also, this: http://www.kleptones.com/blog/2012/06/28/hectic-city-15-paths-to-graceland/
a creative reconstruction of the mixtape that inspired Simon to go to Africa and make some music
― shaane, Monday, 2 July 2012 18:49 (twelve years ago) link
wow that looks great, thanks!
― tylerw, Monday, 2 July 2012 19:03 (twelve years ago) link
yeah! 1 hour 15 minutes of summery African pop beats.
― shaane, Monday, 2 July 2012 19:23 (twelve years ago) link
and "speaking the deep truths that artists speak" as paul simon opines on the bbc clip...
it would be nice if the talking heads didn't get in the way of fine music.
― For bodies we are ready to build pyramids (whatever), Monday, 2 July 2012 19:57 (twelve years ago) link
Only had time to check out the first minute of that tape, but I'm sold already - will listen again
― Ismael Klata, Monday, 2 July 2012 20:55 (twelve years ago) link
finally watching the new doc from the begining--LOVE the early jam version of boy in the bubble
― call all destroyer, Friday, 13 July 2012 01:04 (twelve years ago) link
holy shit the part where they go out to lesotho to find the old accordion dude
― call all destroyer, Friday, 13 July 2012 01:07 (twelve years ago) link
A friend who's been obsessively listening to Graceland this (antipodean) summer has asked me to throw together a comp of, uh, Graceland-related stuff after I was enthusing about the Todd Terje edit of "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes", the 12" mix of "The Boy In The Bubble" & Lizzy Mercier Descloux's self-titled album. Apart from combing through Xgau reviews of 80s afropop/digging out my Bhundu Boys and finally getting around to hearing Peter Gabriel's Passion (+ suitable Talking Heads, I guess), what else would fit? That mixtape shaane posted a link to looks fabulous.
― etc, Thursday, 31 January 2013 01:07 (eleven years ago) link
I don't think stuff like Talking Heads or Peter Gabriel (neither of whom are as "African" as people claim) would fit at all. I guess I would seek out more specifically South African stuff, like "The Indestructible Beat of Soweto." The Kleptones mix upthread rules.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 31 January 2013 01:24 (eleven years ago) link
there are a lot of days where I think the title track is the greatest song ever written.
"as if I didn't know that!as if I didn't know my own bed!"
then that brief contemplative silence after the outburst, which you can just *hear* even though Simon's voice barely changes...
"as if I'd never noticed the way she brushed her hair from her forehead,and she said 'losing love is like a window in your heart...'"
it's a very cinematic song. I see the scene in my mind's eye every time I hear it, them driving along in the car, seeing the narrator deep in thought, as his son gazes obliviously out the window.
not many songs I can say all that about.
― president of the people's republic of antarctica (Arctic Mindbath), Friday, 27 December 2013 04:06 (ten years ago) link
I always liked the distance of "my traveling companion is nine years old / he is the child of my first marriage" - ie he never says it's "my son."I like the way it contrasts with the intimacy of the next section detailing his divorce ("As if I didn't know my own bed").
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 27 December 2013 05:56 (ten years ago) link
http://africasacountry.com/when-steven-van-zandt-convinced-azapo-to-take-paul-simon-off-a-hit-list-and-what-paul-simon-really-thought-of-nelson-mandela/
Miami Steve Van Zandt and Dave Marsh vs Paul Simon
one excerpt--
He knew more than me, he knew more than Mandela, he knew more than the South African people. His famous line, of course, was, “Art transcends politics.” And I said to him, “All due respect, Paulie, but not only does art not transcend politics… art is politics. And I’m telling you right now, you and Henry Kissinger, your buddy, go fuck yourselves.” Or whatever I said. But he had that attitude, and he knowingly and consciously violated the boycott to publicize his record.
Well, to make his record. That’s the violation of the boycott — to make his record.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 26 January 2014 23:05 (ten years ago) link
Wow, that whole thing.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 27 January 2014 03:34 (ten years ago) link
Paulie
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 January 2014 03:36 (ten years ago) link
some head-spinning stuff there. most of all Simon dismissing Mandela, then sucking up to him as soon as he's out and free.
still an ace record and I'm so glad it was made.
― president of the people's republic of antarctica (Arctic Mindbath), Monday, 27 January 2014 03:42 (ten years ago) link
Paul thought Los Lobos had Russian connections too--Caesar ROJAS anyone?
― ...out of that weakness, out of that envy, out of that fear.. (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 27 January 2014 05:07 (ten years ago) link
Goddamn. I know I'm getting Stevie's version here, but Stevie just went up a lot in my esteem and Paul Simon just went down a lot.
"My friend Henry Kissinger told me..."
― Burt Stuntin (Hurting 2), Monday, 27 January 2014 05:20 (ten years ago) link
ha im sure simon is awful or w/e but lil stevies vers doesnt sounds anything like real life
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 06:20 (ten years ago) link
not to mention all the s african musicians who recorded and toured graceland seemed cool w breaking the boycott
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 06:22 (ten years ago) link
anyway the best part is him bargaining for simons life
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 06:25 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, and he actually had the nerve to say, “Well, I paid everybody double-scale.”
