Sir Paul McCartney

Playing the bass

“All you need is love.” Not money, not popularity, not fame; it's words and actions like these that made Sir Paul McCartney a hero in millions of people’s eyes. The “Let It Be” lyricist to this day is managing music and kin in the public eye. Born James Paul McCartney on June 18, 1942 in Liverpool, no one would’ve guessed he would be a Hall of Fame artist. He went to the prestigious Liverpool Academy in high school on a scholarship where he got rejected from his school choir because the teacher believed he couldn’t hold a tune. From 1969 to today McCartney is a proud father to five kids, Heather –Linda’s first born who Sir Paul Adopted-, Mary, Stella, James, and Beatrice. Now he even has 6 grandchildren. Throughout his long career, McCartney has gotten numerous awards for his inspirational music, even inducted into the Hall of Fame twice (one solo and another with the Beatles), his family is what remains his first priority and joy. Paul McCartney was know for a lot of things, but he’s known as a hero for spreading words of love and peace through his music, and because of his endless love and devotion to his family.

Peace!

McCartney’s strong messages of love and peace in his music are established proof of his heroism. McCartney could’ve done what every band does to get the fame, he could’ve sung what everybody wanted to hear, but instead he pushed boundaries, musically and mentally, and broadened people’s horizons. Paul was known as the cute Beatle, with the sweet voice throughout the beginning portion of his career, but it was his eclectic style that got him on the charts and into people’s hearts. “McCartney is a pioneer whose profuse songbook influenced generations of songwriters. He composes in many genres, from reggae to R&B to classical, and his music maintains an accessibility and upbeat sentimentality that are hallmarks of pop music.” (Guarino, Mark) This is significant because it completely explains how McCartney broadened his fan’s horizons via a wide range of music genres possibly on one album. Throughout the centuries of music, McCartney’s has always been the kind of music that if you heard it in the car, you would immediately start having fun and singing along with, just like this quote explains. Sir Paul has done many interviews but one quote he had stands out from the rest. He was asked to give some advice to aspiring artists. “I think the trick is an old Shakespeare quote: ’To thine own self be true.’ Make sure that what you’re doing is something you are really passionate about, that you really care about. Work hard at it. Because the more you do it, the more you understand what you’re doing. Then it ends up being fun. And it’s something you’re proud of ‘cause you really meant it.” This shows that he honestly has a passion for his music and the words he writes. The quote he used shows that throughout his musical career, he knows that the most important thing of all is to stay true to yourself, because when you do that the music is honest and relatable. Paul McCartney wore his heart on his sleeve via his music and that is what made it so powerful and gave it a voice.

Paul with late wife Linda, and their baby Mary

Throughout his vast career, Sir Paul is constantly humbled by his family, and he values his family far more than money or fame, which makes him a modern hero. People today take for granted the things that mean the most, like family. McCartney reminds us all of what truly matters. "Of all his accomplishments, McCartney points to his family as his proudest,"(Andrea Kovacs Henderson). Paul has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, he has been named one of the top 10 greatest artist of all time, and with all of this he chooses his family as his proudest. This shows his priority. He has had money and fame, but this shows how sound he is morally. Paul McCartney did an interview with his daughter Mary about how food and eating dinner together with your family is important. She said, “It was just our way of making Dad not feel too special, you can always rely on kids to bring you back down to reality.” (Turnbull, Tony) Sir Paul sat down every night that he could, and this just shows, that yes, he is human and sometimes got big headed, but his family is always what anchored him and kept him in check. He and his daughter had a close knit relationship and this shows that she and her other brothers and sisters kept Sir Paul grounded. McCartney’s family is what kept him going through the tough times, and he knows that they are what really matter, which is rare to see, but very important.

Paul McCartney is known as a hero for spreading words of love and peace through his music, and because of his endless love and devotion to his family. McCartney pushed boundaries with his songs and laid everything on the line via his music which is important to today’s society. People today sit back and watch time go by and Sir Paul should and does inspire people to make a difference. People today should also see his devotion to his family as an example. He values his family and every little thing they do, which is rare. Sir Paul’s fame is not what makes him inspirational, it's how he used his fame to make a difference by way of his music. His words like “there will be an answer, let it be” or “don’t carry the world upon your shoulders” are what inspired people. Everyone should see Paul and want to make a difference and let their voice be heard like him. Also, he values his family. Every chance he got, he would have a sit down dinner with his family, unlike many families today. He is an inspiration because of his sound values. Keep love in your heart and as the Beatles say in their song “The End”, “In the end, the love you take, is equal to the love, you make.”

"McCartney, Paul (1942-)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Andrea Kovacs Henderson. Vol. 24. 2nd ed. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005. Student Resource Center - Junior. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 21 May. 2010

Turnbull, Tony. "Sir Paul McCartney loves bringing his family together over food ." Times Online. N.p., 31 05 2008. Web. 21 May 2010..

Walls, Seth Colter. "Let It Be, Paul.(Music)(Paul McCartney's performances)." Newsweek. 154. 03 (July 20, 2009): 66. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 21 May. 2010