McCartney 3, 2, 1
HuluAn entire career boiled down and churned out into six digestible episodes. For a musician as longstanding and influential as Paul McCartney, such a feat should not be possible. Decades of musicianship and historical unwinding, guided by the man himself and record producer Rick Rubin. McCartney 3, 2, 1 is a fantastic and personal deep dive into the life of one-quarter of the Fab Four. A vocalisation of all the history, from The Beatles and Wings to the solo work and superstar collaborations that followed. An oral history of such a lengthy career with footnotes here from Rubin and McCartney talking over and of the finest songs of his vocation.
Those little details, thrown out as the build-up to the point of memory, are the most insightful moments. How McCartney started in music, his relationship with collaborators and the impact of his work. He speaks candidly and honestly, and the persona he presents as a quiet, friendly man is a guiding force for McCartney 3, 2, 1. Rubin plays the part of a friend and journalist blend exceptionally well. He knows when to listen, and when to prod McCartney into expanding his point into some of the best and most detailed of answers. His influences range high and low, from Fela Kuti and Johann Sebastian Bach to Elvis Presley and the musicians of his childhood. A rare discussion of The Beach Boys and their influence on the early works of The Beatles is a nice touch and forms one of many pockets of interesting history for McCartney.
It is not all about The Beatles, though, although the inclination to lean towards that period of history is expected. They go down avenues previously unexplored. Jimi Hendrix covering Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is brief but fascinating. McCartney is clearly proud of his work, but not in a smug “look how great this is” style. His humble satisfaction with the work that influenced generations of musicians is expanded on greatly. He rattles through Live and Let Die, Blackbird and all the grand tracks from the Fab Four with great respect for his own work and those he has influenced. But Rubin is the secret weapon McCartney 3, 2, 1 has. His simple prodding – limited but important input – steer the direction of this lengthy interview piece.
They riff off of one another as well as the music McCartney has provided these past seventy years. They relish in the opportunity to look back and reflect, to discuss their passions for music, and present it to an eager audience. Their dedication to whittling away at the facts and controversies of the time, the smaller moments overlooked by even the most hardcore of fans, is what makes McCartney 3, 2, 1 so fascinating. Breezing through six episodes is no hassle at all. The two at the core of this documentary series are so likeable, enjoying the time they have together discussing something both they and the audience at home are so passionate about. Great music, good anecdotes and an excellent dive into the culture that created those bestselling records.