True American icon. The best singer songwriter of our time. Hands down. I’ve gotten in many arguments about this. He wrote some of his most timeless songs within days of each other.
@Adam Schiff I like Billy Joel but he never really made an impression on me. Not sure why. Good songs, no "magic". Also the production of his recordings was uninspiring, I think that's probably why.
Boy in the Bubble has to be one of the best lyrics ever written. "Staccato signals of constant information A loose affiliation of millionaires And billionaires and baby".
I agree, however, instead of "constellations" he really should have said "galaxies." Constellations aren't real things, they're imaginary structures, they can't die. Galaxies, on the other hand ... A tiny, tiny nitpick.
@@Anthony-hu3rj Poetic licence, also the syllables and the sound of the word must have been a better fit for the lyrics. So "distant constellation" goes with the previous line 'constant information"
@@Anthony-hu3rj A constellation is just a grouping of stars. The etymology is literally 'stars together'. They exist as a pattern, as much as a galaxy does. And a constellation is not the same as a galaxy not the same thing. Both of which will die in time.
after years of listening to songs I enjoy, learning how to play my instrument, and developing my vocal style, I finally began to share my songs here last year. Glad I found this, it's all things I have known, but great to hear it from the mouth of a great songwriter. 🐰❤️🇺🇸🎸🎵🤝✌️
I really think that Paul Simon is, after Paul McCartney, the best composer of the 20th century...Nothing less...Of course in the category of pop songs. McCartney or Simon dit not write novels or write jazz music… But what a great talent these 2 have…
@@PierreBeaudoin Those four are my favorite songwriters and I think no other rock or pop star even gets close to them. Having said that, I think both Lennon and Dylan are musically less talented but much better lyricists. They have intangibles that the Pauls don't have.They have more layers than the Pauls. Both Dylan and Lennon can be cynical, desperate, pathetic and weird. The Pauls are virtuosos but are unable to be as unhinged or produce as surrealist imagery as Lennon or Dylan .
Camilo Chaves ...yes I totally agree with you on that...Lyrics from Dylan and Lennon are more profound than Paul...These four are pure geniuses and we will sing their songs for a long time
Same. Teyong to build up the motivation. Seen a cool saying the other day though to inspire me Even people who start projects and don't finish are cooler than people who never start any.
Bro literally for the first one make it super simple and you could do it in a day. Pick a song you like with like 5 chords in it and move them, so maybe if its an A move it up to a B or down to a G and do the same with all the corresponding chords. Now pick a tempo that is different to the song you took the chords from, faster or slower depending how you feel. Now pick some of the chords (two/three?) to be the verse, some for the chorus (could be the ones from the verse but in a different order or with an extra chord added, for example). Now play the verse and whistle a melody over it, make it super simple. Write some super simple lyrics that can fit the melody you whistled nicely, and play the verse and sing the lyrics. Do the same with chorus. Now play the verse and into the chorus with the lyrics, do that twice. Thats a song, a very basic song, but a song.
Hes so awsome....its true with songs n melody....sometimes they just pop ☝.....you dont know how or why....until your supposed to. Then its like......Woe.........ok then, whatever you say......Pauls music will live forever....just as Simon n Garfunkels.....yep
@@johndoe_1984 Thats deep.......do do do.....da da da da.....is this all you want to say to me??.....do do do.......da da da da??.........Dont think me unkind.....words are hard to find......But not for one our greatest Singer, Musician, Songwriters of modern times.......The Island Himself.....and an Island never cries......or dies......Paul forever
I've written many songs where whatever nonsense words I use to temporarily shore up the vocal melody actually become the final lyrics. Nothing else works. Sometimes you can't fight it, they came from SOMEWHERE....
Sometimes the nonsense words are just a garbled initial transmission and eventually something more profound will reveal itself. Dylan advised that if you're stumped just forget structure, meter, etc. and write what you want to say in plain language. Eventually the right line will emerge.
