X Factor UK Live Final

From paulmccartney.com, December 13, 2009:

Tonight, Paul added some true rock n’ roll spirit to the UK’s biggest music programme. Paul and the band appeared on the X-Factor final and promptly ripped through ‘Drive My Car’, with the help of the original 12 finalists, before delivering an explosive performance of ‘Live and Let Die’ just prior to the announcement of this year’s winner.

From For Whom The Bell Tells, December 17, 2009:

[…] Over the last few weeks the press office has been fielding calls and emails on an almost hourly basis on the subject of The X Factor and the question of whether Paul would be performing at the final. Speculation had been mounting, but Sunday saw the moment of truth. Hours before the show was to go live, Paul arrived at the shows studio to the almost tangible excitement of the judges, contestants, record label bosses and other performers. Within minutes of his arrival there was a massive queue forming outside the dressing room, as everyone was hoping to get a minute with musics most revered idol, including musics Mr Nasty himself. It was to be a night to remember.

Paul had a quick sound check with the band – it was a new experience for The X Factor crew to work with a completely live band so this was going to be quite some challenge. The crew would have the length of one advert break to get all the bands equipment on stage and make sure it was all working. As X Factor stagehands nervously fretted about the job, Paul was his usual cool self, almost oblivious to the fact that he would be going live in front of 20 million people very shortly!

As the show got under way at 7:30pm, fellow performers George Michael, JLS and Leona Lewis stopped by the dressing room to say hi to Paul. Leona congratulated Paul on his recent trip to the European Parliament and declared her dedication to Meat Free Monday and how she is encouraging the scheme wherever she goes.

At 9pm Paul was given his call to the stage. From the wings we watched George Michaels performance. Paul and the band had their ritual pre-performance huddle. It then went to the ad break and the crew leapt in to action with literally minutes to set the stage. When the show came out of the ad break everything was in place. The shows presenter Dermot introduced Paul McCartney by saying, Its pinch-yourself-time; our next guest practically invented pop music, he has had an unbelievable career that began with the biggest band of all time. The studio was then plunged into darkness as an intro film was shown. In block capitals on huge screens over the video it read, HIS SONGS CHANGED THE FACE OF MUSIC FOREVER OVER 100 MILLION SOLO SINGLES SALES 700 MILLION ALBUM SALES OVER 1 BILLION WORLDWIDE RECORD SALES THE MOST SUCCESFUL MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER IN POP MUSIC HISTORY THE LEGENDARY PAUL McCARTNEY. Talk about spine-tingling stuff. Over the years Ive seen Paul pick up some incredible awards and accolades but this display was amazing and really brought home the sheer level of his success and unparalleled career. All the team turned to each other with immense pride of being part of such fantastic history.

Now it was show time. What did Paul do next? He did what he always does best. He rocked. He gave them a performance like they have never had and (I know I am biased) they will never have again. It was (in a Simon Cowell voice) simply incredible. Paul and the band performed Drive My Car and Live And Let Die. The X Factor asked Paul to perform two songs back to back, which is an exception to their usual setup. The only negative thing I can say about it all is that two songs simply werent enough! The Live And Let Die performance featured pyro that, if they werent already up and dancing, would have had the audience jumping off their seats.

After his performance Paul went to watch the remainder of the show from the side of the studio. Within minutes I was being bombarded with texts by some of my journalist friends (who will remain nameless) who were normally very cynical about The X Factor, saying how Paul had stolen the show and made it cool.

After the show Pauls dressing room continued to have a magnetic effect on every individual in the building. A jubilant Simon Cowell told us afterwards, in an unusual fit of positivity, Out of all the people I have ever met over the years, Paul is the nicest. He could not have been more friendly or charming. To have Paul McCartney on our stage, life doesnt get any better than that.

After hanging out for a short while after the show it was time for Paul to head home. X Factor contestants and staff were beaming from ear to ear whilst clutching their signed Paul McCartney albums. This was a night that none of them will ever forget! […]

Fountain Studios

This was the 1st and only concert played at Fountain Studios.

Setlist for the concert

1. Drive My Car

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   Album Available on Good Evening Holland

2. Live And Let Die

   Written by Paul McCartney, Linda Eastman / McCartney

   Album Available on Good Evening Holland

Going further

• http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/paul-mccartney/2009/fountain-studios-london-england-2bc364ca.html
• http://www.beatlesbible.com/2009/12/14/sir-paul-mccartney-appears-on-the-x-factor/

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