Building project threatens Beatles statue in Mongolian capital

es.co.jp
Building project threatens Beatles statue in Mongolian capital
TheJapanTimes
REUTERS
AUG 12 , 2017

ULAANBAATAR – A statue of the Beatles erected in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar could be at risk amid an alleged land grab, protesters say, as rapid development turns a city once famed for wide open spaces into a cluttered metropolis.

Residents are protesting against plans to build commercial properties in an area known as Beatles Square, where a bronze bas-relief monument to the “Fab Four” commemorates the former Soviet satellite’s transition to democracy in 1990.

“For a long time there were stories about construction on the land, but nobody wanted to believe it,” said Tsoggerel Uyanga, a community organizer and senior partner at research group MAD Investment Solutions.

The monument, erected in 2008 with donations from politicians, businessmen and artists, marks the site where Mongolians gathered to talk about banned Western pop music and soon became a quirky tourist attraction.

The music of the Beatles, ABBA and other Western pop groups helped launch the “Rock and Roll Communist Revolution” that inspired a generation to fight for Mongolian democracy 30 years ago.

The protests began after an Aug. 2 announcement that construction work will start, with residents calling the project a “land grab” and expressing fears the Beatles statue could be moved or even demolished.

Authorities have defended the development as part of a “car-free street” project to build an underground shopping complex complete with street gardens.

A lawyer for Mongolia’s National Construction Association said there are no plans to remove the Beatles statue, however.

“By implementing the project, there are a great deal of advantages, such as increasing jobs and reducing traffic congestion,” said D. Uuganbayar, the lawyer.

The national association, the city government and a private contractor are leading the project.

Congestion and pollution have grown in the capital as its population has doubled over the last two decades, with thousands of impoverished herders flocking to settle in makeshift residential areas.

The strain on Ulaanbaatar’s infrastructure has forced the city to rethink its planning of urban spaces, and drawn criticism for the sale of public land to wealthy buyers.

Investors have failed in the past to deliver on promises to protect public spaces affected by development, Uyanga said, pointing to the Bogd Khan conservation area where the World Bank had raised concerns about over-development.

“It became a black market for land authorities during the early democratic years,” said Uyanga.


A statue of the Beatles stands amid construction work in front of a shopping center in Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday. | REUTERS

The weird conspiracy theory which suggests that Paul McCartney actually died in 1966

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The weird conspiracy theory which suggests that Paul McCartney actually died in 1966
By Nilgun Salim
August 11, 2017

If you are Beatles fan you have certainly heard about the famous conspiracy theory about how the real Paul McCartney died in 1966 and the man who replaced him it’s actually someone who looks a lot like him.

According to WorldNewsDailyReport, Ringo Starr has revealed during an exclusive interview with Hollywood Inquirer in 2015 that the real Paul McCartney died in a car accident on 9th November 1966.

After the crash, he was replaced by a man named William Shears Campbell, who was the winner of a contest the band would have organized incognito at that time and who happened to look a lot like McCartney.

“When Paul died, we all panicked”, said the Beatles drummer at that time.

“We did not know what to do, and Brian Epstein, our manager, suggested that we hire Billy Shears as a temporary solution. He should have been our colleague for a week or two, but nobody got caught up at that time, so we continued to sing with Billy, who turned out to be a good musician.The only problem was that he did not get along with John (Lennon). ”

Starr claims that, over the years, The Beatles has launched several cryptic messages to prepare the audience for the truth.

He says the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is full of clues about Paul’s death.

“We wanted to tell the world the truth, but we were afraid of what reaction we could have caused. We thought the whole planet would hate us for the lies and preferred to throw clues.”

According to WorldNewsDailyReport, Ringo Starr finally decided to tell the truth when he turned the 74.

The rumors of McCartney’s death appeared more than 45 years ago but they were constantly denied by band members and their close associates.