I’ve been reading a biography on him, and he says that’s how all the songs were back then. So in that medium, it was nothing and just blended with all the other sounds of that time. He struggled to make a hit because all his songs were just mirroring what had already been done. That’s part of what drove him to study English and more complex ideas and then prompted him to start writing more complex tunes like He Was My Brother, Sparrow, and Sound Of Silence.
@@01real1 that’s true as well. His writing just took a turn when he took his English courses and literature classes in college and it became more sophisticated
@@NisseOhlsen Bacharach is only half a great songwriter, Hal David providing the words (and Bacharach never did much for me, anyway). And Dylan's output of great work -- as great as it was -- was pretty much over by 1980, whereas continued to write great songs his whole life, and of greater harmonic sophistication than Dylan, too.
@@jrpipik Exhibit A (Bacharach didn't write the lyrics either, I believe. Now, are you going to call Franz Schubert half a song writer??: th-cam.com/video/lrcNnIV6FV8/w-d-xo.html Exhibit B: (Pretty ordinary structure, but how about the marriage of chords, rhythm and words?): th-cam.com/video/L9EKqQWPjyo/w-d-xo.html
It's funny that people go to school and learn theory, recording, songwriting but most of them can't write a great song. Most songwriters with no formal education can't just write a great song either. Some people just have that rare gift to put something together and make it sound a certain way that makes a great song. I can't put my finger on it but It involves craft, some imagination, based on something familiar to the ear to create something transcendant that endures. Most of the time Paul can't even do it but it certainly helps that he thinks in a melodic way and two of his notes can sound better than most songs written by others.
Re: "Most of the time Paul can't even do it but it certainly helps that he thinks in a melodic way and two of his notes can sound better than most songs written by others." Which two? In any case, I think Art Garfunkel's assessment is on the mark. He says that Simon and Garfunkel were essentially record makers, and clearly Simon as a solo act continued to be essentially a record maker. A record maker is different from a songwriter. Just listen to what Simon says in this interview: it's all about cobbling together a record; it's not about writing a finished song and then recording it. Simon really fell down when he tried to make a musical. "Songs from the Capeman" was a disaster critically, commercially, and artistically. The essential problem is that when you write songs for a musical, you're writing songs for others to sing. That's what real songwriters do. It's not what Simon does. Simon makes records.
Ray Phiri was instrumental in the song Graceland being written, but does he get a writing credit? No. Paul Simon has a long history of this, going back to the 1960's with songs he wrote with Bruce Woodley of the Seekers that he took all the credit for. I mean, here he is opening up on exactly how the song was inspired but he doesn't explain why he didn't give credit to the man who opened up the inspiration to continue the song. Many of the songs on the Graceland album came out of jams with the South African musicians, but Simon doesn't seem to be able to acknowledge the fact that the songs wouldn't have happened without their input. It infuriates me. He was already a multi-millionaire by the time of this album, how would a few royalty percentage points hurt him either way? Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are two others who did similar things, not allowing bandmates who came up with initial riffs (Jumpin' Jack Flash being one) to share in the songwriting royalties. That's why U2 have managed to stay together as an unchanged lineup for over 40 years -- Bono and the Edge have always included the other two as songwriters even if they didn't contribute to the songwriting. I'm not saying you should always do that, credit where credit is due, but there's a fair balance somewhere in the middle, and as much as I think that Paul SImon is a giant among songwriters he does kind of shit me.
Good observation, I spent two years (on and off) working with Paul. He was one of my absolute favorite musicians, but I could see that 30 to 40 years of fame and always being pestered, affected him as a person. Paul would share intimate details with only his trusted friends but not many outside of his circle. He was acutely aware of who was who and really despised the fame crap.
Top man. Great songs.
I could listen to this man talking for hours… Just love him 💕💕
True American icon. The best singer songwriter of our time. Hands down. I’ve gotten in many arguments about this. He wrote some of his most timeless songs within days of each other.
Beatles >
@@Wofivkelepgovkksoef HAHAHA no.....
