Fans in New York and New Jersey greeted Paul McCartney Thursday night at MetLife Stadium with an apotheosis for the global music and pop culture icon.
McCartney turns 80 next Saturday, June 18. The Beatle wrapped up his “Got Back” tour of 13 US cities, not far from where America’s history began with all things Beatles in New York City nearly 60 years ago.
About halfway through the show a roar erupted from the upper levels of the stadium. At first it seemed to be a commotion, a sound like those heard when a fight breaks out. But it was not a fight but an eruption of joy.
The Beatles arrived in the United States on February 7, 1964, at JFK International Airport, about 19 miles east of MetLife Stadium, to the screams of young fans. More than 70 million Americans, almost 40% of the total population of the country, saw them on “The Ed Sullivan Show”.
At one point that same year, they cracked the top five on the American charts, a feat unmatched in music history.
“Everything changed for The Beatles when we came to the United States,” McCartney said during the show. “We know what songs they love.” Those songs, he said, are almost always Beatles classics.
“Girls in England could scream,” he joked. “But American girls took Beatlemania to a whole new level.” She then invited the women in the audience to give the distinctive Beatles yell, to which they responded deliriously.
New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen performed “Glory Days” and “I Wanna be Your Man” with McCartney, leading into the Beatles’ anthems “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude” as the rain began to fall on the stadium.
American rock icon and fellow New Jersey native Jon Bon Jovi took the stage towards the end of the concert. He offered his best wishes to Sir Paul and released balloons into the air.
