We Need To Stop Taking Paul McCartney For Granted :
It’s so easy to take Paul McCartney for granted. After all he’s always been so accessible to the media. He loves being a superstar. And he loves being in the public eye.
He’s actually been so accessible, especially when it comes to interviews, television and radio appearances that it can grow tiresome. Especially when uninformed people ask him the same silly questions over and over again.
I know for me personally I’ve definitely been one of those people that has rolled my eyes at times for some of Paul’s appearances of what seems to be overexposure. But the last few years especially after seeing so many legendary musicians pass away, I’ve definitely changed my thinking on that.
We are talking about Paul McCartney here.
We should be thankful for each and every single day that he is here with us.
We should NEVER, EVER, take for granted the fact that Paul is still happy, healthy, and still able to do what he loves the most which is writing music and performing live all around the world.
Now is the time to remember that. Not when he’s gone .
It was a crisp October lunchtime in London, and thousands of people milling through Covent Garden had no idea they were about to witness something magical. On Friday, October 18, 2013, Paul McCartney, former Beatle and legendary rock figure, turned an ordinary day in the piazza into an impromptu concert that left shoppers, tourists, and office workers grinning in astonishment.
The Build‑Up: Hints in the Air
Early in the morning, some clue that something was up drifted into view: stage equipment, speaker stacks, and flight cases were spotted around Covent Garden. By mid‑morning, rumours began to swirl; people noticed the truck parked in the square (it would serve as McCartney’s makeshift stage) and speculated something big was going down. Around 10:30am, stage gear marked with McCartney’s name was clearly visible.
But it wasn’t until about 12:15pm that McCartney confirmed via Twitter that a “pop up” show would happen in Covent Garden at 1pm. The final tension built as more and more people gathered, curiosity and excitement rising.
The Surprise Gig: What Actually Happened
At 1:30pm, McCartney — 71 years old at the time — took to the back of a flatbed truck parked in the piazza. Using the truck as his stage, accompanied by his band, he performed a short set of five songs, all taken from his latest album (“New”) which had just been released.
He opened with the title track “New”, and then moved through “Save Us”, “Everybody Out There”, “Queenie Eye”, finally closing by playing “New” again.
McCartney greeted the crowd with warmth and humour. “Good afternoon, and welcome to Covent Garden. We’re just going to do some songs from our new album so get your phones out… as if they weren’t already.” At one point he joked, “Busking — I’ve always wanted to busk here.” He also remarked on how different things were from the 1960s, quipping that in those days they’d be coming in from the clubs rather than stepping up to sing after work.
The whole performance lasted about 20 minutes, short but intensely memorable.
Reactions: From the Crowd and the City
For many, McCartney’s appearance was electric — unplanned magic in a place usually dominated by mimers, street performers, and market crowds. Tourists standing around the piazza were stopped in their tracks. One visitor from Paraguay, Flavia, said, “We were actually just looking around Covent Garden and we had this big surprise. I’m so happy, I can’t believe!” Others who had come for lunch breaks or after errands said it was the best thing that could happen in the middle of a regular day.
Workers nearby dashed over once they realized McCartney was performing. Some just came out of buildings, others paused mid‑meeting or mid‑walk, drawn by the sound of his voice and piano. Phones went out. Videos were taken. Smiles were wide.
Paul himself seemed caught up in the moment. After the show, he told BBC that the experience “felt a little bit like I was in a dream — sort of a little bit spacey.”
Why It Was Special: Context & Meaning
There are several layers that made this surprise gig more than just a show:
Historical echoes: It evoked memories of The Beatles’ famous rooftop concert in January 1969 — the last public performance by the band — which took place not far away, on the roof of the Apple Records building on Savile Row.
Album promotion, but in a way that connected: McCartney wasn’t simply promoting his new album New, but doing so in a way that brought fans together in public space, mixing regular daily life with the excitement of a live concert. It felt inclusive.
A gift to the public: There was no ticket, no grand stage, no formal advertising. It was a spontaneous gesture, a free concert. For many, especially tourists, it was an unexpected highlight of their trip.
Bridging generations: For older fans with memories of the Beatles, it offered nostalgia; for younger or new fans, it was a chance to see McCartney playing contemporary work in an intimate, informal setting rather than in a stadium.
Aftermath and Legacy
After finishing his set, McCartney headed off to a signing session at a nearby HMV store. While the show itself was brief, the impact lingered: stories on social media, videos shared, reactions from fans who felt lucky to have been there.
Media compared the concert to “high‑class busking,” a phrase McCartney himself used to describe the experience. It also reinforced McCartney’s reputation as an artist who, even decades into his career, still sought ways to surprise his audience and blur the lines between performer and passer‑by.
If you want, I can also pull together a summary of the comments that people made after the event (online, in social media) — the “first comment” responses, etc. Would you prefer that as well?
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