Paul is playing all the instruments on the recording, hence the video. The lady was Paul's wife Linda. This was the song that John Lennon said showed Paul at his true potential and helped inspire him to start recording again. There is also a live version that is also great.
Supposedly John said "F*&K a pig! It's Paul!" upon hearing it. The live version was released as a single but John preferred this one which he called the "freaky one". The live version was one of the last Wings songs ever.
@@Lwize Sorry, I am not buying this. Paul solo, and well as with the Wings (and let's be clear, he was the driving creative force for the Wings), surely resulted in more hit singles.
@@DEWDLES pay close attention. denny wanted to get paid for the songs he co wrote with Paul along with other songs he wrote that Paul claimed as his own. Denny took Paul to court and sadly lost, only because no court was ever going to rule against a beatle. At the end of the case Denny said that Paul would never write another number one song. He was right, he never did, and anything Paul released, was a dismal failure.
Apart from the two characters that Linda is playing, Paul was everyone else - including an impression of himself as a Beatle. All of the characters were real musicians -for example, the keyboard player with the moustach that made you laugh, Amber, was Paul's take on Ron Mael who performs with his brother Russell in the band Sparks (70s - present). That was/is Ron's signature look on stage - never broke out of character - very severe stare into camera etc (apparently he's nothing like this in real life and is a really lovely guy lol). I don't think you've listened to Sparks yet? They are very quirky. You could try 'This Town Ain't big Enough For The Both of Us,' and 'Beat The Clock.'
YES to a Sparks reaction. I saw them at the Hollywood Bowl last month and they are at their peak in their 70s. More energy on stage than bands half their age!
@@GiantessNomad - I was there, too! It was amazing seeing them perform there knowing that their mom took them there to see The Beatles and how that planted the seed for them to ultimately become a band which has lasted now for almost 50 years and 26 albums, I think it is. The documentary that Edgar Wright did on them is fantastic, too.
The "suspicious keyboard player" with the tie and mustache is a reference to Ron Mael of Sparks, another great band with a vast catalog. "Angst in My Pants" is a perfect place to start with Sparks.
Sparks are a great example of a US act that have been far more successful in the UK and Europe than in their own country. They emerged in the early '70s but are still touring and releasing albums now. It would be great for them to check out some Sparks.
Sparks has been recording their quirky songs for over 50 years now. Nice to see Paul give Ron a place in this fun video. Sparks latest album - 'The Girl is Crying in her Latte', is as good as anything they've ever done. Such a sweet reaction to an unexpected treat.
This is actually one of my favorite Paul McCartney songs. Interesting fact about this song. When this came out in the spring of 1980, his former bandmate John Lennon hadn’t recorded anything new in quite some time. He had been taking a sabbatical of sorts from the music biz. Throughout much of the ‘70s John had taken a few jabs at Paul for writing what John felt were “silly love songs”…basically accusing him of “selling out”. However, when John heard this song he loved it, and it inspired him to start writing and recording again, which resulted in John’s final album “Double Fantasy”, which was released late that same year. John was back in form, and the happiest and most creative he had been in a long time, inspired by Paul’s “Coming Up”. Sadly, just as the first single released from that album “(Just Like) Starting Over” was climbing the charts, John was murdered, and he never got to see its success. 😢❤
Paul actually can play the drums. He played them on one of the Beatle songs when Ringo walked out of the recording. He also was one of the Quarry Men's first drummers.
He played drums on The Beatles songs Back in the USSR, Ballad Of John And Yoko, Dear Prudence, Martha My Dear, and Wild Honey Pie. He also played drums (and everything else) on McCartney I, II, and III, and on the Band On The Run album.
George Harrison has said that at some point Paul was playing drums in the early days of the Beatles for a couple of performances When John and George played guitar and Stu Sutcliffe was on bass and they didn’t have a permanent drummer so Paul would step up It could have just been for one performance idk but he did play drums in the early days of the Beatles
Oh!! Thank you thank you for this!! I really wanted you to see this!!!! This is all PAUL and LINDA!!! The two of them are doing all the instruments themselves!!No one else!
Paul McCartney took a break from Wings to record some funky tracks in his barn in Scotland. Initially, they were just made for his own amusement and to play to family and friends, but then he got the idea to make an album of them. Paul is playing all of the instruments as he did on his first solo album “McCartney”. This was “McCartney II”. Another one he did after this is “Take It Away”. It also features Ringo on drums and was produced by the Beatles producer George Martin.
