paulllll! Yes, he can still rock with the best of 'em ... and he's still the Cute Beatle :)

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Remember the days when you would know where concert venues were located based on their name, not the giant corporation that owns them.

[OdysseusNemesis]

Pardon me, but despite my eclectic taste in music and various attempts to develop a taste for Paul McCartney, I can't do it. I don't get his music.

I can even endure Barry Manilow's songs; and I enjoys John Lennon's (with or without Yoko Ono) music but Sir Paul's music? I don't get it at all. It doesn't do it for me, and wonder why he has so many fans.

And if you happen to be one of those screaming teenagers in the Beatles videos, how did you lot got to listen and appreciate their music when there are always thousands of you in screaming frenzy at their concerts? The sad thing is that with your screaming frenzy, you set a precedence that is still with us today -- teenagers still react to famous people with screams.

[novatom]

The Beatles set a precedence for screaming fans? Uh, I don't think so... Ever heard of a chap named Frank Sinatra?

[OdysseusNemesis]

Pardon me, I didn't make myself very clear: I was crediting the "screaming precedence" to the then teenage Beatles fans and not the Beatles per se.

But if "old blues eyes" had screaming fans, then we can say that perhaps they were the forerunners, but the Beatles' fans re-invented screaming and put it on another level -- wouldn't you say?

[NoSillyName]

There was that guy named Elvis Presley; he had screaming teenaged fans. In fact, I believe his fans were the ones who started the trend you so dislike. I'm the quiet type, so I'd never have screamed at a music performance, but hey, it takes all kinds.

As for getting to listen to the Beatles when they came to America, there was this thing called RADIO. I was only 12 and didn't get to attend a concert, but I'm sure those who did see them live already were familiar with the songs and only went to a show so they could see them and be part of the mania that followed them wherever they went.

Now they have their memories and can tell their grandchildren. More power to 'em.

[Stevelane]

I seem to remember girls screaming for Johnny Ray way before Elvis came on the scene.

[jonthebru]

Like any artist he has some really good product and some maybe not so great. Even Dylan admits that truth. Try his first solo album after listening to the later Beatles LPs. Venus and Mars and Band On The Run With Wings are pretty good. I really like Mull of Kintyre and Pipes Of Peace and they are simply not my taste in music. To quote a fellow DJ at an AOR FM station I worked at many years ago; "McCartney keeps coming up with the tunes, doesn't he?"

[maggiee]

Well, all I can say is if we all liked the same things, the world would be a pretty dull place.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

"Hey Jude" was kind of marred by the guy singing/screaming while filming the show, but I still love that song. It always brings tears to my eyes. That was the first song my wife and I danced to at the reception after our wedding. It tears me up every time I hear it.

[DietrichMoody]

Paul still looks great.

[maisnon55]

I don't know how he does it, he looks good, he is out and about all the time and yet he is so hooked on marijuana and booze.

[NoSillyName]

One does not get "hooked" on weed. Have never heard of PMc & booze. Where does this stuff come from? He would not be looking so healthy if he were an alcoholic.

[brettb3]

You are wrong on both counts. He hasn't smoked marijuana in years and there is no way he would be doing as well as he is if he were an alcoholic.

[ladycubsfan]

Sadly, Paul learned too late not to think so much with his little head. It's a lesson he won't soon forget. Linda was his soul mate; there won't be another. Some lessons are quite painful. I wish him the best. Heather isn't fit to carry Linda's luggage, not even on her good leg.

[Billy Hell]

He married Nancy sometime Shevell late 2007.

[Billy Hell]

0oops that should read - He married Nancy Shevell sometime late 2007

[knerd]

Man, he's straining now for those high notes. Kinda sad, but hey--that's the way it is. What a showman. The Beatles were incomprable. What else is there to say?

Yeah, yeah, yeah !!!

[ignorantwillyharper]

Knerd, is that really you!

[rickcritt]

I'm a 56 yr old musician playing jazz and writing modern classical music. I started playing rock in '66 because of the Beatles in large part. What a journey they inspired in me and I still love the music. Paul, you're a beautiful soul!

Thank you,
Rick Crittenden
www.rickcrittenden.com

[NoSillyName]

Nice. I see you had a gig with The Seeds; Sky Saxon just died. I lost their first album somewhere along the way, but I still have the "Pushin' Too Hard" 45. I'll have to check out the rest of your site when I have time.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

He is such a class act. I've always loved The Beatles and it's great that he's doing project after project with such success. And I think it's really sweet that he dedicated his show to Linda. She was clearly the love of his life.

[DietrichMoody]

I think he was lost for awhile after Linda died. Nice to see him sort of back on track. Better late than never.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

You are so right. He's clearly grounded now.