"Warm and Beautiful" is a love ballad credited to Paul and Linda McCartney that was first released by Wings on their 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. It is a love ballad sung by Paul directed to Linda. Critical opinion of the song has varied widely, ranging from a comment that it is "one of the most beautiful songs that Paul ever wrote for Linda," to a suggestion that it may be "one of the worst songs Paul McCartney has ever written." In 1998, after Linda's death, Paul rearranged the song for string quartet to be played at memorial concerts for his late wife. This version was included on the 1999 album Working Classical.
"Warm and Beautiful" is a love song, the inspirational subject of whom is Linda McCartney.[1][2] Paul McCartney sings the lead vocal.[3]The Rough Guide to the Beatles author Chris Ingham describes "Warm and Beautiful" as a "big sensitive ballad."[4] The verses treat love as being eternal and proclaim that love, faith and hope are what allow people to transcend sadness.[2] The bridge uses images of sunlit mornings and moonlit water as metaphors for love.[2]
The song is in the key of C major.[2] The verses are in two phrases.[2] Music professor Vincent Benitez finds the melody and harmony of the song particularly expressive.[2] The melody of the first phrase begins on the tonic, C, goes up to the subdominantF, and concludes be descending to D.[2] The melody of the second phrase of each verse is similar, except it ends with the sequence of a diminished seventh note followed by an ascending second, i.e., A flat up to B up to C.[2] The melody of the bridge incorporates both leaps and steps, often going in opposite directions.[2] Elements of the melodic structure are similar to those McCartney has used throughout his career, dating back to the Beatles arrangement of "Falling in Love Again" that they used in their 1962 concerts in Hamburg.[5]
Chip Madiger and Mark Easter claim that the instrumental track of "Warm and Beautiful" includes two euphoniums.[1] Luca Perasi in his book Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013) reports an interview with arranger Fiachra Trench, who recalls they used two tenor horns and a string quartet. However, John Blaney list the only instruments on the track as Paul McCartney's piano and Denny Laine's and Jimmy McCulloch's guitars.[1]
Rolling Stone critic Stephen Holden believes that the opening chords of "Warm and Beautiful" are a parody of John Lennon's song "Imagine."[6] Similarly, Holden believes that the simple lyrics and melody are a parody of Lennon's song "Love."[6]
"Warm and Beautiful" was originally considered for release as a single from Wings at the Speed of Sound, but was passed up in favour of "Let 'Em In" and "Silly Love Songs."[3]
Critical reception
Critical reception of "Warm and Beautiful" has been mixed. Elvis Costello has stated that "Warm and Beautiful" is "one of the most beautiful songs that Paul ever wrote for Linda."[3]Billboard Magazine's Timothy White considers the song one of McCartney's post-Beatle peaks.[7] Benitez describes the song as "sentimental, idealistic, but compelling."[2]
Chris Ingham has a mixed reaction, stating that "Warm and Beautiful" has a "typically attractive melody" but claims that it is "uncharacteristically overstated."[4] Author John Blaney notes that the song represents McCartney "at his most idealistic," but notes that depending on the listener's point of view the main melody may be either "compelling or tedious," but Blaney believes that the melody rescues the song.[3] Author Tim Riley acknowledges that the song is "a potentially gorgeous ballad" but suggests that it be "revised and saved from its unfinished limbo."[8] Chip Madiger and Mark Easter claim that only McCartney's "labored vocal performance" prevents the song from being among "the prettier songs Paul wrote for Linda."[1] They also feel that the string quartet version works better than the original.[1]Billboard said that "Warm and Beautiul" "is one of [McCartney's] patented love ballads that should become a standard."[9]
Pop music author Robert Rodriguez considers the song album filler and writes that the song "failed to reach the level of romantic poignancy that its composer usually reached effortlessly.[10]Rolling Stone's Stephen Holden considers the song overly didactic, stating that it serves up "with apparent sincerity, the stalest pop ballad clichés ever to emerge from an English music hall."[6] Holden suggests that McCartney may be using the song to make an ironic point about clichés, such as that these clichés will outlast pop music that critics consider art or that he can "transcend cliché by being the biggest cliché," but notes that alternatively it may just be "one of the worst songs Paul McCartney has ever written."[6]
Fiachra Trench - string quartet, two tenor horns arrangements
String quartet version
In 1998, after Linda McCartney's death, Paul McCartney rearranged the song for string quartet to be played at memorial concerts for his late wife.[1][3][11] The Brodsky Quartet performed the song at memorial services in London, and the Loma Mar Quartet performed the song at memorial services in New York.[1][3] The Loma Mar Quartet also recorded the string quartet version of the song for the 1999 album Working Classical.[1][2][3][12]
References
^ abcdefghMadiger, C. & Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. pp. 215, 409–410. ISBN0-615-11724-4.
^ abcdefghijkBenitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. pp. 77–78. ISBN978-0-313-34969-0.
^ abcdefgBlaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 113–115, 244. ISBN978-1-906002-02-2.
^ abIngham, C. (2009). The Rough Guide to the Beatles (3rd ed.). Penguin. p. 118. ISBN978-1-4053-8445-2.
^Everett, W. (2001). The Beatles as musicians: the Quarry Men through Rubber soul. Oxford University Press. p. 137. ISBN978-0-19-514105-4.
^ abcdHolden, S. "Wings at the Speed of Sound". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
^White, T. (June 14, 1997). Rediscussion. Billboard Magazine. p. 87. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
^Riley, T. (2002). Tell me why: a Beatles commentary. Da Capo Press. p. 359. ISBN978-0-306-81120-3.
^"Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. April 3, 1976. p. 68. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
^Rodriguez, R. (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970–1980. Hal Leonard. pp. 186, 216. ISBN978-0-87930-968-8.
^Thomson, G. (2006). Complicated Shadows: The Life and Music of Elvis Costello. Canongate. p. 355. ISBN978-1-84195-796-8.
^Ruhlmann, W. "Working Classical: Orchestral and Chamber Music by Paul McCartney". Allmusic. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
August 24, 2023
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Warm and Beautiful is a love ballad credited to Paul and Linda McCartney that was first released by Wings on their 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound It is a love ballad sung by Paul directed to Linda Critical opinion of the song has varied widely ranging from a comment that it is one of the most beautiful songs that Paul ever wrote for Linda to a suggestion that it may be one of the worst songs Paul McCartney has ever written In 1998 after Linda s death Paul rearranged the song for string quartet to be played at memorial concerts for his late wife This version was included on the 1999 album Working Classical Warm and Beautiful Song by Wingsfrom the album Wings at the Speed of SoundPublishedMcCartney Music Ltd Released25 March 1976Recorded2 February 1976GenreRockLength3 12LabelMPL Communications UK MPL Communications Capitol US Songwriter s Paul McCartneyLinda McCartneyProducer s Paul McCartneyWings at the Speed of Sound track listing11 tracksSide one Let Em In The Note You Never Wrote She s My Baby Beware My Love Wino Junko Side two Silly Love Songs Cook of the House Time to Hide Must Do Something About It San Ferry Anne Warm and Beautiful Contents 1 Lyrics and music 2 Critical reception 3 Personnel 4 String quartet version 5 ReferencesLyrics and music Edit Warm and Beautiful is a love song the inspirational subject of whom is Linda McCartney 1 2 Paul McCartney sings the lead vocal 3 The Rough Guide to the Beatles author Chris Ingham describes Warm and Beautiful as a big sensitive ballad 4 The verses treat love as being eternal and proclaim that love faith and hope are what allow people to transcend sadness 2 The bridge uses images of sunlit mornings and moonlit water as metaphors for love 2 The song is in the key of C major 2 The verses are in two phrases 2 Music professor Vincent Benitez finds the melody and harmony of the song particularly expressive 2 The melody of the first phrase begins on the tonic C goes up to the subdominant F and concludes be descending to D 2 The melody of the second phrase of each verse is similar except it ends with the sequence of a diminished seventh note followed by an ascending second i e A flat up to B up to C 2 The melody of the bridge incorporates both leaps and steps often going in opposite directions 2 Elements of the melodic structure are similar to those McCartney has used throughout his career dating back to the Beatles arrangement of Falling in Love Again that they used in their 1962 concerts in Hamburg 5 Chip Madiger and Mark Easter claim that the instrumental track of Warm and Beautiful includes two euphoniums 1 Luca Perasi in his book Paul McCartney Recording Sessions 1969 2013 reports an interview with arranger Fiachra Trench who recalls they used two tenor horns and a string quartet However John Blaney list the only instruments on the track as Paul McCartney s piano and Denny Laine s and Jimmy McCulloch s guitars 1 Rolling Stone critic Stephen Holden believes