Fascinating. One of the best song writers in history.
@Adam Schiff I like Billy Joel but he never really made an impression on me. Not sure why. Good songs, no "magic". Also the production of his recordings was uninspiring, I think that's probably why.
Striving for this level of songwriting is easier said than done, but we should keep trying : )
So true.
yea why not but you'll never do it on your own. There's no method to genius, you just are or your aren't.
@@michaelbyrd7883 Im definitely not but, I do get great joy from writing and producing songs as a hobby,,I kept my day job,hahaha
Paul got where he is by reaching higher, why not you?
Just listened to his newer song 'dazzling blue', he,s 70 and sounds the same as he did when i was a kid...Thank God for Paul Simon.
Graceland became a metaphor for spiritual renewal... Brilliant.
Boy in the Bubble has to be one of the best lyrics ever written.
"Staccato signals of constant information
A loose affiliation of millionaires
And billionaires and baby".
He kinda predicted the internet with that one
"lazers in the jungle!" agreeeeeed
I agree, however, instead of "constellations" he really should have said "galaxies." Constellations aren't real things, they're imaginary structures, they can't die. Galaxies, on the other hand ... A tiny, tiny nitpick.
@@Anthony-hu3rj Poetic licence, also the syllables and the sound of the word must have been a better fit for the lyrics. So "distant constellation" goes with the previous line 'constant information"
@@Anthony-hu3rj A constellation is just a grouping of stars. The etymology is literally 'stars together'. They exist as a pattern, as much as a galaxy does. And a constellation is not the same as a galaxy not the same thing. Both of which will die in time.
PS is up there. Wonderful songwriter. Very inspirational for myself. 🥃
What a cool story about how that song came about. I’m a long time fan of S&G
Always loved Paul Simon and the Graceland album.. "She said baby take me dancing, but they ended up sleeping in a doorway"
I have reason to believe that we will be well received. I’m going to Graceland, Graceland Memphis Tennessee! I’m going to Graceland!
Dyn Jarren have a fun time dyn
after years of listening to songs I enjoy, learning how to play my instrument, and developing my vocal style, I finally began to share my songs here last year. Glad I found this, it's all things I have known, but great to hear it from the mouth of a great songwriter. 🐰❤️🇺🇸🎸🎵🤝✌️
I really think that Paul Simon is, after Paul McCartney, the best composer of the 20th century...Nothing less...Of course in the category of pop songs. McCartney or Simon dit not write novels or write jazz music… But what a great talent these 2 have…
You're forgetting John Lennon and Bob Dylan, but good effort
Camilo Chaves ...Maybe Lennon second... but I prefer by very far Paul Simon than Dylan... not in numbers...but in quality...
@@PierreBeaudoin Those four are my favorite songwriters and I think no other rock or pop star even gets close to them. Having said that, I think both Lennon and Dylan are musically less talented but much better lyricists. They have intangibles that the Pauls don't have.They have more layers than the Pauls. Both Dylan and Lennon can be cynical, desperate, pathetic and weird. The Pauls are virtuosos but are unable to be as unhinged or produce as surrealist imagery as Lennon or Dylan .
Camilo Chaves ...yes I totally agree with you on that...Lyrics from Dylan and Lennon are more profound than Paul...These four are pure geniuses and we will sing their songs for a long time
@@PierreBeaudoin Totally agree my friend. Nice to talk to people with similar tastes. Cheers
Song writing comes from nothing,but being there at the right time with an ear to hear
No that's song stealing.
I bet a songwriter, will tell you that 1 in 50 songs comes like that. The rest come from sweat and toil.
I gotta try seriously writing an entire song just so i can say i tried
Same. Teyong to build up the motivation. Seen a cool saying the other day though to inspire me Even people who start projects and don't finish are cooler than people who never start any.
