What make Paul Simon great
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=124277
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Topic: What make Paul Simon great
Posted By: Icarium
Subject: What make Paul Simon great
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 12:10
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I have borrowed the tagline from Rick Beato. Hes turning 79 years today, a year until hes 80 years old. My favourite force of songwriting and I believe i'm not alone with that opinion. Paul Simon is so defining in hes and the music heve made, not flrgettimg Art Garfunkle in this game. Yet Paul Simon is something more. He like Gershwin, Berlin and Porter is a defining composer in the American songbook. Not discounting Bob Dylan either, a seminal force all along ( the Watchtower). What pulls me towards Paul and what makes him great is both his mastery of the acoustic guitar, hes a natural! Hes majesty of arranging and chordal structure and I really like hes vocal work. -------------  
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Replies:
Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 13:32
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What makes Paul Simon great? 1) Writing "America" so Yes could cover it. 2) The Bridge Over Troubled Water album, especially "The Only Living Boy in New York". For those who were not there, the entire 1970's decade would be unimaginable without this album! It was everywhere!
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 14:36
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I believe Simon is the greatest American songwriter of the modern era. Songs which caught the zeitgeist of an entire generation and nation, but, it should be remembered, less than a whole without Garfunkel. ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 14:51
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Basically what Laz said. He is an incredible song writer that was savy enough to tap into social issues without being pedantic. He was also adventurous musically in embracing world music into his work. I also believe that his best work was with Garfunkel, but that's an opinion that others would be firmly against as he has such a large volume of work. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 16:09
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Great songwriting skills - and the vocal support of Art Garfunkel was a huge enhancement. ------------- 
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 16:45
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I disagree about his best songwriting period being with Garfunkel. His most inward, unique, personal and poetic writing was done after their partnership. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 13 2020 at 17:02
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But musically, he was untouchable in that period. Unbelievable melodies. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: October 14 2020 at 12:55
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^ Melodically maybe, but actually I think his post-Grafunkel music is superior. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 15 2020 at 17:37
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Doh! I meant melodically. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: October 15 2020 at 17:56
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^ Don't you hate it when one word or phrase throws off a whole concept-- In your recent Rush thread I meant to indicate that Diary of a Madman was what made the Osbourne/Rhoads pairing influential to progmetal but it was closed before I could point that out. I'm amazed Kennedy & Krushchev didn't start a war just from misspeaking. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: October 15 2020 at 18:02
Yup, metal as a influence on prog metal. What a crazy idea.  ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |