Paging Dr. McCartney

Paul McCartney: legendary songwriter, ex-Beatle, record-breaker, knight, and now, Yale graduate? New Haven, Connecticut’s Ivy League heavyweight presented McCartney with an honorary doctorate of music degree Monday morning

Paul McCartney: legendary songwriter, ex-Beatle, record-breaker, knight, and now, Yale graduate? New Haven, Connecticut’s Ivy League heavyweight presented McCartney with an honorary doctorate of music degree Monday morning. The school chose McCartney because they felt that “no one compares with the legendary songwriter.” McCartney’s honor was a part of Yale’s commencement festivities, which also included a visit by Tony Blair, former British prime minister. 

McCartney’s 1968 ballad “Hey Jude” played as he accepted his award, much to the excitement of his fans in the crowd. He’s certainly in good company, as other recipients of Yale’s coveted honorary degree include architect Cesar Pelli and poet John Lawrence Ashberry. So why McCartney, and not some government suit? A Yale spokesperson put simply, “McCartney awakened a generation, giving a fresh sound to rock, roll, rhythm and blues.” With a generation of graduates that may need to be awakened to the rest of the world themselves, Yale’s choice was right on target. Adding this latest accolade to an already impressive list, McCartney really is “here, there, and everywhere.”