Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

September 7, 2003 6:49 PM

They've booked arenas, and have an announcement scheduled for Tuesday. Simon and Garfunkel, together for their first tour since '93 (if they don't get into an argument first). I'd suggest those interested get a ticket for one of the early shows, just to be safe...
posted by ehintz (28 comments total)

Given their post-S&G career arcs, does Artie even think that their relationship is 50/50?

I mean, Paul has most of the solo hits, wrote most of the S&G songs, and is more recognizable to today's audience. Art - well, he's the one who sings like a girl.

(OK, he did walk across the country. Props to that. But really.)
posted by PrinceValium at 7:01 PM on September 7, 2003

Hey, you ain't gots the flow unless you hangin with the white 'fro.
posted by Stan Chin at 7:04 PM on September 7, 2003

It says a lot that Art Garfunkel wrote only one song off his first solo album after the breakup, and Paul Simon wrote every song on his own.
posted by waxpancake at 7:18 PM on September 7, 2003

Is writing the songs one sings very very important?
posted by JanetLand at 7:22 PM on September 7, 2003

Paul is 99% of the talent of the duo, but over 170% of the ego. I'm a fan, but I doubt I'll be buying tickets if the prices are anything like the Paul Simon/Bob Dylan tour from a few years back. Apparently since the majority of the fans are wealthy retirees, they set avg ticket prices more in the "Barbara Streisand" range then in the reasonable touring act range. People seem to think they're a night at the damn opera or something.

And JanetLand, yes.
posted by jonson at 7:53 PM on September 7, 2003

Good for them and for us. I will always love the sound of those two voices together.

And PV, it's easier to walk across the country if you get picked up each evening and choppered back to the hotel in time for cocktails, and then get dropped off again in the morning where you left off, which is how Artie did this.
posted by luser at 7:54 PM on September 7, 2003

Well, if they do get in a fight, they could always just get Justin Guarini to fill in for Artie.
posted by spilon at 7:55 PM on September 7, 2003

Really Jonson? So all those people who sing, say, opera, aren't really any good because they don't write it?

Okay, I'm being snarky, sorry I'll stop. I'm just interested in the concept that singing talent, of which Garfunkel has oodles, isn't enough, that writing is required to get any respect. This seems to be a strictly pop music thing.
posted by JanetLand at 8:03 PM on September 7, 2003

Johnson, I disagree - I think that writing the words that one is singing might be somewhat important (depending on the artist) -- and Art can certainly do that (see his poems , for example), but being able to write a song, not so much.

Besides, would you deny that Pavarotti or Billie Holiday the title of "great" or "important" artist simply because they don't write the songs they sing?

Here's a very complete Simon & Garfunkel FAQ if anyone is interested
posted by anastasiav at 8:04 PM on September 7, 2003

Barbra doesn't write her material either, big deal, it's a different skill. However, having a lot of two different skills (songwriting, performing) seems to be a little more overall than just a lot of one. However, since one most likely has enough time, one can listen to both of their solo oevres and their group material and enjoy it all.
posted by billsaysthis at 8:17 PM on September 7, 2003

Elton John usually writes the music to his own songs, does he not? But I'm only querying that to be factual. I totally agree that someone who has a great voice and can do a terrific interpretation of a song shouldn't get written off as talentless.

Let us not forget how often we get writers who can't sing trying to sing their own work, or people who can sing but not write inflicting horrible tripe on us. Maybe if we showed more respect for other people's limitations they would respect their own.
posted by orange swan at 8:20 PM on September 7, 2003

Wow. This is almost as pathetic as the Sex Pistols tour.

While my personal experience with Mr. Simon indicates he is a stumpy dickhead, he *has* written some great songs.

(Until, that is, his well ran dry and he had to pillage foreign cultures for, um, "inspiration." )

Oh, well, Boomers must cling to their memories, be they of Rhymin' Simon or John "I invented punk rock" Lydon
posted by Ayn Marx at 8:20 PM on September 7, 2003

Well, Elton wrote the music, XQUZYPHYR, and often altered the lyrics significantly, although to be fair. The quality of his work with Bernie Taupin is far superior to what he did later without him.

As far as Garfunkel goes, he's an excellent harmony singer but Paul Simon was the brains behind the duo, no question. I saw Paul solo in Central Park back in `91 and he was phenomenal. He did tons of the old S&G hits and they still sounded great. While it'll be nice to see him with Art again, Paul will definitely do fine without him.
posted by jonmc at 8:22 PM on September 7, 2003

Yeah, but who else could sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" like that? Plus, in my entirely objective opinion, the world needs more rock stars named Art.

This is gonna wreak some serious havoc with Messina, Oates, Garfunkel and Lisa's tour schedule, though.
posted by arto at 8:50 PM on September 7, 2003

This is gonna wreak some serious havoc with Messina, Oates, Garfunkel and Lisa's tour schedule, though.

