2012: Olympics: Paul McCartney closes London's opening ceremony

Paul McCartney raises his arms as he sings at the end of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012.

/ CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images

(CBS News) Sir Paul McCartney closed the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony leading the crowd in a mass sing-a-long of "Hey Jude."

Pictures: London 2012 Opening Ceremony
Complete Coverage: London Olympics 2012

The 70-year-old legendary Beatle opened with the Beatles classic "The End" at the piano. Then he launched into "Hey Jude" while the crowd sang along to every word.

It was a spectacular ending to filmmaker Danny Boyle's "Isle of Wonder" opening ceremony that featured a catalogue of British music from the Rolling Stones to British rapper Dizzee Rascal.

The ceremony also included special guest appearances from famous Brits including Daniel Craig as James Bond, Rowan Atkinson  as Mr. Bean and Queen Elizabeth II.

[Truvianni]

The UK in all honesty does not have much in the way of music and therefore must try hard to promote their 3 or 4 chord pop songs most of which are as passe as the Beatles yet the London philharmonic could have done pieces by Elgar, Webber or even Williams which would have been much better than pop music in playback while showing teenagers dance badly or a tired old man who had nothing new to offer but his equally tired songs.

[rozidays]

I was so incredibly bored and disappointed with the opening ceremony. I couldn't believe how long their industrial age bore-fest went on. I finally got sick of it and turned the channel and just kept checking back to see when it would be over. Also, the torch being inside the stadium...epic mistake. Sorry London but that was just a horrifically awful production.
http://www.rosebudmag.com/growers/london-2012-olympics-michael-phelps-hydroponics-gold-medal

[Truvianni]

I was too disapointed and though I do not think it was as bad as some are saying I also felt it was far from being great or worthy of the Olympics

http://truvianni.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/london-olympics-opening-ceremony-not-a-total-disappointment-but-far-from-being-great/

[markseibold]

I feel that some of you are being a little to critical on Paul McCartney. How many of you could get up there at age 70 and not only sing a decent rendition of your own platinum seller from over 40 years ago and no less one of the greatest popular hits in modern music, and to top it off, play the piano that well to accompany yourselves in front of millions of people. OK, I'll give you that he was a little rough on a few notes, but c'mon people! He can still belt out the screams in perfect timing on queue and in tune at the end of those lines just like he did at age 26. He has earned the right to do this. And claiming he needs plastic surgery? Really? Imagine what many of you will look like at age 70, if you are even well enough to survive that long and in this modern world of demanding torment today.

Also I think the powerful and positive message in the lyrical movement of this number did set a great example and atonement for the Olympics in such times of trouble. I feel that it was the right number and it was the right performer for this occasion. There is a reason that they chose McCartney to perform.

He is still one of the greatest in the music world as he had also shown a few months before on the Grammy Awards.

Now you may play the game [and the music] and let the games begin,

-Mark Seibold; Portland Oregon

[Truvianni]

Oh, so what you are saying is that people should be kind to him due to his age when they have to listen to how his voice cracks and how he is at times off key even when singing a simple pop song? Well, let me tell you Placido Domingo was also born in 41 and still sounds a lot better singing opera arias which require much more from a singer yet he is still capable of singing them perfectly. It is simple if one can not be great or perfect on such occasions it is best not to do it at all instead of getting up there hoping for understanding to justify the lack of quality in one's performance.

Another thing we could mention is that his song written about Julian Lennon and the break up of his parents has nothing what so ever to do with the Olympics or even its spirit which is another reason he should have refused to perform or they should have asked somebody like the London Philharmonic or Sarah Brightman to perform something suited to the occasion yet the Brits seemed more interested in promoting products like Mr. Bean, James Bond and their passe pop music instead of real British culture like Elgar's music or even their history.

Gianni Truvianni;Warsaw Poland

[mrm5412]

Heres the thing:
At age 70, Paulie has good days vocally, and other days not so good. We singers, at any age, go in and out. The human voice is a vulnerable instrument. Fatigue, overuse, underuse, weather or stress can affect the vocal cords.
I had the AMAZING privilege of seeing SIr Paul in NY a few yrs ago at Citifield. At first his voice was a bit wobbly, but after a few numbers he got right in there squarely and knocked those songs out of the ball park. This was only a few yrs ago.

Maybe he needs to warm up vocally a bit more before going onstage. As a singer myself, I wouldnt dream of performing with doing my vocal exercises!

I will say I thought he looked sort of terrible. He has always managed to retain his youthful vigor. But I thought he looked suddenly drawn and wan and his hair looked bad too.
What's happening ?

