Wednesday, June 27
Sustained creative genius…
I’m sitting here watching a PBS Special on Paul Simon.They are awarding him the very first ‘Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song’, not sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure it’s a good thing.
It’s a show of a multitude of artists performing Simon’s songs. It began with Alison Krauss & Shawn Colvin singing ‘The Boxer’ and now I’m listening to Lyle Lovett sing ’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover’. I’m lovin’ this…
The career of Simon, the creative genius of this man, is somewhat staggering.
If you list just his 20 greatest songs (which would be a hard list to narrow down) you almost assuredly have songs from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’, 90’, and this decade as well. Amazing.
He wrote ‘Sound of Silence’ in 1966 and ‘Wartime Prayers’ in 2006…Remember the video in 1986 with Chevy Chase on “You Can Call Me Al”?
He’s won 12 Grammys…been elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice (duo and solo)…In 2006, Time magazine named Paul Simon one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World”… Simon was the first American artist invited by President Nelson Mandela to perform in post-apartheid South Africa.
Do you have a favorite Paul Simon song?
Mark Nelson at 9:43 PM 5comments
5 Comments
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at 6:04 AM
said... I always liked "Kathy's Song."
"As I watch the drops of rain, weave their weary paths and die,
I know that I am like the rain-- there but for the grace of You go I."-
at 8:30 AM
said...
I don't even know where to start. Graceland is hard to beat. The Obvious Child. Late in the Evening. America. Probably my favorite, though is The Boxer. I think part of his staying power (notwithstanding his obvious lyrical gifts) is that he is utterly unpretentious.
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at 3:21 PM
said...
"American Tune". Hands down. But wow... there are so many.
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at 8:30 AM
said...
"The Obvious Child". I love those drums!
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at 7:43 PM
said...
I like Simon and Garfunkle together. Cecila - I think that's how you spell it. I like the beat.