While taking the songwriting credits to himself
I knew Dave Marsh had a long-standing feud with Bono, didn't realize he had one versus Paul Simon as well
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:03 (ten years ago) link
he has long-standing feuds with Neil Young, God, everyone
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 January 2014 14:06 (ten years ago) link
Not with Bru$e.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:22 (ten years ago) link
erm
Side one No. Title Writer(s) Length 1. "The Boy in the Bubble" Forere Motloheloa, Paul Simon 3:592. "Graceland" Simon 4:483. "I Know What I Know" General MD Shirinda, Simon 3:134. "Gumboots" Lulu Masilela, Jonhjon Mkhalali, Simon 2:445. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" Joseph Shabalala, Simon 5:45Side two No. Title Writer(s) Length 6. "You Can Call Me Al" Simon 4:397. "Under African Skies" Simon 3:378. "Homeless" Shabalala, Simon 3:489. "Crazy Love, Vol. II" Simon 4:1810. "That Was Your Mother" Simon 2:5211. "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints" Los Lobos, Simon 3:15
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:26 (ten years ago) link
I remember the uncredited zydeco musicians and I thought Steve Berlin of Los Lobos grumbling about the credits. I think they all had to push Simon to get their names there.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:41 (ten years ago) link
its true all those black south african musicians living under apartheid used all their clout and access to high powered legal representation to force paul simon to credit them
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:55 (ten years ago) link
los lobos do have beef abt this, also he made them play drums?
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:56 (ten years ago) link
I will dig up the quotes later
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:57 (ten years ago) link
thank God there's somebody to speak up for Paul Simon
― second set all dead boys covers (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 27 January 2014 14:58 (ten years ago) link
its all upthread fwiw
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:58 (ten years ago) link
thank god for someone to speak up for everyone important work here all around
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 14:59 (ten years ago) link
Thank you.
In 2009 someone wrote the following, so I am not completely wrong or senile, oh wise lagoon.Simon’s scrupulousness for sharing credit may not have extended equally to all musicians. The final track of the album, titled “The Myth of Fingerprints”, was recorded with Los Lobos, and while the band is credited as playing on the track, Simon claims authorship of the tune. Steven Berlin of Los Lobos claims that the song was written by the band, and that Simon simply added a vocal on top and stole the song. Simon disputes this, and Los Lobos haven’t taken Simon up on the invitation they allege he made to sue him.)
― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:03 (ten years ago) link
i said right there lobos had beef with him about it im all over this thread talking about it I said u could find the infos upthread ffs man
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:05 (ten years ago) link
I can call you betty and betty when you call me you can call me lag∞n
― second set all dead boys covers (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:07 (ten years ago) link
deal
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:07 (ten years ago) link
all the s african musicians who recorded and toured graceland seemed cool w breaking the boycott
Have you read up on this or do you need me to tell you why that alone didn't make it OK?
Striking thing about Simon's statements at the time, whether or not you think he was wrong, is his arrogance and condescension. Suddenly claiming "art transcends politics" when it suits him? Gtfo.
― Deafening silence (DL), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:07 (ten years ago) link
im totally not saying paul simon is a good and righteous person you morons
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:09 (ten years ago) link
i mean don't let me get in the way of you being mad at paul simon
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:12 (ten years ago) link
i don't believe personally art transends politics
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/1013031/paul-simon-on-the-muppets-o.gif
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:13 (ten years ago) link
right before he does that he says "this guitar represents Art Garfunkel and all the people who've tried to fuck with me over the years." one of the harder episodes from mid-80s sesame street
― second set all dead boys covers (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:15 (ten years ago) link
idk maybe the cultural boycott was overall worthwhile but it was undoubtably harsh in that it prevented a lot of people who were already vicitms of apartheid from even being able to work at all
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:17 (ten years ago) link
actually, Gonzo was Carrie Fisher's divorce attorney
xp
― eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:18 (ten years ago) link
Interesting post here:
http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/04/02/from-protest-to-collaboration-paul-simons-graceland-and-lessons-for-xenophiles/
I guess on theory is that the credit he did give was a desperate attempt at political cover. But who knows?
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:21 (ten years ago) link
who knows what lies in the dark heart of simon
― lag∞n, Monday, 27 January 2014 15:24 (ten years ago) link
lol though I'm not sure that dude's actually heard "do they know it's christmas"
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time The average gift they’ll get this year is life - See more at: http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2009/04/02/from-protest-to-collaboration-paul-simons-graceland-and-lessons-for-xenophiles/#sthash.UFyjohKY.dpuf
― second set all dead boys covers (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:26 (ten years ago) link
God damn it
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time The average gift they’ll get this year is life
― second set all dead boys covers (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:27 (ten years ago) link
(Personally, I think “Sun City” stands up to the test of time significantly better than many of the other benefit songs
yeah no
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:27 (ten years ago) link
xp That's a valid criticism of artistic boycotts. My point is that Simon handled it really badly. He asked Belafonte for advice before he went. Belafonte suggested he talk to the ANC first and find a way to do it without hurting the boycott (which technically covered live performances, not recording in SA) and Simon ignored him. Then when it came to defending himself he wobbled between "art isn't political" (disingenuous, given his previous campaigning for eg McGovern), smearing the ANC and claiming he was actually helping SA. He was just too stubborn and arrogant to take other feelings into account.
― Deafening silence (DL), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:29 (ten years ago) link
Which is why Van Zandt's take is interesting. At this remove, it's hard to see how Graceland did any harm and it's a beloved album, so you need people who dealt with him at the time to point out what a dick he was about it.
― Deafening silence (DL), Monday, 27 January 2014 15:33 (ten years ago) link