Dance Tonight: Paul McCartney got the crowd going in Glasgow Pic: ©Rex Features
Paul McCartney experienced the Hampden Roar first hand on Sunday as he whipped the audience into a frenzy at his first live concert in Scotland for over 20 years.
Despite starting off with a few technical glitches, the gig – part of his Up and Coming worldwide tour - got under way after support act, Scottish singer Sharleen Spiteri, warmed up the crowd for him.
The good natured performer took the problems in his stride, jokingly telling the audience: “You know what? It’s brilliant to be back here in Scotland. We’re going to start off with a technical error. We should’ve started by now but instead I’m just going to talk to you. Just pretend you’re not seeing this bit.”
Fresh from his set at the Isle of Wight Festival set, the Beatles star launched into a career-spanning mammoth set of over 30 hits, with the repertoire made up of a range of Beatles classics, as well as solo hits and songs with his band Wings.
Landing myself a few brownie points with my dad, I took him along to the concert which fell on Father’s Day, thinking that someone of his age group would probably appreciate the gig more than me.
Not so. Sir Paul might be 68, but he bounded about stage for two hours and 45 minutes without so much as a minute’s break, singing and playing a range of instruments including the piano, ukulele and various guitars, with more energy that most men half his age could manage. His enthusiasm was infectious and everyone in the crowd, young and old, were soon up on their feet, swept up in the atmosphere.
Songs included Beatles classics like Hey Jude and Yesterday, a range of Paul’s solo songs such as as Live & Let Die, and his hits with Wings, like Nineteen Hundred and Eight Five.
Tugging at the patriotic heart strings, Paul ran across the stage with a Scottish saltire flag before launching into a rousing performance of crowd pleaser Mull of Kintyre, backed by the Loretto School Pipe Band. “We couldn’t come here without doing this song,” he told the crowd.
Sir Paul also performed various moving tributes to friends and loved ones he has lost, including his late wife Linda, Beatles members John Lennon and George Harrison, and Jimmi Hendrix.
After being away for so long, all eyes in the packed crowd were on Macca to see if he could live up to his reputation, and they hype of his latest tour. And the winning combination of unforgettable hits, stunning lighting and pyrotechnic effects and fireworks all combined to make sure that this is one show that’ll be remembered long after Sir Paul leaves Scotland.
“I have a feeling you’ve had a good time tonight. You’re a brilliant crowd. Thank for the welcome back to Scotland,” Paul – who teased the audience with not one, but two encores – told his fans. And looking emotional, Macca finished off the concert by saying: “Scotland we love you and we’ll see you at the next one.”
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