Ringo Starr Talks New LP, Future Deluxe Beatles Albums, Paul McCartney

 

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Ringo Starr Talks New LP, Future Deluxe Beatles Albums, Paul McCartney
"I hope they do the White Album and 'Abbey Road,'" he says
By Andy Greene
Aug 10 2017


Ringo Starr
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

For his 19th solo album, Ringo Starr planned to record his first country album since 1970's Beaucoups of Blues. But when his touring schedule made an extended trip to Nashville impossible, Ringo decided to simply work in his living room, inviting old friends like Peter Frampton, Dave Stewart, his brother-in-law Joe Walsh and Paul McCartney to collaborate. "It ended up like a regular Ringo album with a ballad, a country song, a rock song," says the drummer, whose new album, Give More Love, is out September 15th. "It's always very casual. With Pro Tools, you don't need all that space like we had in Abbey Road. Sometimes the dog will bark, and it ends up on the track." Ringo, 77, is approaching his 30th year leading his All-Starr Band, whose long-running lineup includes Steve Lukather (Toto), Gregg Rolie (Journey, Santana), Richard Page (Mr. Mister) and Todd Rundgren. The band's fall tour includes a Las Vegas residency in October.


Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band
Scott Robert Ritchie

How did Paul wind up taking part in sessions for the new album? Well, I just called him up and said,"I got this song called 'Show Me the Way,' and I want you to play on it." Because he is a really good friend of mine, he said he'd come to L.A. for it. It's about [my wife] Barbara. She shows me the way. I wanted it to be very personal. While he was there, he also played on "We're on the Road Again." That was very kind of him.

You two still sound great together.He's an incredible musician. He's incredible at singing too and as a writer, but for me, as a bass player, he is the finest and the most melodic. It's always fun when we're playing together. I've played on several of his records, mainly in the Nineties. People keep saying, "Oh, it’s been so long." It's not been that long. We did the Grammys, we did that Beat­les show three years ago. So we are still pals, but we don't live in each other's pocket.

PHOTO CREDIT: AKM -GSI

There are a couple of country songs on the album that remind me ofBeaucoups of Blues. What are your memories of that time in your life?
I went down to Nashville and we did it in two days. I did it because Pete Drake came to England to play [pedal steel] on George's record [All Things Must Pass] and I was playing [drums] on it. I sent my car to get him and he noticed I had a lot of country tapes. He was talking to me about coming to Nashville to make a record and he'll produce it. I was thinking I didn't want to spend months in Nashville. He said "What are you talking about?Nashville Skyline took two days." So I went to Nashville and I got there on Monday, we did the record Tuesday, Wednesday, and I left Thursday. And that's how we did it! Five songs a day!

On "Electricity," you give a shout-out to Johnny Guitar, from your pre-Beatles band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.When I changed my name to Ringo, he changed his to Johnny Guitar. I had left [my job at] the factory, and this was the first real job as a musician. I have great memories of being in that band. If you look back at my recent solo records, there's always some mention of Rory and the Hurricanes in it. I don't wanna write the book – I write it in songs. If you want to read my book, you'll have to buy 15 CDs and put it all together.

On your new song "Laughable," which you co-wrote with Peter Frampton, you sing "It would laughable if it weren't so sad." I presume you're talking about Trump?

Well you know I'm not political. Peter Frampton added that line. We had discussions where he wanted the words to be more political. And I was against that, and it's my record so you know what that's what I do. I direct it. But I felt we still said the same things and it's understood that it would be laughable if it wasn't so said. But no I'm not gonna mention people and parties because I feel like we can do this in a much better way.

Ringo Starr and Peter Frampton

Your drums sound louder than ever on the new Sgt. Pepper box set.They are! Giles [Martin, son of George Martin] has turned me up. I love it! We couldn't do that in the Sixties. If anything, when we were mastering, we were taking off the bottom all the time, and the bottom was my bass drum. You should go to the Love show [in Las Vegas]. It's like drum boogie. It's so far-out.

What role did you take in putting together the Sgt. Pepper set?Giles remastered it, they sent it to me, and I said I loved it. There's another bonus CD with different bits – the big piano that we all played for that one chord [on "A Day in the Life"]. That is so interesting, even for me, who's on the damn thing. I just love it. It’s a bit like the Eight Days a Week[documentary] that Ron Howard did. I was so moved emotionally by looking at that, and I'm in it, for God's sake.

It was interesting to see a Beatles film that focused only on your touring career.It just showed us as four lads. We were always being ordered to play stadiums since we couldn't play regular gigs. We stopped touring because we all felt we weren't playing that well. I couldn't hear what the other three were doing. I'd have to look at their actions and go, "Oh, yeah, we went into that part now." Then we split up, of course. But I think [touring] is part of the four of us – that's what we always liked to do.

