My Mt. Rushmore of singer-songwriters is Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, John Mellencamp and of course Paul Simon. The main thing that binds these four together is that their music takes you places.
Springsteen wrote of growing up in New Jersey. Billy Joel is Long Island’s finest. Mellencamp wrote of small towns and middle America. And then there was Paul Simon — a nice Jewish boy from ‘my hometown’ (see Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”) of Queens, New York.
I can’t tell you exactly how or when I was introduced to Paul Simon or Simon & Garfunkel, but maybe there was no need at all. Perhaps, it was just one of those things you grow up knowing because you’re from a specific place. For example, no one taught me how to fold a slice of pizza. You just know.
I was 11 or 12 when I really started getting into music. I remember how big The Ramones were in the record shop around the corner but it took me a while to learn that half of the band were also Jews from Queens. Come to think of it, I probably should have spent more time in that record shop. My coming of age coincided with the coming of age of rap and hip hop – most of which originated spitting distance from my house. Run DMC will always be near and dear to my heart.
I would bet my introduction to Paul Simon came in 1986-87 when he was on top of the world with his “Graceland” album. I think we finally got cable around that time, so I’m sure I saw the video for “You Can Call Me Al” a million times on MTV. I watched the Grammy Awards back then too — when I would actually knew the names of the artists. Today, not so much. So in 1987 when he won big, I likely began my journey into his catalog.
Here’s the thing I keep coming back to…
Paul Simon reminds me of home. No matter where I am in the world or what is happening in my life, when I hear his music, I’m back home in Queens.
Littered throughout his catalog are references to New York places and New York themes. For me, the song that resonates the most is The 59th Street Bridge Song. I guess today it would be the Ed Koch Bridge Song. But you might know it as “Feeling Groovy.”
This one song encapsulates the feeling every kid from Queens had going over that bridge and into Manhattan. While it was literally the connector of the two boroughs, it was also a clear line between one world and the other. In Queens, you were grounded, with your family, and safe. On the other side of the bridge, you were independent, nervous, and full of dreams. And if something didn’t work out in Manhattan, the 59th Street Bridge would take you home. If you know, you know. Paul Simon knows.
Before Sunday night I had seen Paul Simon twice before. The first time was on a double bill with Bob Dylan. And the second time was a reunion show with Art Garfunkel at Madison Square Garden. The latter was a homecoming and a celebration of the legendary music that this show created so many years before. Those two old friends on that stage was just magical.
Paul Simon is now 83 years old and Sunday night was the first of three shows here in Minneapolis labeled “A Quiet Celebration.” When you live in Minneapolis and someone like Paul Simon comes through town, you don’t hesitate. And sadly, when a legend is 83. you never know when it’ll be the last time.
When I got to my seats at the Orpheum,I was surprised to see an elaborate band set up. I really thought it would be Paul Simon and his guitar. Who would argue with that, right?
At a little past 8 p.m., the 11-member backing band walked out and took their places. A few moments later, Paul Simon walked out slowly to a standing ovation — one usually reserved for the end of a performance. This was different. When a legend walks out, you show him some respect, damn it.
He bowed, he thanked the audience and in a very quiet voice told us what we would be in for. First his 35-minute composition called “Seven Psalms” — and then a collection of hits and deep cuts. Simon was wearing a suit and was without his signature baseball cap. I noticed that right away. I figured it was his nod to being in a theater as opposed to an arena. In his day, you got dressed up for a night at the theater.
“Seven Psalms” was in fact a quiet celebration. The seated crowd listened to every note with all eyes dead center on Paul Simon himself. I was impressed not only by the music but also by the fact that an 83-year-old man just played one piece for 35 minutes straight. The piece was is an elaborate journey that I’ll have to listen to several more times to fully grasp. But watching it performed live, it was clear to see why Paul Simon ventured out on tour one more time.
Once “Seven Psalms” was complete, there was an intermission – very theater-like! And once back on stage, Paul Simon ditched the suit and out came the baseball cap. Now I knew we were in for a treat. Over the next 75 minutes or so, Simon played some iconic songs and interspersed them with some rare gems.
From “Homeward Bound” and “Slip, Slidin’ Away” to “Graceland and “Mother and Child Reunion,” I was in awe that one man could create such amazing and truly artful musical poetry. I smiled my way through this second part of the show, reminding myself that his music does just that for me every single time. It makes me smile. No other artist in my library does that the way that Paul Simon does. And think about it — much of the music that I love the most is older than I am!
Two songs stood out to me as personal highlights. First was one of the great cuts from “Graceland” – “Under African Skies”. This is a song that I never skip past when it comes on the radio or if I’m on shuffle. The storytelling of this song is the point. On Sunday night, Paul Simon’s wife, Edie Brickell, joined him on stage for a spectacular version. After the song ended, Simon highlighted his bassist, Bakithi Kumalo – who is the last surviving member of the Graceland band. It was another moment in the 2-hour show that forced me to realize his age, my age, and the fact that Paul Simon had his first hit song in 1957 – 68 years ago!
The song that got the crowd going the most was “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard.” I just love. That song and always will…it’s fun, it makes me smile, and I get to whistle. I’ve mentioned a few times that Paul Simon is 83 years old, right? I was floored that he did the whistle solo perfectly and all by himself. For me, this song is connected to the video – released years later in the 1980s. In it, Paul Simon takes us to a schoolyard somewhere in New York City. It’s the kind of schoolyard where I grew up playing handball, basketball and stickball. It’s a very specific New York scene that only a New York kid would recognize. Introduced by rappers Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane, the video has Paul Simon playing basketball with Spud Webb, being coached by John Madden and striking out his own hero, Mickey Mantle. It’s bonkers for sure, but just incredibly fun. Hearing “Me and Julio Down by The Schoolyard” made my night.
The show ended with a solo Paul Simon singing his classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water” – a fitting song for these days and times. It was Paul Simon, a nice Jewish boy from Queens, telling us that it’ll be alright as long as we stick together.