Yes. The "Wings" iteration of McCartney's backing band was pretty much at an end. After the recording of "McCartney II" in mid-1979, Wings did one final tour (including a live version of "Coming Up" released as the B-side for this single) and after that McCartney used various other musicians for this subsequent albums.
Actually, “take it away” was from Tug of War, which was released three years later. The McCartney II album had coming up, temporary secretary, and waterfalls as its three singles… (Paul released “McCartney“ when the Beatles split up… He released “McCartney II“ when wings split up
he's in this late 30's here and has already had twelve full music careers as a singer, instrumentalist, writer, lyricist, live performer, arranger, and producer as a Beatle and as the founder of Wings and now beginning his 3rd round as a solo artist.
There are going to be a lot of Paul McCartney solo songs that will catch you off guard. He really has done a little bit of everything. This is probably one of my favorite videos because it is so fun and it's just Paul and Linda playing all those parts, many of which were parodies of famous musicians, the best one being Paul making fun of himself from his early Beatle days. I can't wait until you do "Call Me Back Again", a mid-70s Wings song. I've seen a lot of other reactors do this one and they are shocked but in a pleasant way after listening to it. Once again I'll remind you that during the 70s Paul had more hits than the other three put together so you will be digging down his rabbit hole for years to come and I'll be looking forward to each and every one.
Great Paul track. John had stopped recording in 1975. When he heard this he was so excited that Paul had "still got it" as he said at the time, that he got him writing again.
Paul's self impression/ parody as the Beatle member he was, with a bobbing head always makes me smile. As a tween in the very early 80s, I loved this song it has a pop, disco, funk and rock sound that I enjoyed, still do ❤.
The video was hysterical. But are we listening with our eyes again? The song was first heard, not seen, on the radio at the time. It stands on it's own merit. Paul was sort of updating and keeping up with the current sound of groups like Devo and such, and it came across really great. every time Jay watches anything Beatles or Post Beatles he expresses the same most important point...."That was not what I expected." One of the main reasons the Beatles music and post Beatles music is timeless.
The music video for "Coming Up", directed by Keith McMillan, features Paul McCartney playing ten roles (himself, two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a keyboard player, and four saxophone players) and Linda McCartney playing two (one female backing singer and one male backing singer).
Saw Paul in 89 and they just killed this number. My friends and I were dancing and rocking out. The air was electric. What a night! Memories I will cherish forever.
My favorite Paul McCartney song is "Beautiful Night" from the 1997 album Flaming Pie. Just throwing that out there. Possibly again. Sorry, I don't always remember what I've recommended. 😊
I’m sure you’ve already discovered that Paul is a musical genius. He totally reinvents himself at times. I highly recommend you react to Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five (1985) from the Wings “Band On The Run” album. Incredible song. Also, his two solo albums after the Beatles breakup, “McCartney” and “Ram” have some masterpieces of musicianship.
I suggested that one also, with Let Me Roll It and Uncle Albert, so you can be sure they'll never listen to them. But I will because I know they are some of the best from the best.
Paul was and is no musical genius. To be a musical genius, you have to be able to read and write music and compose it, since he did none of these, he is just someone that could play instruments, sorry.
'Band on the Run' has the most hits, but 'Venus and Mars' is arguably the stronger overall album. The general consensus seems to be those plus 'Ram' are Paul's top three.
@@surlechapeau Yes, he reportedly heard the song at a nightclub or bar in Bermuda. John Lennon was really into the new wave bands at the time. The Pretenders were another favorite of his. The Cars. Madness. He also liked The Clash. I’m not sure, but I can imagine (no pun intended) he would have liked The Police.
@@surlechapeau Wow! That's so cool you know that! And I'm pretty sure you're right! I read that John heard "Rock Lobster" and it reminded him a little of Yoko's music. And that's what inspired him to start recording again. John was quoted as saying, "it's time to get out the old axe and wake the wife up!". 😊
Each character he plays is based on someone: Beatle Paul McCartney on Bass Ron Mael of Sparks on Keyboards John Bonham of Zeppelin on Drums Hank Marvin of the Shadows on Guitar Andy Mackay of Roxy Music on Saxophone
@@thomascroft5076 In his audio commentary on the 2007 video collection The McCartney Years, McCartney himself identified characters that were impersonations of specific artists: Hank Marvin (guitarist from the Shadows), Ron Mael of Sparks (keyboards), a 'Beatlemania-era' version of himself (bass), Andy Mackay of Roxy Music (saxophone) and a drummer vaguely inspired by John Bonham from Led Zeppelin.