Are you going to release deluxe editions of the other albums?I hope they do the White Album and Abbey Road.

How about Revolver and Rubber Soul? I don't know. Let's say yes! [Laughs] If we don't, forgive me.

You're heading out with the All-Starr Band this fall. Do you still want to be doing this in three years when you enter your eighties?Yeah, I love it. It's what I do. As long as I can hold the sticks, we can go for a long time.

Watch below: 5 little-known facts about "A Day in the Life," considered by many to be the Beatles' single greatest recorded achievement

See Paul McCartney Urge Action on Climate Change

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See Paul McCartney, Bono, Pharrell Urge Action on Climate Change
Famous musicians voice their support for Al Gore's new documentary 'An Inconvenient Sequel'
By Elias Leight
Aug 10 2017

Paul McCartney, Bono and more pushed for policies to battle climate change in a new clip accompanying Al Gore's documentary 'An Inconvenient Sequel.'

Paul McCartney, Bono, Pharrell Williams and many other musicians called for actions to mitigate the effects of global warming in a new video released on Thursday. The clip, titled "Why Are You Inconvenient?", is tied to the release of Al Gore's new film An Inconvenient Sequel.



An impressive slate of stars signal their support for Gore's efforts in the new spot. "I'm inconvenient for the future of the planet," says McCartney. "The poorest of the poor are furious because they're hit first and worst by climate change," adds Bono. "We have one planet that we live on – we ain't on Mars yet," notes Williams. "Until we get there, I'm inconvenient."

Similar sentiments are offered by Maroon 5's Adam Levine, the Chainsmokers, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Jennifer Hudson, DNCE, Steve Aoki, Randy Jackson and Ryan Tedder. Tedder also co-wrote a song titled "Truth to Power" that appears in An Inconvenient Sequel, and that tune soundtracks the end of "Why Are You Inconvenient?", playing as shots of protesting activists flick across the screen.

An Inconvenient Sequel comes more than 10 years after An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's first documentary about the dangers of climate change. That film won two Academy Awards for Best Documentary and Best Original Song.



Gore believes that documentaries like his latest are even more important now then they were in 2006. "In the crowded social-media environment, points of view are displacing facts," he told The New York Times, "and that's created a space in which well-made documentaries have become the most powerful and effective way to deliver a message with integrity."

He remains optimistic about the planet's ability to battle global warming. "We can solve this," he asserted on The Late Show, "and we will solve this."

Paul McCartney gives thumbs-up to charity record

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Paul McCartney gives thumbs-up to charity record
RTE News
Wednesday, 9 Aug 2017


Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney has given the green light for a charity album to feature a choir version of his 1984 hit, We All Stand Together.

Sung by 10 Choirs with Purpose - a selection of singers including Britain's Got Talent finalists, the Missing People Choir, and the NHS Choir, it will also be released as a Christmas single.

Pupils from the Parrs Wood High School Choir, who sang with Ariana Grande at the One Love Manchester concert, will also join in on the Stand Together album, which aims to spread messages of hope after loss and the power of community.

Originally recorded by Paul and the Frog Chorus, the song reached number three in the UK charts and includes the lyrics: "Win or lose, sink or swim/One thing is certain we'll never give in/Side by side, hand in hand/We all stand together."

The cheerful tune has already seen a new lease of life this year after it was adapted for the trailer for the upcoming season of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4.

All profits from Stand Together album sales will be split equally between the choirs or their nominated charities.



Record producer, James Hawkins, said: "We All Stand Together is the perfect song to bring together all the different choirs featuring on the album.

"The message 'one thing is certain we'll never give in' resonates with every group, and we are so excited to be bringing this classic song to a whole new generation."

The album will officially hit shelves on December 15 but is available to pre-order now via pledgemusic.com.

Ryan Tedder: Working with Paul McCartney was my favourite week

 Paul McCartney and Ryan Tedder


www.sundayworld.com
Ryan Tedder: Working with Paul McCartney was my favourite week
By Sunday World
Aug 8 2017



Ryan Tedder says working with his idol Sir Paul McCartney was his "favourite week in his life".

The OneRepublic frontman and chief songwriter has worked with a whole host stars including recently former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello and he even worked with U2 on their forthcoming record.

However, getting to be in the studio with the Beatles legend was a definite tick of his wish list.

