If Paul McCartney were on the last Colbert...

[thesquanderer]

Last edited Thu May 21, 2026, 07:59 AM - Edit history (1)

...I'd like him to sing something like this:

Yesterday
All the bad news seemed a smile away
Now I don’t know what I’ll do today
Oh I remember yesterday

Why you have to go
I don’t know
They wouldn’t say
Maybe you said something wrong?
Well so much for yesterday

Yesterday
Laughs were such an easy game to play
But the laughs will always find a way
So say goodbye to yesterday

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. After his cringeworthy performance on SNL, I don't think he will be singing on TV again anytime soon.

[Abolishinist]

2. Back in the day, I'd often stay up to watch SNL.

Last edited Mon May 25, 2026, 02:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Not so much any more. But my wife happened to be out of town, and I had a pizza and some wine and I was like OK! I'm gonna stay up and watch Paul McCartney!

I hadn't realized how much his voice has gone away, but for most it happens over time. He was still fun, and the pizza was good!

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. He was funny in the mechanics sketch

He spoke his lines as if he were doing an impression of Dana Carvey doing an impression of him!

But his singing voice…sad and tragic.

[Totally Tunsie]

3. I sadly must agree regarding the cringe.

It was such a downer to see Sir Paul struggle so in his attempts. Very disheartening, indeed.

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. His voice has been permanently damaged from 25 years of constant touring. Nt

[thesquanderer]

6. At 83, no singer sounds like they did when they were young.

Good for him, to keep doing what he loves, and still giving people the opportunity to be part of something that goes beyond however he happens to be singing that night.

Tell me there isn't joy here...

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. It might be joy...

But it’s delusional joy.

At 83, no singer sounds like they did when they were young.

That’s a faulty premise, as the issue isn’t whether he sounds like he used to when he was younger.

The issue is whether he can sing at all.

His voice isn’t just old, it is damaged.

I’ve seen McCartney in concert close to a dozen times, but I stopped going to his shows about 15 years ago because it was becoming obvious that his voice was damaged, and he was losing the ability to sing, and had his band members cover the notes he couldn’t hit (which was also the case on SNL - Paul’s voice is buried in the mix, and everyone else’s is boosted to cover his inability to sing).

People in their 80’s who can still sing:

Mick Jagger
Colin Blunstone of the Zombies
Ringo Starr
Tony Bennett could sing well into his 90’s.

It is sad, tragic and painful to watch.

[thesquanderer]

9. re: "People in their 80's who can still sing: Mick Jagger"

I'd argue as to whether he could ever really sing. I mean, he's great... he emotes, he performs, he entertains... but he never really had much of a voice to lose. Now, shall we talk about Bob Dylan?

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. Bob Dylan is a good singer

His phrasing and emoting may not be to everyone’s taste, but he can sing in key.

His voice has definitely suffered with age, but not as damaged as Paul’s.

[CTyankee]

7. Hubby and I attended a foottball game at the Yale Bowl where Paul was in attendance....

he was sitting in the bleachers alone. Nobody was even noticing him. Later I googled "Why was Paul McCartney watching a Yale football game at the Yale Bowl?) and got an answer: he had a nephew there.

Later I found out he had his limousine wait for him in the Yale Parking Lot and left quietly after the game.

Later I found out that the Yale Bowl had an office just for arrangements with office holders such as Congressmen and any other luminaries who wished to attend games there. ONE BIG EXCEPTION: the Yale Bowl cannot adequately protect the President or Vice President. Therefore, they cannot attend Yale games.

[thesquanderer]

11. Hey, McCartney WAS the last guest! They didn't do my song, though...

Oh well.

Though maybe they wouldn't have wanted to go a little melancholy anyway.