I have had tinnitus for over 30 years now and it is maddening. Sounds like an old tube tv whining as it warms up, but much louder. That steady high pitch whine never ends. I can see why people say it is similar to crickets. I can frequently hear my pulse in that whine and count it without needing to feel at my wrist. So many great Paul Simon tunes, but love ‘America’. Thanks again Otis.
I've had tinnitus since about age 7 (50 years of tinnitus now). I remember telling my mom that I could hear TV tubes warming up almost all the time. Since it's always been with me I'm used to it. As a result there are some similar pitched tones that I don't hear from electric devices. On occasion tones that are close and constant drive me crazy as a result 😉
As a bass player, decades of standing downstage right of the drummer's ride cymbal did a number on my left ear, for sure. Custom earplugs are worth the dough. Paul Simon is absolutely one of the songwriting heavyweights of his era. Boy in the Bubble from Graceland (1985) sounds somehow like the first song of the 21st century to me.
Art Garfunkel years is always playing around the globe...As I've traveled those golden tones echo in Manilla hotels, Barcelona cafes, Irish Fish buffets/pubs and every airport I bounce through. Prayers for Paul Simon.
I've had tinnitus for 20 years now. Mine is in my left ear and is constant and is kind of just a steady high pitched white noise kind of sound. It's not piercing 90% of the time but it also doesn't sound like crickets. Solidarity, Otis!!
Yes sir Otis, Hearing loss sucks. As for Paul’s music, I have so many favorites but I will say the “There goes Rhymin’ Simon” album from 73’. Thanks Otis!
Probably 'Only Living Boy', 'Scarborough Fair', 'Wed Morn 3am', 'Hazy Shade Of Winter'; that earlier era... Most of us who made our life's way on the stages and bandstands, and are now in our later days, will be dealing with the loss of the very sense - hearing, that nurtured our love of music. When I get feeling down, I just remember old Ludwig Van, and then I get feeling more down... Luckily for me, back in the late 80s/90s, when I was playing most of the 'hip clubs' of NYC like The Ear, Rodeo Bar, Don Hill's, etc I went to an audiologist on 72st and got fitted for a set of pro earplugs that I still wear to this day. They were part of the same technology as the then-emerging in-ear monitor systems; where they take a mold of your ear canal and then create a plug (I had my choice of acrylic or rubber; I chose acrylic, which is why I'm still using them today), then into the plug they inserted a small baffle or attenuator device (again you had your choice of different db levels of cut, like 15 or 25 db i think), said device being put in place of the monitor systems. (Later on I got a set of Shure earbuds that fit perfectly into the channel on these acrylic buds so I could also use them as headphones.) Anyway, the attenuators they used were very transparent, and so I wore them all the time while onstage, in rehearsals, etc. Good thing too, 'cause I played with some pretty loud bands and I'm sure those guys, who chided me about the plugs, are regretting it now.. :/ Later still I transitioned to being a pro percussionist, and these buds served me well thru those years too...(I accompanied Afro-Carib dance classes at NYU for a few years. Now THAT was a cherry gig...) And I still have 'em, when I drag myself out to a local drum circle or the like, I wear 'em. And my hearing is still pretty good; nothing to be done about those early years in garage bands and church gigs, where the volume levels were insane, but c'est la vie, I'm glad that in my late 60s I can still tune my 12 string guitar without too much trouble. ;) But then, it's a Taylor, and for 12 strings there's not much that beats them, at least intonation wise.
Spent most of my life blasting music and attending loud concerts so my hearing is compromised. When I use ear buds today I’ve got background noise in my ears for days. I can only imagine the hearing loss a musician experiences. Very real stuff. Sorry to all who are suffering. So many great Paul Simon songs…love Still Crazy After All These Years 👌Keep on folkin and rockin. Otis Gibbs you have turned me on to so many artists and storytellers. Thank you😊
Rock musicians and , I guess nowadays, country musicians need to turn down the amplification. For one thing, the music in the club or hall is a,ways louder than it need be. I never have complaints about volume when I attend a jazz or classical gig.
I definitely feel for Paul Simon.. and anyone else who has hearing loss.. I’m almost coming deaf in my left ear also.. it’s been happening for the last two or three years… and tinnitus.. only in the early evening.. a constant low register buzzing.. almost like something electronic… I often wonder if what I’m playing on guitar is what other people are hearing… but I don’t let it stop me… Thanks Otis.!✌🏼❤️
Hey Otis, I have run chain saws for 48 years, and I like you, hear night bugs all of the time. It reminds me of when I was a child growing up in the country on a summer night, I remember the night bugs singing their songs, it is actually very soothing to me, especially when I am falling asleep at night. I hope it remains that way.
Otis, so amazed to hear you mention one of my favorite obscure psych bands, Here and Now…their first LP “Give And take” and concurrent ep, “Floating Anarchy Radio” are absolutely mandatory listening. They bridged the gap between 60’s euro-traveler hedonism and the burgeoning uk punk sound. Insanely good (and largely forgotten) material. Thank you for all you do. This channel is a real lifeline and regular highlight for me.
That’s a real bummer for Paul!! I saw a great show of his at the University of Central Florida about 10 years ago ✌️😎 my favorite song of his would have to be Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard ✌️😎
I am with you all , I think that musicians get tinnitus . Otis you described my tinnitus perfectly , when the other people talk about hearing things I only image it because I don't hear it. Its sad about Paul Simon. Beethoven was deaf and still produced music. Thanks friends.
Sad for Paul, I think part of the reason I started focusing on playing acoustic guitar was I was underwhelmed by Marshall Stacks and the wall of noise they create. I really appreciate people like JJ Cale who always seemed to like to play at low volume with all of the depth of his tone and feel coming through. I know tinnitus has hit people like Dave Alvin and so many others. I really hope Paul finds a solution for his issues. He is on par with Dylan and Prine as one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
I’ve spent 50+ years falling in love over and over again with Paul Simons constant evolution of his music. So hard to pick 1. I’ll say early days Boxer. Memorized it and still sing it. Then Graceland came out & I was blown away with that. So how is it possible to pick one of this incredibly talented musicians music and writing? Thanks for sharing. I have bad Tinnitus from so many concerts.
Well, as a positive take on the hearing loss, he can enjoy all those wonderful 50s and early 60s records in Mono! Like Monty Python sang... "Always look on the bright side of life"! I love Paul's music. Way underrated poet, musician and songwriter. LOVEs Me Some PAUL! I have the same problem with restaurants and bars. I do a lot of smiling and nodding. I think his Parley Sage Rosemary and Thyme album and of course Graceland blew my mind! "America" may be my fav Paul song! Thx for the video Otis!
