Music is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Each time you listen to a song, you can discover different nuances, unearth new details, enjoy it in a special way, according to your mood… music can shine like the light of a sunny day, enrich the darkness of the night… You can sip it as if it was a delicious glass of wine.
Have you ever tried to think about McCartney’s songs as paired to a wine variety? Let’s do this and… remember to drink responsibly!
1. Champagne! What else could you apply to “Take It Away”? Its sparkling quality, with a lively horn arrangement, bubbles bursting everywhere: the unique fizzy sound! The velvety texture finds some correspondence in the jazzy verses, while the characteristic toast aroma is all in the massive three-part backing vocals.
2. It’s time for a tropical touch now. The exotic “Bluebird” goes perfectly with a New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. “Bluebird”’s wide array of percussion – guiro, cowbell, congas – provide a background of musical nuances… as to match the many flavours – white peach, passion fruit, grapefruit – commonly associated with Sauvignon. The sweet touch is guaranteed by Howie Casey’s “nocturnal” sax solo, of course.
3. Bordeaux is the Olympus of wines, and here sits the appellation of Saint-Émilion. “Live and Let Die” is comparable to the highest level of its classification, the Premier grand cru classé A! A sumptuous and majestic song, a movie in itself: verses, chorus, riff, bridge. A perfect blend, like the renowned French wine typically assembles Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Richness and balance and, yes, it’s aged spectacularly.
4. One of the Italy most recognizable red wines, Brunello – made from Sangiovese grape – is the king of Tuscany. Powerful, full-bodied, bold, with mouth-gripping tannins. Well, those are indisputably some of the features of “Maybe I’m Amazed”, the great McCartney classic: roaring vocals, a steady instrumental backing and the sharp guitar solo, both grinding and hummable.
5. The elegance of Nebbiolo, a wine variety from Piedmont (Italy), perfectly suits a ballad such as “No More Lonely Nights”. Its elegance is never affected – this song recalls the austere and severe refinement of Barolo, the most famous wine obtained from this grape. The perfect arrangement – with only piano, bass, drums, synthesizers and guitar – enriches the track as does the ageing process in oak barrels for this wine. And thanks Mr. Gilmour for adding a floral touch with your unmistakable guitar solo!
6. “My Love”: isn’t this song reminiscent of a Port, the famous fortified wine from Portugal? Passionate vocals by Paul, a full-bodied orchestra underlining the whole arrangement, soothing backing vocals, a structure in blocks; doesn’t everything recall the signature sweet flavour profile of Port? A wine with an significant alcohol level, which leaves its mark. It may not be your cup of tea (or your glass of wine, we should say), but let’s admit it: at least once in your life, you have to try it (impossible not to hum McCullough’s guitar solo or Paul’s “whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa”!)
7. There’s still room for a dessert wine. The lush, classy and sumptuous “Only Love Remains” closes our playlist paired with a Sauternes. One of the most famous sweet wines in the world, in its Premier Cru Supérieur version, of course! As the great French wine, “Only Love Remains” envelops us with its soft strings (the honey flavour), its flowing piano notes (the perfect acidity balance). The finish is long on the palate… and on our ears, with the last orchestral chord acting as the lingering taste of the wine on our tongue. It has aged well? Yes, very well. And by the way… Paul plays wine glasses in the song!
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