The official start of Christmas season is a highly contentious topic. Some people start decking the halls as soon as the Thanksgiving table is cleared. Others prefer to wait until Dec. 1. I’m here to tell you today, both types of people are wrong. The answer is, “The first time I hear Sir Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime.’” I wholeheartedly, un-ironically adore the jaunty Yuletide track, released in November 1979 ahead of the former Beatle’s second studio album, McCartney II. Despite its impressive chart showing, McCartney seldom plays “Wonderful Christmastime’ live. That’s what made Saturday’s (Dec. 14) performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live so special.
Paul McCartney Has Only Played This Song Live a Handful of Times
A group of kids from the You Should Be Dancing Theatre Academy joined Paul McCartney onstage Saturday (Dec. 14) at the Co-op Live in Manchester, United Kingdom, for a surprise performance of “Wonderful Christmastime.”
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Paul McCartney Wonderful Christmastime at The Co-Op Live, Manchester 🇬🇧 December 14 2024
— wayBackinTimes (@waybackintimes) December 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/9s6eB9zvsO
The surprise no doubt delighted audience members. McCartney hadn’t trotted out “Wonderful Christmastime” since 2018, when he played it at a trio of December shows in England. And that was only his second time this decade to perform the song, previously playing it during a December 2016 appearance on The Tonight Show.
“FINALLY!!!!!” commented one ecstatic fan on X/Twitter.
FINALLY!!!!!
— peter lane (@peterlanee) December 14, 2024
According to a 2010 report from Forbes, Paul McCartney makes roughly $400,000 each year from the song—putting its cumulative earnings at more than $15 million.
[RELATED: The Creepy Theory Behind “Wonderful Christmastime” – and Paul McCartney’s Take On It]
Which Beatles Song Had McCartney “Worried Stiff?”
Since the Beatles formed in 1960’s Liverpool, England, arguably no artist has matched their level of fame. By 1965, they had surpassed Elvis Presley for the most-ever No. 1 hits with 20. However, even legends still have their moments. Paul McCartney admitted during an April 1870 interview to having his doubts about one hit in particular.
“I was worried stiff when ‘Hey Jude’ came out just in case it wasn’t any good,” he said, adding, “I wasn’t sure if it was any good. I can never tell.”
The song, with its iconic fadeout, became a worldwide hit.
Featured image by Danny Payne/Shutterstock