- Feb 5, 2002
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With his erstwhile partner Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon formed half of perhaps the most famous singer-songwriter duo in the history of American popular music. Together, Simon & Garfunkel rode the early wave of folk-pop emergence in the1960s. It could be argued, in fact, that they caused the wave, bringing broad commercial success to a musical form that combined elements of American folk rhythm with early rock-and-roll back beats. After a well-documented rift between the two, they went their separate ways around 1970 (except for ersatz attempts at reunion appearances), after only five studio albums. Together, Simon & Garfunkle were known for soulful, contemplative lyrics sung with seamless harmony. Songs such as “The Sound of Silence,” “Homeward Bound,” “I Am a Rock,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “The Boxer” are instantly recognizable by generations of Americans.
After they were no longer “Simon & Garfunkel,” Paul Simon’s career continued the same trajectory that had been launched by their popular success as a duo, with Art Garfunkel gaining more modest success. As almost all the songs on the duet albums were written by Simon, this is not surprising. Thus, his breakthrough solo albums, “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon” (1972) and the Grammy-winning “Still Crazy After All These Years” (1975), firmly established his solo career as a pop superstar, which he sustained at least through 1988’s “Graceland” and another Grammy award.
At the age of 81, Simon’s light has faded in recent years, and he has suffered some of the health problems that attend aging. And, as he demonstrates in his surprising new album, “Seven Psalms,” he is thinking about what comes next.
Life’s deep issues
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
After they were no longer “Simon & Garfunkel,” Paul Simon’s career continued the same trajectory that had been launched by their popular success as a duo, with Art Garfunkel gaining more modest success. As almost all the songs on the duet albums were written by Simon, this is not surprising. Thus, his breakthrough solo albums, “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon” (1972) and the Grammy-winning “Still Crazy After All These Years” (1975), firmly established his solo career as a pop superstar, which he sustained at least through 1988’s “Graceland” and another Grammy award.
At the age of 81, Simon’s light has faded in recent years, and he has suffered some of the health problems that attend aging. And, as he demonstrates in his surprising new album, “Seven Psalms,” he is thinking about what comes next.
Life’s deep issues
Continued below.
Paul Simon's 'Seven Psalms' contemplates aging, death and what comes next
At 81 years old, iconic singer-songwriter Paul Simon recently released a surprising new album in which he clearly contemplates aging, death and what comes next. Columnist Kenneth Craycraft looks at what Catholics can take from this new release: “It would be too much to suggest that the album is...
www.oursundayvisitor.com
