Paul McCartney, 84, is arguably one of the most iconic musicians alive today, and the man knows a thing or two about how to write a hit song.
McCartney made a guest appearance on the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast earlier this week, where the legendary Beatle had a thing or two to say about modern music.
The 84-year-old performer reflected on his music career, memories with his former band mates, and what he thinks about documentaries based on his life.
Poehler confessed that McCartney represents for her, music itself. “You represent songs,” the actress and podcaster said.
“Like, if songs were a person. If we had to go into space and we had to bring one person to represent songs to the aliens, we would push you to the front.”
McCartney, who has spent six decades in the music industry, has spent the majority of that time outside of the iconic music group that changed the world.
As a solo act, he has released dozens of albums and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, both as a Beatle and as a solo artist.
The former Beatle exchanged some playful banter with Poehler, giving her an inside scoop to his pre-gig morning routines and griping about how his onscreen depictions are always disappointingly and “misleadingly,” he would like to add, being towered over by Lennon.
It was when the conversation turned to McCartney’s music process that the singing legend let slip his true feelings about modern music.
Asked if there is any music he listens to that makes him wish he wrote it, the music legend cheekily responded with a deadpan, “No.”
Met with a room of laughter, Poehler responded, “Very good.”
McCartney added that there are some artists he thinks are really good, citing Billie Eilish as one, before admitting he doesn’t think he wants to have written any of her songs.
There used to be songs, McCartney recalled, that he wished he wrote, such as Billie Joel’s The Way You Are.
“Nowadays, I’ll tell you what, some of them are very banal,” McCartney said, before launching into a priceless impression full of “oohs” and “ahhs,” complete with TikTokified dance moves.
“This could be a hit,” the singer added, facetiously.
It was a moment that lasted mere seconds but instantly went viral on social media, prompting debate over whether the old guard musician’s pop music takes were pretentious and out of touch or right on the money.
“This, from the man that gave us, “She loves you. Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Poehler fired back, joking the musician doth protest too much.
McCartney gave Poehler a sheepish “Yeah, okay, alright,” which some speculated online was a muttering of disapproval and the first time McCartney talked to someone who wasn’t a “yes man.”
McCartney also shared that there was one artist he always wanted to work with but is too nervous to ring up for a collab: Bob Dylan.
Poehler joked that she couldn’t imagine him on the telephone, with McCartney chiming in, “No, he’s probably in some bush somewhere, in a sleeping bag, maybe.”
“Also, a lot of songs these days are breakup songs and I’m married,” the former Beatle said, referencing his devotion to his third wife, Nancy Shevell.
The two married in 2011, thirteen years after the passing of his first wife, Linda McCartney.
The singer-songwriter was brought to tears reflecting on fond memories of his first wife after Poehler brought up Chrissie Hynde, of The Pretenders, who appears in a new documentary about the Beatle, entitled Man on the Run.
McCartney was moved to tears recalling his late wife Linda’s passion for animals and outspoken views on animal rights.
“She had this kind of Disney-esque view of animals. If we saw a frog or something in the garden she’d pick it up. Not every girl would. She’d pick it up,” McCartney said, as his eyes welled with tears.
“I loved learning more about you and Linda in that documentary, Poehler told him. “I loved watching you two work together and be together,” adding that they were a testament to what respectful, beautiful, mutual love looks like.