A video clip from the 80s has re-emerged, causing quite a stir among music fans as they spotted the street performer in the footage.
The video, originating from a popular songwriter’s movie, depicts oblivious passersby ignoring what turns out to be a rock legend busking for change.
The astonishing moment has been shared on X, with fascinated viewers learning about the filming of the scene.
Dressed up in a “dirty and disheveled” get-up and strumming away outside a London Underground station, the renowned artist –who counts collaborations with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and more recently Barbra Streisand – went unnoticed while playing his tunes.
This historic event comes straight from the film Give My Regards to Broad Street, with passersby failing to spot the famous songwriter beneath his rugged exterior.
It was none other than Sir Paul McCartney himself, disguised to perform incognito on the streets. The Beatles and Wings legend was captured performing his classic hit ‘Yesterday’ as part of a scene for the film.
Despite a few charitable souls dropping some change into his guitar case, the icon went unrecognised by the public. Producers of the film did not hire any extras for this scene, with real people strolling past the performance without a second glance.
McCartney later gave an insight into how this extraordinary scenario was captured inconspicuously, detailing the experience during an interview around the time the film was released.
He shared: “They [the make-up team] just made me up and dropped me off. I told them we’d never get away with it, but they kept putting dirt on and ruffling up my hair – I was looking better and better – and I figured why not.
“So I was standing there, plunking chords, doing this silly version of the song, and non one noticed it was me. No one wants to look a busker in the eye, of course, because then they get his life story.
“So they’d toss coins and I’d be going ‘Yesterday, all my troubles – thank you, sir – seemed so far away. It was a great feeling. Just me and the music.”
It’s safe to say the passers-by would have got the surprise of their lives when they found out they were actually in the presence of such a huge music icon. But it’s likely none of them would have known until it was too late!
One social media user shared the footage and commented: “Paul McCartney played for free. Disguising himself as a wanderer, he got dirty and disheveled and went to a corner to play a rare version of ‘Yesterday’.
“Interestingly, the scene is real, there was no film extras. No one knew it was Paul McCartney.”
Despite the public tipping McCartney their coins in the video without recognising him, there were a few telling signs it was the legendary frontman.
One user noted: “You have to know that’s Paul’s voice! And he’s playing left-handed – what a give-away! Wondering if he was pleased or disappointed to go unrecognised?”