Paul Simon, Graceland

[Norman Verona]

Did anyone watch Arena last night. Great programme and good representation of the protests at the time.

I can agree with Simon that an artists work should not be ruled or sanctioned by governments. He goes on to say that he felt if he asked ANC permission he should ask the SA government.

However, did the African musicians get royalty payments or a flat fee. 25 years on they all seemed happy so it may not be the right question to ask. The record sleeve says all copyright is Paul Simons but individual songs credit various SA musicians with joint authorship.

So, what do you think. Was he right to break the UN cultural embargo by going to SA but performing with and to black artists and audiences?

Did his actions widen the knowledge of apartheid and help the regime to collapse?

[Cleggy the Spyder Man]

best not get involved with topics where you cannot answer either "what does it rev too" or "hit it with a hammer" oh and how long will it be before it morphs into criticism of the police or westfield parts department

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

best not get involved with topics where you cannot answer either "what does it rev too" or "hit it with a hammer" oh and how long will it be before it morphs into criticism of the police or westfield parts department

Painfully accurate :laugh:

[GuitarmanUK]

I can't comment on the poitical side as I don't have enough knowledge of it. What I would say it that music should have no cultural boundaries. Good music is good music no matter what language it is sung in or who it is played by. I saw a clip on YouTube of an African singer. He had a beautiful voice and the guitar playing was wonderful. I have no idea what he was singing about but I could have listened to it all day. The Graceland album was ground breaking at the time and I am sure it opened up a lot of colaborations that otherwise would not have happened.

[Captain Colonial]

Quick story - for two years in the 60's, Paul Simon shared a London flat with Al Stewart of "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages" fame. Al tells a story about how Paul used to drive him crazy whenever he was composing a song in the flat - Paul would be trying out lyrics, such as:

♪ I'm sittin' in the railway station ♪

♪ Got a ticket for my......

Al: "OH, FOR GOD'S SAKE, PAUL! DESTINATION! IT'S DESTINATION, ALL RIGHT? CAN'T YOU FINISH A RUDDY SONG!?!?"

It would drive you mad though, wouldn't it?