Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Still Crazy After All These Years

Computer problems kept me away, but I am doing OK now.

I looked around at the scenery of the outside theater and a lump came to my throat.  Oh my, such wonderful memories had been made there.  It seemed like a short time had passed since we came here as a family in the summer months to lie under the stars and enjoy the sounds of the Philadelphia Orchestra and their famous guest artists.  But no, it had been many years, and our children, who we had taken to those events, are adults and they were now taking me to my first big concert in a long time.   That night, though, would not be the music of  Bach, Beethoven, or Strauss, it would be classical Simon, being sung by Simon.




He is an old guy, but for two hours he stood under those hot lights and sang the songs we love, and added a few new ones from his latest album, Stranger to Stranger.  His voice has not changed since I saw him over 30 years ago when he partnered with Art Garfunkle.   I enjoyed them all, but some touched me more because of the wonderful words that this most talented artist has written. The years have made me melancholy but I try not to live in the past, and that night I felt young and danced and sang and had a blast.  I felt that I had "Diamonds on the Soles of Her (my) Shoes and even if I sometimes like "The Sound of Silence", I can still shake my booty and have joy.  Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson, Koo-koo-ka choo!

Stranger To Stranger

..........I'm just jittery, I'm just jittery
It's just a way of dealing with my joy
It's just a way of dealing with my joy
It's just a way of dealing with my joy
It's just a way of dealing

Words and melodies
Easy harmony
Old-time remedies.

So true.


  



















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50 comments:

  1. I am very happy for you, but will admit to a tad of jealousy. I haven't ever seen him live. And love his work.

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    1. Paul is a very interesting man and told us of some of his many travels and adventures around the world. I hope he visits a town near you someday so you too can enjoy a Paul Simon concert.

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  2. It sounds like it was a memorable night. I envy you! Good for you!
    Hubby and I love to play an old CD of The Best of Simon and Garfunkel. :-D

    Jane

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    1. I have had the Graceland CD playing in my car for the past ten years. I change the other music, but that album stays. I am adding his new, Stranger to Stranger, this week. Adele will have to go.

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  3. I absolutely love your account of this concert. Thanks Arleen.

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  4. Thank you George. After weeks of trying to publish to no avail (problem was in 'settings') I wrote it too quickly and now am still editing it. I even had the title of one of my favorite songs wrong, Someone hit the publish button too soon. I'll blame it on Al.

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  5. How wonderful for you, Arleen. Some things..songs and artists never grow old when they still touch our hearts and souls. Memories. That's what it's all about.

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    1. My problems seem to disappear when listening to an artist like Paul Simon.

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  6. Oh man, I would love to have been there with you! His music is still relevant and like you said his voice hasn't changed at all. I'm going to have to get his new album.

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    1. You will enjoy it Amy. It even has a lullaby to sooth our cares away.

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  7. I adore Paul Simon's music. And I loved Simon and Garfunkel together. Your evening sounds fabulous, thanks for sharing! Hugs!

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    1. It seems Paul Simon crosses the generation gap with people of all ages loving him and his music. My daughters enjoy him also and we all had a great time.

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  8. I last saw Paul Simon in London about ten years ago. His songs are everlasting. His voice is clear and tuneful, his lyrics are pure poetry ("Angels in the architecture spinning in infinity", "There were incidents and accidents, hints and allegation"). Magical! Lucky you!
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. Yes, Bazza. That is exactly how I feel. His songs are beautiful poetry put to music.

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  9. I last saw Paul Simon at Blossom, maybe twenty years ago. How good to know he's as wonderful as ever. Did you wave your lighted cell phones, like we used to wave our lighters.

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    1. No, I left my phone in my purse. However, there were many, many people holding their phones up and using them to video the show.

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  10. Among my all-time favourite(s) for many years. I must dig out his/their CDs again. I probably still have cassettes too.

    Thanks for the reminder. Oh dear me, it’s all so long ago, I have grown old.

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    1. Listening to an old album of his will take 10 years off. I guarantee it. I have been singing those songs for days now and I think I am having a mid life crisis which is so much better than my old depression.

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  11. I call Paul Simon and Garfunkel with their songs "the songs of our college time together." Sound of Silence, Would you rather be a hammer, Bridge over Troubled waters (sung at our wedding)...yes, we still love the music. And Paul Simon.

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  12. I just read that he may be retiring after he finishes this tour in Europe. He is almost 75 and I would imagine all that ttraveling to different cities is difficult. It is so sad to hear, but I am so glad that I got to see him one last time.

