The Million Questions I Asked Myself Before Asking Paul McCartney One

During his recent tour of Australia – which finished on the Gold Coast last Saturday (November 4) – Paul McCartney swung by Studio 10 for a rare TV appearance on The Project.

For panellist Georgie Tunny, this was a dream come true (let’s be real though, it’s every music journalist’s dream come true), being able to personally pose a question to the iconic Beatle... On national television, no less.

But as wild as it was, the opportunity was also equally daunting; see, Tunny only had the time to ask McCartney a single question – and as any fan of his or The Beatles’ at large would agree, there’s a nigh-on endless list of topics one could want to him to expound on.

In this exclusive essay for TheMusic.com.au, Tunny explains how she decided on the one question she wound up posing to Sir McCartney…

The Million Questions I Asked Myself Before Asking Paul McCartney One

If you could ask Sir Paul McCartney one question, what would it be?

Just one.

No more, no less.

One perfect question.

Is perfect possible?

Define ‘perfect’?

What would your strategy be?

Are you retrospective – focusing on the impact him and The Beatles have had on the world?

Are you prospective – focusing on the impact him and The Beatles may still have in the future?

Are you introspective – focusing on the impact him and The Beatles have had on you?

Now, some may argue the latter would be selfish. But there’s a perfect counter - it’s Paul McCartney. If ever there was a time to be slightly self-serving, it would be now.

It’s not so easy, is it?

As they say, with great power comes great responsibility.

Am I overthinking this?

Probably.

But the task at hand remains: one question.

And it’s not a hypothetical.

Today, I will board a plane to Adelaide. Today, I will assemble with passionate Paul (and more accurately, Beatles) fans for a special event, a rehearsal ahead of his latest and perhaps final Australian tour, Got Back. Today, I get to ask a question.

Just one.

No more, no less.

So, what is it?

Is it steeped in history, delving into the most memorable touring moments Paul’s ever had? Is it based in histrionics, delving into the most fanatical reactions he’s been witness to over the last six decades?

Could it focus on more personal anecdotes – his fondest memory of working with Ringo; his biggest falling out with George; what he misses most about John?

How his children informed his work? Did it change his songwriting?

Would he change any note or bridge or lyric to any of his songs? Which song does he perceive to be his greatest achievement?

What song does he wish he’d written? And why?

Oh no, that’s technically two questions.

Back to the drawing board.

Is it a nonchalant query, something that on the surface seems trivial but may make him smile? Something like: ‘why was the submarine yellow?’

Then, you’d forever be someone who made Paul McCartney smile!

Maybe we could ponder together about the future of the music industry.

Will AI take over? What makes art, art? How do we preserve it? Who does he classify as an artist? Is art elitist? Can protest songs still change the world? Do we really say anything in songs anymore? If we do, does anyone want to listen?

I read somewhere once, that The Beatles are the chemists of the music industry.

They played around with genres, dipping their toes into many, even creating a few. Their influence is everywhere. In every ‘new’ song, there’s a Lennon-esque lyric; a McCartney melody; a George riff; or a Ringo vibe.

Would Paul agree? Or were they more biologists?

Researchers who immortalized daily life, human emotion, the art of hand holding?

I digress.

Do all songs sound the same? Are they all variations on his own work? Where does imitation end and innovation start? What songs did The Beatles never get to write?

Does he think about that?

The music that doesn’t exist because a gun took John, too early. The reunion tours that never got to happen because cancer stole George.

What songs got him through those times? The hardest of times. The times when the world grieved people they thought they knew, but who he grew up with.

Who was The Beatles for him? Who is now? Who inspires him?

Does he worry about getting older? About this possibly being his last tour of Australia?

The country – arguably – most prone to Beatlesmania.

How does he feel about fans?

Really, though.

Is their love too much, too little, just right?

Perhaps, we could muse about what comes next – what happens after he and Ringo are gone? What happens to the music? Which contemporary artists would he entrust to keep music alive?

Does he see music as a living thing?

Something that inhales and exhales and grows and stagnates. Something that can be reincarnated.

Who is the next The Beatles?

One question.

Just one.

No more, no less.

Georgie Tunny is a co-host of The Project, airing Sunday – Friday, from 6:30 pm on Network 10 and 10 Play.