Cool Cherry Cream

Paul McCartney Concert

Monday, October 10, 2005 at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario

I practically sleepwalked through the entire day today. Dead tired.

But today's not what you want to hear about? You want to hear about YESTERDAY, don't you?

My family and I went to Lick's for Thanksgiving dinner. It's kinda hard to get a whole big turkey and everything if you've got somewhere to go, y'know? But Lick's isn't that bad. They play good music, they played "Please Please Me".

We left for Toronto. We have a DVD player in the van so I brought "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" to watch, appropriately. We had a bit of trouble on the way there, having to rush around quite a bit, and I was afraid we'd be late. As we drove up to the ACC we saw a humongous line of people. Luckily, that was *not* the line to get in. Mom and I had seats to the left of the stage (well, left if you were in Paul's perspective, standing on the stage looking out) on the first level after the floor, and dad and my brother were up in the nosebleeds. Mom and I got out of the car and dad and my brother went to find somewhere to park.

We went past the security, they just checked in my mom's bag, the weight, to make sure she didn't have a camera or whatever. I just said "hello" to the security guy and went in, he didn't stop me or anything. So I could've brought a camera with me if I hid it and would've been able to get in. But I'm a good little girl and I didn't.

We had to walk pretty far to get to our section, we ended up having to go back one section because we'd passed it. We got to our seats, they were definitely better than the Stones, a lot closer. We were sitting beside two guys that reminded me of Wayne and Garth or Bill and Ted because of some little things they did ("We're not worthy!") and there was a mother with a newborn baby on the other side. I didn't notice it crying or anything, but she left a few times. There was also a group of people a few rows in front of us to the right, standing up the whole time and dancing and yelling at the people behind them to stand up as well. It wasn't as bad as the people in front of us at the Stones though.

We didn't have to worry about being late at all. He didn't start until 15 - 30 minutes or so after 8:00. I don't know what time exactly since I didn't have a watch. They had a DJ with some techno-y music and the video screens and groovy pictures and stuff.

My mom and dad talked on the phone and we tried to figure out where each of us were sitting and were waving, but we couldn't see each other. They couldn't talk long since it was long distance, which is pretty stupid if you ask me.

The lights go down. There's a couple minute long video about Paul's life and the Beatles and Wings and whatnot. Pretty cool. I kept looking down at the stage though, because I didn't want him to come on and I'd still be looking at the screen.

I don't recall how exactly he made his entrance or if he said anything or just went into "Magical Mystery Tour". Anyway, I don't remember too much about each particular song. I was a little scared at first because he did "Flaming Pie" and "Jet" right near the beginning, and I've never heard either. I mean, I've heard OF them, but I've never actually heard them. Now if I had a working record player I'd probably be a huge Wings / solo Paul fan because I've got a bunch of his records.

Now, if *I* was someone else reading this, but still me (if that makes any sense :P) I would think I am pathetic. I'm not a big fan of My Generation, She Loves You, I'm A Believer, all the really big songs, even if they are by groups I love. I like more obscure ones, like Whiskey Man, Long Long Long, Never Tell A Woman Yes. People who say "oh, my favourite Beatles song is Sgt. Pepper's" is OBVIOUSLY not a real Beatles fan! Now before you all go crazy and insult me, I KNOW that is not true. I have nothing against Sgt. Pepper's or any other song. If your favourite song is one on the "1" album, it can give the illusion that "1" is the only Beatles album you own. Huge Beatlemaniacs will probably have lots of albums. There are some big fans who like the big songs. But there are also some casual fans who like the big songs. And casual fans and big fans are totally different. Me, I'm a big fan. I'd rather hang out with another big fan, because I could talk to them about more obscure Beatle things and a bigger variety of Beatle things. Everyone has different tastes in music, different favourite songs, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. But your favourite song can make you be mistaken for someone else.

Well, I suppose now I should Get Back to Yesterday, yes? Ha ha ha!

During "Jet" I wanted to yell "JET!" after everyone else was done yelling Jet. Because that would've just been funny, right?

Then he did "I'll Get You" (he said he'd play some new ones and old ones, this was in the latter categoryyy), "Drive My Car" (he talked about doing this one at the Superbowl), "Til There Was You", and "Let Me Roll It" (which was another one I didn't know). "Got To Get You Into My Life", "Fine Line" (which I've had stuck in my head ever since, I never noticed he sang about "chaos and creation" in that song, I found that rather amusing :)), "Maybe I'm Amazed", "The Long And Winding Road".

Then he asked the audience for some help while singing "In Spite Of All The Danger". I'm glad he played that, though there were a few parts where the audience should've sang, though it would have gotten too complicated.

"I Will" came next, which is my absolute favourite Beatles song sang by Paul. From looking at set lists before, I knew he would play "Jenny Wren" next. I thought it was pretty awesome that he sang my favourite song and then *my* song right after each other. Well, not *my* song, but you know what I mean. :P

"For No One" and "Fixing A Hole" next.