You're going to that show, too? Dude, I'm totally stoked to see Ridgely open up for them!
posted by mkultra at 9:12 PM on September 7, 2003

luser, point taken, but I guess the desire to do it is half of the battle.

Holy crap: his hair is hereditary.

I kid because I love. I am also not a fan of PS's solo renditions of Bridge Over Troubled Water.
posted by PrinceValium at 9:13 PM on September 7, 2003

I'm with Janetland on this one. But that's not all too surprising considered I majored in Opera, and can't write a tune to save my life. Well, I probably could write stuff that's better than the boy bands, but I'd be embarrassed to let anyone other than the wife hear it. Really though, I do think pop music has way to much of a fixation on the singer/songwriter thing. And there's actually a solid amount of stuff that the talent gets credit for that was really penned by grad students in music theory.

Consistent with this viewpoint, I don't much care for the stuff Simon has done in latter years. His best work had Garfie helping showcase it. Simon may write great stuff, but it never hurts to have a more gifted performer doing the presentation.
posted by ehintz at 10:44 PM on September 7, 2003

At least I eventually learned Paul wasn't the reason that Edie Brickell and New Bohemians broke up. Speaking of which, new album.
posted by dhartung at 10:45 PM on September 7, 2003

Is writing the songs one sings very very important?

Barry Manilow seems to think so.
posted by bwg at 11:17 PM on September 7, 2003

Hey, lighten up, people! Simson L. Garfinkel is one of my favorite tech writers!
posted by wendell at 11:21 PM on September 7, 2003

Is writing the songs one sings very very important?

Barry Manilow seems to think so.

Heehee! Too bad he didn't write that one.
posted by JanetLand at 5:41 AM on September 8, 2003

Paul Simon's "Rhythm of the Saints" is one of my favorite albums. While I would like nothing better than to find some authentic Brasilian music that it was "pillaged" from that would completely kick it's ass, I have been unsuccessfull in my (meager) attempts to do so.
posted by straight at 8:46 AM on September 8, 2003

Does anyone care about the personalities of the people they go to the concerts of? There are two types of Nine Inch Nails fans. Those who would gladly carry Trent's baby (female or otherwise), and those who think he's sort of a dork [raises hand]. All that aside, I'd give more than my life's worth to see Paul and Artie together. I personally agree with the statement that Mr. Simon was 99% of the talent, but can't I also agree with the fact that Mr. Garfunkel is also qualified to sing songs he doesn't write? By the way, isn't there anyone who actually LIKES Art's music? I personally think that "A Heart in New York" (or at least the version from the Concert in Central Park - recorded the day of my birth, 1981) is fantastic, though I admit to being more than hesitant to listen to his other solo work. And, straight, I sense a bit of irony in your statement, what with the use of quotes. So I'm going to agree with you that "pillaging", at least in musical terms, does not necessarily mean that it's inferior. Where would Rock-N-Roll be without Jazz? I personally feel that "Rhythm" is definitely unique, and excellent to boot.

Britney Spears writes her own music doesn't she?...

Hm... I've written more than I intended.
posted by hoborg at 12:44 PM on September 8, 2003

Well Simon may be a stumpy dickhead in person. . I would not know. . .but I take issue with the 'pillaging' accusations that have been raised about his using source material that is not from this country. While his recordings with African and Brazilian artists cannot really be called true collaborations, they DID bring the music of these people to a wider audience, hence bettering these artists, and the wider listening public.

From what I have heard. .it was a strange way to work, and the Africans and Brazilians may have had no say in the final products. .but I also feel that it did not hurt anyone and can't really be called exploitative. Just good music, on the whole.
posted by Danf at 2:23 PM on September 8, 2003

From what I have heard. .it was a strange way to work, and the Africans and Brazilians may have had no say in the final products. .but I also feel that it did not hurt anyone and can't really be called exploitative. Just good music, on the whole.

Well, please note that I dd not say anyone was exploited, or that Simon's shameless copying did not have the accidental side-effect of bettering people.

And, for straight: Have you checked out the Luka Bop label?

I'm not that familiar with Brazilian music, but I've listened to lots of mbaqanga and Simon's version doesn't cut it. They sound like mediocre songs dressed up in some alien apparel to hide their lack of depth.
posted by Ayn Marx at 6:35 PM on September 8, 2003

The tour is on. They're live on WFUV right now.
posted by Songdog at 9:33 AM on September 9, 2003

Does anyone have the shedule for the Simon and Garfunkel tour? Are they coming to the Pacific Northwest?
posted by jdroth at 10:46 PM on September 9, 2003

There's an official site, but no tour dates yet. They did say they were starting in Michigan, and that some tickets would be going on sale Monday.
posted by Songdog at 5:40 AM on September 10, 2003