Pipes of Peace (song) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Pipes of Peace" |
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| Single by Paul McCartney | ||||
| from the album Pipes of Peace | ||||
| B-side | "So Bad" | |||
| Released | 5 December 1983 | |||
| Recorded | September–October 1982 | |||
| Studio | AIR, London | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Parlophone | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Paul McCartney | |||
| Producer(s) | George Martin | |||
| Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
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Pipes of Peace is a famous song by the English musician Paul McCartney. It was released in 1983 as the main song on his album with the same name. The song also came out as a single in December 1983. It quickly became a number one hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Contents
How the Song Was Made
The main part of "Pipes of Peace" was recorded on September 10, 1982. This happened at a place called AIR Studios in London. Later, more music was added, like sounds from an orchestra.
Paul McCartney played many instruments on the song himself. He played the piano, bass guitar, and even made sounds with his knees! A musician named James Kippen added the sound of the tabla, which is a type of drum. He had to try many times to get the sound just right. A special group called the Pestalozzi Children Choir also added their voices to the song.
Who Played on the Song?
Many talented people helped create "Pipes of Peace".
- Paul McCartney – He sang, played bass, piano, and synthesizer. He also made knee-percussion sounds and played drums. He even helped arrange the orchestra music.
- Linda McCartney – She sang backing vocals, which are extra voices that support the main singer.
- Eric Stewart – He also sang backing vocals.
- Adrian Brett – He played the pan flute, a musical instrument made of pipes.
- James Kippen – He played the tabla, a drum from India.
- Pestalozzi Children Choir – This children's choir added their voices to the song.
Music Video: A Story of Peace
A music video for "Pipes of Peace" was filmed in Chobham Common, Surrey, England. The video tells a story inspired by the famous Christmas truce of 1914. During this truce, soldiers from Britain and Germany stopped fighting for a short time during World War I.
In the video, Paul McCartney plays two different soldiers: one British and one German. They meet in the middle of the battlefield, a place called No Man's Land. They trade pictures of their families. Other soldiers in the video also become friendly and even play football together.
When a loud explosion happens, both armies have to go back to their trenches. A trench is a long, narrow ditch where soldiers hide. The two soldiers then realize they still have each other's pictures. The video was made by Hugh Symonds and had over 100 extra people acting in it. Paul McCartney even cut his hair short to look more like a soldier from that time.
In 2014, a British supermarket chain called Sainsbury's made a Christmas advertisement. This advert looked a lot like McCartney's "Pipes of Peace" video. It also showed British and German soldiers swapping gifts during the Christmas truce.
Other Interesting Facts
An Argentine singer named Sergio Denis made a Spanish version of the song. He called it Pipas de la paz, which means "Pipes of Peace" in Spanish. This version was on his 1984 album, La Humanidad.
The original "Pipes of Peace" song by Paul McCartney has been included on other music collections. It was on the 1987 album All the Best! and the 2001 album Wingspan: Hits and History.
See also
In Spanish: Pipes of Peace (canción) para niños
- List of anti-war songs