Maybe this latest marriage ain't so good for him after all. In fact, I think he's starting to look just like her!
Hope she hasn't swallowed him alive!!

I can understand many of the comments there. People get upset when a hero appears fallible and tend to want to attack the imperfections they see.
But you are talking about a man who has devoted his life to music and peace and having a loving heart and a good spirit.
I say cut the dude some slack and look to your own flaws and imperfections before you begin throwing stones at our brother Paul. He is a gentle good man who has given a tremendous GIFT TO THE PLANET.
Remember......ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE...IT'S BEEN A HARD DAYS NIGHT.....SO LETS ALL COME TOGETHER....

I LOVE PAUL MACARTNEY!

HEY JUDE IS A SOUL STIRRING ANTHEM. IM THRILLED PAUL WAS THERE.
GOD BLESS PAUL
GOD BLESS THE BEATLES
IF WE EVER NEEDED THE BEATLES, WE NEED THEM NOW.

You GO, PAUL!

Love Love Love

[erasmus111]

I shouldn't say this, because I'm all for growing old naturally. I'm not for plastic surgery. BUT, Paul really could do with a face lift if he's going to insist on staying in the limelight. : )

[MagnaCartaUK]

I think not somehow, but if he ever did I doubt it'd be in one of your hospitals, seeing as he only has a few hundred £million with which to pay for it. :)

[erasmus111]

I'm not American.

[bigblacklab2]

he is tiresome but bringing Ringo along might have helped.

[Truvianni]

It would have helped more if he had not played at all or perhaps sang something new which has something to do with the Olypics or at least its spirit instead a tired number he has been doing since the 60s.

[MagnaCartaUK]

I'd have liked to see Coldplay performing there. Lol, either that or or a proclaimation ordering The Who to perform. I'm not certain how much of it people overseas understood, but I liked the Queen being involved in the James Bond skit. She's a great sport, and has a good, though little-known about sense of humour. I just hope the sun makes an appearance too during the next 15 days.

[erasmus111]

Huh?

[MagnaCartaUK]

'Huh'?? Oh dear, are you experiencing pain in struggling to form a thought 'erasmus'? If so, allow me to help - I'll even give you a few days grace in which to achieve it if necessary. However, in light you may simply be just a total dimwit, and get into awful trouble when trying to understand simple comment, I'd best afford you a brief, abridged breakdown of my comment. Ready? Here goes then; 'Coldplay' are a globally successful British rock band, as were/are 'The Who' in fact. A 'proclaimation' is a public declaration. The 'Queen' is our Head of State. 'Skit' is a phrase used to describe a comedy sketch or satire, and my reference to the 'sun' - (you know, that large glowing ball of light you've probably seen in the sky at some point in time), relates to the fact that our weather hasn't been to good recently; (i.e., cloudy, cool with lots and lots of rain), and underpins the notion that decent weather is preferable to bad when attending or watching Olympic events. Now then 'Erasmus', let's have another go at it shall we? ... Try to read and link up the words again, ... and then allow the images they provide to slowly form in your mind, ... and very soon you'll hopefully form a thought. The main thing is to just keep trying 'erasmus', I know you can do it! Just take your time though eh?

[Jaylah54200]

Actually, I wish they hadn't trotted Sir Paul out again.

He once had a voice worth listening to. But it's gone all quavery-old-man in the past few years.

I understand that the Beatles were a very visible part of England's history, but I would have preferred if they'd just left the Artic Monkeys cover of "Come Together" to represent the Beatles contribution.

It makes me cringe when I see a once brilliant performer struggling so hard to hang onto what he lost long ago.

[erasmus111]

"It makes me cringe when I see a once brilliant performer struggling so hard to hang onto what he lost long ago."


Yeah, it wasn't pretty. They could have just shown a few clips of the Beatles from way back when.

[vet97]

"Sir" Paul missed a few notes last night....Clapton would of been a better choice with Layla rocking the house!!

[erasmus111]

"....Clapton would of been a better choice with Layla rocking the house!!"


Yuk. I don't want to see a person that was stupid enough to let their 3 year old child fall out a window.

[nbenn514]

Sir Paul needs to retire. what a disappointing end to a great opening ceremony. he even at one point "sang" to the producers who were trying to get him to wrap it up, i don't want to stop. idiot.

[WakeUpPeople001]

Same for other old rockers like the Stones.

They should take a lesson from Muhammad Ali--if you appear LESS often, people will appreciate you MORE.

[woozybarnes]

Absolutely! They should have used a classy American act like Lady Gaga or Madonna or some rapper grabbing his crotch.

[KPeters_from_UK]

I wonder if the North Koreans were looking at each other asking who this guy was and what's with all the strange music.