Pretty Boys

Album: McCartney III (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Paul McCartney wrote this mainly acoustic song about certain photographers who behave improperly when in the studio and treat their subjects as objects. He explained to NME: "I had read a newspaper article about some male models who'd got annoyed at a photographer who'd been too aggressive and a bit abusive, so I started to imagine a fictional tale about these male models."
  • Oh, here come the pretty boys
    A line of bicycles for hire
    Objects of desire
    When they're working for the squire


    McCartney told The New York Times that while walking along a New York street he noticed a big line of bicycles for hire. It struck him the Big Apple's CitiBike public bicycle sharing system and London's similar scheme had bikes "like models, there to be used."
  • The ex-Beatle recorded the song for McCartney III, which features McCartney on all the instruments. On this song, he plays the same upright bass Bill Black owned and played when touring with Elvis Presley. McCartney told Uncut magazine that the historic instrument was a gift from his first wife, Linda.

    "We had quite a few acquaintances in Nashville," he recalled. "One of the guys who we knew happened to know Bill Black's family. He was chatting to Linda and said, that old bass is just sitting in the barn. Nothing's going to happen with it. I think Linda thought, 'Gosh, talk about a birthday present!' She organized it all and gave it to me. I've been playing it ever since. I can't play it very well because I'm an electric bass guy. But it's a great sound and as long as the part I'm doing is simple, I can manage it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Kristian Bush of Sugarland

Kristian Bush of SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.