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The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
His path was marked by the stars in the southern hemisphere
And he walked his days under African skies
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the veins
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain
In early memory, mission music was ringing around my nursery door
I said, "Take this child, Lord, from Tucson, Arizona
Give her the wings to fly from harm
And she won't bother you no more"
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the veins
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm and the roots of rhythm remain
A-oom-ba-oom-ba-oom-ba-Oooooooooooooh
A-oom-ba-oom-ba-oom-ba-Oooooooooooooh
A-oom-ba-oom-ba-oom-ba-Oooooooooooooh
A-oom-ba-oom-ba-oom-ba-Oooooooooooooh
Joseph's face was as black as the night
And the pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
His path was marked by the stars in the southern hemisphere
And he walked the length of his days under African skies
I guess badgerbunny doesn't want any artist stepping out of his own "neighborhood." Clapton et al can't play blues. Joe Pass can't play Jazz. White people can't sing spirituals. What a really narrow view that is!
ultimately, this album would be like having a south african artist come to the U.S. and enjoy our 'quaint' music. then head home, make an album with mixtures of frank sinatra or any other form of music from the 50s, and market it as 'current US culture'. my friends from south africa smile when they hear this then roll their eyes. this is not current south african culture. in fact they have told me that its release caused south african musical culture to go back 40 years and revisit this form without fullying evolving and creating its modern forms. not only did paul make a load of money off of this but he helped infantalize a culture and turn it into a cultural keepsake for outsiders. since we have this album we no longer feel responsible to further understand the complexities of a culture, paul did it all for us. sorry for the ramblings. a liberal arts degree has to be good for something.
Apparently, it's not.
Yes, that is Linda singing harmony. In fact, the second verse is about Linda Ronstadt.
Ah Linda. May the gods look down on that lovely lady.
who be singing harmony
i hear linda ronstadt
Yes, that is Linda singing harmony. In fact, the second verse is about Linda Ronstadt.
i hear linda ronstadt
" ... the album was written in an apartheid state during an international boycott ..."
Does that make the effort a puppet to apartheid? Or does that make it a statement of rebellion AGAINST apartheid?
This album, thanks to Mr Simon, publicized African music and apartheid to many of us across the planet. In either case, our 21st-century short attention spans have already removed politics from this album.
Very well stated!
An umlaut, umlaut, umlaut Ohohhhhhh.
Yay, ö, ä, ü!
I love this record, but there's some problematic politics in there. Simon even says so in the "Under African Skies" documentary. "
" ... the album was written in an apartheid state during an international boycott ..."
Does that make the musical effort a puppet to apartheid? Or does that make it a statement of rebellion AGAINST apartheid?
This album, thanks to Mr Simon, publicized African music and apartheid to many of us across the planet. In either case, our 21st-century short attention spans have already removed politics from this album.
how do you take "politics out of music" when the album was written in an apartheid state during an international boycott? "Boy in the Bubble" is literally about a terrorist attack.
I love this record, but there's some problematic politics in there. Simon even says so in the "Under African Skies" documentary.
Linda Ronstadt's vocals on this are so superb. One of my favourite all-time songs.
I do love her clean incisive voice on this. And it makes me wonder about how Artie would've sounded doing this. Different, but I bet Paul had it in his brain for at least an instant.
Linda Ronstadt's vocals on this are so superb. One of my favourite all-time songs.
a great CD to drive and sing along with...alone and loud - a joyful experience
I hear Johnny Clegg in my head every time Graceland is played. Clegg is more pop, but for me he comes closer to the real thing.
The real thing being...some archetypal South African music? I don't mean to be snarky. Johnny Clegg is on my short list of artists who I wish got more playing time here at RP. I've loved him ever since I heard Scatterlings of Africa on my scratchy AM radio as a kid and promptly added it to the very first mix tape I was making, marveling all the while just what was this.
We're not interested in your medical issues.
Perhaps you should talk to your doctor?
From Wikipedia: Bakithi Kumalo (/bɑːˈɡiːˈtiː kuːˈmɑːloʊ/; born May 10, 1956) is a South African bassist, composer, and vocalist. Kumalo is most known for his fretless bass playing on Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland, in particular the bass run on "You Can Call Me Al".
From unclehud: You're so right; Mr. Kumalo is seriously kicking it! (Hey, Mr Staten Island, how's the new Goethals Bridge? I did a little design work on that beautiful thing.)
Please return your negativity to Facebook.
Worse than Dylan? (No)
Doesn't. Dummy.
He's certainly one of the very top few.
I love that Paul Simon introduced me to Ladysmith Black Mambosa. A whole different genre of music for me. If what he did with this album was to enlarge our knowledge of beautiful music outside of our traditional American experience, then he did a lot.
Simon solo = Good
Simon and Ronstadt = Trascendent
I agree, timeless and brilliant!
A-oom-ba-oom-ba-oom-ba-Ooo
oHH free of your lies.
I said, "Take this child, Lord, from Tucson, Arizona
Give her the wings to fly from harm
And she won't bother you no more"
I hear Johnny Clegg in my head every time Graceland is played. Clegg is more pop, but for me he comes closer to the real thing.
I have to agree. It's an incredible album.
Great tune from an amazing album. Such a voice from Linda.
Graceland really opened a music door for me.
Toedilly...
Simon solo = Good
Everybody in my churches loves this song... and this whole album...
Montysano wrote:
I agree... love this whole album...
I concur, most brilliant album, and wish I could have seen the reunion
Great tune from an amazing album. Such a voice from Linda.
Graceland really opened a music door for me.
Just Brilliant !!
That album is as good today as it was the first time I heard it. Timeless.
Overused and consequently of little import; lacking originality or freshness
Surely you jest? Overused?
Joseph's face was black as night
The pale yellow moon shone in his eyes
His path was marked
By the stars in the southern hemisphere
And he walked his days
Under african skies
This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain
..... like these are images in every other song
Cachatons wrote:
sure it wasn't the shorts?
This calls for clarification!
https://lp-covers.blogspot.com/2007/07/linda-ronstadt-living-in-usa.html
I don't see much of any shorts in that second picture.
(I can't quite bring myself to call it "the back cover")
Not quite sure how you can hate this song. Not like it, of course. Prefer to listen to something else, OK. But hate it?
This is news to me. Care to elaborate?
Ditto. Same with Rhythm of the Saints. I somehow feel PS is actually underrated as an extraordinary musician/songwriter of the last 4 decades
Yeah, but you like Pink Floyd, so.
This guy really knows the formula for success.