The video notwithstanding, I think of this song as coming from the perspective of a sheltered American lost in another culture. Believe me, when I moved to a large African city some time ago, this song became my favorite, since I identified so much with it. I especially like the last verse where the man finally sees the good in things, and realizes he doesn't have to be in his familiar surroundings to be comfortable. I so identify with that moment.
I realize I may be reading way too much into this, but at that point in my life the song meant so much to me. BTW it was recorded in South Africa, not a thousand miles from where I was living.
I also love the four measure bass solo towards the end of the song. It is so smooth and rhythmic it must have been played by an African. Listen to authentic African music for a while and you'll understand what I mean.
The Graceland album, along with Paul's follow-up project called The Rhythm of the Saints (recorded in South America), are quite refreshing to one with a wide cultural world view. Everything here is so damned Americanized, and we almost force our culture and language upon visitors and immigrants. As Paul Simon realized, there is so much to be enjoyed by indulging in the language, music, and culture of others.
@madawab wikipedia disagrees about the recording location: "You Can Call Me Al" was recorded entirely at The Hit Factory in New York City in April 1986. Anybody have the liner notes to see what that says?
@madawab wikipedia disagrees about the recording location: "You Can Call Me Al" was recorded entirely at The Hit Factory in New York City in April 1986. Anybody have the liner notes to see what that says?
Also, the bass solo was indeed played by a South African, Bakithi Kumalo. Fun fact, he only played the first half; the second is simply the first half in reverse.
Also, the bass solo was indeed played by a South African, Bakithi Kumalo. Fun fact, he only played the first half; the second is simply the first half in reverse.
@madawab I watched a recent video where Paul Simon said that his first band in junior high school was called, Alvin and the Chipmunks. His classmates called him Al after that and Paul didn't mind and told them it's okay. That's the same time he met Art and they formed Tom & Jerry as a play on the same theme. The other elements of the song refer to his years spent drinking alcohol and drugs and sex, as a sort of playful metaphor of terms.
@madawab I watched a recent video where Paul Simon said that his first band in junior high school was called, Alvin and the Chipmunks. His classmates called him Al after that and Paul didn't mind and told them it's okay. That's the same time he met Art and they formed Tom & Jerry as a play on the same theme. The other elements of the song refer to his years spent drinking alcohol and drugs and sex, as a sort of playful metaphor of terms.
The video notwithstanding, I think of this song as coming from the perspective of a sheltered American lost in another culture. Believe me, when I moved to a large African city some time ago, this song became my favorite, since I identified so much with it. I especially like the last verse where the man finally sees the good in things, and realizes he doesn't have to be in his familiar surroundings to be comfortable. I so identify with that moment.
I realize I may be reading way too much into this, but at that point in my life the song meant so much to me. BTW it was recorded in South Africa, not a thousand miles from where I was living.
I also love the four measure bass solo towards the end of the song. It is so smooth and rhythmic it must have been played by an African. Listen to authentic African music for a while and you'll understand what I mean.
The Graceland album, along with Paul's follow-up project called The Rhythm of the Saints (recorded in South America), are quite refreshing to one with a wide cultural world view. Everything here is so damned Americanized, and we almost force our culture and language upon visitors and immigrants. As Paul Simon realized, there is so much to be enjoyed by indulging in the language, music, and culture of others.
Garare //uba /i !omse.
@madawab wikipedia disagrees about the recording location: "You Can Call Me Al" was recorded entirely at The Hit Factory in New York City in April 1986. Anybody have the liner notes to see what that says?
@madawab wikipedia disagrees about the recording location: "You Can Call Me Al" was recorded entirely at The Hit Factory in New York City in April 1986. Anybody have the liner notes to see what that says?
Also, the bass solo was indeed played by a South African, Bakithi Kumalo. Fun fact, he only played the first half; the second is simply the first half in reverse.
Also, the bass solo was indeed played by a South African, Bakithi Kumalo. Fun fact, he only played the first half; the second is simply the first half in reverse.
@madawab I watched a recent video where Paul Simon said that his first band in junior high school was called, Alvin and the Chipmunks. His classmates called him Al after that and Paul didn't mind and told them it's okay. That's the same time he met Art and they formed Tom & Jerry as a play on the same theme. The other elements of the song refer to his years spent drinking alcohol and drugs and sex, as a sort of playful metaphor of terms.
@madawab I watched a recent video where Paul Simon said that his first band in junior high school was called, Alvin and the Chipmunks. His classmates called him Al after that and Paul didn't mind and told them it's okay. That's the same time he met Art and they formed Tom & Jerry as a play on the same theme. The other elements of the song refer to his years spent drinking alcohol and drugs and sex, as a sort of playful metaphor of terms.