Audio By Carbonatix
Paul Simon’s been one of those rare artists who has managed to travel the seas of time unscathed and making worthy contributions to the world’s culture. But he will always be better-known for his work with Art Garfunkel and the seminal generation-defining hits they dropped during that time, like “The Sound of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Not content with that, he would march into the ’70s with some rocking tracks like “Kodachrome” and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” which he would use in the ’80s via the then-happening music video format by hiring Chevy Chase (back when more people liked him) to star in it.
Now, while this is all fine and dandy and Mr. Simon has continued to maintain his musical presence, more fans of his — the ones not necessarily finely attuned to the nuances of pop music — are fans by his extensive work incorporating world sounds into his compositions.
Albums like Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints showcased African and Brazilian sounds respectively, so when Time magazine named him one of the “100 People Who Shaped the World” back in 2006, given his 54 years with guitar in hand, one would be hard-pressed to say to the contrary.
Although I’ve always considered him a bit of a musician/poet/warrior monk, I know I will not please everybody, so below you’ll find some videos for songs of his that I like. Enjoy!
Paul Simon – “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”
Paul Simon – “Kodachrome”
Simon & Garfunkel – “I Am a Rock”
Paul Simon – “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover”
Paul Simon – “Slip Slidin’ Away”
Simon & Garfunkel – “Cecilia”
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