Paul McCartney sets the arena Defense on fire in front of 40,000 conquered spectators-rolling Stone

It was in a defense Arena armored to the roof that Paul McCartney chose to present his new opus through your "Freshen Up" tour.The 40,000 spectators came out of it ... refreshed and above all rejuvenated, like the ex Beatle.

It was shortly after 7:30 p.m. that intergenerational excitement began to get into the spans of the arena. Against the background of pieces of the Beatles, Wings and Paul McCartney solo, people greet each other, find themselves as former classmates. Go see or go back to see Paul McCartney in concert always reserves his share of nice meetings between members of fans clubs or between unknown. From simple amateur/fierce passionate (e), subjects, "you have seen how many times in concert?", "Do you think he will finally play this or that song?" ... Debates and bets on the setlist are righteous. The song "Venus and Mars" on the album of the same name (1975) is apparently the title that best sums up this atmosphere: "Sitting in the stand of the Sports Arena Waiting for the Show to Begin". The DJ Chris Holmes ensures the rise in power with its legendary mix which offers alternative versions of Paul's songs with the Beatles, the Wings and Solo. The atmosphere is at the party. She also started a few hours earlier for some privileged people who were able to attend rehearsals. VEINARD (e) s -We will bonus the list of songs interpreted at the Soundcheck at the end of the article, editor's note -.

It is shortly after 8:20 p.m. that the lights go out.Paul opens the march in front of his group which has accompanied him for over 15 years.People exult, the most fervent of them rush to the barrier.Everyone greets him, goes there with his moved thought, of his sometimes blissful expression, sometimes giving the air of not believing it: he is there!Sir Paul McCartney is in the place.Everything is jostling.The first agreement sounds.It’s a soil.The famous agreement of "A Hard Day’s Night"!

Everything seems in good place. In terms of sound in particular and still considering the subjective character of the latter's appreciation, it still seems that what had made teeth cringe very well corrected. At the opening of the room in October 2017, many complaints had emanated from people who attended certain concerts. The room, the public via social networks, technical teams and sound engineers sending the ball with "it is the conception that is bad", "it is the fault of technicians", etc. During the concert, the rendering seemed very clear, clear. We can question ourselves on the new stricter legislation in terms of sound level management in places broadcasting music. Applied since October 1, 2018, she probably also plays on this result with a less strong sound and suddenly "less immersive" will say the purists. But therefore, perhaps the melodies are less prone to distortions or other unpleasant echoes. It is in all a track of reflection and the exchanges around this legislation are just beginning. Technical considerations taken into account, let's come back to this concert which has obviously started in a great way with this group supporting the center a boss in the person of Paul who suits and always directs with so much ease and elegance. A disconcerting ease that always surprises us and a physique that leaves us speechless: 76 years old, finally some assumed white hair, a pants size probably similar to that of a dynamic thirty -something. What health. His secret? We are entitled to think that vegetarianism has its role to play. The rest: mystery.

Paul also delights with communicative joviality. His efforts to speak in French are touching and respectful. We feel that he is coming for us and he does it with dignity. Always a pleasure to hear him speak Molière's language to evoke memories as well as to swing a few humorous messages. Another one who, like certain, makes you want to age if that is that it corresponds to Paul and his image. What a life. He is at work as we are in a meeting in our professional activities. It’s a way of working. Retirement ? She does not seem topical in the spirit of the former member of the Beatles which has been active since its 13/14 years, and this first song written on the guitar, alone; At home: "I LOST My Little Girl". Also, there is the voice. This voice that weakens at times. That's life. Quite simply. If at 76, that didn't happen, it would be unnatural. He still manages to sing the songs in the original tones and still attacks the guitar alone on songs where he is without a net as is the case on "Here Today". There were obviously some addicts as during "Maybe I’m Amazed" but can we really blame him for these few notes that did not come, as stuck, selected? Not sure. It's still McCartney ...

The group unrolls, ranging from Beatles to Wings, Wings to Beatles and traveling the solo years of Paul McCartney. Macca alternates between guitar, bass, piano ... still as multitasking. "All My Loving" appears and precedes a "Letting Go" decorated with a brass section of a fairly unprecedented heat and power for a few years. An unimaginable moment. The continuation is a sum of great classics and surprises. The album Egypt Station, the latest opus from MacCa, is not to be outdone with three songs interpreted during the concert: "Who Cares", "Come on to Me" and "Fuh You". Three singles in the shape of tubes with chiseled texts, adapted to its tessituration and with catchy melodies. Among the chapters of this concert, we were entitled, as has been tradition for some time, to an acoustic part with covers of certain songs from its beginnings like "Love Me" or "in Spite of All the Danger ». Let us note among the songs of the wings the presence in the setlist of the always epic "Nineteen Hunged and Eighty-Five" as well as "Let‘ Em in ". Let us particularly salute the choice of this 1976 single vintage. Macca offers a new reading with these famous brass. Of course, the emotional sequence was also planned with "Blackbird", a song "on civil rights" as McCartney explains. "Here today", published on Tug of War (1982), title in homage and "in the form of a conversation between John and him", continues on this register. Heart touching. In the evenings of the evenings with Paulo, there is also the fire block with its infernal crescendo: "Band on the Run", "Back in the U.S.S.R. "," Let it be "as well as the explosive and dantesque" Live and Let Die "which definitively awakens the room with its usual pyrotechnics and free eyebrowing of eyebrows for people located in the front rows. A sequence which is often at the origin of numerous votes from the audience.