Favorite Paul Simon for me would be American Tune, Duncan, and The Boxer, probably. I listened to those songs a lot around 1978 when I was a 17 and miserable. They helped me.
I use to go to a lot of concerts in the 70's 80's plus local bars one in particular was the Aura Inn and the band was the Michael Katon Band god band but LOUD! Surprisingly my hearing is still pretty good one of the loudest was Johnny Winter at the Ark in Ann Arbor 2012 me and my wife could barely hold a conversation on the car ride home for the ringing in our ears.
Thanks for what you're doing, Otis. You're the chronicler we need now. Had my first hearing loss at a Who concert in Fargo on their first US tour around '67. Got hearing aids now and have to amplify my acoustic now. Still love Townshend's songs. Paul Simon is an national treasure. Sounds of Silence captivated my budding imagination back in the day.
havent met you yet brother otis but i did meet billy brgag more than once back in the 90s when i breifly lived in ny and my roomate in queens was the daughter of beloved mixed andy wallace who worked with billy.....super nice indeed
My buddy wears hearing aids that also allow Bluetooth phone and music use as well... to me that's just incredible that something so small can do all those things. Prob does more that I'm not even aware of but I'm just glad he finally found d something so helpful, comfortable, and useful!
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Hi Otis, This is Miguel from Mallorca. I remember you mentioned once Micah Schnabel. I love Two Cow Garage and I think they haven't put out an album for quite some time. So here is the question for you: since I asume you know them, do you know if they are still active as a band? Nobody ever talks about them, at least in Spain... Pretty sad. Your channel is just heaven on earth for us freaks
Hey Otis Try some flat attenuation earplugs like ER-20 from Etymotic Research. They don't attenuate the highs and high-mids as much as other earplugs. Hope you are well. I'm retired and hooked up to supplemental oxygen. Can't pick anymore due to arthritis. Love your videos, buddy!! Kevin Donnelly
Off the Top of my Head ,America is one simon Tune I never Tire of . I suffer from a rather bad Case of Tinnitus ,it Sucks Hard . Keep up the Fantastc Work .
Paul Simon is one of my all time favorites! I have terrible, but variable, tinnitus. Playing and singing is one of the few things that washes out the ringing. I'm sure there are other things I do that contribute to it but really loud music and being to close to a pistol that was being fired are my culprits. Love your stories! Take care.
such a relief hearing your tinnitus story! I've had tinnitus for years and mine, too, sounds like crickets and night critters. I always have to ask my wife in the spring and fall if she hears them. Otherwise, in summer, I'm totally happy. Mine came from a life of loud amps and PAs as well as being a professional diver and blowing out my eardrums diving with a cold and stuffed head.
Simon and Garfunkle left an indelible mark on my childhood, I can still see where I was listening to Bridge O. T. W. when it first got radio airplay. Paul's solo work has enriched my life as well. Hanging out the rear car window singing along to Kodachrome as mom piloted us across Calif. Late in the Evening, Me and Julio ...His gifts to the world are as precious as rare jewels...better! My tinnitus started 6 months ago, learning to live with it. All the best to Paul Simon, here's hoping he regains hearing in that ear, sometimes miracles happen.
There's no argument about the Boxer being an icon of music but I'd never say I want to hear it over and over. I'm a little surprised about the mention of The Only Living Boy since that's one of my favorites. I really like your channel and I'm glad you mentioned that song. I keep re-playing the line "One and one half wondering jews" in my mind- from Hearts and Bones- It's a place many of us have lived. Thanks again, Otis... I'll go get my coffee now...
Hearing loss is scary... the tinnitus I can pretty much deal with. Just gotta watch the sugar/ caffeine intake, and wear the appropriate hearing protection when things get loud. I work in construction, and the framers have found they like to use circular saws to cut steel studs. Probably the most offensive thing to my ears. I grew up listening to Paul and Art, as well as several others of that era. The older songs hold more memories, and I enjoyed Paul's solo music in the 80s. Graceland sticks out for me. I guess I'll be listening to the new album today. Thanks for the heads up. I think it would have been pretty cool to hang out with the likes of Morrisey, the Smiths, or other bands of the era. Even better to have seen them live in concert. The music that influenced me in my teens and early 20s. Thank you, Otis 🙏🏻 Be good to you 🤍
I am a TH-cam Music subscriber and they seem to find stuff I’ve never heard! Love that aspect of what they do. The Concert In Central Park is my Paul Simon go-to
I lost most of the hearing in my right ear and have pretty bad tinnitus on that side. It sucks. The loss of certain frequency ranges made things sound really annoyingly weird. It made music hard to listen to for a while. I still can't hear much out of that ear and the tinnitus ebbs and flows (but is always there to some degree), but I feel like my brain has adjusted and things sound more natural now. What I really miss the most these days is the sounds of summer nights. The katydids and other things chirping and buzzing in the trees are much less clear and crisp than they used to be. The little things. We don't know how profoundly we will miss them when they're gone.
Otis you asked what song Paul Simon created that crushed me, "Late in the Evening" And it was late in the Evening and I blew that room away, /Horns/. My little town is so contemplative and real after spending half your life in a big city, you long for peace and quiet.
For me it's probably not from music but more from being in a lot of equipment rooms like chiller plants. At first I was stubborn and didn't take ear protection seriously. I finally started getting those single use foam ear protectors. Now that I'm retired I can tell that some damage has been done. Today I use in-ear monitors on stage and have to be careful not to turn them up too loud.
Love your channel Otis! The Boxer. Hearing loss runs in our family. I hate it. Too much grass cutting, too many concerts, too much shooting without hearing protection. Rollins Band at House of Blues in New Orleans finally did it years back. Tinnitus. 24/7, I can never turn it off. Mine isn't crickets like yours, but it's a 7500hz tone always running in the background. Kinda sounds like a test tone. I've kinda learned to tune it out, but in quiet rooms there's no escaping. Now it's earplugs anytime a spark plug, concerts or any other loud environment for me. A buddy over in England has it so bad, he almost checked out for good-making the final decision but we talk about it and he's managed to step back from the edge. I wish there was something that would help.
only living boy in ny is a def fav.....i agree....i actually love simon and funkels joyous upbeat renditions of joy joy joy and such too.....ive heard PS say only living boy is about garfunkel and the first time they started drifting apart when Garf started being in movies and Paul kep focusing on music...heard PS say that in various intros over the years....
