Simon & Garfunkel Rock Adelaide
Last Tuesday evening, I had a magnificent experience at the Simon and Garfunkel concert. It was a musical journey, and I visited my childhood along the way. At various stages, I visualised myself in our old lounge room… lying down on our purple and blue carpet, running my fingers across the plastic pockets inside my mum’s vinyl record covers.
At the concert, one of the things that stood out for me was how most of the songs appeared to be slowed down; it was like they were dwelling on the notes cause they knew we wanted to savour their music. Oh, rightly so. I love music with layers and richness… this was them all over.
Kathy’s Song starts and I am off with the fairies in a very good way. And when they did Bridge Over Troubled Water, I was so moved. I know the Eva and Elvis versions back to front. It’s just really special to me that I got to hear these beautiful songs live by the ‘original guys’ and the best bit (and probably odd) was that I felt like I could still hear Eva and Elvis singing them while Simon and Garfunkel were. (Nothing worse than hearing an original song after you are used to a cover version, and you prefer the cover version still!)
I’d like to add that when Paul Simon sang Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, I could feel the African heat on the stage. It was more than a song. It was a multi-dimensional musical story… actually, each song was like that… they really took you there.
I also thought they were such humble guys, personable, happy to talk to the crowd, and performing like they have never fallen out of love with their tracks. Happy Jen! Happy me! I feel emancipation coming from somewhere. Their music is freedom.
My one criticism — they didn’t sing Wake Up Little Susie. Hehe. I know that it’s not their song (apparently they are huge Everly Brothers fans) but I must’ve played their recording of it a zillion times as a child.
I’ve been to a lot of concerts over the years, and this one has to be right up there with the best. I was just so grateful to be a part of their audience, and to see their brilliance on the stage.
It just doesn’t compare to the music of today. This makes me sad.
Sadly, my mum couldn’t be there due to health reasons. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have known their music the way that I did. I thought of her right through the concert. However, I have my generous little sister to thank for this wonderful night. We are nine years apart, and she has great taste in music, and really appreciates the old gear. I am so glad.
So, I’ve been playing their tracks non-stop this week. My son seems to particularly like ‘I Am A Rock’, especially the ‘I am an iiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssslllllllllaaaaaaaannnnnd’ part…