Paul was playing all the characters in the video with the exception of Linda. He was disguised as Ringo on the drums with the heavt beard as well as both John & Yoko in the white suits.Paul also played various characters in his career. Incidentally the Live at Glasgow Coming Up was the hit version that went to number one.
Paul McCartney and Wings - Uncle Albert - Jet - Live and Let Die - Band on the Run - Listen to what the man says - With a little Luck - My Love - Someones knocking at the door - Silly love songs
Please listen to 'My Love' by Paul with Wings and also 'When I'm 64' by The Beatles. Two completely different love songs. Both written by Paul, both beautiful. Paul wrote When I'm 64 when he was about 14 and around the time of his mother Mary's death, and it was one of the first songs he ever wrote. When Paul recorded it many years later and included it on Sargent Pepper he sped it up to make his voice sound younger.. Mccartney is a genius.
@@dawnpatrol700 It takes a while to warm up to Sparks haha. They could start with the FFS song Johnny Delusional so they could get an intro to Sparks and Franz Ferdinand at the same time. :-)
This was Paul having fun he was in the studio messing around playing all the instruments recording himself he then put something together, he used the loop, only he sings, Linda his wife wasn't in the studio but he put her on stage, he wasn't going to realise it but have it as a snappy tune for the car, but people convinced him to release it as a single so written on the single is produced by - Paul McCartney Sound engineer - Paul McCartney Written by - Paul McCartney
John Lennon loved this song so much when he heard it on the radio in 1979 that it knocked him out of a four-year retirement from music and got him writing and recording new songs again.
I am in my 60’s and my father called the Beetles and the other groups that had a similar look “those long haired hippy dudes”. Of course my father liked the big band sounds.
He plays all the instruments that's why he's all the characters. That was his wife Linda. George Harrisons All things must pass, is an absolute MASTERPIECE, It was his Debut
Such a fun song. They were all Paul except of course his wife Linda. Linda also played the mustached “man” to her left. Paul was playing several real life characters including himself as a Beatle and someone who is probably supposed to be Buddy Holly. The keyboard player character is well known but I forget who it’s supposed to be.
It's not Buddy Holly he is portraying, it's HANK MARVIN the guitarist from THE SHADOWS another UK group from the '60s. Look him up and you can see that Hank also looked much like Buddy Holly. Paul has said so himself that he is doing Hank Marvin, who he was also friends with.
1 of my favs, studio, live, and video! The keyboard player was his imitation of the keyboard player, Ron Mael, from the group, Sparks. Gotta do, "My Love", official video/studio version!
This is the main song (the other being Rock Lobster by the B-52s) which inspired John Lennon to get back into making music after his five year break (from 1975 to 1980) which he took to raise his second son Sean John along with Yoko Ono then made the album Double Fantasy (1980) which was the last album Lennon released before he was killed and was actually the album that Lennon’s killer got him to sign John liked Rock Lobster because he thought it sounded like what Yoko had been doing at least parts of the song Coming Up was actually a song Paul had been playing with Wings in 1979 on their tours but it was quite different (a lot of people actually prefer the live version) As with every song on the album that Coming Up was on (McCartney II) Paul played every instrument which is the principle for each “McCartney” album as in McCartney (1970), McCartney II (1980) and now McCartney III (2020)
Paul was always way ahead of him time. He really was the innovator. His ‘McCartney II’ album ushered in the synth decade (the 80s.) So good. This was the song that prompted John to make music again. He heard it on the radio and said, “F*ck a pig, that’s Paul!” And yes, he and wife Linda are playing all the characters in the video - and where you paused it - that’s Paul playing “Beatles Paul” (the infamous “whooooo” head shake.) There are hundreds of McCartney and Wings and solo McCartney songs to listen to (he is, after all, the Guinness Book of World Records’ most successful artist and composer in music history) but def check out “The Backseat of My Car,” “Too Many People,” and “Dear Boy” from his 1971 album “RAM” album. The best of the best 🫶🏽
I want to see them react to Paul's live performances from his 1976 Wings Over America Tour, of "BEWARE MY LOVE," "CALL ME BACK AGAIN," and PARTICULARILY "SOILY" which BLEW several reactors AWAY....they couldn't believe that Paul could SING like that. These live versions from that concert are all here on You TUbe
This was a double sided hit with the same song. A lot of the rock stations preferred the live version, which I enjoyed as well. But this is nice because you get the video with Paul playing all of these different characters, including his Beatle self, so it's still great! I think you should definitely check out the live version though.
