Friday, February 3, 2012

You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

  [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev0wfe6zzi0]


This is from the same concert that the previous blog entry was taken. It's a great song that really reminds me of the eighties, like it couldn't have fit in any other decade. It totally could have, but that's how I hear it. One of the most memorable moments of the song is the bass solo that happens at the 3:36 mark in the video above. On the original recording, the first half of the solo was recorded by bassist Bakithi Kumalo; the second half of the solo is the recording of the first half played backward. Also, this may be the only notable performance of a penny whistle solo in popular music.


I like this song, but the video is where I made the biggest connection. I think Simon probably has a really great sense of humor, and I respect that a lot. If the video below with Chevy Chase doesn't prove it, the blue jacket he's wearing above should. The video was a huge success as well. The original video was just a performance of the song from Simon's hosting gig of Saturday Night Live, which the singer didn't care for. Lorne Michaels, creator of SNL, came up with the concept for the video you see below, and Simon loved it.


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-gYOrU8bA]

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