McCartney comes back strong

To write an accurate review for this concert is pointless. I almost wish I didn't write this because no review can express the magic and brilliance of Wednesday night's Paul McCartney concert in Chicago.\nIn the weeks before the concert I tried to tell myself I was going to see a Beatle. It was hard for me to comprehend. Don't get me wrong, I have seen a lot of concerts and plenty of big names and bands, but this for, I was unprepared. Paul McCartney. As many times as I say it, it still doesn't register.\nI left Bloomington Tuesday night and got in Chicago in the morning hours. I had even pulled an all-nighter the night before. Following the concert, I planned to stay up the whole night and drive straight back to IU, which would mean one night of sleep in three days. No matter. This was a special occasion.\nThe concert was supposed to begin at 8 p.m., but by the time the entire crowd got situated it was almost 8:45. At 9 p.m., the lights turned off and the restless crowd focused its attention on a number of people emerging from the ground-level sections. The giant screen at the center of the stage featured images of nature, while soft, tranquil music filled the fans' ears.\nThe whole spectacle lasted for more than 10 minutes, and just as the aged rock fans grew agitated at the royal figures and landscape, the screen showed a silhouette holding a guitar. As the crowd went wild, the figures disappeared, the screen was raised and McCartney emerged from behind it, beginning the tune of "Hello, Goodbye." I could not believe I now heard live the song I had heard a million times before.\nMcCartney had three bandmates, each taking the place of the other missing Beatles. The silky-smooth voice of the lone Beatle almost made me believe that the "Fab Four" was really there -- in their prime. McCartney's energy hardly resembled that of an almost 60-year-old man, as he switched more than 10 guitars during the show and went through two pianos. \nThe songs included his best Beatles and Wings material and featured the Beatle crowd favorites "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," "The Fool On the Hill" and "Yesterday." If I could only describe what it felt to sing the "na-na-na-na" ending of "Hey Jude" along with 20,000 fans and McCartney himself for what seemed like an eternity.\nMaybe one word is adequate: magic.\nSome of the Wings hits included the high-flying "Jet," along with "Band On The Run" and "Live and Let Die." McCartney also sang some songs from his new album, Driving Rain.\nMcCartney added tributes to former Beatles bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison by dedicating songs to them. He sang Harrison's famous "Something" to the delight of the fans. There was also a tribute to the World Trade Center victims when he sang "Freedom," a song he specifically wrote for Sept. 11.\nFollowing the supposed conclusion, McCartney came back out for more songs time and time again, not wanting to stop.\nIt was only fitting that McCartney ended with the last song ever recorded by the Beatles, if you discount "Her Majesty," of course. \nThis was the best I could do in my review of the Paul McCartney concert. You might not understand some of the things I said and some of the emotions I felt. All I know is for one brief night, Paul McCart-ney's life crossed paths with mine. I had a chance to sing along with him, even just as a fan. In my mind, that was priceless.