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rurallib

(62,342 posts)
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 06:29 PM Oct 2021

Paul Simon turns 80 next Wednesday (Oct. 13). What is your favorite Paul Simon song?

I won't give you choices. If you are answering, you are probably very familiar with his songs. What a variety! From those that are kind of a light chuckle to some very profound thoughts and most everything in between.

I think my favorite - at least for today - is "It was late in the evening."

Take it away >>>>>>

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Paul Simon turns 80 next Wednesday (Oct. 13). What is your favorite Paul Simon song? (Original Post) rurallib Oct 2021 OP
"Still Crazy After All These Years" Just_Vote_Dem Oct 2021 #1
Not the words but the melody: Kodachrome. Never listen to the words. applegrove Oct 2021 #2
Agree. I was jonesing for some Paul Simon today. That was my second choice rurallib Oct 2021 #3
What's wrong with the words? Hugh_Lebowski Oct 2021 #14
Love Paul Simon,,,, Graceland. KarenS Oct 2021 #4
no such thing as a bad choice here is there? rurallib Oct 2021 #6
ok now,,, it'll be youtube tonight with Paul Simon in the search ) KarenS Oct 2021 #8
Running battle in our family, Graceland or Rhythm of the Saints. vanlassie Oct 2021 #13
Far too many to name-- there is no one favorite ailsagirl Oct 2021 #5
Feelin' Groovy, of course... Rollo Oct 2021 #7
I so love the image that song paints rurallib Oct 2021 #9
We saw Paul Simon on his Farewell Tour gratuitous Oct 2021 #20
Hard to single one out, but this is my favorite Clash City Rocker Oct 2021 #10
Cool choice. A little known song with precious little air play. TomSlick Oct 2021 #44
Maybe not my favorite, but, I can't believe a person could write this. vanlassie Oct 2021 #11
Not just write it but able to sing and play it on the guitar live, that flawlessly ... Hugh_Lebowski Oct 2021 #16
He is a genius. vanlassie Oct 2021 #17
one of those songs that will last forever rurallib Oct 2021 #21
That song was downright chilling right after 9/11 Clash City Rocker Oct 2021 #39
I know many appreciate his single work more, but for me it's the full library during the S&G years hlthe2b Oct 2021 #12
At the zoo struggle4progress Oct 2021 #15
I absolutely love Late in the Evening, as you said ... Hugh_Lebowski Oct 2021 #18
Hard to choose... ZZenith Oct 2021 #19
yes! I have been known to play that for an hour rurallib Oct 2021 #22
The Sounds of Silence alwaysinasnit Oct 2021 #23
The classic! rurallib Oct 2021 #25
Have always loved the poetic imagery and truth in this song. wnylib Oct 2021 #60
Surprised Scarborough Faire/ Canticle hasn't been mentioned rurallib Oct 2021 #24
This because I defy anyone to not tap their foot. LakeArenal Oct 2021 #28
This one - S&G dweller Oct 2021 #26
Duppers Oct 2021 #51
Love the Indian flute in this. wnylib Oct 2021 #62
American Tune. Scrivener7 Oct 2021 #27
+1 no_hypocrisy Oct 2021 #29
America FalloutShelter Oct 2021 #30
Hearts and Bones Botany Oct 2021 #31
OK. I'm ready to commit. vanlassie Oct 2021 #32
Oops! FalloutShelter! You beat me! High 5! vanlassie Oct 2021 #33
I Am a Rock Glorfindel Oct 2021 #34
The Boxer ... My Little Town lpbk2713 Oct 2021 #35
My fave Paul Simon song the the entire Graceland album. pnwest Oct 2021 #36
The Boy In the Bubble iwillalwayswonderwhy Oct 2021 #37
One of favorite songs is Sound of Silence. redstatebluegirl Oct 2021 #38
just plain profound rurallib Oct 2021 #43
Yes... redstatebluegirl Oct 2021 #48
The Boxer ThoughtCriminal Oct 2021 #40
one of his great story songs rurallib Oct 2021 #42
My favorite is Kodachrome LeftInTX Oct 2021 #41
A tough call but "Slip slidin' away." TomSlick Oct 2021 #45
April Come She Will ( from the movie The Graduate) IcyPeas Oct 2021 #46
Another song with great imagery rurallib Oct 2021 #47
I don't like these type of post! Fla Dem Oct 2021 #49
After changes upon changes we are more or less the same ThoughtCriminal Oct 2021 #50
"Bridge..." Duppers Oct 2021 #52
Thanks for this thread. 🙏 Duppers Oct 2021 #53
S&G - America. PS - Graceland, Boy in the Bubble electric_blue68 Oct 2021 #54
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes jcgoldie Oct 2021 #55
If I *had* to pick one..."You Can Call Me Al" Mad_Dem_X Oct 2021 #56
There were a couple of videos of that song that were memorable rurallib Oct 2021 #57
As A Solo Artist, "Me & Julio..." ProfessorGAC Oct 2021 #58
The Only Living Boy in New York Doc_Technical Oct 2021 #59
"The Boxer" (nt) Paladin Oct 2021 #61
Hard to name a favorite because wnylib Oct 2021 #63
Hee-hee! My dad was not impressed..LOL They played it at his work. LeftInTX Oct 2021 #64
Along those lines I love "baby driver" for the playful lyrics rurallib Oct 2021 #65
Kick dalton99a Oct 2021 #66
 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
14. What's wrong with the words?
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 06:46 PM
Oct 2021

Obviously its greatness is mostly about the melody in the chorus which is as good as it comes, but the words aren't awful imho

ailsagirl

(22,837 posts)
5. Far too many to name-- there is no one favorite
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 06:35 PM
Oct 2021

Last edited Thu Oct 7, 2021, 02:17 AM - Edit history (1)

He's, quite simply, brilliant.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
20. We saw Paul Simon on his Farewell Tour
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 06:57 PM
Oct 2021

He flubbed the lyrics on a song, and afterwards dismissed the other musicians to do his penance. He introduced the song as a fan favorite which he loathes, and I said to my wife, "It's gotta be 'Feelin' Groovy'!"