You just have to try over and over again, and every time it's get easier
Bro literally for the first one make it super simple and you could do it in a day. Pick a song you like with like 5 chords in it and move them, so maybe if its an A move it up to a B or down to a G and do the same with all the corresponding chords. Now pick a tempo that is different to the song you took the chords from, faster or slower depending how you feel. Now pick some of the chords (two/three?) to be the verse, some for the chorus (could be the ones from the verse but in a different order or with an extra chord added, for example). Now play the verse and whistle a melody over it, make it super simple. Write some super simple lyrics that can fit the melody you whistled nicely, and play the verse and sing the lyrics. Do the same with chorus. Now play the verse and into the chorus with the lyrics, do that twice. Thats a song, a very basic song, but a song.
Don't take it seriously. Set out to write a turd and then polish it into something you enjoy :)
@@secretchief700 thank u
It’s all about observation. It’s amazing what pops in your head as you look around and do stuff.
Music to my ears... 🎼🎶🎸
Want more of this kind of interview!!!!!
There are some more interviews on my channel, Sabrina.
3:37 Paul is so right, most of those girls never actually exist
They do just not as written.
yeah i wrote a song about a love letter to me that I found on the street.- never happened.
So cool! Thanks for sharing.
I don't see why anyone disliked this video it can only help
Garfunkel's seven burner accounts.
Hes so awsome....its true with songs n melody....sometimes they just pop ☝.....you dont know how or why....until your supposed to. Then its like......Woe.........ok then, whatever you say......Pauls music will live forever....just as Simon n Garfunkels.....yep
@@johndoe_1984 Thats deep.......do do do.....da da da da.....is this all you want to say to me??.....do do do.......da da da da??.........Dont think me unkind.....words are hard to find......But not for one our greatest Singer, Musician, Songwriters of modern times.......The Island Himself.....and an Island never cries......or dies......Paul forever
Brilliant!
I've written many songs where whatever nonsense words I use to temporarily shore up the vocal melody actually become the final lyrics. Nothing else works. Sometimes you can't fight it, they came from SOMEWHERE....
Sometimes the nonsense words are just a garbled initial transmission and eventually something more profound will reveal itself. Dylan advised that if you're stumped just forget structure, meter, etc. and write what you want to say in plain language. Eventually the right line will emerge.
So true! It's like breath, set, sing...
Thank you
Excellent.
I love my girl oh Donna where can you be... where can you be?
The times are a changing
It was simple Paul, Elvis sent you that message about going to "Graceland".
If we add duos...
Elton/ Taupin
Lennon/ Macca
Waters/ Gilmore
1:23 - Paul's first song he ever wrote sounds nice, although he talks about it in underestimating tone.
I’ve been reading a biography on him, and he says that’s how all the songs were back then. So in that medium, it was nothing and just blended with all the other sounds of that time. He struggled to make a hit because all his songs were just mirroring what had already been done. That’s part of what drove him to study English and more complex ideas and then prompted him to start writing more complex tunes like He Was My Brother, Sparrow, and Sound Of Silence.
@@salt_soop7773 I read somewhere that inspiration for The Sound of Silence came to Paul when noticing echo in his bathroom.
@@01real1 that’s true as well. His writing just took a turn when he took his English courses and literature classes in college and it became more sophisticated
Is it just me, or should Ben Platt play him in a biopic
An uncanny resemblance to Paul Simon.
Maybe ten people in the world could write songs as well as Paul Simon, no maybe five.
America's greatest living songwriter.
@@jrpipik Come on. Burt Bacharach. Bob Dylan.
@@NisseOhlsen Bacharach is only half a great songwriter, Hal David providing the words (and Bacharach never did much for me, anyway). And Dylan's output of great work -- as great as it was -- was pretty much over by 1980, whereas continued to write great songs his whole life, and of greater harmonic sophistication than Dylan, too.
@@jrpipik
Exhibit A (Bacharach didn't write the lyrics either, I believe. Now, are you going to call Franz Schubert half a song writer??: th-cam.com/video/lrcNnIV6FV8/w-d-xo.html
Exhibit B: (Pretty ordinary structure, but how about the marriage of chords, rhythm and words?): th-cam.com/video/L9EKqQWPjyo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for posting. Where did this interview originate? Is it part of a longer talk?
