Paul Weller has recorded a version of the Beatles song 'Birthday' as a tribute to Sir Paul McCartney, who turns 70 on June 18th.
Weller's version of the track will only be available on McCartney's birthday, via digital outlets. All of the proceeds from the single will be donated to charity War Child.
Discussing his reasons for recording the song, Weller said: “The man’s been,
and still is, an immense and enduring inspiration for me. It was him and his
three friends that made me want to pick up a guitar in the first place.
"I saw him play live recently and he inspired me just as much as ever, he was
brilliant. I just hope he likes our little version, a token of my and the bands
love for him and his music. Rock on Macca”.
The song, originally on the The Beatles (often referred to as the
'White Album'), was written by John Lennon and McCartney during a recording
session at Abbey Road Studios in September 1968. Lennon later disavowed the
track, calling it a "piece of garbage" in a 1980 interview.
McCartney and Ringo Starr performed the song together on stage in New York
for Starr's 70th birthday back in 2010.
After fronting the Jam in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Weller, 54, has gone on to have a successful solo career. HIs 11th solo studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released earlier this year and reached the top of the UK album chart.
Paul Weller's 'Birthday' will be available digitally on the 18 June only.
From The Telegraph
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And even at my tender age I realised they were something new and different.
From The SUN
After fronting the Jam in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Weller, 54, has gone on to have a successful solo career. HIs 11th solo studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released earlier this year and reached the top of the UK album chart.
Paul Weller's 'Birthday' will be available digitally on the 18 June only.
From The Telegraph
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get so nervous when I see Macca.. everything I want to ask him goes out of the window
By Beatles fan Paul Weller
I CAN still remember the first time I heard The Beatles.
t was a total epiphany for me — a huge revelation. It must have been around 1963 or 1964, when I was about five or six.
I remember seeing them on TV and then my mum buying all the early singles — like She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand.
That was the start of my love for Paul and it has remained undiminished decades and decades later.
I used to constantly play their singles that my mum had bought on the old radiogram — which was like an early form of music centre.
The next big thing for me — and the real clincher — was hearing Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever in early ’67, and later the Sgt Pepper’s album. I was totally and utterly amazed by those records, it was like they had been beamed down from out of space.
I still go back to all The Beatles albums now and listen to them regularly.
All their music is completely ingrained in our psyche and British culture.
I know them back to front but every now and again I pull out one of their records and I’m still blown away.
There was excitement with every Beatles release because they always took their sound somewhere new. You don’t get that so much any more.
The Frog Chorus wasn’t really my cup of tea and I can’t defend it.
But you know, we all make mistakes along the way.
And McCartney has written enough brilliant songs that you can overlook that.
When I first picked up a guitar I was playing anything simple with three chords, like early rock ’n’ roll stuff.
Then I got a Beatles songbook. Me and my mate started The Jam when we were 13 or 14 and just tried to learn all of their songs.
Some years later I eventually met Macca and it was really cool. It was early ’82 at AIR studios — George Martin’s studios which were near Oxford Circus. We were recording the last Jam album The Gift while Paul was recording in the studio next door.
He was sweet and took time out to speak to us and listened to what we were doing.
I don’t know Paul in a particularly close way but I’ve met him a few times and he’s always been as sweet as a nut.
Whenever I see Macca there are so many things I want to ask him but I get nervous and it all goes out the window.
It will be nice for everyone to celebrate the big man’s birthday on Monday — that’s why I’m releasing a cover of The Beatles’ Birthday. The money raised is going to War Child because the first time I worked with Paul was back in ’95 when me, him and Noel Gallagher recorded a cover of Come Together for the cause.
I’ve seen Paul live a couple of times in recent years and every time I’ve thought “Wow!”, he’s still got it.
The last time was at the Teenage Cancer Trust gig at the Royal Albert Hall in London in March this year — and he was amazing.
I managed to wangle my way on stage to play guitar on Get Back — that was good enough for me.
Paul Weller’s cover of Birthday is available from iTunes and other download services on Monday, June 18. The proceeds go to WarChild a charity for children affected by war.
Their careers
THE GODFATHER
Paul McCartney, 70 (on Monday)
Born: Liverpool
Bands: The Beatles, Wings
Records sold: More than 100million singles, more than 100million albums.
Biggest hits: Live And Let Die, The Frog Chorus, Mull Of Kintyre
Kids: Mary, Stella, Heather, James, Beatrice
THE MODFATHER
Paul Weller, 54
Born: Woking, Surrey
Bands: The Jam, The Style Council
Records sold: 20million albums
Biggest hits: The Changingman,
You Do Something To Me
Kids: Natt, Leah, Dylan, Jessie, Mac and twins John Paul and Bowie.
A star in their eyes..
MACCA and his music have been celebrated for more than 50 years. Here, in tribute to his 70th birthday, stars spell out why he is such a legend:
Gary Barlow: “Happy birthday to a legend and a top bloke.
"What do you get the man who has everything for his birthday?
"Many happy returns Paul.”
Kelly Rowland: “Paul McCartney is a true legend, he’s written some of the most iconic tracks of all time.
"I have always been a huge fan and would like to wish him a very happy birthday!”
Oritse and the JLS boys: “Sir Paul McCartney is one of the greatest examples of a British music legend.
"The Beatles were one of the world’s most successful bands and that still lives on through Paul’s passion for music — an unbelievable inspiration.
"Happy 70th birthday Sir Paul.”
James Corden: “I don’t know if there will ever be a more important presence in music.
"He is as integral to the landscape of Britain as fish and chips and bad weather.
"I feel honoured to know him. Happy birthday, Paul.”
Jay-Z: He’s a genius writer, he changed music — he has always been ahead of his time.”
From The SUN
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