Paul McCartney v Wah Wah at the Concert For George

Was Clapton and the performers at the George Harrison Concert For George aware that they were singing an anti-McCartney song 'Wah Wah' with Macca present on stage that night ? Has Paul McCartney or anyone else ever commented about how Macca felt performing that song with everyone that incredible night?

 

Nope no comment...I doubt Macca even knows..or cares...

 

I think it's more of an anti-Beatles song than an anti-McCartney song.

 

I've had the same question many times. Paul does have a strange look on his face a couple times during that song. I think they should have done a medley with Wah-Wah/How Do You Sleep?

 

I wouldn't call it an "Anti-McCartney" song, it's more of a "you stepped on my toes, Paul" song.

 

I never knew it was an anti-Macca song...

 

I recall George stating that it was directed at Lennon & McCartney, as well as the whole situation with the Beatles at that time.

 

It's not. George has said he wrote it after that "I'll play any way you want me to, or I won't play at all" scene in "Let It Be", and he's also said he wrote it the same day he walked out of those sessions (where he was mad at John, but later "changed" it to Paul when the battle for Apple began). Either way, it's a grievance message, not in any way an attack on anyone.

 

He did write it during the time when he left the Get Back sessions. But from what I've read, he was more anti-Lennon/Yoko than anti-Macca at that time. So it would surprise me if the song is really an anti-Macca song, an anti-Beatles song would be more likely.

 

I think Paul stole the show with his vocals on 'All Things Must Pass". He gave everything he had into that performance, IMO. Seemed like he was about to cry at certain points. So, couldn't have been to angry about Wah Wah (I can't honestly say I knew what it was about before reading this thread).

 

It was definitely an anti-Paul song.

 

Apparently Macca was going to sing the 'being there at the right time... And I'm thinking of you and all the things we used to do' lyric but it was changed to Jeff Lynne to sing at the last moment I wonder why that was?

 

I really think you're digging for a story, of which there is none.

 

I don't know why people are so quick to sweep the Beatles' tensions under the rug. I'm part of a very loving family and yet I could easily right a song about being annoyed with each member. I've never heard anyone deny that it was a song about Paul. Didn't George explain it in the Anthology dvds?

 

According to those at rehearsals it was Paul that was due to duet on Wah Wah, I personnaly think it was too much for Macca's voice singing with the whole heavy band due to Macca's current touring situation and so Lynne did it instead!

 

I thought it might be a slight at Clapton for his infringes on Patti, they did share the wah- wah pedal, which was a gift.

 

+1

I've never heard or read until now, that "Wah Wah" was an anti-McCartney or anti-Beatles song.

 

Conspiracy theorists abound in Beatledom, too.

 

George? Is that you?

 

At the very least you can hear Paul doing some vocal improvs at the end of the song.

 

I always took "Wah Wah" as a song about not needing the "myth" of The Beatles or fame.

 

George's comments from I Me Mine. He mentions arguing with Paul, but that's not really his focus.

 

The song was about Tom Petty?

 

'Wah wah' is British slang - or it was at the time - for a headache. George did say somewhere that it was about the 'Get Back' arguments with McCartney.