Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

A new song has been credited to duo Lennon-McCartney, only this time it isn’t John and Paul. The sons of the masterful pair, Sean Ono Lennon and James McCartney have teamed up to release “Primrose Hill,” a smooth acoustic indie-pop single released last week. Though dreamy in sound, the duo falls short of anything extraordinary. Neither James or Sean have made big names for themselves like their famous parents and siblings – James is the younger brother of fashion designer Stella McCartney and Sean that of musician Julian Lennon, who found fame in the 80s with the release of his album “Valotte-” despite being in the industry for decades, the two have found no commercial success. Despite the excitement “Primrose Hill” generated from fans of John and Paul, the song has yet to see any solid response from listeners or critics other than comments under the post made to James McCartney’s YouTube page. 

“Primrose Hill,” featured soft harmonies reminiscent of those their fathers created during their time with The Beatles, the vocals being mastered in a lo-fi manner launching the influence of the two men into the modern era. Though droning, the slightly indiscernible lyrics create a dreamy trance for the listener, whisking them away to a relaxed state of mind. A gently-picked acoustic guitar is joined by a soft cello and percussion; a solid kick drum and maracas, giving the piece a nostalgic feel. The song, in fact, was inspired by a nostalgic memory McCartney had while in Scotland as a child. In an Instagram post, he revealed: “I had a vision as a child in Scotland, on what was a lovely summers day. Letting go, I saw my true love and saviour in my mind’s eye. Primrose Hill is about getting the ball rolling with me & finding this person.”

Though sweet in sentiment, the song itself is extremely lacking in substance. With only two verses, the majority of the song consisted of the smooth harmonies of the two legacy artists that only drone on with the repetition of the chorus. The vocals being produced similar to that of lo-fi music makes the lyrics difficult to discern, only adding to the droning felt throughout via instrumental repetition and lack of colorful harmonies. As of this publication, there has been no critical reception of the single, nor have many media outlets discussed the exciting collaboration. 

Despite “Primrose Hill” finding no success on any platform, the partnership that has come from it is something worth celebrating. While the younger Lennon and McCartney are incomparable to their famed fathers, the musical legacy in the families, as well as the powerful bond between John and Paul are carried forward into a new era. 

Image from James McCartney via YouTube