After the unprecedented success of Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon proved as a solo artist to be one of the most innovative, intellectual and curious songwriters of the twentieth century. Armed with razor-sharp poetic lyrics and an insatiable urge to fuse Western pop with South African mbaqanga, Brazilian percussion and gospel, the New Yorker created a body of work of unprecedented artistic height. Vote for your favorite Paul Simon song.
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You Can Call Me Al
His biggest worldwide pop monument. The blazing horn riff, that legendary bass run and Simon's witty existential lyrics about a midlife crisis abroad, combined with the hilarious video starring Chevy Chase, make this an indestructible classic.
Graceland
The enchanting title track of his groundbreaking album. Floating on Bakithi Kumalo's supple fretless bassline, Simon sings about a spiritual pilgrimage to Elvis' estate after the collapse of his marriage; a literary masterpiece of comfort and reconciliation.
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50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
Immortalized by Steve Gadd's iconic, military-precise drum pattern. Simon combines a melancholy ballad about relationship doubts with a bone-dry, rhyming chorus full of practical escape routes ('Just slip out the back, Jack').
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Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
An irresistibly swinging pop song full of mysterious street humor. Driven by a catchy cuÃca percussion sound and virtuoso acoustic guitar playing, Simon sings about an unspecified prank in the schoolyard.
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The Obvious Child
The masterful opener of The Rhythm of the Saints, driven by the thundering percussion of the Brazilian drum group Olodum. A layered reflection on the relentless passage of time.
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Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Opened by the breathtaking a cappella harmonies of South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the song then turns into a festive, danceable mbaqanga groove about a rich woman and a poor boy.
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Late in the Evening
An explosion of Latin jazz and salsa energy driven by virtuoso horns and Steve Gadd's masterful drumming. Simon tells vivid memories of his musical coming of age as a teenager in New York.
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Kodachrome
A cheerful, sparkling ode to nostalgia and the power of memories, named after Kodak's famous color film. The rousing piano and Simon's humorous opening line make this a crowd favorite.
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Slip Slidin' Away
A fragile, philosophical folk ballad about the elusiveness of happiness and how dreams can slip through our fingers. Supported by acoustic strings and the warm gospel harmonies of The Oak Ridge Boys.
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Mother and Child Reunion
One of the first American pop hits to embrace authentic Jamaican reggae, recorded in Kingston. Despite the melancholy title, the song swings with a relaxed, sunny groove.
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