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  13. Isn't it absolutely wonderful how music has the ability to transport us through time and space? Although I listen to all kinds of music, the favorite songs of my youth make me feel young again. Seeing Simon in concert must have been absolutely awesome! I hope his music keeps your heart singing for a long time.

    Have a super weekend. (It's great to see you posting again!)

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    1. My husband always plays the oldies whe we are in the car. I can't help singing along to all of them. It is amazing how I can remember all the words but can't remember what I did the day before.

      I was having trouble with blogger and was unable to figure out why I couldn't publish. I finally did this week but I was becoming so frustrated that I thought I had published my last post. All is good now.

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  14. I love Paul Simon, though I'm mostly familiar with the older Simon & Garfunkle songs. How wonderful that after all these years, your children want to restart the tradition of getting together and relaxing to the concert music. I just read your comment above - he's almost 75??!! Wow! Go him!

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    1. This is his last tour. I am so glad I got to see him with my daughters.

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  15. What fun! I was always a big fan of Simon & Garfunkle - how wonderful that you got to share that experience with your daughters!

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    1. It was a night filled with memories, old one and new ones made. Thank youfor stoping by, Mountain Mama.

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  16. I would have loved to have been there with you. He's a legend. I recently read that he is going to give up music. Not sure if it's true or if it is, will he return how so many have after announcing retirement?

    I'm glad you had a lovely evening!

    Jane

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    1. Yes, many of them go on their farewell tour only to come back a few years later. I think Cher did about three of them. However, at Paul Simon's age, and all that they go through on a tour, this may be it. All those who love him and live in Europe (where, I think he ends his tour) be advised. This may be your last opportunity to see this wonderful artist.

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  17. oh my gosh how cool is that??!!--you got to go see Paul Simon! So neat...I'm glad you got to go. Yep, for sure---the soundtrack of my Jr. High and High school years. Bought all his 45's and albums---back when they made 45's and albums! ha ha LOL Did he sing all the old hits?

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  18. He sang many of them. When he sang," You Can Call Me Al,, everyone got on thei fee and danced and sang along. It was a great night.

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  19. Music takes us back so easily. It is sweetly sad.

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  20. Not so sad, Tabor, they are usually beautiful. Time has a gift of removing the not-so-happy.

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  21. The performers who last, and last well, like Paul Simon and Mark Knopfler, and Paul McCartney, last because they keep moving forward, musically, but they never forget the old songs, too. The songs they write are timeless, and even kids who "listen to grampa's music" are lifted by this stuff.
    If you think about it that's pretty remarkable. Can you imagine, as a 12 year old kid in the 50s, listening to music (barring classical stuff) performed in 1900?

    I'm the same way, I can hit every word, every pause, in almost all the old songs, even announce them by the first three or four notes at the start. And need help finding my camera. =)

    (It sounds like you had a wonderful time, I am almost green with envy.)

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    1. My 17 year old granddaughter just saw Paul McCartney. She loved him. Talent knows no age.

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  22. glad you stopped in and glad you liked my "gypsy" post. I wear alot of black too, like you! I wear several black skirts....I'm trying to bring more color in....it's pretty easy in the summer I guess. Hope you have a real nice weekend my friend!

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    1. I try not to wear black in the summer, and colorful skirts make me feel cooler and happy.

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  23. Isn't it magical to ho to a concert now? How wonderful! I'm so glad you got to go! x

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  24. What a Memorable and Nostalgic Night! It's been years since I've attended a Concert, so I'd probably get a lump in my throat too as floods of Memories of Concerts past would flood in! Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  25. Thank you---glad you liked the old windows. They seem to tell so many stories, don't they? Just stopped in to see if you had posted anything and hope you had a nice weekend.

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  26. Thank you---glad you liked the old windows. They seem to tell so many stories, don't they? Just stopped in to see if you had posted anything and hope you had a nice weekend.

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    1. I have been trying to publish, but something has gone wrong and I am trying to figure it out. It happened before and after hours trying to fix it, I got it going again. Now I am in the same mess and can't remember what I did to make it appear on my dashboard.

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  27. I'm glad you enjoyed the Paul Simon concert. My husband and I also like his music, and he was very disappointed when I turned down free tickets to see him when he was in town. My editor offered last minute tickets if I wrote a story about the concert, but I thought it was too good to be true. It turned out that I would've received one free lawn admission to a sold out concert, and my hubby wouldn't have been able to come anyway. That would've been an example of 50 Ways To Lose Your Lover!

    Julie

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  28. Just WONDERFUL! I've sung and bopped along with Paul Simon since the early days but never been to a live show. What a treat.

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