"Would you like to sit with me for a cup of English Tea?" Paul asked the audience (or something… now, I thought he said "would you like to sleep with me…" ha). Paul mimed pouring out a cup of tea and what not and then began playing piano and singing. The screen changed to an English garden, which was pretty cool. I don't really care for that song though. :/

"I'll Follow The Sun", "Follow Me" (which has also been stuck in my head).

He introduced "Blackbird" by playing a little Bachchch piece on the guitar that he and George would play to show they weren't as thick as they looked.

"Eleanor Rigby", "Too Many People" (another song I hadn't heard before), "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window".

Before "Good Day Sunshine" he talked about how the song was used to greet some astronauts after returning to earth and there were pictures of space ships and what not on the screen during this song. This is another song I particularly like, if only because it's about "sunshine". I noticed the "she feels good" was echoed, which I thought was amusing. I don't really think it sounds like that on the original. :)

"Band On The Run" (everyone stood up when the faster part started), "Penny Lane", "I've Got A Feeling" (I think it was during this song that someone in front of us was taken out of the concert, I don't know why though), "Back In The USSR".

He played "Hey Jude" and of course everyone was singing. It seemed strange to me to not hear the "wrong chooord f***ing 'ell!" line. I mean, I knew he or anyone else was not going to sing it, but whenever I listen to "Hey Jude" that part always sticks out. :P

"Live And Let Die" had the fire, of course. And then he left. He's gone.

But of course, there would have to be an encore. And so there was.

"Yesterday" (he said the guitar he used for this song was the same guitar he had on the Ed Sullivan show or somewhere, it had a Red Wings or something sticker on it which was met with a bit of booing), "Get Back", and "Helter Skelter" were the first encore.

We weren't too sure if he would do a second encore (the Stones hadn't), but he came back (waving a Canadian flag and wearing a "No More Landmines" shirt) and did "Please Please Me". I didn't think he'd do that song. I'd probably seen it on a set list before, but hadn't remembered, it just seemed an odd choice.

"Mull Of Kintyre", of course, since he was in Canada. They had the whole marching band come out with the bagpipes and whatnot.

For "Let It Be" they brought out a funky painted little piano and he lit a candle on the piano.

And you know it's really time to go when they start playing "Sgt. Pepper's Reprise" and "The End".

My mom kept telling me to go once "The End" had finished, but I didn't want to leave until Paul had left the stage. But we had to go. Just as I was going down the stage I looked back at Paul, knowing this would probably be the last time I'd ever see him in concert (unless I get super-cheapo seats). It was pretty sad.

It turned out dad had found a parking space just down the street, so we didn't have too much trouble with people rushing around and everyone trying to get out at the same time.

We finished watching "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" on the way home (well, we pulled in the driveway just as "She Loves You" was ending) and went to bed right away.

Another Person's Review

General Thoughts:

Every time Paul lifted up his guitar, I felt compelled to yell "SMASH IT!!!". That what you get for being a Who fan, I guess.

If you were squinting and were far away the dark haired guitarist looked a wee bit like Dhani. When he lifted up his guitar, I once again wanted to yelled "SMASH IT!!!". I mean, he could've smashed his, right? Paul couldn't because his guitar's are like artifacts or whatever, right? *rolls eyes* But no, he's a young guy, lots of energy, he can go around and giggle and yell "SMASHIE SMASHIE" right?

I can't really say whether I like Paul or the Stones better. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I can't compare two different artists, groups, whatever. I liked Paul's because I knew pretty much all of the songs he sang and we were closer. I liked the Stones because it was more energetic, and it wasn't just one person, it was a whole group. Now, all the concerts I've been to in recent years I liked better than others for some reason.

I liked Paul best as a solo performance. I liked the Stones best as a group performance. I liked Peter for the setting, a small little cafe, and the fact that I got a hug. I liked Micky because I was front row and with people who liked The Monkees, not my family who I had dragged along with me (well, actually, they had to drive me there :P). I liked Davy because it was my first concert, and it was awesome just because of that, it was a total high and I was probably at the peak of my Monkees obsession.

Overall, I had fun. I enjoyed it.

The bad thing?

It only lasted one night.

That's my problem with concerts.

I don't want them to end.

SET LIST

1. Magical Mystery Tour
2. Flaming Pie
3. Jet
4. I'll Get You
5. Drive My Car
6. 'Til There Was You
7. Let Me Roll It
8. Got To Get You Into My Life
9. Fine Line
10. Maybe I'm Amazed
11. The Long And Winding Road
12. In Spite Of All The Danger
13. I Will
14. Jenny Wren
15. For No One
16. Fixing A Hole
17. English Tea
18. I'll Follow The Sun
19. Follow Me
20. Blackbird
21. Eleanor Rigby
22. Too Many People
23. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
24. Good Day Sunshine
25. Band On The Run
26. Penny Lane
27. I've Got A Feeling
28. Back In The USSR
29. Hey Jude
30. Live And Let Die
31. Yesterday
32. Get Back
33. Helter Skelter
34. Please Please Me
35. Mull Of Kintyre
36. Let It Be
37. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)/The End