Paul McCartney has released an HD remaster of the music video for his 1980 song ‘Coming Up,’ on YouTube, forty years after its original release. The video features a mock stage performance of the song with McCartney and then wife Linda McCartney playing multiple roles. The song was released on ‘McCartney II,’ the second of the soon to be trilogy of the ex-Beatle’s solo efforts. The song was quite a hit in its day, climbing as high as number two on the UK singles charts, quite an achievement for a solo record even from a veteran of arguably Britain’s most successful ever band.
The release of this digitally remastered video comes just a few short weeks before the hotly anticipated ‘McCartney III,’ which is due to be released on the 11th of December this year, just in time for Christmas. McCartney has spoken about the making of the album during lockdown in his recent interview in Rolling Stone with American star Taylor Swift and has expressed his good fortune in living near to his own studio in Sussex where he was able to craft the new album almost entirely by himself.
‘Coming Up,’ differs quite strongly from his work with The Beatles, and even from his earlier solo work. While The Beatles were firmly rooted in the 60s sound inspired by early Rock and Roll like Chuck Berry and the Rhythm and Blues records which were crossing the Atlantic and arriving in Liverpool at the time that The Fab Four were crafting their musical sound, and of course the undeniable influence of Skiffle. Furthermore, while McCartneys solo sound may be known more for slow piano based ballads like his bond theme ‘Live and Let Die,’ or ‘Maybe I’m Amazed,’ from his debut, ‘Coming Up,’ has a funky, danceable feel which is clearly inspired by the emerging funk sound in the late 1970s which would go on to influence the 1980s sounds so heavily.
With the UK still in a strict lockdown until early December, with the hope of any easing only beginning to show a glimmer of hope, fans of McCartney will likely be finding his music a comfort during this difficult winter. While live music is still a no no at this time, it will be of comfort to many to lay eyes on this video which for many of a younger generation this HD remaster may be the first version that they have ever seen.
If fans of The Beatles are unsure about whether they might like Paul McCartney’s solo work, this is a great place to start. ‘Coming Up,’ is a cheery, uplifting and undeniably warm feeling song which lifts one’s spirits so effortlessly, something which is surely needed across the country right now. With no chance to go out and enjoy ourselves with live music or even meeting friends in the pub, for many of us watching the latest content from our favourite artists on social media platforms like YouTube and others has become a real spirit lifter.
