Santiago • Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Highlights

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From paulmccartney.com, November 29, 2018:

What a great way to start 2019 with a trip to Chile! I can’t believe it’s almost five years since our last shows there. We’ve always had such an amazing time on our visits and the people of Chile really know how to party and are always so welcoming. Can’t wait to see you in March.

Paul McCartney

From TELE13, March 20, 2019 (auto-translated from Spanish):

The energy of Paul McCartney lies about his age. The British musician does not notice his well-worn 76 years at the time of taking the stage and presenting himself again to his audience.

After little more than 3 months without playing live – making a brief pause on his ” Freshen Up” tour that concluded his 2018 in mid-December in London – the longed for return placed him face to face with his Chilean fans at the point of departure of the South American section of the tour.

9:19 pm Arms raised and, immediately, “A hard day’s night” , that classic of The Beatles that until recently had more than 50 years without interpreting it live. “Hola, chilenos y chilenas. Bacán verlos de nuevo,” said the bassist, as soon as the second song of his repertoire was finished, to counterattack with “Can not buy me love” and re-read a tender paper located at his feet to help him with the language: “Tonight I will try to speak some words in Spanish.”

[…] Paul McCartney mentioned that there were “special guests” to then say in Spanish “greet the President” , referring to Sebastián Piñera who was with his cabinet in one of the most exclusive locations on the map of the concert. [which led the crowd to apparently boo the president!]

The rehearsal was held the same day before the concert.

From For Whom The Bell Tells, May 28, 2019:

Monday 18th March – Santiago, Chile

Five years, countless concerts and a Number One album since Paul last touched down in Chile, the excitement couldn’t be greater as he arrives in Santiago for what will be his fifth show in the city. In fact, it’s clear his visit is nothing short of a national event. Fans are everywhere and paparazzi stationed around the airport jostle to get shots of Paul waving from his car as he makes his way from the the airport – pictures that will make front page news the very next day. 

Paul has always loved coming to Chile – back in February he told the country’s biggest newspaper La Tercera that he was looking forward to having a “party” with his “fantastic” Chilean following. And during rehearsals ahead of the tour he even recorded a special ‘Magical Mystery Tour’-flavoured message for his fans there, which was shown on the national evening news just before his arrival.

Tuesday 19th March – Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile

The show at the National Stadium is the first stadium concert of the tour, which brings new challenges for the band and crew alike. So Paul takes the opportunity to head to the venue the evening before the performance, for rehearsals and to take a look at the massive production in action. There’s a few setlist surprises planned for the South American leg of the tour, including the live debut of ‘Back In Brazil’, and ever the perfectionist, Paul wants to make sure everything is running like clockwork.

The open-air venue poses a particular and very modern problem: drones. During the rehearsal, eagle-eyed security spot several unauthorised drones flying above the stadium. These uninvited guests are lucky enough to witness Paul running through some songs from Egypt Station that are still to be performed on the tour.

Wednesday 20th March – Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile

At last, it’s the day of the first show and, after being escorted to the stadium by police, Paul arrives at 4.08pm ahead of an hour-long soundcheck. Once the gates have opened, 51,000 expectant fans stream eagerly into the venue, ready for what’s set to be another epic and career-spanning show.

With the excitement reaching fever pitch, Paul takes to the stage at 9.17pm, and hits the ground running with what Chilean newspaper La Tercera will later call an “impeccable” performance of ‘A Hard Days Night’. It’s a blistering start, and over the next three hours, Paul wows the crowd not only with his performance and undeniable back-catalogue but also with his Spanish. He’d spent time earlier in the day perfecting what he would say to the crowd in their native language, making sure he had some specifically Chilean phrases ready to wow them with.

The show is a huge success, the songs from Egypt Station – ‘Who Cares’, ‘Come On To Me’, ‘Back In Brazil’ and ‘Fuh You’ – receive a rapturous reception, while the classics are greeted like old friends. Describing Paul as an “incombustible legend”, music website Humo Negro sums up the night perfectly, calling it a “wonderful party” filled with “immense moments to treasure in the memory”. 

At just before midnight, nearly three hours after first hitting the stage, he departs to an ecstatic, rapturous reaction. But there’s little time to relax and, with the applause still ringing in his ears, Paul’s whisked to the airport, bound for Buenos Aires.

Last updated on December 29, 2019

Estadio Nacional

This was the 3rd concert played at Estadio Nacional.

A total of 3 concerts have been played there • 1993 • Dec 16th • 2011 • May 11th • 2019 • Mar 20th

Setlist for the rehearsal

Setlist for the concert