Paul is playing specific famous musicians-Buddy Holly on the guitar, The guy from Sparks on the keyboard, himself when very young, and the drummer from pretty much any episode of Top Of The Pops when a drummer realised the camera was on him....! They always pulled silly faces when they saw their faces on the monitor. Drummers! The whole song was an attempt to compete with the rising sucess of Talking Heads and if you close your eyes you can easily imagine it being a Talking Heads song.
This video was shown on Saturday Night Live back when it came out. Paul was interviewed live by Father Sarducci. Sarducci woke Paul up. 'Paul' forgot about the time difference when he scheduled the interview.
I've heard the live version of this song hundreds of times, but this is the first time I've watched the video or even heard the studio version of "Coming Up". Thank you this was a gem for me and I loved it. Now I know where Andre Benjamin (aka Andre 3000) got the idea for his great video for "Hey Ya" another terrific song.
Paul really gets FUNKY on this one! A what a creative video with his wife Linda playing two singers behind Paul as well as his comedic portrayal of the many band members! Another #1 hit! 😊👏🏾🎤🎶🎸🎹🥁🛼🪩💯
Remember this comment for a future song. You guys should do the SOS band. The song is take your time. It is funky and groovy. You guys will be dancing.
I had the exact same reaction to this the first time I heard it when I was a teenager!😳🤣 Just like y’all at first I went…”What in the world is this but by the time the first verse and chorus were over with I was singing and bee-boppin’ along with it too!😆😂I mean you just can’t help it man!🤷🏻✌️🫶🎶
I love this tune. Coming Up is a song about the power of music to connect people and bring them together...and the feeling of being lost and disconnected from the world, and how music can help to bridge that gap.
I really like this song and this video. It's just him and his late wife, Linda, as different people in the video and I've seen other artists do this same thing and it's always fun! 💖💖
When you talk about how many reactions you have done with the individual members of The Beatles, Remember, you also did George Harrison as a member of the Traveling Wliburys.
John Lennon liked this song a lot and it inspired him make a comeback (he had stopped making music for 5 years). The live version of this is really cool too, it has a slightly rougher sound and Paul's voice sounds incredible on it. Paul is practically limitless, there isn't much he can't do.
This version was a hit in the UK. In the US, the live version, recorded in Glasgow with Wings, went to #1 in 1980. I used to prefer the live version, but years later, this studio version (on which Paul plays everything) is my favored version.
One of the few times I'll say that the live version is so much better.. it was rereleased a few years after the studio version and was a bigger hit. It was #1 on the charts for 3 weeks. The tempo was faster and the vocals arent synthesized. Also the use of horns instead of synthesizers gives the song more bounce and energy.
It's not fair to compare them, because they are TOTALLY DIFFERNT versions. I LOVE them BOTH, but you can't BEAT the VIDEO for the studio "Coming Up" Just LOVE it.
Of all the musicians that Paul is impersonating my favorite is the keyboard player who is one of the brothers from Sparks. One of the most influential under known bands. Check out anything from their 28 albums. In thier 70s and still rocking.
I really like this song by Paul. It’s been a while since I last heard it. As a solo artist, Paul, I believe, has the most extensive song list. By the way, Paul’s wife, Linda, is one of the backup singers in this video. Thanks for choosing to do a video on this song. 😁
Paul McCartney had SO many hits in the 70's and 80's with and without his band Wings. Another "rocker" would be "Junior's Farm," and another super catchy pop song would be "Uncle Albert."
Lovely memories of Linda Mc Cartney,while working in van sales in Peasmarsh,near Rye,Sussex as i entered a grocery shop she was coming out and gave me a big smile as i opened the door for her,what a lovely lady,much missed.
