Sir James Paul McCartney

October 14, 2013By 6

It’s a gray morning in New York City. Natan and I are at Times Square with our International Center of Photography (ICP) class for “Street Photography”. Tourists are starting to fill the Square. Something is going on – there are way too many policemen “hanging” around.

Soon we find out that Paul McCartney, member of the Beatles and composer of Hey Jude, Yesterday, Maybe I’m Amazed, Let It Be and more, will perform at 1pm.

A few minutes after 1, a huge red truck pulled in.

Paul McCartney's Truck at Times Square

McCartney and his band climbed up onto the truck and with a big smile, sat down at his multicolor piano and said “are you ready?”

Paul McCartney: "Are you ready?"

Paul McCartney gave an impromptu performance delighting tourists and Midtown workers with four songs from his upcoming album “NEW”. (NYT review)

Normally at concerts there are no cameras allowed. Here a sea of cameras, phones, and, iPads followed him as he began to sing.

Many tourists couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “We just arrived yesterday and now we see Paul McCartney. It’s already more than we could hope for”.

A surprised and happy crowd is text messaging, tweeting, taking pictures

 

He played the piano, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and for his last song he went back to the piano. At the age of 71 he looked fit and was full of energy.

He definitely brought some sunshine into the gray afternoon in NYC. Let’s stay here all day,” he said, “but it’s time to go”. He disappeared into the crowd at Times Square.

Interestingly Swiss and Germans were in the front row. Why? That’s because of me. Mammut is THE Swiss supplier of outdoor and sport clothes and articles. During the morning hours I saw a few men and women wearing a Mammut sweater or jacket, so I told them in Swiss German that Paul McCartney will perform for a few songs. That was my part for Swiss/American tourism.

Paul performing one of his new songs

 Click Image to view Slideshow

 

 

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