Paul McCartney joked that stars including Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé would be more fitting recipients of his Ivor Novello lifetime achievement award.
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Sir Paul McCartney roasted Bruce Springsteen when he presented him with a lifetime achievement award at the Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday, and joked that stars including Taylor Swift were more deserving.
Springsteen is the first international artist to be awarded a fellowship by the Ivors Academy, a British association for songwriters and composers. The academy hosts a yearly ceremony to celebrate the best musicians the UK has to offer, so the award is a testament to Springsteen's impressive 50-year career.
Since 1973, Springsteen has released 21 albums and sold 140 million records globally. At the age of 74, he is still performing at sellout arena shows across the world.
The singer has collected awards including 20 Grammys and an Oscar for his 1994 track "Streets of Philadelphia," which was on the soundtrack of the legal drama "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks.
Per BBC News, McCartney presented him with the fellowship award in London on Thursday.
The Beatles member joked as he presented the award: "Like Bruce's concerts, I'm going to keep this brief. I couldn't think of a more fitting recipient. Except maybe Bob Dylan. Or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on…"
Springsteen has himself praised Swift's work, and told The Project in 2023: "If you look at the music, she's an excellent writer. She is, lyrically."
He added: "She's a really good… lyricist — about this moment, I would say. It's everything top 40 records should be. She is going to be a very influential artist for a long time".
At the Ivors, McCartney went on: "He's known as the American working man, but he admits he's never worked a day in his life," referencing Springsteen's back catalog that often delves into the American working class.
Sky News reported Springsteen thanked his "extraordinary" fans in the UK during his acceptance speech.
The star toured the country in May, and he recalled: "We came out last night, and I was like, 'What is this weather?' Driving rain, wind roaring. But standing in front of me, in the rain, I realized: 'These are my people.'"
He added: "I want to thank you for taking my music into your hearts and into your souls. I want to thank you for including me in the challenging and beautiful cultural life in the UK."