Oh Donna, Oh Donna...
I got no choice. If I stay here I'm gonna drown.
Where is the rest of the interview?
Would be nice to know from what year this interview is. 1975? 1990? 2010?
He sounds a bit older. I would bet it’s from the last 20 years
What's first the tune 🎸 or the ✍ writing
What is this interview from?
Hi. What is the title of the song he is singing at the start???
Earth Angel
0:30 you can clearly hear the influence it had on Kathy’s Song for example
Similar sounding to Jerry Garcia
It's from Heaven
It's funny that people go to school and learn theory, recording, songwriting but most of them can't write a great song. Most songwriters with no formal education can't just write a great song either. Some people just have that rare gift to put something together and make it sound a certain way that makes a great song. I can't put my finger on it but It involves craft, some imagination, based on something familiar to the ear to create something transcendant that endures. Most of the time Paul can't even do it but it certainly helps that he thinks in a melodic way and two of his notes can sound better than most songs written by others.
Very few people in this world can consistently write good songs. How many albums have you heard where every song is good?
Marc Grossman Harry Nilssons Aerial Ballet, and his debut album
Re: "Most of the time Paul can't even do it but it certainly helps that he thinks in a melodic way and two of his notes can sound better than most songs written by others." Which two? In any case, I think Art Garfunkel's assessment is on the mark. He says that Simon and Garfunkel were essentially record makers, and clearly Simon as a solo act continued to be essentially a record maker. A record maker is different from a songwriter. Just listen to what Simon says in this interview: it's all about cobbling together a record; it's not about writing a finished song and then recording it. Simon really fell down when he tried to make a musical. "Songs from the Capeman" was a disaster critically, commercially, and artistically. The essential problem is that when you write songs for a musical, you're writing songs for others to sing. That's what real songwriters do. It's not what Simon does. Simon makes records.
I really hope he gave some writing credit to the guys who came up with the music.
When you have professional players on your clock, whatever they contribute belongs to the project owner.
Ray Phiri was instrumental in the song Graceland being written, but does he get a writing credit? No.
Paul Simon has a long history of this, going back to the 1960's with songs he wrote with Bruce Woodley of the Seekers that he took all the credit for. I mean, here he is opening up on exactly how the song was inspired but he doesn't explain why he didn't give credit to the man who opened up the inspiration to continue the song. Many of the songs on the Graceland album came out of jams with the South African musicians, but Simon doesn't seem to be able to acknowledge the fact that the songs wouldn't have happened without their input. It infuriates me. He was already a multi-millionaire by the time of this album, how would a few royalty percentage points hurt him either way? Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are two others who did similar things, not allowing bandmates who came up with initial riffs (Jumpin' Jack Flash being one) to share in the songwriting royalties. That's why U2 have managed to stay together as an unchanged lineup for over 40 years -- Bono and the Edge have always included the other two as songwriters even if they didn't contribute to the songwriting. I'm not saying you should always do that, credit where credit is due, but there's a fair balance somewhere in the middle, and as much as I think that Paul SImon is a giant among songwriters he does kind of shit me.
Yeah, Simon is one of my favorites but he does seem like kind of a dick (the ripping off of songs, his petty jealousy of Garfunkel).
Sounds like Donna
Is it from Heaven
0:30 earf angl
Lori McKenna
Been writing for 6 yrs i still sound cheesy
Love his songs but his vanity leaks through his conversation...not that that matters😏
Good observation, I spent two years (on and off) working with Paul. He was one of my absolute favorite musicians, but I could see that 30 to 40 years of fame and always being pestered, affected him as a person. Paul would share intimate details with only his trusted friends but not many outside of his circle. He was acutely aware of who was who and really despised the fame crap.
Noddy
Hahaha who doesn't exist