On McCartney III (2020), Paul McCartney strips music back to its most delicate form with “The Kiss of Venus.” Gentle, acoustic, and poetic, it feels like a song whispered rather than performed — a reflection on love, nature, and the mysteries of time itself.
The track is carried almost entirely by Paul’s fragile falsetto and a simple acoustic guitar. His voice, weathered yet tender, gives the song a vulnerability that is both disarming and deeply moving. It’s not about power or range; it’s about intimacy. When he sings, “The kiss of Venus has got me on the go,” it feels like a private thought spoken aloud, a moment of wonder caught in melody.
Lyrically, the song dances between earthly imagery and cosmic reflection. Venus — the planet long associated with love and beauty — becomes a metaphor for inspiration, for the sparks that lift us out of the ordinary. Yet McCartney, as always, grounds even the most celestial imagery in something human: the way love, memory, or even a fleeting moment can alter the rhythm of our lives.
Musically, the song is minimal, but that’s its charm. The sparseness allows every note, every breath, to carry weight. It recalls the purity of Blackbird or Mother Nature’s Son from the Beatles’ White Album — moments where McCartney’s gift for melody and atmosphere shines in its most unadorned form.
What makes “The Kiss of Venus” especially powerful is the honesty of age. At nearly 80 when he recorded it, Paul wasn’t trying to hide the cracks in his falsetto — he leaned into them, letting them become part of the texture. That vulnerability transforms the track into something more than just a song; it becomes a meditation, a reflection, even a quiet prayer.
In the end, “The Kiss of Venus” is one of the most haunting gems of McCartney III. It proves that simplicity, when paired with sincerity, can be more powerful than any grand arrangement. With only a guitar, a falsetto, and a heart full of wonder, Paul McCartney creates a moment of stillness and beauty — a reminder that even in the vastness of the cosmos, love remains our brightest light.