Paul McCartney, the legendary member of the Beatles, talks about how classical music has affected some of his compositions, including “Blackbird,” in the most recent episode of his Q&A series “You Gave Me the Answer.”
The staff at McCartney’s official website mentioned in the new feature that Paul had disclosed that “Blackbird” was influenced by the Johann Sebastian Bach compositioThe staff at McCartney’s official website mentioned in the new feature that Paul had disclosed that “Blackbird” was influenced by the n “Bourrée in E Minor.” Then they questioned him if Mozart had any effect on any of the songs he had written.
“Not in a specific way, like with ‘Blackbird,’” McCartney responded. “In that instance, it was a piece of Bach’s music that inspired us, and I stole from that.”
He continued, “With Mozart, I often remember something he’s supposed to have said: ‘I use the notes that love each other.’ I’m paraphrasing, but that’s the sentiment. And I agree! In a great chord certain notes love each other. So that’s my main Mozart inspiration.”
In his 2021 book The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, Paul McCartney discussed “Blackbird’s” musical beginnings.
He said, “[The opening guitar part] was a lute piece by Johann Sebastian Bach that George Harrison and I would play as a party piece when we were kids.” “We particularly liked Chet Atkins’ fingerpicking style in a piece he wrote called ‘Trambone.'”
According to the SongFacts website, McCartney discussed Bach’s inspiration for “Blackbird” in an interview with Mojo magazine from 2008.
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