I know this isn't the most important thing in the world

[senseandsensibility]

Last edited Fri May 22, 2026, 05:20 PM - Edit history (1)

but lately I've been bothered by some comments about Paul McCartney, his appearance on SNL and his age. I'm not one to sling the term "ageist" around, but some of the comments were at least borderline. Sure, he may not sound like he did fifty years ago but can we give him a break? I mean, the guy is a legend. Soon we won't have him or many other pioneers of rock around at all.

Paul is a good liberal humanitarian who has contributed so much. I'm too young to have experienced his early career, and he is not even my favorite Beatle, but I have respect for his willingness to put himself out there even though I'm sure he knows that he's "past it" as they say in Britain. That takes a certain kind of courage which I hope I possess at his age.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone agreed with me.

[CousinIT]

1. Yeah. He's an old man. But he gets my respect nonetheless. I watched him on Colbert

last night and several times prior. He IS a legend. He performed at that theater in 1964. He belonged there last night. He just did. He was funny and had his wits about him. Of course, he didn't move as he did in his 20s! Who the hell does? Pfft.

RESPECT to the great Sir Paul McCartney.

[senseandsensibility]

3. I recorded the Colbert show to watch with the hubby later

so I don't know what he did on that. Did he perform?

[CousinIT]

4. Yes he did! n/t

[senseandsensibility]

6. What song?

I hope his voice was in better shape since he seemed to suffering from a sore throat on SNL.

[Nittersing]

8. Well, he sounded like he's 80 something

[spooky3]

27. Hello Goodbye-- musicians and Stephen sang along with him. Nt

[senseandsensibility]

31. Sounds great! Gonna watch it tonight

with the hubby. Colbert's musical ability is often overlooked.

[spooky3]

34. I think you'll really enjoy the entire show.

I recorded it too and will watch it again.

I saw a lot of Letterman's influence throughout.

[PufPuf23]

9. "Jump Up / Hello Goodbye" Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, Louis Cato & Stephen Colbert

[OGBuzz]

13. He still sounds great at 83. His voice is unmistakable.

[canetoad]

35. Thanks for posting pufpuf23

The dogs can't work out why I'm singing at 8am.

[Hope22]

2. Yes.

This country seems ready to exterminate anyone over 65. Post covid has been an eye opener!

[senseandsensibility]

5. Hasn't it?

I hope I wasn't like that when I was young. I don't think I was. I worked with people a generation older than me for most of my career and I always tried to respect them or at least hold my tongue because I knew I would be there one day myself.

[markie]

7. I have not seen or heard

the negative comments... unfortunate if they are out there... it would show immaturity and a lack of respect and wisdom

McCartney is 83 and deserves to be his age, no matter what that means



**"Ageism is one of the last socially acceptable prejudices"

[Boomerproud]

15. The negative comments were all over DU after SNL.

NT

[Skittles]

10. no need to compare Sir Paul to people like Mitch McConnell

SOME PEOPLE NEED TO FUCKING HANG IT UP ALREADY

if that makes me "ageist", SO BE IT

[ColoringFool]

11. Legend- ✔ Will Be Momentous When Gone-✔ Should Still.....

Try to sing?

🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤🚫🎤

COME ON. LET'S HAVE SOME TRUTH HERE, NOT NOSTALGIA OR HERO WORSHIP.

I KNOW FROM THE BEATLES! I was 14 in February 1964, watching "The Ed Sullivan Show." I was "Paulette" in my little group of friends. I watched "A Hard Day's Night" 4 times in one long sitting (we could do that back then). Finally saw him in Philly. He was great! Setlist:

Paul McCartney Concert Setlist at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia on July 14, 1990 | setlist.fm https://share.google/fW8akQn0SW2FrB13B

But I also have ears and enough respect for Paul not to want him to ever be "there, there, nice* old man"ed!

* Or should I say "clean"? 😉 That's from "AHDN," for those in the Peanut Gallery. And no, I'm not explaining that one.

[senseandsensibility]

39. My husband, I think, agrees with you

He would probably agree with the "there, there nice old man" thing. I don't think he's coming from a place of disdain, but as you say respect for him as an artist and not wanting to condescend to him.

[FakeNoose]

12. I totally agree, the ones who are throwing darts have no idea how disrespectful it is

Maybe we're just as bad on DU, criticizing Chump all the time ... however he's a greedy and hateful man.
Chump deserves every dart that's thrown at him, whereas Paul McCartney The Legend ... deserves none of it.

[oldsoldierfadingfast]

16. Wanna bet ...

that the dart throwers haven't reached 80 years yet; and those of us who have remember growing up with the Beatles and how they impacted our lives!!
Keep breathing dart-throwers ... Maybe, you'll learn something along the way to 80!

[Sogo]

14. I totally agree.

He's a legend and is a great human being.

I'll give him the stage any day.....

[spooky3]

30. He was the perfect choice for final interview guest.

Incredible talent; amazing accomplishments over a lifetime.

[Rebl2]

17. He sounded

great on Colbert’s show last night.

[cksmithy]

18. I saw the Beatles 4 times, twice in one day, matinee and evening show.

I still listen to them literally everyday. Paul sings with an older man's voice and he is 83. When I was young, Judy Garland sounded just as old, as she matured, but she was only 47 not 83. I agree give Paul a break. John was my favorite, I saw their first show in San Francisco and their last performance in San Francisco in1966. Agree with you, although I am so old I experienced the entire Beatles experience.

[senseandsensibility]

22. Wow

What an experience that must have been, seeing them in their prime and experiencing "Beatle mania" first hand!

[cksmithy]

32. It truly was a fun time. A great escape from the

Kennedy assassinations, Martin Luther Kin assassination and others, the race riots, the Vietnam war and so much more. Marching for peace, woman's liberation, the right to get your own credit card without a male cosigner. The good old days had some really bad stuff.

