Will You Still Love Me When I’m 64? Who is Paul McCartney?

McCartney fans young and young at heart, line up in anticipation. Photo taken by Erin Willis.

McCartney fans young and young at heart, line up in anticipation. Photo taken by Erin Willis.

Sir Paul McCartney is officially here, and with his performance tonight at the United Spirit Arena, local fans are preparing for the long-anticipated Lubbock stop on his “Out There” tour. Tickets for the concert were sold out until a few became available due to scheduling conflicts that occurred when a medical issue required McCartney to reschedule the show from its original date in June.

As one-fifth of of the Fab Five, the former Beatle is known on an international scale. Across the pond, tourists flock to Abbey Road to retrace his steps. Here on campus, students gave their best recount of the music icon.

We took a trip to the Student Union Building at Texas Tech University to ask, “Who is Paul

Student Malik Williams discuss McCartney's revolutionary style.

Student Malik Williams discuss McCartney’s revolutionary style.

McCartney?”

The SUB is bustling with students of all ages and backgrounds. Some are studying; many are chatting. Lubbock-raised Malik Williams, 19, sat eating a snack when he was approached with the question.

“I’m not too sure about that,” Williams said with a smile.

Although he was unfamiliar with the music, he knew of McCartney’s achievements. He said even though The Beatles were very popular, younger generations may be forgetting about the legendary British band.

When asked to compare McCartney to a contemporary artist, Williams laughed, and a few seconds later, he had his response.

“I would say Jay-Z,” he said as he talked about their fame progression and revolutionary style.

Petroleum engineering student, Greg Whiteside, is a 22-year-old from Ft. Worth, Texas. When he was approached with the question, he answered like a fan.

“I know that Paul McCartney is the most — well, probably the most — recognizable and famous Beatle,” Whiteside said before continuing to list the singer’s achievements.

Whiteside was asked to compare McCartney to a contemporary artist and his answer seemed to have surprised his friend.

“Don’t laugh when I say that Beyonce has had a similar course track when she started off in a group,” he said, “and then she ended up doing a solo album herself.”

Whiteside said that while he is not a big fan of McCartney’s solo work, he respects his talent and enjoys The Beatles.  He said his favorite song is “Yellow Submarine,” which McCartney wrote.

The Hub@TTU employees, Erin Willis and Sarah Self-Walbrick, wait at the United Spirit Arena to watch McCartney perform. Photograph taken by Erin Willis.

On the first floor in a study area filled with students, 19-year-old Victoria Gonzalez of San Antonio, Texas, sat with a friend as they studied by a window. She said she knew about Paul McCartney’s past but was not too familiar with his recent projects.

“I don’t know much about him now,” she said, “but I love The Beatles, and he obviously contributed to most of their songwriting, and I think that is pretty cool.”

She said even though it may be a generic answer, her favorite Beatles song is “Hey Jude,” another song written by McCartney. She said if she had to compare him to a contemporary artist, it would be Justin Timberlake because like McCartney, he is talented and started out in a boy band.

As the evening comes to an end, fans old and young will have fulfilled a Beatles-lover’s dream. A dream people never thought would make its way to the Hub City. For older fans, the music may be a soundtrack to their young lives; newer fans are witnessing a part of music history: McCartney’s first, by request, visit to one of his major musical inspiration’s birthplace.

For the young and young at heart, everyone can agree on one thing about Sir Paul McCartney: his impact on music is not fading away any time soon.

About Lucinda Holt

Enterprise Editor - Journalism major and anthropology minor. Graduates in December 2014. Lucinda is a non-traditional student with an associate degree in journalism from Western Texas College in Snyder. She hopes to build a career as a foreign correspondent.