Following the sixth and final show of her London concerts last night (June 16), Beyoncé took to Instagram to thank Sir Paul McCartney for “writing one of the best songs ever made’ in The Beatles‘ ‘Blackbird’, which she covered on ‘Cowboy Carter’.
Beyoncé performed ‘Blackbird’ on all six nights of her London stint, with the track sitting as the second song of the setlist. Her cover of the Beatles classic featured the band’s original master recording backing track.
Beyoncé on vocals. Sir Paul on guitar. The song is "Blackbird", McCartney wrote and recorded the song by himself in 1968 for the Beatles’ self-titled double-LP, aka the White Album, letting the other members of the group sit it out as he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar and percussive foot-tapping.
That’s exactly what is heard on Beyoncé‘s fresh rendition, which has been retitled “Blackbiird,” in a spelling alteration similar to others on the album to reflect its “Act II” theme. Although the song is also credited to John Lennon, like a majority of latter-day Lennon-McCartney songs, it was written entirely by just one of them — and, in this rare instance, recorded by just one member as well.
For her latest album "Cowboy Carter", just released and immediately at the top of the world charts, the former Destiny's Child didn't just limit herself to recording a cover of the Beatles' song: her version of "Blackbird" is by the way a proper "duet", hidden on the album.
Beyoncé Used Original Beatles Backing Track for ‘Blackbird’ on New ‘Cowboy Carter’ Version, With Paul McCartney’s Blessing.
The still-gradually-expanding credits for “Cowboy Carter” don’t make mention of the backing track being borrowed from the Beatles’ 56-year-old original. While McCartney is listed as playing guitar on the song in the credits (which have been unveiled gradually since the album’s release last Friday and still appear incomplete), and is also listed as one of the new track’s producers, there is no indication in the wording that his work on the track was not newly recorded.
Paul McCartney Praises Beyoncé’s ‘Killer Version’ of ‘Blackbird’: ‘I Spoke to Her on FaceTime and She Thanked Me’ for ‘Letting Her Do It’. (Variety)
I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird’. I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place. I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it!”
He continues by explaining that they connected after he had given his blessing for her to record a rendition of the song. “I spoke to her on FaceTime and she thanked me for writing it and letting her do it,” he continued. “I told her the pleasure was all mine and I thought she had done a killer version of the song. When I saw the footage on the television in the early 60s of the black girls being turned away from school, I found it shocking and I can’t believe that still in these days there are places where this kind of thing is happening right now. Anything my song and Beyoncé’s fabulous version can do to ease racial tension would be a great thing and makes me very proud.”