[colorado_ufo]

42. Yes, yes it was!

I was a Junior in high school and saw them live in New Orleans with my two best friends. It was Heaven!!! What a thrill! The noise, the fun, the energy! We were all young together.

After the show, while waiting for our ride home (didn't have a license!), a random police car came up and motioned me to the window. He handed me a piece of paper. It was Ringo's autograph! He must have been security and thought he would get a charge out of our reaction!

Many years later, when going through some items at our late mother's home, my youngest brother told me he came across a small folded piece of paper. It was the autograph! When he carefully unfolded it and saw who it was, he told me he almost fainted! LOL!

Here's what all this means to me, as I turn 79 at the end of this month. Of course, I miss Paul's sweet vocals, but actually, I DON'T GIVE A CRAP HOW HE SINGS! To see him still active, healthy, vibrant, kind, moral, and caring at this point in his life means so much more. He is part of music history and part of my own. I feel blessed to still be able to see his face and see him holding his left-handed bass guitar.

BTW, two years ago I saw Ringo and his All Star Band where I currently live here in Western Colorado! His car passed close enough that he could wave to me and my daughter (who bought the tickets), like 8 feet away! It was a great concert, and Ringo's voice has not been overused, so it has held up well. May he and Paul tour and play forever!

[underpants]

36. I'd read that they often did 6-8 shows a day in Hamburg

You saw them at The Cavern?

[cksmithy]

47. No, at the Cow Palace, in San Francisco.

I think the Righteous Brothers and Jackie DeShannon opened for them the first I saw them. Can't remember who opened in1965 for the matinee and evening show. According to Google it could of been Joan Baez or Johnny Cash. I really can only remember the Beatles. Seeing them was a little joy during a very terrible time.

[BeneteauBum]

19. I hope I have the energy to speak out and keep resisting through my 90s

I’ll be McCartney’s age in eight years…..not too old to opine a point of view. It’s great that so many boomers still rage against the empire.

Peace ☮️

[FireUpChips10]

20. I thought he did a great job last night (both singing and the interview.)

I hope I'm that good when I'm almost 84!

[pfitz59]

21. He sings and moves great for his age.

Memory still functioning. Emeritus performer deserving respect.

[Raine1967]

23. Love him.

I heard him first with Wings.

One of my first crushes, for real. I'm waving my hands at the haters.

[GiqueCee]

24. I DEFINITELY agree with you!

In 1964, I sold my first professional cartoon – I was a junior in high school – to the Saturday Evening Post. A startled father, with his back to the door, dropped his martini and said to his daughter, who had a Beatle by the arm, "A WHAT followed you home and can you keep him?" It appeared in the issue that preceded their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of that year. I got $75 for that 'toon, and bought a new pair of ski boots with it. They were leather.
I've got a few other near-miss Beatle stories, but my point is, my admiration for McCartney's skill and style is in the stratosphere, where it will forever remain. Ain't nobody perfect, and neither is Paul, but he's a damned sight closer to it that I will ever be and I'm pretty damned good at what I do, too.

[MustLoveBeagles]

25. I can't comment on either performance

As I haven't seen them yet. I'll just say this, if I make it to that age I hope I have his energy. I'm a John girl like my mother but I have enormous respect for Paul.

[Martin Eden]

26. I'm a fan, and have great respect for Sir Paul

But my wife and I were somewhat shocked when he sang his new song on SNL last Saturday. Keeping his age in mind, his voice has deteriorated beyond what we anticipated. Simple fact, not judgment. We were saddened. Maybe his singing voice was off that night.

He sounds better when other voices join in, as they did for his 2nd song on SNL and Colbert's show last night. Paul's speaking voice is still good, and he was plenty sharp during his interview with Stephen. Showed good energy throughout, especially for a man who will turn 84 next month.

[SuzyandPuffpuff]

28. Yes

I agree and yes a humanitarian from early on. They all were good people.

[chowder66]

29. I thought he sounded fine. His voice may not be as robust as it used to be but that is to be expected when you've

been singing for as long as he has. His voice has held up much better than some and I had no problem with his performances on SNL or Colbert.

Maybe some people prefer auto-tune over real singers.

[FullySupportDems]

33. Aw hell, I thought he sounded great!

He hit high notes, so damn impressive! I think people criticizing him don't know much about singing. It was a beautiful show.

[skylucy]

37. Amen! Thank you senseandsensibility!

[canetoad]

38. I stress - this doesn't apply to everyone

But there is a certain cruelty creeping into the way younger people deal with we boomers.

[underpants]

40. My wife thought he looked great on SNL. Of course his voice doesn't sound the same

He played Band on the Run which I love.

[Whyisthisstillclose]

41. Great to know there are so many people whose skills haven't deteriorated

with age. I always thought that was a normal part of aging. I'll listen to Paul as long as he can croak out a song with passion and joy. And I'll listen to him with my ears that don't work as well as they used to in the chair that helps my creaky old body feel a little bit better. If you don't like it, change the channel.

[Figarosmom]

43. Totally

He's not done creatively just because he's old.

[spanone]

44. I agree 100%. K&R

[ananda]

45. Totally agree.

I was fifteen or sixteen when the Beatles came around.

We all saw Ed Sullivan introduce The Beatles to the USA.

My younger sister and her friend, who were 13, were
Beeatles maniacs. One night they dressed up in black
as George and Paul, each holding a guitar, and gave
us a song concert.

The only concert we actually attended in person was
a Beach Boys at Dallas' Memorial Auditorium. That was
fun too.

[Auggie]

46. Totally agree. McCartney will live in our memories, and rock, forever.