In Praise of "Ebony and Ivory"

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This is actually a really nice song. All instruments by Paul and Stevie. The verse has a nice melodic arc. Possibly better than all songs on Press to Play, Alfred.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 20 June 2005 06:35 (twenty years ago)

Kept "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag" off number one, the bastards.

I am, however, seriously considering starting a thread in defence of "Ferry Cross The Mersey" as recorded by McCartney/Holly Johnson/the Christians/Gerry Marsden and produced by SAW as a Hillsborough disaster fundraising record in 1989.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 06:41 (twenty years ago)

love "ebony and ivory.never embarassed by it.
"ferry " was even better than the original but holly sounded flat
and saw also did live aid featuring jason,kylie,bros etc.

― merry, Monday, 20 June 2005 07:49 (twenty years ago)

The Live Aid II record was terrible.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 07:50 (twenty years ago)

or even the Band Aid II record (I mean, in '84 and '04 Bono did That Line; in '89 it was Matt Goss!).

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 07:51 (twenty years ago)

I really like this song (although the video is hideous).
the melody is nice, the production not too bad for the time. one of the last good song both made ! (arguably).

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:02 (twenty years ago)

Tug Of War was a pretty good album, but this was definitely its worst track.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 20 June 2005 08:02 (twenty years ago)

Tug of War indeed a good album, this song trite lyrically though the melody is nice enough. Would have been more interesting had they collaborated in the 70s rather than at this point, though interesting not necessarily equaling good natch.

― mms (mms), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:02 (twenty years ago)

Nicely parodied by Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:08 (twenty years ago)

"I 'ad that Paul McCartney in the back of my cab once"

I was in Montserrat a couple of years ago and was driven around the island by a guy who said he used to ferry Macca to and from the old Air Studios while this song was being recorded.

― Jeff W (zebedee), Monday, 20 June 2005 09:13 (twenty years ago)

it's a favourite for a karaoke duet ! (together with the girl is mine...macca was a pioneer of karaoke duets !)

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

Awful beyond words.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 20 June 2005 10:47 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, I can't stand this song.

― Joe (Joe), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, Tim. If you'd argued that "Say Say Say" is better than anything on "Press to Play," I'd have agreed. Hell, "What's That You're Doin'?" is better than this slop.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 20 June 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

or even the Band Aid II record (I mean, in '84 and '04 Bono did That Line; in '89 it was Matt Goss!).
-- Marcello Carlin (marcellocarli...), June 20th, 2005.
Have to disagree but the three greatest singers I've ever heard are Morten Harket , Matt Goss and Joey Tempest.
Bono sang the same line "well tonight thank God it's them instead of you" in version 3 but sounded flat and bored and dead.

― merry, Monday, 20 June 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

http://www10.ocn.ne.jp/~yms/service/piano_keyboard.jpg

http://ww2.hfhighschool.org/~fgomez/0027AC59-00870AD6.2/black_white_handshake_big.jpg

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 20 June 2005 12:46 (twenty years ago)

but what does it mean that there are more whites than blacks on a keyboard ?

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 20 June 2005 13:43 (twenty years ago)

They were representing the demographic reality of the United States.

Ebony & Irony is pure genius, one of the greatest things McCartney ever did. It's songs like these that help bring communities together, help black and white people to live together, yes, in perfect harmony. What a truly beautiful sentiment from a pair of genius artists.

― zaerty, Monday, 20 June 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

I'll take those two over Perry Ferrel & Ice T any day of the week.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 20 June 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

love the melody to this song, and the production. it makes me feel very nostalgic...

Nicely parodied by Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo.

indeedy...

Frank Sinatra: "You are black, and I am white
Life's an Eskimo Pie, let's.. take a bite!
That was groovy thinkin'
Lincoln, when you set them freeeeeee...

We all know
Cats are the same
Maine to Mexico.
Good. Bad.
Guys and chicks!"

Stevie Wonder: "I am dark, and you are light."

Frank Sinatra: "You are blind as a bat, and I have sight!
Side by side, you are my amigo,
Negro, let's not fiiiiiiiight!"

Stevie Wonder: "Ebony, ivory
Living in perfect harmony."

Frank Sinatra: "Salt and pepper,
Sammy and Dean
Stevie and me are peachy keen!"

Stevie Wonder: "You are white."

Frank Sinatra: "You are black - and who cares!"

― stevie (stevie), Monday, 20 June 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

That skit transcript totally made my day.

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 20 June 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

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