Paul McCartney delivered an amusing roasting of Bruce Springsteen at the Ivor Novello Awards last night (May 23).
The Boss became the first international songwriter to receive the Fellow of the Ivors Academy at Grosvenor House in London, following in the footsteps of Elton John, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Paul McCartney.
Becoming an Academy Fellow is the highest honour the organisation bestows, and with it, the iconic singer, songwriter and guitarist becomes the first American songwriter that the Academy has inducted into Fellowship in its 80-year history.
Presenting the prize, McCartney who brought Springsteen onstage along with Dave Grohl during his headline slot at Glastonbury in 2022, jokingly said: “Like Bruce’s concerts, I’m going to keep this brief,” referencing the Boss’ three hour plus concerts, before adding that he “couldn’t think of a more fitting” recipient “except maybe Bob Dylan, or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on.”
He also spoke about his performance at Glastonbury and said he never expected the Boss to show up.
Paul McCartney, Ivor Novello Awards speech:
“Springsteen is a Dutch name. Did you know that? In Dutch it means man in charge. So he’s the man in charge. So unlike Bruce’s concerts, I’m gonna keep this brief. I said to him, ‘I blame you man, we used to play an hour, an hour and a half. The Beatles used to play a half hour.’ He starts doing one and we’re all playing three hours now. Anyway I’ll get on with it.
“So er I can’t think of a more fitting person to be the first international songwriter fellowship except maybe Bob Dylan, or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on. Just kidding Bruce. Anyway I was wondering how Bruce would fit into The Beatles. When it comes to talent, he was definitely in the Top Five.
“Anyway as I say he is a mate and me and my wife Nancy [Shevell] go out to their place in New Jersey and him and Patti [Scialfa] are just the best hosts. I mean they really look after you, you know? When you go there it’s like in the winter, he’s got a great big fire going in the fire pit so we sit outside and drink and chat about things.
“He is a fantastic guy, he’s really nice guy and he showed up for me at Glastonbury and he promised to do that about three years before then COVID hit. And I thought, ‘Well he’s never gonna show up’ and then he shows up. He’s a lovely boy, he’s known as being the American working man you know? But he admits, he’s never worked a day in his life. It’s true.
“So he’s a lovely, lovely boy. You know what, it’s great for me to be back here because I came here in the sixties. I know I don’t look that old. So it’s a great pleasure for me to present this to Bruce and he is a fellow.”
Springsteen is the 27th Fellow of the Academy, joining a variety of songwriting icons including Sting, who received the award last year.
During the ceremony he also played ‘Thunder Road’ and gave his own lengthy speech.
Elsewhere, RAYE was crowned Songwriter of the Year for having “the voice of a generation” as described by the judges, while Yussef Dayes landed a win for Best Album for his record ‘Black Classical Music’.
Other winners included Lana Del Rey – who won the Special International Award and later told NME about her new album ‘Lasso’ – and KT Tunstall who took home the trophy for Outstanding Song Collection’.