Speaking about what he's working on, Ryan told the latest issue of Schön! Magazine: "In terms of what I have coming, it's all over the map. I did a session last week with Camila Cabello and I'm really happy with it. I'm really excited about the Paul McCartney stuff. Beyond happy, it's probably my favourite session ever.

"I'd go as far as saying my favourite week in my life was working with Paul McCartney.

"The U2 album is shaping up and sounding incredible. I also got to do stuff with The Killers on their upcoming album. I've also been working with Jessie Ware, a British artist, whose single is out now."

Meanwhile, the 'Counting Stars' hitmaker has been vocal about how he feels the album format is becoming outdated and he says he's found it "freeing" to just put songs out on streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify recently.

This means it's highly unlikely we can expect another studio album from the band.

Explaining his love of streaming platforms, Ryan said: "All we've been doing lately is just doing songs. We haven't gone to radio with a single since probably October. In a way, it's been the most freeing 9 months I've had in 10 years because I don't have to do any promo. You just put stuff out on Spotify and Apple Music...I think being able to just release music as you see fit makes it so much easier. Plus, the world kind of tells you what song they love. No Vacancy - which we put out back in April - could've easily gone to radio...The song is now closing in on 100 million streams and it's something we have done zero work behind. This doesn't mean we won't release singles in the future, but not always. We will but as and when."

October  2016 : Singer and music producer Ryan Tedder admits he wasn’t a fan of The Beatles as a teenager until he found a burned copy of “The White Album” in a car he bought. Tedder got hooked and went on to buy all of their records, now putting Sir Paul McCartney is at the top of his list of people he wants to collaborate with… or even just hang out with and have dinner.

Paul McCartney still an ageless wonder

www.daily-journal.com
Sir Paul McCartney still an ageless wonder
Tim Yonke
Aug 5, 2017


Former Beatle Paul McCartney's still rockin' at age 75.
Jim Dyson/Getty Images

"When I get older losing my hair

Many years from now

Will you still be sending me a valentine

Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

If I'd been out till quarter to three

Would you lock the door?

Will you still need me, will you still feed me

When I'm sixty-four?"


When Sir Paul McCartney penned those lyrics 50 years ago, I doubt he thought he'd still be performing the song in front of packed stadiums and venues around the world when he was 75.

But that's exactly what the former Beatle recently did when he played before two sold-out audiences at nearby Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park.

While McCartney didn't sing that particular Beatles classic from the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club album, he did perform 39 songs ranging from his very first recording as a member of the Quarrymen (a predecessor of the Beatles; the song was "In Spite of All the Danger") to a few of recent vintage such as "FourFiveSeconds," but without Rihanna and Kanye West.

Still, it was the Beatles classics that brought the house to its feet and in full voice, including this writer and his wife. Songs such as "Hard Days Night," "Love Me Do," "Let It Be," "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday" had most everybody singing, swaying and smiling.

McCartney got some laughs when he told the audience that when they play the old Beatles songs, he looks out and it shines like a galaxy of stars with all the cellphones taking photos and videos. But, when they play the new stuff, it's more like a "black hole."

Still, he laughed, he was going to play a few new ones.



And why not? McCartney is arguably one of the most prolific songwriters in modern popular music history. Some estimate he's written or co-written between 800 to 1,000 songs. Those include his years with the Beatles, Wings, his solo career and his music with a number of other artists including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Elvis Costello.

For me, McCartney's music almost always puts me in an upbeat mood. Whether its singing along to the Beatles' "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" or listening to his piano playing in the Wings' hit "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five."

I'd say the combination of songwriting, singing and his ability to skillfully play just about any instrument — multiple guitars, piano, ukulele, you name it — sets him apart from anyone else in the industry.



I wrote a few years ago about fulfilling a bucket list item when I went to my first-ever live concert by one of the Beatles. That was one of McCartney's concerts at Wrigley Field in 2011. It was nirvana. I didn't think it could be topped.

Now, I considered myself one of the lucky 25,000 who were in attendance for his first show in Tinley Park on what was truly an idyllic evening.

Perfect weather. Perfect venue. Perfect performance.

As Paul demonstrated so elegantly, age is but a number.



Tim Yonke is the Assistant Managing Editor/Weekend Editor at the Daily Journal. He can be reached by calling 815-937-3372 or by email at tyonke@daily-journal.com.