Paul McCartney: Legendary Paul McCartney honored at MusiCares (USA Today)

By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY

Updated 1h 44m ago

 

 

LOS ANGELES – The musicians cueing up to salute Paul McCartney at MusiCares were nervous enough about doing justice to their hero's classics. Then they had to worry about living up to the opening act: McCartney.The legendary musician, the biggest big shot snagged in the event's 22-year history, was celebrated for his music and philanthropy Friday night at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The honoree, accompanied by wife Nancy Shevell, didn't bask in glory. He sang for his (vegetarian) supper.

After the boisterous dance-and-acrobatics pageantry of Cirque du Soleil's Beatles LOVE troupe, McCartney, 69, took the stage and charged into rousing versions of Magical Mystery Tour and Junior's Farm, setting a high bar for an evening of distinctive covers by diverse admirers.

The Foo Fighters cleared that bar with a roaring Jet, after singer Dave Grohl gushed about the surreal coolness of "hanging out with Paul friggin' McCartney."

Alicia Keys, who accompanied herself on piano for an aching, soulful Blackbird, said, "It's a beautiful honor to be here tonight. I never knew how much this song was about me."

Alison Krauss & Union Station, plus Jerry Douglas, brought creamy harmonies and bluegrass shades to an acoustic No More Lonely Nights, performed on a rotating satellite stage. (In rehearsal, Krauss quipped, "What are we, rotisserie chicken?")

Read further:  http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/story/2012-02-11/paul-mccartney-musicares-party/53046928/1

Paul McCartney: McCartney MusiCares Show: James Taylor, Norah Jones, Coldplay Featured (Showbiz 411)

 

01/19/12 11:40am

 

Roger Friedman

Literally everyone in the music biz wants to be part of MusiCares’s Person of the Year show with Paul McCartney on February 10th in L.A. I can tell you that James Taylor was first to sign up. He gets to sing “Yesterday,” which is like the greatest honor. Coldplay, Norah Jones, and the Foo Fighters are still deciding their songs. There are a lot more names in the bin, too. But NOT names elsewhere reported: Rihanna, Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson,Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift. This was someone’s misinformation.

What I do know is that Paul is putting on a real show after he’s received his tribute, with Diana Krall and her band helping out as they do on the album. Then Paul makes an appearance on Sunday on the Grammy Awards. I’m surprised he hasn’t tapped Roberta Flack to sing, as well. Her wonderful “Let it Be Roberta” CD comes out that week, too, and it’s all Paul’s songs.

Also read this: http://www.showbiz411.com/2012/01/08/paul-mccartney-will-get-grammy-tv-special-treatment-for-kisses