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Paul McCartney Reflects on 'Emotional' White House Gig

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Sir Paul McCartney has praised US President Barack Obama, saying he's "a fan" and that the gig he played at the White House -- picking up the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song -- on Jun. 2 was "very emotional."

In an interview with Billboard, the former Beatle spoke about his first ever visit to the White House, admitting "I'm a fan of the president. I believe that he's been dealt a bad hand. He came into that job with a lot of difficulties on his plate that weren't of his creation."

"The idea of playing in the White House was very interesting. We wondered what the acoustics would be like, but they turned out to be great. So we had a great time, just the event of it all. We were all very excited. From me, myself, to the lowliest crew member, we were all buzzing," he added.

McCartney's emotional highlight, he said, was performing 'Ebony and Ivory' with soul legend Stevie Wonder in front of the first family.



"To sing it live together for the very first time with the first black president there, it suddenly gave a great significance to the song, " he explained.

"Sometimes you write a song in a certain era and it's got a certain kind of significance. I don't think I would have imagined then that it would be quite so soon that America would elect a black president. It wasn't that soon, but it was a relatively short period of time. To sing it with Stevie in front of President Obama was very emotional. The lyrics to the song suddenly seemed to have more significance to me in that setting."

The gig also featured appearances by Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, White Stripes' Jack White and Elvis Costello, amongst the star-studded line-up.

PBS will broadcast the concert as part of its "In Performance at the White House" series on Wednesday, July 28 at 8 pm EDT.

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Donna J

How much did the American tax payers pay for this gig? I'm so tired of poor Obama. If he's any kind of a president then he knew what he was getting into just like other presidents before him, or at least those that had true experience not only as a politician, but as a Commander and Chief. Paul, I liked you with John Lennon, a true artist never to be forgotten.

September 22 2010 at 1:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R.MCKENZIE

ONE PUKIE PERSON KISSEN THE ASS OF ANOTHER PUKIE PERSON, IT TAKES ONE TO DO ONE!

July 29 2010 at 1:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BP

Who says LSD doesn't cause brain damage? McCartney is in a make believe liberal La La land where he worships the Mad Hatter Hussein.

July 29 2010 at 1:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jim

NOT THE FIRST TIME A BEATLE HAS SAID SOMTHING THAT WAS DEVISTATING WHEN TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT

July 28 2010 at 9:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Snatchmo

Why hasn't there been a "Pimps and Ho's Ball" at the WH yet. I should think the Libs would be slobbering for one.

July 28 2010 at 9:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Art

I have always liked Beatle music, but I no longer can tolerate Paul McCartney. How can he possibly think that it is acceptable to come to our country, eat our food, drink our hooch, (maybe he had too much hooch) and denigrate a former President at the White House. He has every right to his own opinion, and he has the right to voice his opinion, but his sense of timing was incredibly bad. Imagine an American, invited by the Queen to Buckingham Palace for an award, making an acceptance speech and then speaking ill of the previous monarch. That, my friends, would be an international event. Sir Paul would be speaking German today if our GI's stayed home. And he certainly would not be given an award in the name of a couple of Jewish brothers. I always figured McCartney was a classy guy. From now on, I shall think of McCartney as "THE FOOL ON THE HILL."

July 28 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
anne

Paul was my favorite Beatle. I now think he is an ignorant jerk. George Bush has an MBA from Harvard and his wife was a librarian. How dare stupid Paul suggest that Pres. Bush doesn't know what a book is. I guess that is the type of comment you get from someone who doesn't even have a GED. Stay in England. What goes on here is none of your ignorant business.

July 28 2010 at 8:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ed

He's a fan of Obama Well FCUK Sir Paul too!!

July 28 2010 at 8:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ken Lindsey

I used to like Paul, but after hearing his comment about the Muslim in office, I have no use for him anymore. I believe he just said what he thought would be popular with the crowd he was entertaining.

July 28 2010 at 8:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
paul

Hey Paul, move to America and let the obama rip some of your millions off of you to pay for the deadbeats and illegals and maybe you'll be singing a different tune.

July 28 2010 at 8:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply