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June 3, 2008

McCartney Finally Plays "A Day In The Life," Yoko Watches

thumbnail icon: McCartney Finally Plays "A Day In The Life," Yoko Watches

It's been 40+ years since the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but my old couch-mate Paul McCartney only now gave "A Day In The Life" its live debut. It took place Sunday, 6/1, during his set at the Anfield Stadium in Liverpool during the Liverpool Sound Festival. As Rolling Stone reports:

Following a run through "Yesterday," the opening chords of "A Day of the Life" were strummed, and McCartney launched into the verses previously sung by John Lennon while Lennon's widow Yoko Ono watched from the crowd. The song's long delay to the live stage was apparent as McCartney accidentally sang his own "Made the bus in seconds flat" line twice before segueing into Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance."

See for yourself.

Ono really livens up during "Give Peace A Chance." I'm surprised she didn't come packing an Onochord.

Posted at 10:39 AM by brandon in
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22 Comments

what an awesome guy

is david gilmour still playing with paul's band? i couldn't tell from the video.

Posted by: A.J. at 06/03/08 11:01 AM | Reply
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Excellent cover - good sound quality, too.

Posted by: dudeasincool at 06/03/08 12:09 PM | Reply
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I Wouldn't call it a 'cover'

Posted by: Mr. Mustard in reply to dudeasincool's comment at 06/03/08 2:28 PM | Reply
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Fair enough, but how you categorize it. Lennon was the main songwriter of the piece.

Posted by: dudeasincool in reply to Mr. Mustard's comment at 06/03/08 4:34 PM | Reply
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The Other Matthew

Doesn't matter. The song belonged to Paul's old band. (It feels weird phrasing it that way.) It's only a cover if it wasn't your song, and "A Day In The Life" was The Beatles' song, and Paul was a Beatle, thus...

I understand what you're saying, but... no.

Posted by: The Other Matthew profile link in reply to dudeasincool's comment at 06/03/08 8:41 PM | Reply
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um, what? i am sick of everyone and their grandparents giving john lennon credit for material he wasn't fully responsible for. they co-wrote this song.

Posted by: michelle profile link in reply to dudeasincool's comment at 06/09/08 7:44 PM | Reply
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jesus tittyfucking christ... that's my favourite Beatles song! Played for the first time! !!!!!! w00t

Posted by: Kasper at 06/03/08 2:47 PM | Reply
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No Gilmour played only on his Run Devil Run album and a fee small gigs around that time in late 1999. Not since then, UI don't believe. This band is the same he's had since his Driving Rain tour.

Posted by: Jeffy K at 06/03/08 3:28 PM | Reply
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i always thought this was one of the few of the beatles’ late songs that actually were pretty collaborative - paul with his poppy melody and crisp bass line and john taking his drenched-in-reverb, more experimental approach. it truly highlights why both of them were so good in different ways. i didn’t think this one was really more john than paul…

Posted by: jo(seph) profile link at 06/03/08 6:05 PM | Reply
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there's also some clips on you tube of dave grohl playing with him on band on the run, back in the ussr, and i saw her standing there

Posted by: Brent profile link at 06/03/08 6:09 PM | Reply
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is he touring? and if so will he play that song again?

Posted by: the beat at 06/03/08 7:29 PM | Reply
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Is that Olivia Harrison sitting with Yoko?

Posted by: Sidney Bechet at 06/03/08 7:39 PM | Reply
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A Day in the Life is a sad song, not recommended for rainy days.

Posted by: John Cougar Menstrualcramp at 06/03/08 10:44 PM | Reply
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Yeah, he fucked up the lyrics, but he was able to laugh it off. As everyone else should. It's one of the mightiest jams every penned and he was a big part of it. Of every living being on the planet, he's the most entitled to playing it live. Enough said.

Posted by: Patrick profile link at 06/04/08 1:17 AM | Reply
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give Paul a chance

Posted by: Philco Brothers at 06/04/08 9:20 AM | Reply
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Many put wiritng credits for the song at 60% John and 40% Paul. Easily put, John write the serves and Paul wrote the middle section (woke up, fell out of bed). So, no, it's def not a cover.

Also, 6/1 happens to be the release date of Sgt. Peppers.

Posted by: Beetles with an A at 06/05/08 1:49 PM | Reply
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Glad he didn't bust out with "Everybody's talkin bout bagism bagism!"

Wow, this was McCartney at his most recent best. Very inspired sounding and hopefully he'll write a good album finally.

Posted by: Poop on perez at 06/09/08 12:36 PM | Reply
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Unforgivably bad. A half step flat throughout the entire song. Hoarse. No energy. Pitch flat. Badly done. Vocals a mess. Did I mention he was flat. Guess Simon won't be askin Paul to show up at American Idol.

Dont get me wrong. Great song. Just a really meddled performance.

Posted by: bobke at 06/09/08 9:17 PM | Reply
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That's a nice tribute to John at the Liverpool show. It's funny that the part he screwed up was his own. Even the greatest have mind farts.

Posted by: Happydude at 06/09/08 10:18 PM | Reply
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Awesome!!!! a classic just to see it live. To bobke just enjoy it thers only two left wish ringo had played on it.beatles forever.

Posted by: chris at 06/11/08 8:35 AM | Reply
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Awesome!!!! a classic just to see it live. To bobke just enjoy it thers only two left wish ringo had played on it.beatles forever.

Posted by: chris at 06/11/08 8:35 AM | Reply
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that is Olivia Harrison sitting next to Yoko....where was Ringo??? and what are they all doing in Liverpool??/ we miss everything......here in Memphis.."the home of rock n rolll" ...............................

Posted by: rose ann at 06/25/08 11:18 AM | Reply
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