Paul McCartney at 80: Leading Creative Artist of his Time

Will Paul McCartney ever get his due? As the leading creative artist of his time in any field, perhaps not. Until there’s a Macca statue on every corner, until schools and hospitals are renamed after him en masse, he will remain sadly underrated.

Still, with the release last fall of two lavish volumes of his songs called The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, and before that the release of the six-part Hulu documentary Paul McCartney: 3, 2, 1, which celebrated his musicianship, the record is finally being corrected about this chap. Word is getting around about him. Talented, no? Maybe someday he’ll even make it to Ed Sheeran’s level.

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Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is the film critic for the Wall Street Journal.

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Will Paul McCartney ever get his due? As the leading creative artist of his time in any field, perhaps not. Until there’s a Macca statue on every corner, until schools and hospitals are renamed after him en masse, he will remain sadly underrated.

Still, with the release last fall of two lavish volumes of his songs called The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, and before that the release of the six-part Hulu documentary Paul McCartney: 3, 2, 1, which celebrated his musicianship, the record is finally being corrected about this chap. Word is getting around about him. Talented, no? Maybe someday he’ll even make it to Ed Sheeran’s level.