@@BGNOLA, when this channel first started, Jordan listened to "I Want You/She's So Heavy", but didn't like it. I think that both Jordan and Amber should do a re-listen. They might find that they like it. Never liked "Coming Up". Much prefer all.of the songs on the "Ram", and "Band on the Run" albums.
Except for the two characters Linda is playing, Paul is playing everyone else. He also played everything on the recording. A live version was on the B-side of the single. It got most of the airplay and ended up hitting #1 on the charts.
You two are awesome! It’s wonderful to experience your excitement and wonder. I’m happy you also pay notice to lyrics when you talk about the songs. Great work!
The band (The Plastic Macs - like Lennon's Plastic Ono Band) are all played by Paul and Linda impersonating other musicians. The dodgy looking keyboard player was a very good impersonation of Ron Mael from Sparks - a band you should definitely react to.
That would be Paul McCartney and wings. They do the song junior's farm. That's a good yeah, yeah, I want to go I do. I've gotta go every now and then to junior swarm
Some of the characters Paul plays are Neil Young, Buddy Holly, Hank Marvin of the Shadows on guitars, himself on bass as a younger version of himself as a Beatle, Ron Mael of Sparks on keyboards. A character he made up loosely based on Led Zepplin's drummer John Bonham. And on horns Andy Mackay from Roxy Music fame and Frank Zappa. Linda plays herself and another musician with a mustache. Paul called this group the Plastic Macs, a play on John Lennons band the Plastic Ono Band.
The suspicious keyboard player is an amazing impression of one of the Mael brothers Ron and Russell - they formed a band called Sparks in the 70s- you should check their singles out. "This town ain't big enough for the both of us" should give you a good taste of how they sound. Keyboards were played by Ron I think (been a long time). Be well. 😉
I really think you'd love "Nineteen Hundred Eighty Five" by Paul. You've Piano and this is awesome. Other reactors were surprised at how much it rocks and really enjoyed it.
Other reactors have also been TOTALLY surprised watching Paul perform "BEWARE MY LOVE," "CALL ME BACK AGAIN," "MAYBE I'M AMAZED" and ESPECIALLY "SOILY" all are LIVE videos from his 1976 "WINGS OVER AMERICA TOUR." THe entire concert was FILMED for the movie theater under the title "ROCKSHOW" which is here ON YOU TUBE, and so are the individual songs FROM that concert. THEY need to REACT to those. Other reactors could not BELIEVE that PAUL could SING LIKE THAT....except those of us who are die hard Beatles and McCartney fans, who already KNEW he could have those rocking, raspy, bluesy vocals.
79 live version is the shit… used to hear it all the time as a 6 year old on the radio when it came out and it stuck in my head instantly… this guy has the greatest sense of melody ever
You can fill out your Beatles knowledge by listening to the hit songs by John's two sons. Julian's biggest hit is "Too Late For Goodbyes", but I prefer his first song, "Valotte". Sean has played with a number of bands, you should probably check him out with his mom, in the Plastic Ono Band revival.
Paul played every instrument on this song. John Lennon, upon hearing it in the radio for the first time, reported said "F**k A Pig It's Paul!" Calling it "a good piece of work" it inspired John to come out of retirement and begin working in what would become his final album "Double Fantasy"
One of my favourite Macca video's where he did Beatle Paul on bass, and Ron Mael from sparks on keyboards. Definitely a video and a song to make you smile and get you dancin'. God bless you both and keep on smilin'...
This made the news when it was released. Paul is playing some musicians who influenced him through the years. In the horn-rimmed glasses, he's Buddy Holly. The suspicious keyboard player was Paul being Ron Mael of the Sparks, and the blonde woman singing backup is none other than his lovely wife Linda. He married her in 1969, and they were together until her death from breast cancer in 1998, at age 56. "McCartney II" has some great songs on it. Besides the title cut, there's "Waterfalls" and "One of These Days." Another good McCartney solo track is "Take it Away" from the 1982 album "Tug of War." That's another solid album. It includes his tribute to John, "Here Today." Paul's albums almost always have one or two oddball songs, but TOW is pretty solid all the way through. Love the reaction, as always! Peace! 💗
'I feel it in my bones - yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah' - just now after watching/listening to coming up for the first time in almost 40 years, it immediately took me back to fun moments that I didn't know I missed - my funny brother, cousin and I singing that part as close to Paul's delivery as we could manage...your video then came up as a suggestion, so here I am...