In the United States and Canada, the live version of the song performed by Paul McCartney and Wings in Glasgow the year prior (released as the B-side to the single) saw greater success and reached number one in both countries.

That's how the voice sound came about.John Lennon, who was in the Beatles with McCartney, described "Coming Up" as "a good piece of work", and it prompted him to return to recording in 1980.

And I thought that the record company had a nerve changing it round on him, and I know what they mean, they want to hear the real guy singing, but I like the freaky one.

[10] Record World said that "electronic keyboards, a dance beat and Paul's pop vocals give the contemporary sound.

"[11] Writing for Stereogum, Tom Breihan thought the song was "a weird demo" and "a clumsy attempt to play catchup to the Talking Heads".

The music video for "Coming Up", directed by Keith McMillan, features Paul McCartney playing ten roles (himself, two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a keyboardist, and four saxophonists) and Linda McCartney playing two (one female backing vocalist and one male backing vocalist).

In his audio commentary on the video collection The McCartney Years (2007), McCartney identified characters that were impersonations of specific artists: Hank Marvin (guitarist from the Shadows), Ron Mael of Sparks (keyboards), a 'Beatlemania-era' version of himself (bass), and a drummer vaguely inspired by John Bonham from Led Zeppelin.

[13] Others, such as authors Fred Bronson and Kenneth Womack, have suggested that there are other identifiable impersonations in the video, such as Andy Mackay, Frank Zappa and Buddy Holly;[14][15] McCartney said the other roles were simply comic relief.

An executive from Columbia Records explained the switch by stating "Americans like the sound of Paul McCartney's real voice.