Sir Paul McCartney celebrated the holiday season with a rare live rendition of “Wonderful Christmastime” during his first U.K. gig since headlining Glastonbury in 2022.
The still boyish 82-year-old played for nearly three hours straight at Co-Op Live in Manchester on Saturday and Sunday nights—not including two VIP soundchecks, which each had ticketed audiences. The setlist featured a wide range of fan favorites from throughout his career with The Beatles and Wings, including the recently released Beatles track “Now and Then”, plus solo hits like “Maybe I’m Amazed”. The highlight, though, was a joyful (and triumphant) version of “Wonderful Christmastime” performed with a local children’s choir.
McCartney appeared particularly chipper during the festive performance, which was widely shared on social media after night one, perhaps to his chagrin.
“On the first night we can pull some surprises, but then the minute that gets on social media. It’s like the old comedians who used to complain that their jokes got told, so the next people who saw them knew the jokes,” McCartney recently told The Mirror. “I approach every show and every audience in a slightly different way depending on the location of the show, so I suppose that’s the way I change it up a little bit. You’ll see your set list published and we’ll go, ‘Right, we’re gonna change it!’”
He continued, “We keep trying to be ahead of the guy who’s giving the game away. I would like it much better if people had no idea what they were coming to see, but the only answer to that is for us to make changes occasionally. So if he said, ‘They open up with this song,’ we’ll go, ‘Let’s open up with a different song,’ just to prove them wrong.'”
Out of respect for Sir Paul, we’ll refrain from sharing the full setlist, but in honor of the holidays, enjoy fan-shot video of “Wonderful Christmastime” below.
McCartney will conclude the Got Back tour this week with two shows at London’s O2 Arena. For tickets, head here.
Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime” – 12/14/24
[Video: RockGalMel]