Gary Barlow - We Write The Songs

Original version

BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

BBC Radio 2

Radio 2

Podcasts

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Music

The stories behind the songs from the world’s best loved songwriters

Gary Barlow extends his personal conversations with some of the world’s most exciting songwriters as he delves beyond the melodies and lyrics to discover the stories behind the songs. 

What really makes a great song? Gary Barlow has written some of the most beloved of the last few decades, and in this new series he meets fellow musicians and songwriters to get the inside story on what really makes the magic happen in the studio. From Barry Gibb to MNEK, Paloma Faith to Robbie Williams and many more, these great musical minds share their secrets of how some of their biggest hits came about.

Gary Barlow - We Write The Songs: Series 1: Sir Paul McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney

Series 1

BBC Radio 2 - Gary Barlow - We Write The Songs, Series 1, Sir Paul McCartney

Gary Barlow examines the songwriting genius of Sir Paul McCartney.

Sir Paul McCartney talks to Gary Barlow about the art of songwriting and what it was really like to work with everyone from John Lennon to George Martin to Kanye West

The legendary Sir Paul McCartney talks to Gary Barlow about the art of songwriting and what it was really like to work with everyone from John Lennon to George Martin to Kanye West.  He reveals how he and John Lennon only began writing songs because other bands were performing the same covers as them at The Cavern Club. 
He shares the powerful influence Sir George Martin had on their songs and how he and John Lennon rarely wrote any musical notation down.  That meant they would often arrive in the studio, not remembering their own melodies and having to recall them just from the chords and lyrics. Sir Paul also describes how the brilliance of George Harrison and Ringo Starr in the studio added to the magic of some of the best songs ever made.

Gary Barlow - We Write The Songs: Series 1

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

Gary Barlow speaks to fellow acclaimed songwriters.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Gary Barlow - We Write The Songs

Series 1

Sir Paul McCartney

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 2

About BBC Radio 2