Sure enough . . .

TomSlick

(11,032 posts)
44. Cool choice. A little known song with precious little air play.
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 08:48 PM
Oct 2021

Beautiful song. I don't claim to really understand the lyrics but it's a beautiful song.

 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
16. Not just write it but able to sing and play it on the guitar live, that flawlessly ...
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 06:51 PM
Oct 2021

That is NOT easy guitar work period, let alone to be able to sing it that well while playing it. You gotta have serious talent and skills.

Clash City Rocker

(3,377 posts)
39. That song was downright chilling right after 9/11
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 07:53 PM
Oct 2021

It talked about flying, dying, the Statue of Liberty…so prescient. And the rest of the lyrics captured exactly how America felt at the time.

 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
18. I absolutely love Late in the Evening, as you said ...
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 06:55 PM
Oct 2021

It's way up in my 'favorites', though I don't think necessarily 'artistically' it rates up with his best work. Same goes for Me & Julio, 50 Ways, Kodachrome, Mother and Child Reunion, to name a few.

And as long as we're on that tip, and cause nobody else has said it yet ...



rurallib

(62,342 posts)
42. one of his great story songs
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 08:38 PM
Oct 2021

There was some hubbub when he put the word "whores" in a song. Old people shook their fingers while we younguns sung along.

TomSlick

(11,032 posts)
45. A tough call but "Slip slidin' away."
Wed Oct 6, 2021, 09:05 PM
Oct 2021

The music is - of course - amazing. The philosophy / theology is what's great.

God only knows
God makes his plan
The information's unavailable
To the mortal man
We work our jobs
Collect our pay
Believe we're gliding down the highway
When in fact we're slip slidin' away.


A clever bit of poetry to tell us we really aren't that clever.

ThoughtCriminal

(14,009 posts)
50. After changes upon changes we are more or less the same
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 01:11 AM
Oct 2021

Lesser-known verses from "The Boxer"

"Now the years are rolling by me
They are rocking evenly
And I am older than I once was
And younger than I'll be
But that's not unusual
No, it isn't strange
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same
After changes we are
More or less the same"

Duppers

(28,094 posts)
52. "Bridge..."
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 01:40 AM
Oct 2021
Bridge Over Troubled Waters because it had special meaning to me. I can listen and still tear up.




I still have 3 vinyl albums of theirs; it's impossible to part with such great musical poetry.


Paul Simon Tells the Story of How He Wrote "Bridge Over Troubled Water"



electric_blue68

(14,598 posts)
54. S&G - America. PS - Graceland, Boy in the Bubble
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 02:10 AM
Oct 2021
America
Because of when it came out, the partly reflective, almost melancholy yet beautiful music, and especially the plaintive singing and lyrics of the last verse, chorus -
is seared into my memory, and bound with how anguished, and searching many of us were after RFK's
assassination.


Graceland
A catchy melody. Lyrics that sort of roll off the tounge easily.
The metaphysical slant one could take on the lyrics:
"But I've reason to believe
We all will be received
In Graceland"


Boy In The Bubble
Such a musically suprising, snappy start to this song! I love how the ?tuba keeps bopping in. Often semi surreal, hallucinatory lyrics.
And especially the hopeful (although maybe they are meant sardonically)

"These are the days of miracles, and wonders,
So don't cry, baby, don't cry"

Mad_Dem_X

(9,522 posts)
56. If I *had* to pick one..."You Can Call Me Al"
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 10:26 AM
Oct 2021

Because my late father loved the video, and every time I hear the song, it makes me think of him.

rurallib

(62,342 posts)
57. There were a couple of videos of that song that were memorable
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 12:09 PM
Oct 2021

One is the vid Simon does with Chevy Chase that is pretty humorous.

The other was a video of a live performance Simon did with the South African band. Not sure exactly where the video was recorded. For some reason I want to say Zimbabwe, although South Africa would make more sense.
This one included some great shots of the crowd dancing and the members of the band playing their pieces. One of my favorite videos ever.

Unfortunately that video is no longer available.

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
58. As A Solo Artist, "Me & Julio..."
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 12:25 PM
Oct 2021

Just something about that peppy tune that flips my whistle.
Of course, i liked a lot of his S&G stuff.
I'm actually working on my version of "I Am A Rock".

wnylib

(21,146 posts)
63. Hard to name a favorite because
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 02:08 PM
Oct 2021

I love them all, but just for the fun of the lyrics, I have to mention Cecilia.

rurallib

(62,342 posts)
65. Along those lines I love "baby driver" for the playful lyrics
Thu Oct 7, 2021, 03:12 PM
Oct 2021

"they call me baby driver
And once I got a pair of wheels
I was on the road
What's my number?
I wonder how your engines feel

Scoot down the road
What's my number?
I wonder how your engines feel"

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