08/14/2009 11:43 ДП | Articles |
In the late 1970s, when I first heard this song by Paul Simon (the lead voice of the famous duo: Simon & Garfunkel), I could not help smiling aloud. A few days ago when I heard it again, I could not help laughing aloud. So what is amazing about the lyrics?
To begin with, Paul is a good lyricist with poetic quality to his work. That both him and Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman) are Jewish, does not bother me one bit. What bothers me is Bob’s about-turn on the protest song movement of the 1960s and his recent revelation that he blew in the wind because that was the way things blew back then. Читать далее »
07/22/2009 2:29 ПП | Articles |
After buying Paul Simon’s last album “Surprise”, I realized that I had forgotten how much I loved his music and decided I had to update my old vinyl collection on CD. We stated out with “Still Crazy After All These Years”, which was my husband’s first choice. But I’m so glad I insisted on buying “Graceland” next, and here’s why.
First of all, “Graceland” marked a special turn in Simon’s musical style, by bringing African sounds into his music. While this may sound strange for little Jewish guy who started out singing folk music and dabbled in classic American rock with a touch of pop on the side. However, the combination is beautifully incorporated, and in several different ways. First of all, he includes some ethnic singers to round out his own vocals. This brings a dimension to his own sound that we never heard before. This isn’t to say that Simon sounded flat previous to this album, but rather that these new types of vocals added extra depth, sometimes with shriller female voices that shock the senses, and in others with deep, earthy bass sounds that make your heart vibrate. In addition, instrumentally, this album took full advantage of the African rhythms with many songs including drums of all sorts to punctuate this collection. Add that to a good measure of jazz bass guitar, a country-western sounding accordion or a penny whistle solo and there’s nothing in this album you could call boring. Читать далее »
06/25/2009 5:30 ПП | News |
Paul Simon, the 12-time Grammy Award winner, will headline the 17th annual Heart & Soul Gala this fall at Norwalk Hospital.The gala features an acoustic performance by Simon, the Hospital announced Wednesday. The event is slated for Oct. 3 and is being organized by the Norwalk Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization.
Simon, a New Canaan resident, last made local headlines in 2004, when he hosted a fundraiser at his home for Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. That event included other celebrities, including “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels and actors Richard Gere and Chevy Chase. It raised an estimated $1 million for Kerry and his campaign.
Paul’s mother, Belle Simon, lived in Stamford for years prior to her death in 2007. She was 97.
“We are honored and thrilled to have Paul Simon perform at this year’s gala, sharing with us his time and talent,” said Mary Franco, president of the Norwalk Hospital Foundation and vice president of public affairs.
For more information about the 2009 Heart and Soul Gala, call the Norwalk Hospital Foundation at (203) 852-2959 or go to http://norwalkhospitalfoundation.org.
06/24/2009 5:30 ПП | News |
Bid on an amazing vintage Paul Simon signed and elegantly framed Rolling Stone Magazine. This autographed item is now available in the June Rolling Stone Auction benefiting MusiCares and the GRAMMY Foundation. Auction runs now through July 2nd. Click here to place your bids now!
06/23/2009 5:38 ПП | Articles |
Ordinary Joe … Paul Simon stroll Sydney / The Daily Telegraph
HE’S one of the biggest names in popular music history but Paul Simon had the air of an absolutely ordinary Joe when he went for a stroll around The Rocks yesterday.
Fresh from his first Sydney concert with Art Garfunkel since 1983, the New York-based songwriter and performer left his hotel with a minder at noon.
But he went unnoticed by other camera toting tourists as he walked along Circular Quay before entering the Museum Of Contemporary Art - apparently on the advice of the hotel concierge.
Simon spent 40 minutes taking in exhibitions, before emerging and making his way back to his nearby hotel.
Two fans - one old, one young - were waiting with original vinyl records of Simon and Garfunkel, and he happily signed them.
The pair performed their second Sydney concert last night, and will play one more on Tuesday.
06/23/2009 5:32 ПП | News |
According to the Associated Press, the Eastman Kodak Co. announced Monday it is retiring “Kodachrome,” its popular flagship line, because of declining consumer demand.
Conceived in 1935, Kodachrome is considered by many to be the first successfully marketed color still film. Thanks to its elimination of the complicated “screenplate method” used in earlier formats such as Autochrome and Dufaycolor, Kodachrome accessibility and relative ease of use became a staple of amateur and professional photographers alike, and was frequently used by national and international media in its heyday.
Currently, sales of Kodachrome represent a fraction of 1 percent of Kodak’s overall sales. The rest is in digital images and transfer of media, such as film to DVD or CD. Читать далее »
06/04/2009 3:22 ПП | Articles |
Funnyman Steve Martin turned to his old pal Paul Simon to critique his new bluegrass album - because he knew the rocker would give him an honest opinion.
The Pink Panther star released The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo last month - and Simon reveals they traded thoughts to help Martin to perfect his sound.
He says, “Steve’s music is great. I didn’t realise he was going to make this full album.”
But the singer admits their creative exchange was not without the odd insult.
Simon adds, “He gave me four songs to listen to and I sent him my book of lyrics and he emailed me and said, ‘I gotta be honest, it’s not that great.’”
But Martin insists it was Simon who sparked the playful war of words: “It started with (Simon)’s email, which said, ‘Steve, gotta be honest, didn’t really like those songs. Sorry!’”
The old friends teamed up for a mini jam session during an appearance on U.S. TV’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, when they were both guests, with Martin playing the banjo and Simon strumming his guitar.
05/28/2009 3:38 ПП | News |
Paul will be appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on June 2. The show airs on NBC at 12:35am Eastern/11:35pm Central.
Check your local listings to be sure.