The Uncarved Blog

This article is from The Huffington Post. The reason I posted it here with the video is because I think it’s one of Paul McCartney’s most beautiful love songs, inspired by his new bride Nancy Shevell. Here’s an update from The Hollywood Reporter: Stella and Paul McCartney Host Hollywood Party for ‘My Valentine’ Music Video. See all three videos and report of the screening on PaulMcCartney.com.

Paul McCartney’s new video for “My Valentine,” with Natalie Portman. The track is the first single from McCartney’s fifteenth solo record, ‘Kisses On The Bottom,’ and features Eric Clapton on guitar. Click this link to see the Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman version directed by Paul McCartney in large format: http://embed.5min.com/517333259/

Paul McCartney is fast approaching the ripe age of 70, but the former Beatle and British knight is showing no signs of slowing down. Late Friday night in Los Angeles, McCartney premiered the video for “My Valentine,” featuring some unknown extras by the name of Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman.

HuffPost Entertainment is exclusively premiering the video online — you can see it at the top of this post.

McCartney is no stranger to videos and films. He has an astounding 391 soundtrack (a handful for every year since 1962) credits to his name, an untold number of music videos and five previous directing credits (who knew!).

According to a press release, it was McCartney’s daughter, the fashion designer Stella, who inspired the visuals for “My Valentine.” There are three videos for the song, which is off of McCartney’s latest album, Kisses on the Bottom.

Kisses on the Bottom features the elder statesman of rock and roll looking back on the standards that inspired him. The album is his fifteenth studio record and features two original compositions, “My Valentine” and “Only Our Hearts.”

“My Valentine” was widely touted as the better of the original tracks, so its no wonder McCartney chose to bring it to life.

Three videos accompany the song — one featuring Portman, one with Depp and the full video with both. A teaser for the Depp video was released earlier Friday and features the actor (and occasional Marilyn Manson bandmate) signing lyrics to the song.

“Someday soon, sun was gonna shine,” Depp signs. “She was right, this love of mine, my valentine.”

McCartney called in some heavy talent to assist in the production of the videos. Oscar-winning cinematographer Wally Pfister (“Dark Knight,” “Inception”) committed the visuals to 35 mm film. Susanne Preissler produced the short and Paul Martinez edited.

It’s refreshing to see McCartney continue to mature artistically at the age of 69, especially as some of pop’s icons seem to have a hard time creating music that’s suited to their place in the music community.

“We thought thirty was like really old,” McCartney said while doing press for the album. “Now I think it’s amazingly young. There was a guy at John’s art college who was 24 and we felt very sorry for him, he looked like a real old guy, he had a five -o-clock shadow, he looked really pathetic to us because we were like, 16 … I’m really just some kid from Liverpool still.”

Here’s to you, kid.

More From Paul McCartney’s Kisses on the Bottom: visit the Huffington Post page and scroll down to see 11 more vidoes: ‘My Valentine’: Johnny Depp & Natalie Portman Star In Paul McCartney-Directed Video (EXCLUSIVE)

Paul McCartney – “My Valentine” 2012 Grammys Performance Video with Diana Krall and Joe Walsh. Watch in large format: http://bit.ly/HKjRrF.

To see the Closed Caption words to the song, go to Paul McCartney – My Valentine 2012 sub ENG and ESP (lyrics), click the ‘cc’ button and choose the subtitle language English. It’s also available in Spanish. This one has the words written out under Show more, but left out the word, that, in the second stanza, third line: Paul McCartney – My Valentine.

On February 10, 2012, Paul was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year. At a gala event in Los Angeles, Paul and a cast of superstar guests performed some of the quintessential songs from his renowned and celebrated career. One of the songs was My Valentine performed by Paul McCartney with Joe Walsh and Diana Krall (43:17).

NPR: the Fresh Air interview with Terri Gross from WHYY: Paul McCartney Blows ‘Kisses’ To His Father’s Era, March 29, 2012 [45 min 29 sec]. Terri sets up the last song, My Valentine, but first asks Paul to tell the story of how it came about [36:30 to end]. Delightful, fascinating interview! These songs can be heard on the NPR player: ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself a Letter’, ‘Home (When Shadows Fall)’, ‘My Valentine’.

See Paul McCartney and Nancy show up to see James play, and surprise the small Brighton club audience | The former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunion for David Lynch’s benefit concert airs on New York’s THIRTEEN, Sunday, April 29 | David Lynch interviews Paul McCartney about meeting Maharishi and his first meditation | Sir Paul McCartney is interviewed on Australia’s Channel Seven’s Sunday Night, February 5, 2012

I discovered some surprising connections between Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartney’s new wife, and his first wife, Linda McCartney (They were pals.), and Barbara Walters (She’s my second cousin.). See Who Is Nancy Shevell, Paul McCartney’s New Wife?