There are some musicians that played a large part in my childhood and who sort of faded into the background as I got older. In April, Paul Simon released a gorgeous album of songs that’s one of my favorite albums of this year. This is the same artist who put out “You Can Call Me Al” in 1986, one year after I was born. The video to that song is one of my earliest memories.
I vividly remember singing “Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes” late night with friends in college. I’ll never ever forget spinning a Simon & Garfunkel album in the basement of my grandparent’s Cape house – the soundtrack to my favorite summer. I can remember the first time I REALLY listened to “A Dangling Conversation”, and how much it moved me. Paul Simon’s tunes perfectly compliment some of my favorite movies – like “The Only Living Boy In NY” in Garden State and “Me & Julio Down By The Schoolyard” in The Royal Tenenbaums. I remember falling a little bit more in love with my boyfriend, the first time he played his version of “Duncan” for me. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was one of my Mom & Dad’s romantic tunes when they first got together. And lately, I’ve really been enjoying “Obvious Child” and “Late In The Evening” after finally seeing Simon and his dynamite band live at the Wang in Boston earlier this year.
70 years old today and still putting out songs that REALLY move me, Paul Simon is one of my favorite artists of all time. His music has been the soundtrack to my life.
So well said. Love Paul, and love you.