Paul Simon's 'Graceland'

Only had time to check out the first minute of that tape, but I'm sold already - will listen again

finally watching the new doc from the begining--LOVE the early jam version of boy in the bubble

holy shit the part where they go out to lesotho to find the old accordion dude

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.

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.

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.

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").

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.

Wow, that whole thing.

Paulie

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.

Paul thought Los Lobos had Russian connections too--Caesar ROJAS anyone?

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..."

ha im sure simon is awful or w/e but lil stevies vers doesnt sounds anything like real life

not to mention all the s african musicians who recorded and toured graceland seemed cool w breaking the boycott

anyway the best part is him bargaining for simons life

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

he has long-standing feuds with Neil Young, God, everyone

Not with Bru$e.

While taking the songwriting credits to himself

erm

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "The Boy in the Bubble" Forere Motloheloa, Paul Simon 3:59
2. "Graceland" Simon 4:48
3. "I Know What I Know" General MD Shirinda, Simon 3:13
4. "Gumboots" Lulu Masilela, Jonhjon Mkhalali, Simon 2:44
5. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" Joseph Shabalala, Simon 5:45
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
6. "You Can Call Me Al" Simon 4:39
7. "Under African Skies" Simon 3:37
8. "Homeless" Shabalala, Simon 3:48
9. "Crazy Love, Vol. II" Simon 4:18
10. "That Was Your Mother" Simon 2:52
11. "All Around the World or the Myth of Fingerprints" Los Lobos, Simon 3:15

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.

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

los lobos do have beef abt this, also he made them play drums?

I will dig up the quotes later

thank God there's somebody to speak up for Paul Simon

its all upthread fwiw

thank god for someone to speak up for everyone important work here all around

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.)

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

I can call you betty and betty when you call me you can call me lag∞n

deal

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.

im totally not saying paul simon is a good and righteous person you morons

i mean don't let me get in the way of you being mad at paul simon

i don't believe personally art transends politics

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/1013031/paul-simon-on-the-muppets-o.gif

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

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

actually, Gonzo was Carrie Fisher's divorce attorney

xp

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?

who knows what lies in the dark heart of simon

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

God damn it

And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The average gift they’ll get this year is life

(Personally, I think “Sun City” stands up to the test of time significantly better than many of the other benefit songs

yeah no

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.

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.

former hippie liberals becoming cranky me-firsters to line their pockets, not exactly unheard of. I bet Paul is buds with the Clintons too.

yeah he just wanted to jam man, it def seems like his approach was pretty self involved and willfully naive, but on the other hand he did it seems manage to conduct himself in a way that if it didn't comply with the letter of the boycott did with the spirit in that his work didn't benefit ruling regime, which is prob indicative of some greater awareness of the situation

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, January 27, 2014 10:33 AM (4 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah idk i would love for him to give a more comprehensive telling of the story, obvs this was very conversational

There are all sorts of stories of Simon's total cultural blindness and self-obsession. What's the one re: "Graceland" where he had never heard of zydeco? He's certainly an opportunist, but count me among those who think "Graceland" did far more good than harm. And after all, Simon never did play "Sun City."

xpost I'm not sure that post claims "Sun City" is a good song, but it's certainly miles better than "Hands Across America" and "We are the World." And at least it's an angry rallying cry, rather than "Do They Know Is Christmas?", which is a horribly patronizing sentiment. And it was inarguably more effective for these artists to publically boycott this South African resort than it was for a million others (and many of the same) to attempt to solve poverty and starvation in Ethiopia by way of song.

Some more details here: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/19/paul-simon-graceland-acclaim-outrage