that the opening chords of Warm and Beautiful are a parody of John Lennon s song Imagine 6 Similarly Holden believes that the simple lyrics and melody are a parody of Lennon s song Love 6 Warm and Beautiful was originally considered for release as a single from Wings at the Speed of Sound but was passed up in favour of Let Em In and Silly Love Songs 3 Critical reception EditCritical reception of Warm and Beautiful has been mixed Elvis Costello has stated that Warm and Beautiful is one of the most beautiful songs that Paul ever wrote for Linda 3 Billboard Magazine s Timothy White considers the song one of McCartney s post Beatle peaks 7 Benitez describes the song as sentimental idealistic but compelling 2 Chris Ingham has a mixed reaction stating that Warm and Beautiful has a typically attractive melody but claims that it is uncharacteristically overstated 4 Author John Blaney notes that the song represents McCartney at his most idealistic but notes that depending on the listener s point of view the main melody may be either compelling or tedious but Blaney believes that the melody rescues the song 3 Author Tim Riley acknowledges that the song is a potentially gorgeous ballad but suggests that it be revised and saved from its unfinished limbo 8 Chip Madiger and Mark Easter claim that only McCartney s labored vocal performance prevents the song from being among the prettier songs Paul wrote for Linda 1 They also feel that the string quartet version works better than the original 1 Billboard said that Warm and Beautiul is one of McCartney s patented love ballads that should become a standard 9 Pop music author Robert Rodriguez considers the song album filler and writes that the song failed to reach the level of romantic poignancy that its composer usually reached effortlessly 10 Rolling Stone s Stephen Holden considers the song overly didactic stating that it serves up with apparent sincerity the stalest pop ballad cliches ever to emerge from an English music hall 6 Holden suggests that McCartney may be using the song to make an ironic point about cliches such as that these cliches will outlast pop music that critics consider art or that he can transcend cliche by being the biggest cliche but notes that alternatively it may just be one of the worst songs Paul McCartney has ever written 6 Personnel EditPaul McCartney vocals piano Jimmy McCulloch slide guitar Fiachra Trench string quartet two tenor horns arrangementsString quartet version EditIn 1998 after Linda McCartney s death Paul McCartney rearranged the song for string quartet to be played at memorial concerts for his late wife 1 3 11 The Brodsky Quartet performed the song at memorial services in London and the Loma Mar Quartet performed the song at memorial services in New York 1 3 The Loma Mar Quartet also recorded the string quartet version of the song for the 1999 album Working Classical 1 2 3 12 References Edit a b c d e f g h Madiger C amp Easter M 2000 Eight Arms to Hold You 44 1 Productions pp 215 409 410 ISBN 0 615 11724 4 a b c d e f g h i j k Benitez V P 2010 The Words and Music of Paul McCartney The Solo Years Praeger pp 77 78 ISBN 978 0 313 34969 0 a b c d e f g Blaney J 2007 Lennon and McCartney together alone a critical discography of their solo work Jawbone Press pp 113 115 244 ISBN 978 1 906002 02 2 a b Ingham C 2009 The Rough Guide to the Beatles 3rd ed Penguin p 118 ISBN 978 1 4053 8445 2 Everett W 2001 The Beatles as musicians the Quarry Men through Rubber soul Oxford University Press p 137 ISBN 978 0 19 514105 4 a b c d Holden S Wings at the Speed of Sound Rolling Stone Retrieved 23 November 2011 White T June 14 1997 Rediscussion Billboard Magazine p 87 Retrieved 23 November 2011 Riley T 2002 Tell me why a Beatles commentary Da Capo Press p 359 ISBN 978 0 306 81120 3 Top Album Picks PDF Billboard April 3 1976 p 68 Retrieved 2020 07 16 Rodriguez R 2010 Fab Four FAQ 2 0 The Beatles Solo Years 1970 1980 Hal Leonard pp 186 216 ISBN 978 0 87930 968 8 Thomson G 2006 Complicated Shadows The Life and Music of Elvis Costello Canongate p 355 ISBN 978 1 84195 796 8 Ruhlmann W Working Classical Orchestral and Chamber Music by Paul McCartney Allmusic Retrieved 22 November 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Warm and Beautiful amp oldid 1163714378, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
