McCartney’s Album Scores High On Hypocrisy

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I readily admit I’m not much of a music aficionado. I’m old enough that the Farmall M tractor I circled hay fields on as a youth didn’t have a radio. Or a sunshade, for that matter.

I’m woefully ignorant when asked to name the artist singing on the truck radio, though I can usually pick out a George Strait or Garth Brooks tune. The Beatles? Yeah, I can name a few of those, but, seriously, they disbanded several years before I graduated high school.

Which makes it all the more intriguing that Paul McCartney’s latest album hit the top of the music charts this week. The last time that happened Ronald Reagan was president, Great Britain and Argentina were involved in the Falklands War, and Judge Brett Kavanaugh was a 17-year-old high school senior.

The 76-year-old McCartney’s new album, “Egypt Station,” debuted in the top spot after selling 153,000 copies in its first week, giving McCartney his first ever debut No. 1 album, according to Billboard.

For the record, I did not purchase one of those first 153,000 copies, nor would I even if there had been an 8-track tape version available. (For those of you under 50, you’ll have to Google 8-track tape player.)

farmall m

In fact, I have little interest in McCartney’s music, largely because of his lifestyle hypocrisy. You see, McCartney is a high-profile vegetarian and animal rights advocate. Neither of those attributes are disqualifying for me – until you understand that he has long campaigned to end all of animal agriculture. Yep, he wants you out of business.

Included on Sir Paul’s new album is the song, “Despite Repeated Warnings,” described as “a diatribe against climate change deniers,” which includes a veiled reference to President Trump, a noted climate change denier.

But when you live in a glass house and you throw rocks, you should expect some internet criticism. Sir Paul got plenty – mostly for the many cars and airplanes he uses to travel around the world calling on people to stop eating meat because…well, climate change. His list of cars includes a Rolls Royce, a Ferrari, a Corvette, a Lamborghini and more. I can’t be sure, but I’m guessing the environmental footprint of any of those far exceeds that of a Farmall M.

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