Proving he was so much more than just a member of the Beatles, Paul McCartney continued to rock the world with his solo music and his work with Wings even after the Fab Four broke up. With his sensitive lyrics that strike to the core of whatever he’s writing about, McCartney imbues his music with heart and grit in equal measure.
From nostalgic comedies like Licorice Pizza to action classics like Live and Let Die, McCartney’s music has proven to be extremely versatile. Because of his clever lyrics, catchy pop hooks and propulsive bass playing, McCartney’s work is uniquely suited to underscore movies and TV shows.
Only Fools And Horses (1981–2003)
Being from England himself, Paul McCartney’s music has been featured in many of the U.K.’s best TV shows. Only Fools and Horses follows a pair of brothers, from rough section of London, who spend their days trying to find the big score that will make them millions.
With a character named Uncle Albert, it was only natural that the McCartney song “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” would underscore an episode. The episode “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Uncle” centers around Uncle Albert and his secretive night life, and the song is a perfect addition. The song is extra funny because of how tailor-made it seems to be for the story being told in the episode.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Though not usually considered one of Cameron Crowe’s best films, Vanilla Sky still had many unique elements. The film follows a former publishing magnate who is recounting the events of his life which led him to become incarcerated. His recollection is foggy and many of the points of his memory become fantastical and strange.
The film has a unique tone that adds elements of dream logic and fantasy to its otherwise straightforward narrative. The inclusion of a Paul McCartney original composition was a perfect choice and the title song “Vanilla Sky” has appropriately dreamlike lyrics. Recalling his days in the psychedelic days of the late Beatles, McCartney’s soft song blends in well with the strange events happening on screen.
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Though most known musically for its inclusion of an original Bruce Springsteen composition, Jerry Maguire is packed with classic tunes. The film follows a sports agent who decides to strike out on his own after he has a moral crisis within the unethical firm that he works for.
The film is equal parts humorous and emotional and it uses its many pop songs to underscore the mood of whatever scene they are a part of. While several of McCartney’s songs appear on the soundtrack, it is the inclusion of the instrumental song “Singalong Junk” that works the best. The somber piece feels more like score music than pop and it gives the scene it plays under an appropriately sad mood.
The Office (2001–03)
Though the U.K’s version of The Office is somewhat overshadowed by its American counterpart, the original series still packed a big comedic punch. Following the day to day activities of an office that is being closed down, the many strange characters that work there are put on display by a documentary crew.
Though there are many classic Christmas episodes in U.K television shows, The Office episode “Christmas Special” is one of the funniest. Not only is the episode humorous, but it is also packed with classic Christmas tunes, and Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” is heavily featured. Though the song isn’t used for any particular effect, it still serves as perfect music to underscore the events on screen.
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990–96)
Though The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was typically humorous, it sometimes used its comedy to tackle bigger issues. The show follows a streetwise young man who is moved by his concerned mother from Philadelphia to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in Bel-Air.
The episode “Guess Who’s Coming To Marry?” sees the family divided when an aunt intends to marry a white man. The McCartney and Stevie Wonder song “Ebony and Ivory” is hilariously sung by Carlton in an attempt to change hearts and minds. Though the song wasn’t penned with humorous intent, the clever use of it in the episode gives the song a new dimension.
Spies Like Us (1985)
Perhaps referring to his legendary song for a James Bond film, McCartney was tapped to provide music for the comedy Spies Like Us. The film follows a pair of bumbling U.S government employees who are tricked into believing they are spies. As they deploy on their mission they slowly learn that they are actually decoys for a larger project that puts them in mortal danger.
The teaming of comedy legends Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase was a recipe for success and Spies Like Us has gone down as one of the best comedies of the 1980s. The title track was composed by McCartney specifically for the film and is a musical departure from his usual fare. Delving into more synthesizers and modern 80s musical techniques, the song is a peppy and catchy tune which gets the viewer in the mood to watch the farcical comedy.
The Killing Fields (1984)
Though McCartney’s music is typically upbeat and exciting, occasionally it can be used to great effect in much darker stories. In The Killing Fields, an American journalist is trapped in Cambodia during Pol Pot’s reign of terror in which the lives of millions of people were claimed through government sanctioned killings.
Though the film was made a mere decade after the events of the film, The Killing Fields cleverly uses its music to establish a place in time. McCartney and his band Wings’ classic song “Band on the Run” is featured prominently throughout the film and slowly it begins to take on an eerie mood. With evocative lyrics about escape, the song has a double meaning when placed under the events of the film.
An Unmarried Woman (1978)
On top of his many talents as a musician, Paul McCartney has also made a name for himself as a writer of love songs. An Unmarried Woman tells the story of a wealthy woman from New York City who finds herself in a personality crisis when her husband leaves her for a much younger woman.
The film is an intimate portrait of its main character and offers touching insight into her thought process as she deals with her changing life. “Maybe I’m Amazed” is not only one of McCartney’s most famous songs, but is also one of the best examples of his songwriting prowess. The song, as an underscore to the film, feels like it is speaking of the character and extolling her many “amazing” virtues.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Music has a way of transporting the listener back to a different place in time, and Licorice Pizza was a film that needed an appropriately 1970s score. The film follows a young woman and a young man as they navigate their lives through the turbulent days of the late 1970s in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
Music has always been a big part of director Paul Thomas Anderson’s films, and Licorice Pizza is no exception. Serving as a love theme for the film’s main characters, the song “Let Me Roll It” is one of the most unique love songs in McCartney’s catalogue. Eschewing the usual lyrical cliches of love songs, “Let Me Roll It” is as unconventional as the story being told in the film.
Live And Let Die (1973)
From the cultural touchstone of The Beatles to the cultural touchstone of James Bond, McCartney served as a bridge between pop culture icons. Live and Let Die sees super-spy James Bond on the tail of a heroin distributor who is the head of a complicated organization that dabbles in the occult.
Generally regarded as one of the best James Bond songs of all time, McCartney’s “Live and Let Die” was the hardest rocking Bond song up to that point. Perfectly preparing the viewer for the adventure that was about to unfold, the song is not only an excellent Bond song, but stands on its own as well.
