Music

Paul McCartney goes electronic

by Jesse Locke

“Temporary Secretary” is a cult favourite curio from the solo catalogue of Sir Paul McCartney.

The song’s pulsating electronics and robotic vocal melody stand out even alongside other synth-heavy chunes from his 1980 album McCartney II. Though its release as a 12” single was a flop at the time, the song’s infamy has grown considerably over the years. Macca has described the sound of its sequencing as a “space typewriter”, with a concept influenced by Ian Dury. NME called it “wonky electro-pop that didn’t sound so much ahead of its time as out of it altogether.” Allmusic were less charitable, pointing out the song’s “ridiculous lyrics with a self-consciously atonal melody over gurgling synths.”

Revisiting those lyrics now, they do seem ridiculous, if not outright sexist. McCartney’s tasks for his temp include “fitting on his knee” and “learning to smile”, while his lines about “not needing a true romancer” and keeping her “til late at night” are straight up office creepsville. Paul seems to have no problem with these words, though, as he recently performed the song live in London for the very first time. Watch the fan footage below along with the original.