I've begun the slow process of importing all my favorite songs from my CD collection into my iTunes. It's a nice review of what I own and why... it makes me think a little.
At the moment, I am importing the entire collected works of Simon and Garfunkel. Maybe this makes you think of the over-played 70's easy-listening standards "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Mrs. Robinson", but their works include so much more.
From the soft, simple harmonies of Bleeker Street and Peggy-O to the personal stories in Kathy's Song, America and Leaves That Are Green to the religious themes in The Sun Is Burning and Blessed, there's so much to hear. There's the unmistakable social/political commentary of songs like The Sound Of Silence, A Most Peculiar Man, I Am A Rock, Save The Life Of My Child, At The Zoo, A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into Submission) and The 7 O'Clock News/SIlent Night. There are the sensitive gestures of Voices Of Old People and Old Friends. Finally, though, there are my favorites: Cloudy, Patterns, April Come She Will, For Emily Whenever I May Find Her, Bookends Theme, Punky's Dilemma, Cecilia, So Long Frank Lloyd Wright, and The Only Living Boy In New York.
It was an impressive though short stretch they had together, and of course we all know that I think Paul Simon is the most brilliant lyricist EVER in the history of music. That man has a way with words that I love and they stick with me, narrating my life from time to time. Listening to this 3 disc set is like a long rainy-day visit to a favorite New York museum filled with their music. I wander from room to room, close my eyes occasionally, and enjoy the beauty of the fine art... and paul.
4 comments:
My parents bought our first nice stereo and CD player about the time I was entering my teenage years. I remember that we only had two CDs for a long time. One was Barry Manilow, for my mom and the other was Simon and Garfunkel for my dad. My sister Melissa and I would lay on our hardwood floor at night with the lights off and listen to the S&G CD turned up as high as we dared. We would sing along and feel the floor shake. So I have a fondness for them as well.
You mean you didn't do that with Barry?? S&G's music is one of the things that got me through the high school years as well.
Maren, you're a poet.
S&G would be proud.
Unfortunately Michelle did not appreciate the finer points of Barry Manilow until rooming with me and going to his concert at the Delta Center circa '94. I feel deep shame at not knowing all these songs but deep satisfaction you will give me all of them. And, hello, I was just thinking about our Florida vacation and wishing it was annual and then you put this background up on the bloggerooty, I could absolutely DIE! And YOU'RE the one killing me.
Post a Comment