I’d have to say my favorite PS song is “I Am A Rock”. Always liked the Graceland album. Of course all the great S&G songs too. I am going on 67 and knock on wood I still have my hearing and thankfully no tinnitus but I do share the condition where I can’t make out what someone is saying when there is loud music or noise in the background. I can hear them but can’t make out what what they are saying. Sometimes it’s frustrating but sometimes a blessing. Great job as always on this video Otis.
Otis, you described my hearing issues exactly. I have to really concentrate on what soft spoken folks are saying, and the older I get, the more "soft spoken people" I find myself surrounded by. I know that it's changed my playing, as I find myself accentuating my picking a bit sharper so I can be heard. That's just the way it sounds good to me.
Hi Otis: Enjoy your videos, first comment. I love Paul Simon's Duncan, never hear about that anymore, but I learned to sing and play that in the 70s ❤️
Hey Otis! Great Video. My two favorite Paul Simon songs are Hearts and Bones and Rene and Georgette Magritte. You mentioned Paul''s song Wait and his comments. It reminded me of something that a therapist once told me as we spoke about death and how to handle the death of loved ones. And he said...'I'll be damned if I know. As each person dies your memory will become a series of before and afters.
After years of playing, and constant cases of stinkeye recieved from asking people to repeat what they said, I went and got my hearing checked. To my surprise it had gotten much worse than I had imagined. Ironically I've now paid more for my new hearing aids than I ever did for the sum of the amps and guitars that I use. Take Care and keep the good stuff coming.
Sad to learn if this. I'm 61 and have been playing music for 53 years, 40 of those professionally. I've had tinnitus for about 15 years now and it's constant. Worse when I'm consuming caffeine or have just finished a gig. Whoever can find a treatment/cure for it will be wealthy person.
Me too Brother. Drumming did my damage along with being an Armor in the Army. Constant humming pitch. I sleep with the tv on to help mask the inner noise.
2:18 The only relief I have found for my tinnitus is to cover my ears with my palms and snap my index fingers over my middle fingers, hitting the base of my skull on both sides about 40x in succession. Does not eliminate it, but lessens it.
I’ve had hearing loss in one ear since I was a kid. Honestly, it comes in handy a lot. Especially when I lived in NYC, and car alarms/sirens/motorcycles were killing my sleep, I’d just roll over onto my other ear and sleep peacefully. And I’ve been playing music for like 30 years. My work environment is loud so I’m religious about hearing protection. Basically, you make it work. Our bodies have limits and we push them to the edge all the time.
I’m at the age where hearing of musicians that I grew up listening to… leaving us now is now a reality… how thoughtful of Paul Simon to address his own mortality… and sorry to hear about his hearing issues… Graceland…& Rhythm Of The Saints… two of my favorites from his solo career… Question for Otis: You usually have your coffee ☕️ with you… is there a particular kind or brand you like…( dark roast… etc ) ??? Thanks…I enjoy your channel …I learned a lot…👌👍👌
I wear eatgasm earplugs when I play and watch music. Also my favorite Paul Simon stuff is Mrs Robinson. If I had to name a favorite. My dad had the graduate on 4 track reel to reel.
How Soon is Now also has that killer harmonized slide part that sounds like a train whistle as it passes by... also some special tuning for the harmonic parts. That song was massive. The Smiths actually were almost like a jam band in a slight way.... yeah, hard to believe a bunch of 19-20 year olds created the music you hear in Heaven Knows Im Miserable Now. Or the guitar and bass parts to This Charming Man... man, just simply one of the most important bands evah!!
Man, I know where you're coming from, Otis. I'm listening to crickets now. In terms of loss I never noticed anything until last year my wife and I were in a local bar for trivia night. We were kicking butt until they played 10 second snippets of songs to identify. I had a complete inability to hear it clearly in the din of other voices. When I heard the answers I would have known most of them but could only identify one because of the bass line. I've since noticed it driving on the highway. If the road isn't smooth and I'm getting a lot of tire noise I will sometimes lose the pitch of what's on the car stereo. I'll sing or hum along and my wife will look at me and ask me what the heck I'm doing and am I doing it on purpose. Sucks getting old but it's better than the alternative. As for Paul Simon, I heard the Bridge Over Troubled Waters album when I was around 9 and it just mesmerized me. But there's so much. As a photographer, Kodachrome has a special place. As a bass player Graceland floored me (and even there you have a partner in me were Paul to leave out You Can Call Me Al). I remember watching the Concert in Central Park video and when they went into Late In The Evening, I couldn't stop watching Steve Gadd - I still watch that concert about every other year. But if I have a guitar in my hand and a Paul Simon song falls under my fingers it's either going to be The Boxer or Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard. So many great songs.
Got Eargos and well worth the money. You alluded to one of my problems being in a bar or restraint. Too much background noise making it hard to clearly hear a conversation at the table especially from women. They are adjustable and WORK.
The first Paul Simon song I ever heard was “The Sound Of Silence” when I went to see “The Graduate”. I thought it was the most beautiful song I’d ever heard. It turned me into a huge Simon and Garfunkel fan and, fifty-six years later, my love of Paul Simon’s music is as strong as ever. My other favorites mostly include the stuff Paul did with Art Garfunkel like “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Boxer”, and “America”. That said, there is a lot of Paul’s solo stuff that I love almost as much like “Still Crazy After All These Years”, “Late In The Evening”, and “American Tune”. “You Can Call Me Al” is one of the very few Paul Simon songs that I can’t stand. Nobody’s perfect.
Love these podcasts/vids Otis. Sad to see all these folks who have uncorrected hearing loss. Tip for any with Medicare Supplements - Aetna and United Healthcare have aids with zero copay that are pretty good. Technology is zooming in that area. There is a sensor in development that can actually detect electrical energy from the eye to tell where the wearer is looking. So dont be afraid to try new technology and see if it helps.
Thanks for this. Hearing loss is as serious thing. I have a low level hissing in my right ear all the Time , and I've lost a lot of the high frequency range in my left ear and i know it's from this one punk band I was playing bass in and I stood next to the ride and crash side (not the Hi Hats side) of a drummer who hit hard and had this really big loud cymbals. I love all the classic Simon and Garfunkel stuff, and played the shit out of the Graceland record when that came out. He's good friends with DION who I've worked for, and has done some really great Duets on some recent DION records "New York Is My Home", and also "Song For Sam Cooke." Sounds like Billy's positive outlook is something we could all learn to benefit from.
