Coldplay, Katy Perry, Tony Bennett and Neil Young plumbed Paul McCartney’s vast songbook in taking the former Beatle on a musical journey of his more than 50-year career, writes the Washington Post this weekend, in a review article of the MusiCares Paul McCartney tribute concert in Los Angeles (10th February). They joined James Taylor, Diana Krall and Foo Fighters among others in launching Grammy weekend Friday night by honoring McCartney as the MusiCares Person of the Year. More review discussion and Coldplay photos are here here and here at the Coldplay Live forum now. There is also a short video available to view. (thanks everyone who has contributed so far!)
McCartney, who turns 70 in June, was toasted for his musical achievements and philanthropic work two days before the Grammy Awards. “It’s great for me to be here,” he told the crowd in the Los Angeles Convention Center. “It’s fantastic to hear all these fantastic artists doing my songs.”
The dinner menu even reflected his vegetarian lifestyle, from the tomato and fresh mozzarella tower to the main course of grilled seitan and roasted vegetables in puff pastry. Seitan is a wheat gluten used as a meat substitute.
The former Beatle singled out Young’s rowdy version of “I Saw Her Standing There” and “all the others putting nuances on the songs I didn’t know were there.” He was on his feet leading the applause after Foo Fighters tore through the Wings hit “Jet.” Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said, “We love Paul and we’re happy to be here” before launching into “We Can Work It Out.”
It also was a working night for McCartney, who capped an opening medley by the cast from the Beatles’ ”Love” by Cirque du Soleil with “Magical Mystery Tour.” At the end of the evening, McCartney turned the vast hall into an intimate jazz club with “My Valentine,” a song he wrote for new wife Nancy Shevell, and “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” two cuts off his latest album, “Kisses On the Bottom.” He was accompanied by Krall on the piano.
He whipped off his jacket and raced to the piano for the Wings song “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five.” He strapped on the bass for a closing medley of “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End,” with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and former Eagle Joe Walsh backing him. Alicia Keys performed a soulful “Blackbird,” tweaking the lyrics to sing “I’ve just been waiting for this moment to be free.”
“I never knew how much this song is about me,” she said. Perry fooled the audience when her four-piece backing band launched into the opening notes of “Live and Let Die.” She quickly switched to “Hey Jude,” leading McCartney and Shevell in a crowd sing-along of the chorus as Perry conducted with a sparkly baton. Perry wore a large pale pink floral bud hat that would have fit in well at the Kentucky Derby. Bennett lent a swinging touch to “Here, There and Everywhere,” while Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas performed a bluegrass-tinged “No More Lonely Nights.’”
“Hello, sir,” Norah Jones cooed to McCartney as she settled in at the piano to sing the Beatles tune “Oh! Darling.” British comedian Eddie Izzard got laughs with his trademark rambling, this time a whimsical story of McCartney’s life that bore little resemblance to the facts. He eventually got serious, saying: “For Paul McCartney, words are not needed. The music speaks for itself.”
Among the star-studded crowd of 2,800 were Yoko Ono, “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson, David Crosby, Rosanna Arquette, Bonnie Raitt, Berry Gordy, Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson, music executive LA Reid, songwriter Diane Warren, Piers Morgan, and actor John Stamos.
Friday’s dinner and auction produced the highest-grossing evening in the tribute’s 22-year history, with more than $6.5 million raised, said Recording Academy president Neil Portnow. MusiCares, run by the Recording Academy, provides financial assistance to individuals in the music industry during times of need. Portnow said the charity served 2,700 people in 2011, the most in a single year.
He said Perry has pledged to donate a minimum of $250,000 to MusiCares from sales of a benefit single she was moved to record after learning more about the organization. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
New photos of Coldplay at the MusiCares Paul McCartney tribute concert, Los Angeles (10th February 2012):
Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:
FEBRUARY 2012
8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion] [NEW!]
9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion] [RESCHEDULED FROM 7TH FEB!]
10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion] [NEW!]
12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion] [NEW!]
16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [NEW!]
17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [NEW!]
21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion] [NEW!]
MARCH 2012
4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion] [NEW!]
APRIL 2012
17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]
18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]
20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]
24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]
25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]
27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]
MAY 2012
1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]
4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion] [NEW!]
18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]
20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]
22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]
24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]
29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]
JUNE 2012
1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]
7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]
9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]
22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]
25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]
26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion] [NEW!]
28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]
29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]
JULY 2012
2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]
3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion] [NEW!]
5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]
8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]
23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]
26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]
29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]
AUGUST 2012
1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion] [NEW!]
3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]
7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]
11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]
28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]
30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]
SEPTEMBER 2012
2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]
4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]
6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]
12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]
14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]
16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]
19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]
22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]
Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)
Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)
Read also: 2012: Live Appearances - Easy Thread Finder (last updated - 12th January 2012)
Read also: 2012 tour date rumours (please post dates for ALL countries in here)
Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]
The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]
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