Beatle Paul Rocks Ukraine

Tens Of Thousands Brave Rain To Hear Paul McCartney Play Charity Concert

(AP)  Tens of thousands of people braved heavy rain and thunder Saturday night to see Paul McCartney perform a charity concert Saturday night on Kiev's central Independence Square.

The outdoor show, the first in Ukraine for the former Beatle, was billed as the biggest concert ever in the former Soviet republic. It was also broadcast live on national television and on giant screens set up in five other Ukrainian cities.

After a half-hour delay because of the weather, McCartney - who turns 66 next week - came out on the stage and greeted the crowd in Ukrainian, before diving into the Beatles hit "Drive My Car."

He followed up with a series of Beatles songs, including "Hey Jude," "Let it Be," "Back in the U.S.S.R.," and "Penny Lane."

The show also included a rendition of "A Day in the Life," which McCartney dedicated to John Lennon. According to Rolling Stone magazine, none of the Beatles had ever sung that song - written more than 40 years ago - live until McCartney performed it two weeks ago in his home city of Liverpool.

McCartney returned for his encore waving a Ukrainian flag and finished off the two-hour show with fireworks, a rendition of "Yesterday" and a musical finale.

Fans from neighboring Belarus and Moldova joined the Ukrainians for the event. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was also in attendance.

Before the concert, fans in five major cities in Ukraine sang Beatles songs in a live TV linkup with the capital.

The square where McCartney played was the site of the Orange Revolution in 2004, when peaceful mass protests overturned a fraudulent election and brought a pro-Western opposition leader to power.

Organizers said the money raised will be spent on diagnostic equipment for the children's department of Ukraine's National Cancer Institute. Many children now seek treatment abroad because Ukraine lacks the necessary equipment.

The concert was free but the organizers asked for donations from Ukrainian businessmen and others. More than 500 people have contributed a total of about 3 million Ukrainian hryvna (US$600,000) and donations are continuing to come in, said Tatyana Overina, spokeswoman for the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which organized the concert.

Pinchuk, a billionaire businessman and Ukraine's richest man, established the foundation in 2006 with the stated goal of contributing to the modernization of Ukraine and bringing forward a new generation of Ukrainian leaders.

[dobbershome]

It will be a sad day when we lose Paul.

[thisandthat1]

But, did he sing "Back in the USSR"?

[mgpm-2009]

Good on you, Paul. You are awesome.

Hypnotoad, do you have any idea that John was saved in the late 70''s? he was. John Lennon was far from a perfect man, and he knew it. Can we say the same for you? And Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds had nothing to do with LSD, you dolt.

[timothyone-2009]

John Lennon CORRECTLY pointed out the fact that the Beatles were then more popular throughout the world than was Jesus. More people were Beatles fans than were followers of Christ. It was the truth. There are today more Chinese than Christians, does saying so make me or the Chinese evil? There are more people who enjoy alcohol than there are people who follow Christ. What''s the big deal in making such a point. It was obvious that John had heard the number of fans the Beatles had, and knowing the number of Christians he was surprised to know how they compared. he was no doubt shocked and amazed. He in no way compared himself to Christ.

[neobrian-2009]

Only A Fool,..
Tries To Find Something " Negative " In everything !
What Do We expect from People Like ?

[hypnotoad72]

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Only a fool would advocate LSD, and imagine if we didn''t have religion that people would find other excuses to be nasty...

Whatever. Lennon thought he was bigger than Jesus too.