No tinnitus...yet. But, I have hearing loss in both ears due to 12 years of rehearsals and playing shows in punk/post-punk bands. At one point, we had a rehearsal space the size of a small bedroom with drums, bass and two guitars...like a circular firing squad. LOL. I tried playing with ear plugs at one point, but never liked them...quickly gave up on them.
Ive got the same hearing issues. My tinnitus is a high frequency range constantly running. And I discovered it's not anything to do with the mechanics of my ear, rather it's a nerve issue. Which I now have in my hands to. I've finally reached the point where my age is a symptom.
I'm an old bard with many nights of playing loud music without even thinking about protecting my ears. I have a constant hum and my high end hearing has been diminished. I finally got hearing aids. I like them because they are connected to my phone thru bluetooth. when I play music now with them in I can also just adjust the level down with my phone. my guitar sounds tinny if I don't do that. I know some of you old pickers are thinking about getting them and might be wondering about that. I love being able to hear conversations in loud rooms again. Paul Simon is one of Americas greatest songwriters.
My brother and I always argue about who the greatest American songwriter (from the rock era) is. He says it's Paul Simon, and I always said it was Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. But now I agree with him. Paul Simon is our greatest American treasure as far as songwriting goes. Carole King is close, Joni Mitchell is Canadian, Billy Joel is an honorable mention, and then everyone else comes after that.
man i hate being right about many things im intuutive right etc about......ive been a lil...worried.....about PS's health....anyhooo thanks Otis oh and paul simon in texas is pretty funny
Seems like Morrissey would dig Indiana given his James Dean obsession. Nice to hear your Billy Bragg story. Saw him during a workshop at the Calgary Folk Festival and sat front row where it was as close as sitting in his kitchen. He came across as a wonderful human being.
I’m 53 and have gigged for 33 years. My left ear is pretty shot from guitar amps and bashing drums. I have started wearing Unitron hearing aids and they do a great job of relieving tinnitus. The ringing is still there but much more tolerable and even less apparent because my actual hearing has improved so much
I’ve always wanted to ask you about Grant Showbiz. The Fall, The Smiths and Billy Bragg are kind of a special Trinity for me. On a side note: I also hear cricket sounds. It’s faint, but it’s constant.
Kodachrome brings me back to being a kid in the summer at the township’s pool while running wild with my friends…I’m also fond of the live versions of the hits on the Greatest Hits album he and Garfunkel put out in the early 70’s…geez…I had that one on 8-track!
My hearing is much like yours. In noisy clubs or restaurants, I have trouble differentiating the sounds. When folks talk to me, I shake my head and say "Oh yeah" a whole lot. HA HA HA They could be telling me what a big jerk I am ...and I just smile and say, Oh yeah.
Pretty common among us electric guitar types… My sound used to be crickets, now the frequency is like a cricket sea run thru a compressor and cranked up…mostly I can ignore if there is enough ambient noise around… I wear hearing aids and that helps a bit… I still play guitar in a band at 72… I try to keep sound levels as low as possible and wear in ear monitors to protect myself from drums…
Regarding Paul Simon and his new album: I remember buying he Bookends album in the’60s, and hearing the songs and interviews related to old people. I listened to it again the other day and was struck by how fast the time went by between when I listened to them sing about old people and now I’m in that age group. Wonder if Simon reflects on that.
On the topic of trying to hear someone across the table from you in a room where there’s a lot of conversation or music in the background; I’ve discussed this and read about it and it seems to be a common issue for musicians.
So many favorite Paul Simon songs, but for me American Tune leads them all. With This Land Is Your Land, the best song ever about this tortured country. (And my hearing problems are exactly like yours.)
Definitely 'The Boxer' and 'The Sounds of Silence', also 'Mrs. Robinson' because it like Tim Buckley's album 'Greetings From LA' take me back to a time and a place of great memories. Everyone has their own equivalents. In an interview I once heard The Dali Lama says Tinnitus, which he has, is the sound or voice of god, fortunately I can ignore or tune mine out for the most part, interestingly its predominately a male condition, go figure, take care all.
Pulling up alongside this topic, let this knowledge sink in. His Symohony #9 is arguably the most popular and recognizable piece of music ever written in the history of the world, and Beethoven never heard it; when he wrote it, he was completely deaf.
In the late 70's some company came out with some high dollar ear plugs that was supposed to filter out damaging frequencies. Don't know if they did as advertised, but after 1st song of the 1st set I learned they also filtered out everything else.What a waste of good money. My hearing is really bad now too. American Tune, Homeward Bound, Still Crazy come to mind right off.
I have listen to the Graceland album 38 years. its my favorite album of all time.
That was the first CD I bought when that technology became available to the masses.
I have had tinnitus for over 30 years now and it is maddening. Sounds like an old tube tv whining as it warms up, but much louder. That steady high pitch whine never ends. I can see why people say it is similar to crickets. I can frequently hear my pulse in that whine and count it without needing to feel at my wrist. So many great Paul Simon tunes, but love ‘America’. Thanks again Otis.
I've had tinnitus since about age 7 (50 years of tinnitus now). I remember telling my mom that I could hear TV tubes warming up almost all the time. Since it's always been with me I'm used to it. As a result there are some similar pitched tones that I don't hear from electric devices. On occasion tones that are close and constant drive me crazy as a result 😉
Diamonds on the souls of her shoes!
As a bass player, decades of standing downstage right of the drummer's ride cymbal did a number on my left ear, for sure. Custom earplugs are worth the dough.
Paul Simon is absolutely one of the songwriting heavyweights of his era. Boy in the Bubble from Graceland (1985) sounds somehow like the first song of the 21st century to me.
Well said!
Art Garfunkel years is always playing around the globe...As I've traveled those golden tones echo in Manilla hotels, Barcelona cafes, Irish Fish buffets/pubs and every airport I bounce through.
Prayers for Paul Simon.
I've had tinnitus for 20 years now. Mine is in my left ear and is constant and is kind of just a steady high pitched white noise kind of sound. It's not piercing 90% of the time but it also doesn't sound like crickets. Solidarity, Otis!!
Otis, you seem to be a very gentile soul. I really enjoy listening to you.
Yes sir Otis,
Hearing loss sucks. As for Paul’s music, I have so many favorites but I will say the “There goes Rhymin’ Simon” album from 73’.
Thanks Otis!
Probably 'Only Living Boy', 'Scarborough Fair', 'Wed Morn 3am', 'Hazy Shade Of Winter'; that earlier era...
