So at some point within the last month or so, music literally went West with Paul McCartney turning up as a hired hand on two singles featuring the big mouthed, Beck loving, rapper’s input. It’s hard to work out the real reasons for Macca’s input into either collaboration. Perhaps he’s aiming to stay relevant, perhaps he actually admires the artists he’s working with (the old and senile argument).My personal theory is that at some point in 2002 his thumbs permanently got stuck in his classic pose and he felt too guilty to tell Kanye he wasn’t actually saying yes to a collaboration. Oh bless Sir Thumbsaloft!
The tracks musically are neither here nor there. ‘Only One’ is the basis of a good song, with some of Kanye’s better lyrics being paired with sparse but fitting gospel piano from Macca, however with this being a K.West song it goes without saying that all the soul of the song has been auto-tuned to within an inch of its life and instead just holds out for air via McCartney’s life support backing.
Too harsh? Well let’s look at his turn on Rihanna’s new single ‘Four Five Seconds’. It’s actually a decent pop track (if such a thing exists nowadays), catchy but sophisticated. This isn’t Rihanna spurting out the tired tripe about whips and chains, or bad boys and doobies. Paul’s sparse and controlled use of guitar drives the song along on a quiet bed and actually allows Rihanna to use her considerable vocal talent to its full potential…And then Kanye starts rapping. It just doesn’t fit at all. It’s the musical equivalent of Charlie Sheen turning up in an episode of Downton Abbey. Have a look at the below video and see just how out of place West looks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swRgOrKhP8M
His posturing makes him look like Kevin The Teenager when contrasted with the cool and measured performances of his “peers”. The real question isn’t whether or why Macca should be collaborating with young pop artists but why the fuck does Kanye have such a knack of fucking up great songs. McCartney’s input in either song is relatively small, in the performance sense. Contributing some guitar, piano and backing vocals as and when it’s needed but letting the singer take the centre stage. If nothing else these are professional and precise contributions. They aren’t going to gain McCartney any further light shone up his arse, and neither does he seem to be looking for it. No, the main reason for McCartney’s input is not as some last ditch attempt to stay relevant, like it or not there’s always going to be new waves of Beatles fans. His last album was his most successful in a good while and his tours constantly sell out. This was likely instigated by West and Rihanna (or more likely their management) to plug new and more mature looks for the pair. West is now a married family man, (supposedly) calmer and more reflective and reserved while Rihanna needs to make a clean break from the Chris Brown, Partying and Cannabis scandals that have acted as a tabloid subplot to her recent career.
Bringing in Paul McCartney is still seen for many as the ultimate stamp of approval. If a Beatle (maybe not so much Ringo) likes you enough to collaborate, it’s likely you’re pretty darn talented (unless you are Kanye). It also displays a willingness to look back to your peers for inspiration and serves to put you on a pedestal for comparison, rightly or wrongly so. It’s a risky move but has the potential to pay dividends to a young artists career. At the end of the day ripping off The Beatles never did Oasis any harm… So yeah, a 72 year old musical legend having a mid-life crisis? You must be on about Madonna right?