For our part, we think of some special mentions such as the return of "Queenie Eye", sparkling song from New (2013) or even "Got to get you into my life" which has taken an even more legendary dimension than ever , once again thanks to a new arrangement with "real" brass. Other great moments of this Parisian concert are to be reported. "Junior's Farm", "I've Got a Feeling" and this raising with an astounding metal energy, advancing in compressor roller mode, "My Valentine" and her magnificent solo executed with a master's hand by Rusty Anderson on the guitar Classic, addressed to Paul's partner, Nancy. But also this good old Madame Madonna followed closely by a certain "Eleanor Rigby" and the sublime "Something". This last moment - still among the top three of the big moments of emotion during McCartney's concerts - was an opportunity to pay tribute to George Harrison, his "Frérot" who died on November 29, 2001. A certain idea of ​​fullness.

In addition, what a pleasure to hear again "SGT.Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (resumption) "and this dementia" Helter Skelter "which still gives you the dizzy to the one who climbs on board the merry -go -round ... The legs are still flaring.Finally, let's finish this overview of the 38 songs from the concert by the medley essential to end the evening: "Golden Slumbers"/ "Carry That Weight"/ "The End" and its famous final, universal, prophetic, final, that we do not missNot to remember once again, as this moment is one of those who give reasons to stay on this planet: "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make".Also no need to remember that this is the last sentence of the last song from the last album recorded by Les Beatles.Why is it so perfect?In any case, difficult to do more.

We arrive at the end of the trip. Nearly 2:40 of a show that seemed to us to last 10 minutes as everything was dense and executed with superb cohesion. We were all touched by the value of these songs forever rooted in popular culture and people's DNA. The most fans may be pinnailing on certain elements: no "Yesterday", no people invited to spend a moment with him on stage, a concert a little shorter than usual, a single reminder instead of two ... What does it matter. The whole was once again controlled by master's hand from Paul. It is also these changes, these additions or deletions that participated in a renewal and this refreshment promised by the title of the tour: "Freshen Up". Paul has been accompanying us for so long. He is like a friend, a family member in which zig-zags must be made, make decisions. He put a room in the machine with this new tour and shows once again that he has a lot in advance on his time. The latter does not seem to have much grip on his talent and his person. With Egypt Station, he was able to leave quiet on the roads around the world. He continues at a rhythm that hits the bull's eye: one day in Paris, two days later in Copenhagen ... and so on, from town to town. This is the miracle recipe in which some of the ingredients are necessarily discipline, passion, seriousness and perseverance. To try to better synthesize this spirit, we leave the words from the end to our host who thus expresses himself in the tour program:

“Thinking about this tour, I was wondering what we were trying to achieve.[…] As we are ready to play for you, it took a lot of sweat to prepare it.We are ready.You and we, together, move the barracks!" - Paul McCartney.

And as Paul says, "I like you.See you next time !"We answer," We love you.Go when you want, we will be there.»»

Carl Kieser

La setlist complète de l’événement :

Soundcheck:

1. Jam
2. Honey Don’t
3. Coming U
4. Day tripper
5. C Moon
6. I Don’t Know
7. It’s So Easy
8. Every night
9. Ram On
10. Midnight Special
11. Improvisation sur le « Magic Piano »
12. Lady Madonna

Concert :

1. A Hard Day’s Night
2. Junior’s Farm
3. All My Loving
4. Letting Go
5. Who Cares
6. Got To Get You Into My Life
7. Come On To Me
8. Let Me Roll It + Foxy Lady » Jam
9. I’ve Got a Feeling
10. Let ‘Em In
11. My Valentine
12. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
13. Maybe I’m Amazed
14. I’ve Just Seen A Face
15. In Spite Of All the Danger
16. From Me To You
17. Michelle
18. Love Me Do
19. Blackbird
20. Here Today
21. Queenie Eye
22. Lady Madonna
23. Eleanor Rigby
24. Fuh You
25. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
26. Something
27. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
28. Band on the Run
29. Back in the U.S.S.R.
30. Let It Be
31. Live and Let Die
32. Hey Jude

Recall :

1. Birthday
2. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
3. Helter Skelter
4. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End