Most of us who made our life's way on the stages and bandstands, and are now in our later days, will be dealing with the loss of the very sense - hearing, that nurtured our love of music. When I get feeling down, I just remember old Ludwig Van, and then I get feeling more down...
Luckily for me, back in the late 80s/90s, when I was playing most of the 'hip clubs' of NYC like The Ear, Rodeo Bar, Don Hill's, etc I went to an audiologist on 72st and got fitted for a set of pro earplugs that I still wear to this day. They were part of the same technology as the then-emerging in-ear monitor systems; where they take a mold of your ear canal and then create a plug (I had my choice of acrylic or rubber; I chose acrylic, which is why I'm still using them today), then into the plug they inserted a small baffle or attenuator device (again you had your choice of different db levels of cut, like 15 or 25 db i think), said device being put in place of the monitor systems. (Later on I got a set of Shure earbuds that fit perfectly into the channel on these acrylic buds so I could also use them as headphones.) Anyway, the attenuators they used were very transparent, and so I wore them all the time while onstage, in rehearsals, etc. Good thing too, 'cause I played with some pretty loud bands and I'm sure those guys, who chided me about the plugs, are regretting it now.. :/ Later still I transitioned to being a pro percussionist, and these buds served me well thru those years too...(I accompanied Afro-Carib dance classes at NYU for a few years. Now THAT was a cherry gig...) And I still have 'em, when I drag myself out to a local drum circle or the like, I wear 'em. And my hearing is still pretty good; nothing to be done about those early years in garage bands and church gigs, where the volume levels were insane, but c'est la vie, I'm glad that in my late 60s I can still tune my 12 string guitar without too much trouble. ;) But then, it's a Taylor, and for 12 strings there's not much that beats them, at least intonation wise.
Spent most of my life blasting music and attending loud concerts so my hearing is compromised. When I use ear buds today I’ve got background noise in my ears for days. I can only imagine the hearing loss a musician experiences. Very real stuff.
Sorry to all who are suffering.
So many great Paul Simon songs…love Still Crazy After All These Years 👌Keep on folkin and rockin. Otis Gibbs you have turned me on to so many artists and storytellers. Thank you😊
I don’t know if Simon’s concerts over the years did it. The sudden loss of most of his hearing in one ear seems to indicate something else.
Rock musicians and , I guess nowadays, country musicians need to turn down the amplification. For one thing, the music in the club or hall is a,ways louder than it need be. I never have complaints about volume when I attend a jazz or classical gig.
I definitely feel for Paul Simon.. and anyone else who has hearing loss.. I’m almost coming deaf in my left ear also.. it’s been happening for the last two or three years… and tinnitus.. only in the early evening.. a constant low register buzzing.. almost like something electronic…
I often wonder if what I’m playing on guitar is what other people are hearing… but I don’t let it stop me…
Thanks Otis.!✌🏼❤️
Hey Otis, I have run chain saws for 48 years, and I like you, hear night bugs all of the time. It reminds me of when I was a child growing up in the country on a summer night, I remember the night bugs singing their songs, it is actually very soothing to me, especially when I am falling asleep at night. I hope it remains that way.
Otis, so amazed to hear you mention one of my favorite obscure psych bands, Here and Now…their first LP “Give And take” and concurrent ep, “Floating Anarchy Radio” are absolutely mandatory listening. They bridged the gap between 60’s euro-traveler hedonism and the burgeoning uk punk sound. Insanely good (and largely forgotten) material. Thank you for all you do. This channel is a real lifeline and regular highlight for me.
That’s a real bummer for Paul!! I saw a great show of his at the University of Central Florida about 10 years ago ✌️😎 my favorite song of his would have to be Me and Julio down by the Schoolyard ✌️😎
I am with you all , I think that musicians get tinnitus . Otis you described my tinnitus perfectly , when the other people talk about hearing things I only image it because I don't hear it. Its sad about Paul Simon. Beethoven was deaf and still produced music. Thanks friends.
Sad for Paul, I think part of the reason I started focusing on playing acoustic guitar was I was underwhelmed by Marshall Stacks and the wall of noise they create.
I really appreciate people like JJ Cale who always seemed to like to play at low volume with all of the depth of his tone and feel coming through. I know tinnitus has hit people like Dave Alvin and so many others. I really hope Paul finds a solution for his issues. He is on par with Dylan and Prine as one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
I’ve spent 50+ years falling in love over and over again with Paul Simons constant evolution of his music. So hard to pick 1. I’ll say early days Boxer. Memorized it and still sing it. Then Graceland came out & I was blown away with that. So how is it possible to pick one of this incredibly talented musicians music and writing? Thanks for sharing. I have bad Tinnitus from so many concerts.
Well, as a positive take on the hearing loss, he can enjoy all those wonderful 50s and early 60s records in Mono! Like Monty Python sang... "Always look on the bright side of life"!
I love Paul's music. Way underrated poet, musician and songwriter. LOVEs Me Some PAUL!
I have the same problem with restaurants and bars. I do a lot of smiling and nodding.
I think his Parley Sage Rosemary and Thyme album and of course Graceland blew my mind! "America" may be my fav Paul song!
Thx for the video Otis!
Favorite Paul Simon for me would be American Tune, Duncan, and The Boxer, probably. I listened to those songs a lot around 1978 when I was a 17 and miserable. They helped me.
👍
I use to go to a lot of concerts in the 70's 80's plus local bars one in particular was the Aura Inn and the band was the Michael Katon Band god band but LOUD! Surprisingly my hearing is still pretty good one of the loudest was Johnny Winter at the Ark in Ann Arbor 2012 me and my wife could barely hold a conversation on the car ride home for the ringing in our ears.
Thanks for what you're doing, Otis. You're the chronicler we need now. Had my first hearing loss at a Who concert in Fargo on their first US tour around '67. Got hearing aids now and have to amplify my acoustic now. Still love Townshend's songs. Paul Simon is an national treasure. Sounds of Silence captivated my budding imagination back in the day.
havent met you yet brother otis but i did meet billy brgag more than once back in the 90s when i breifly lived in ny and my roomate in queens was the daughter of beloved mixed andy wallace who worked with billy.....super nice indeed
Paul Simon and George Harrison on SNL in the 70s they did homeward bound and here comes the sun
My buddy wears hearing aids that also allow Bluetooth phone and music use as well... to me that's just incredible that something so small can do all those things. Prob does more that I'm not even aware of but I'm just glad he finally found d something so helpful, comfortable, and useful!
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Hi Otis, This is Miguel from Mallorca. I remember you mentioned once Micah Schnabel. I love Two Cow Garage and I think they haven't put out an album for quite some time. So here is the question for you: since I asume you know them, do you know if they are still active as a band? Nobody ever talks about them, at least in Spain... Pretty sad. Your channel is just heaven on earth for us freaks
Cool to hear you mention grant showbiz. I remember first seeing his name on the smiths “rank” lp. The name showbiz jumped out at me lol.
Hey Otis Try some flat attenuation earplugs like ER-20 from Etymotic Research. They don't attenuate the highs and high-mids as much as other earplugs. Hope you are well. I'm retired and hooked up to supplemental oxygen. Can't pick anymore due to arthritis. Love your videos, buddy!!
Kevin Donnelly
Off the Top of my Head ,America is one simon Tune I never Tire of . I suffer from a rather bad Case of Tinnitus ,it Sucks Hard . Keep up the Fantastc Work .
Otis, feel free to go off on tangents anytime...they're very enjoyable. Thank you! 😁
We need to see those teacups!!!!! HISTORY! Needs an episode all to itself that story. Squirrel story line.
Paul Simon is one of my all time favorites! I have terrible, but variable, tinnitus. Playing and singing is one of the few things that washes out the ringing. I'm sure there are other things I do that contribute to it but really loud music and being to close to a pistol that was being fired are my culprits. Love your stories! Take care.
such a relief hearing your tinnitus story! I've had tinnitus for years and mine, too, sounds like crickets and night critters. I always have to ask my wife in the spring and fall if she hears them. Otherwise, in summer, I'm totally happy. Mine came from a life of loud amps and PAs as well as being a professional diver and blowing out my eardrums diving with a cold and stuffed head.
Listening to this through my hearing aids right now. Profoundly deaf in my right ear and the docs don’t know why.
Look into getting some!
Thanks for another great show Otis. I understand the crickets in the background. I hear it almost all the time. Usually it's not very loud.
Funny that you mentioned The Boxer. I had that song in-mind from the beginning of your video.
Crickets! Perfect description of what I hear. Low volume crickets EQ'd towards the mids. Thank you for the analogy. Cheers, from Ottawa, Canada.
.... Crickets with a bit of phasing.
Simon and Garfunkle left an indelible mark on my childhood, I can still see where I was listening to Bridge O. T. W. when it first got radio airplay.
Paul's solo work has enriched my life as well. Hanging out the rear car window singing along to Kodachrome as mom piloted us across Calif.
Late in the Evening, Me and Julio ...His gifts to the world are as precious as rare jewels...better!
My tinnitus started 6 months ago, learning to live with it.
All the best to Paul Simon, here's hoping he regains hearing in that ear, sometimes miracles happen.
There's no argument about the Boxer being an icon of music but I'd never say I want to hear it over and over. I'm a little surprised about the mention of The Only Living Boy since that's one of my favorites. I really like your channel and I'm glad you mentioned that song. I keep re-playing the line "One and one half wondering jews" in my mind- from Hearts and Bones- It's a place many of us have lived. Thanks again, Otis... I'll go get my coffee now...
Hearing loss is scary... the tinnitus I can pretty much deal with. Just gotta watch the sugar/ caffeine intake, and wear the appropriate hearing protection when things get loud. I work in construction, and the framers have found they like to use circular saws to cut steel studs. Probably the most offensive thing to my ears.
I grew up listening to Paul and Art, as well as several others of that era. The older songs hold more memories, and I enjoyed Paul's solo music in the 80s. Graceland sticks out for me. I guess I'll be listening to the new album today. Thanks for the heads up.
I think it would have been pretty cool to hang out with the likes of Morrisey, the Smiths, or other bands of the era. Even better to have seen them live in concert.
The music that influenced me in my teens and early 20s.
Thank you, Otis 🙏🏻
Be good to you 🤍
I am a TH-cam Music subscriber and they seem to find stuff I’ve never heard! Love that aspect of what they do. The Concert In Central Park is my Paul Simon go-to
I lost most of the hearing in my right ear and have pretty bad tinnitus on that side. It sucks. The loss of certain frequency ranges made things sound really annoyingly weird. It made music hard to listen to for a while. I still can't hear much out of that ear and the tinnitus ebbs and flows (but is always there to some degree), but I feel like my brain has adjusted and things sound more natural now. What I really miss the most these days is the sounds of summer nights. The katydids and other things chirping and buzzing in the trees are much less clear and crisp than they used to be. The little things. We don't know how profoundly we will miss them when they're gone.
Otis you asked what song Paul Simon created that crushed me, "Late in the Evening" And it was late in the Evening and I blew that room away, /Horns/. My little town is so contemplative and real after spending half your life in a big city, you long for peace and quiet.
Thanks Otis. I love hanging out with ya. Gotta get some coffee though. And thanks for just being you. Some of us just now finding how that works.
For me it's probably not from music but more from being in a lot of equipment rooms like chiller plants. At first I was stubborn and didn't take ear protection seriously. I finally started getting those single use foam ear protectors. Now that I'm retired I can tell that some damage has been done. Today I use in-ear monitors on stage and have to be careful not to turn them up too loud.
Love your channel Otis! The Boxer. Hearing loss runs in our family. I hate it. Too much grass cutting, too many concerts, too much shooting without hearing protection. Rollins Band at House of Blues in New Orleans finally did it years back. Tinnitus. 24/7, I can never turn it off. Mine isn't crickets like yours, but it's a 7500hz tone always running in the background. Kinda sounds like a test tone. I've kinda learned to tune it out, but in quiet rooms there's no escaping. Now it's earplugs anytime a spark plug, concerts or any other loud environment for me. A buddy over in England has it so bad, he almost checked out for good-making the final decision but we talk about it and he's managed to step back from the edge. I wish there was something that would help.
only living boy in ny is a def fav.....i agree....i actually love simon and funkels joyous upbeat renditions of joy joy joy and such too.....ive heard PS say only living boy is about garfunkel and the first time they started drifting apart when Garf started being in movies and Paul kep focusing on music...heard PS say that in various intros over the years....
I’d have to say my favorite PS song is “I Am A Rock”. Always liked the Graceland album. Of course all the great S&G songs too. I am going on 67 and knock on wood I still have my hearing and thankfully no tinnitus but I do share the condition where I can’t make out what someone is saying when there is loud music or noise in the background. I can hear them but can’t make out what what they are saying. Sometimes it’s frustrating but sometimes a blessing. Great job as always on this video Otis.
Otis, you described my hearing issues exactly. I have to really concentrate on what soft spoken folks are saying, and the older I get, the more "soft spoken people" I find myself surrounded by.
I know that it's changed my playing, as I find myself accentuating my picking a bit sharper so I can be heard. That's just the way it sounds good to me.
Hi Otis: Enjoy your videos, first comment. I love Paul Simon's Duncan, never hear about that anymore, but I learned to sing and play that in the 70s ❤️
Hey Otis! Great Video. My two favorite Paul Simon songs are Hearts and Bones and Rene and Georgette Magritte. You mentioned Paul''s song Wait and his comments. It reminded me of something that a therapist once told me as we spoke about death and how to handle the death of loved ones. And he said...'I'll be damned if I know. As each person dies your memory will become a series of before and afters.
After years of playing, and constant cases of stinkeye recieved from asking people to repeat what they said, I went and got my hearing checked. To my surprise it had gotten much worse than I had imagined. Ironically I've now paid more for my new hearing aids than I ever did for the sum of the amps and guitars that I use. Take Care and keep the good stuff coming.
Yup. I have used hearing aids about 6 years now. Not ideal but helps with conversations. I do not like how it tends to amplify my guitar.
Sad to learn if this. I'm 61 and have been playing music for 53 years, 40 of those professionally. I've had tinnitus for about 15 years now and it's constant. Worse when I'm consuming caffeine or have just finished a gig. Whoever can find a treatment/cure for it will be wealthy person.
Me too Brother. Drumming did my damage along with being an Armor in the Army. Constant humming pitch. I sleep with the tv on to help mask the inner noise.
@@rev.farmer7649 Thank you for your service! sorry to hear we're in the same fraternity
2:18 The only relief I have found for my tinnitus is to cover my ears with my palms and snap my index fingers over my middle fingers, hitting the base of my skull on both sides about 40x in succession. Does not eliminate it, but lessens it.
I would gladly pay $25 k for a treatment that worked. I have also had very loud ringing in my ears for 15 plus years.
There were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there…..I’m with you Otis.
I’ve had hearing loss in one ear since I was a kid. Honestly, it comes in handy a lot. Especially when I lived in NYC, and car alarms/sirens/motorcycles were killing my sleep, I’d just roll over onto my other ear and sleep peacefully. And I’ve been playing music for like 30 years. My work environment is loud so I’m religious about hearing protection. Basically, you make it work. Our bodies have limits and we push them to the edge all the time.
I’m at the age where hearing of musicians that I grew up listening to… leaving us now is now a reality… how thoughtful of Paul Simon to address his own mortality… and sorry to hear about his hearing issues… Graceland…& Rhythm Of The Saints… two of my favorites from his solo career…
Question for Otis: You usually have your coffee ☕️ with you… is there a particular kind or brand you like…( dark roast… etc ) ??? Thanks…I enjoy your channel …I learned a lot…👌👍👌
I wear eatgasm earplugs when I play and watch music. Also my favorite Paul Simon stuff is Mrs Robinson. If I had to name a favorite. My dad had the graduate on 4 track reel to reel.
How Soon is Now also has that killer harmonized slide part that sounds like a train whistle as it passes by... also some special tuning for the harmonic parts. That song was massive. The Smiths actually were almost like a jam band in a slight way.... yeah, hard to believe a bunch of 19-20 year olds created the music you hear in Heaven Knows Im Miserable Now. Or the guitar and bass parts to This Charming Man... man, just simply one of the most important bands evah!!
Take me to the Mardi gras is my favorite. Love the jazzy instruments sound to that tune.
WOAH WAIT WHAT??? you know Grant Showbiz???
PLEASE GET US SOME SMITHS STORIES!!!! Love your channel Otis :)
Man, I know where you're coming from, Otis. I'm listening to crickets now. In terms of loss I never noticed anything until last year my wife and I were in a local bar for trivia night. We were kicking butt until they played 10 second snippets of songs to identify. I had a complete inability to hear it clearly in the din of other voices. When I heard the answers I would have known most of them but could only identify one because of the bass line. I've since noticed it driving on the highway. If the road isn't smooth and I'm getting a lot of tire noise I will sometimes lose the pitch of what's on the car stereo. I'll sing or hum along and my wife will look at me and ask me what the heck I'm doing and am I doing it on purpose. Sucks getting old but it's better than the alternative.
As for Paul Simon, I heard the Bridge Over Troubled Waters album when I was around 9 and it just mesmerized me. But there's so much. As a photographer, Kodachrome has a special place. As a bass player Graceland floored me (and even there you have a partner in me were Paul to leave out You Can Call Me Al). I remember watching the Concert in Central Park video and when they went into Late In The Evening, I couldn't stop watching Steve Gadd - I still watch that concert about every other year. But if I have a guitar in my hand and a Paul Simon song falls under my fingers it's either going to be The Boxer or Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard. So many great songs.
Got Eargos and well worth the money. You alluded to one of my problems being in a bar or restraint. Too much background noise making it hard to clearly hear a conversation at the table especially from women. They are adjustable and WORK.
The first Paul Simon song I ever heard was “The Sound Of Silence” when I went to see “The Graduate”. I thought it was the most beautiful song I’d ever heard. It turned me into a huge Simon and Garfunkel fan and, fifty-six years later, my love of Paul Simon’s music is as strong as ever. My other favorites mostly include the stuff Paul did with Art Garfunkel like “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Boxer”, and “America”. That said, there is a lot of Paul’s solo stuff that I love almost as much like “Still Crazy After All These Years”, “Late In The Evening”, and “American Tune”. “You Can Call Me Al” is one of the very few Paul Simon songs that I can’t stand. Nobody’s perfect.
like THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE there are several meanings of that song
Another Gr8 Vid Otis🤘🏼💗💜💗🐞👌🏼💨💨Happy 82nd Birthday Bob Dylan🎂 & RIP Tina Turner 🕯🌹
"Peace Like a River" is a great tune to get used to hearing everyday.
Love these podcasts/vids Otis. Sad to see all these folks who have uncorrected hearing loss. Tip for any with Medicare Supplements - Aetna and United Healthcare have aids with zero copay that are pretty good. Technology is zooming in that area. There is a sensor in development that can actually detect electrical energy from the eye to tell where the wearer is looking. So dont be afraid to try new technology and see if it helps.
Thanks for this. Hearing loss is as serious thing. I have a low level hissing in my right ear all the Time , and I've lost a lot of the high frequency range in my left ear and i know it's from this one punk band I was playing bass in and I stood next to the ride and crash side (not the Hi Hats side) of a drummer who hit hard and had this really big loud cymbals. I love all the classic Simon and Garfunkel stuff, and played the shit out of the Graceland record when that came out. He's good friends with DION who I've worked for, and has done some really great Duets on some recent DION records "New York Is My Home", and also "Song For Sam Cooke."
Sounds like Billy's positive outlook is something we could all learn to benefit from.
No tinnitus...yet. But, I have hearing loss in both ears due to 12 years of rehearsals and playing shows in punk/post-punk bands. At one point, we had a rehearsal space the size of a small bedroom with drums, bass and two guitars...like a circular firing squad. LOL. I tried playing with ear plugs at one point, but never liked them...quickly gave up on them.
Graceland, is gorgeous on many levels
Ive got the same hearing issues. My tinnitus is a high frequency range constantly running. And I discovered it's not anything to do with the mechanics of my ear, rather it's a nerve issue. Which I now have in my hands to. I've finally reached the point where my age is a symptom.
Rhythm of the Saints, start to finish. Lyrically, that's my favorite record. Such beautiful poetry. Especially Further to Fly.
I'm an old bard with many nights of playing loud music without even thinking about protecting my ears. I have a constant hum and my high end hearing has been diminished. I finally got hearing aids. I like them because they are connected to my phone thru bluetooth. when I play music now with them in I can also just adjust the level down with my phone. my guitar sounds tinny if I don't do that. I know some of you old pickers are thinking about getting them and might be wondering about that. I love being able to hear conversations in loud rooms again. Paul Simon is one of Americas greatest songwriters.
My brother and I always argue about who the greatest American songwriter (from the rock era) is. He says it's Paul Simon, and I always said it was Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys. But now I agree with him. Paul Simon is our greatest American treasure as far as songwriting goes. Carole King is close, Joni Mitchell is Canadian, Billy Joel is an honorable mention, and then everyone else comes after that.
I loved when Paul Simon was on The Muppet Show and the version he played of It's Been a Long Day on the show is phenomenal.
man i hate being right about many things im intuutive right etc about......ive been a lil...worried.....about PS's health....anyhooo thanks Otis
oh and paul simon in texas is pretty funny
OTIS, the old Simon albums are best , but ALOT of Graceland is wonderful with the African beat .
My go to Paul Simon song of course it's you can call me Al......haha much love Otis
Seems like Morrissey would dig Indiana given his James Dean obsession. Nice to hear your Billy Bragg story. Saw him during a workshop at the Calgary Folk Festival and sat front row where it was as close as sitting in his kitchen. He came across as a wonderful human being.
I’m 53 and have gigged for 33 years. My left ear is pretty shot from guitar amps and bashing drums. I have started wearing Unitron hearing aids and they do a great job of relieving tinnitus. The ringing is still there but much more tolerable and even less apparent because my actual hearing has improved so much
Two of Paul's later albums have really stuck with me: "Surprise" and "Stranger to Stranger."
I’ve always wanted to ask you about Grant Showbiz. The Fall, The Smiths and Billy Bragg are kind of a special Trinity for me. On a side note: I also hear cricket sounds. It’s faint, but it’s constant.
Only Living Boy in NY, American Tune, the Graceland Album (minus Call me Al)…Paul was my #1 guy for a long time.
Kodachrome brings me back to being a kid in the summer at the township’s pool while running wild with my friends…I’m also fond of the live versions of the hits on the Greatest Hits album he and Garfunkel put out in the early 70’s…geez…I had that one on 8-track!
Feed the people! Talk to the squirrels! Bring out the teacups!
My hearing is much like yours. In noisy clubs or restaurants, I have trouble differentiating the sounds. When folks talk to me, I shake my head and say "Oh yeah" a whole lot. HA HA HA They could be telling me what a big jerk I am ...and I just smile and say, Oh yeah.
Duncan is my favorite Paul Simon song. I’m 65 and have the crickets also.
Pretty common among us electric guitar types… My sound used to be crickets, now the frequency is like a cricket sea run thru a compressor and cranked up…mostly I can ignore if there is enough ambient noise around… I wear hearing aids and that helps a bit… I still play guitar in a band at 72… I try to keep sound levels as low as possible and wear in ear monitors to protect myself from drums…
Regarding Paul Simon and his new album: I remember buying he Bookends album in the’60s, and hearing the songs and interviews related to old people. I listened to it again the other day and was struck by how fast the time went by between when I listened to them sing about old people and now I’m in that age group. Wonder if Simon reflects on that.
On the topic of trying to hear someone across the table from you in a room where there’s a lot of conversation or music in the background; I’ve discussed this and read about it and it seems to be a common issue for musicians.
So many favorite Paul Simon songs, but for me American Tune leads them all. With This Land Is Your Land, the best song ever about this tortured country. (And my hearing problems are exactly like yours.)
I’d really love to see one of those LEGENDARY Tea Cups 🫖☕️✌️😎
Definitely 'The Boxer' and 'The Sounds of Silence', also 'Mrs. Robinson' because it like Tim Buckley's album 'Greetings From LA' take me back to a time and a place of great memories. Everyone has their own equivalents. In an interview I once heard The Dali Lama says Tinnitus, which he has, is the sound or voice of god, fortunately I can ignore or tune mine out for the most part, interestingly its predominately a male condition, go figure, take care all.
GREAT tea cup story!
Rhythm of the Saints (album) has "Spirit Voices". Hope they play it at my funeral. :-)
Pulling up alongside this topic, let this knowledge sink in. His Symohony #9 is arguably the most popular and recognizable piece of music ever written in the history of the world, and Beethoven never heard it; when he wrote it, he was completely deaf.
In the late 70's some company came out with some high dollar ear plugs that was supposed to filter out damaging frequencies. Don't know if they did as advertised, but after 1st song of the 1st set I learned they also filtered out everything else.What a waste of good money. My hearing is really bad now too. American Tune, Homeward Bound, Still Crazy come to mind right off.
'Renee and Georgia Magritte with their Dog after the War'...Thanks Otis!
I have the whistle solo from “Me and Julio” down note for note perfect and always whistle along during that part of the song
I've been in bands for over 45 years now. The moment I accepted my tinnitus was the moment it no longer bothered me.
Bookends is an incredible album so is rhythm of the Saints it was overshadowed by Graceland but it's one hell of an album