| Classic Albums - Paul Simon - Graceland | User Reviews Send this to a friend | | Classic Albums - Paul Simon - Graceland | | |  | | Manufacturer: Eagle Rock Ent | | Customer Rating: | | | List Price: $11.98 | | Sale Price: $5.49 | | Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours |  Free Shipping Available | | Buy Now |
| | | Product Description | | Paul Simon's 1986 album GRACELAND is a landmark record. Recorded in New York and South Africa, the album sold 14 million copies and was named the Album of the Year at the 1986 Grammy Awards. GRACELAND brought the sound of South African music to audiences around the world. Track Listing:
1. Boy In The Bubble
2. I Know What I Know
3. Graceland
4. Homeless
5. Crazy Love Vol. II
6. Under African Skies
7. You Can Call Me Al
8. Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes | Product Details |  No details are available for this product | Video Reviews |  No video reviews found for this product. | Customer Reviews |  A great journey! | | Review Date: April 4, 2007 | | Reviewer: Olivier Garnier, Chicago, IL, USA | I really loved this dvd. There is some information for everybody, beginners as well as advanced. There is also a nice presence from Paul himself who does not hestitate to retrace the painful and private premices of this album. I was not necessarily a huge fan of his music and knew absolutely nothing of his personnal life and of his method in composing. This dvd, without being too personnal, made me discover the craftmanship of the composer and the depth of the man.
I also enjoyed the discovery of the South-African music, their traditions and influence as described by some of the musician of that country. The many footages of the countryside were a pleasure, which worked perfectly with "Graceland" songs.
The anecdotes are meaningful, witty, funny, deep, depending on the situation. None of them self-indulgent or egotistical. This DVD is a truly great journey with one of the most influential folk composer's. I would rank this DVD up there with "The Clash, West way to the world" and
"U2, the making of the Joshua tree". |
mossds1 | | Review Date: August 12, 2006 | | Reviewer: D. Moss, HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY United States | | This DVD shows the incredible talent and focus of Paul Simon as well as his great concern for those in unimaginal plight. Many believed his trip to Africa was inappropriate when he made the album but the film shows just the opposite. What an example of how powerful it is when peoples of this world work together in both cultural and musical harmony! |
a great insight | | Review Date: June 30, 2008 | | Reviewer: David Hare, Winchester, UK | | Which song does Paul Simon consider his best work? Which line would he rewrite if he could? Where does he stand in this album's role in the effort against apartheid. And what was behind that great bass break in "You Can Call Me Al". Buy this DVD to find out... |
Fascinating look behind an incredible album | | Review Date: November 4, 2008 | | Reviewer: M. Griffiths, Australia | Put simply tis documentary is a fascinating informative look behind the creation of one of the greatest albums of the 1980s.
Paul Simon and the african musicians break down many of the songs - chord by chord, lyric by lyric and reveal the very personal journey this album was for all.
A great balance of interviews, clips of live performances and of some of the music videos. If you are a fan of music then you will not be disappointed. |
A very informative DVD | | Review Date: March 8, 2005 | | Reviewer: George Dionne, Cape Cod, MA | The Good
A live performance for "Boy in the Bubble" in combined with the music video. Simon talks about how he was influenced by South African music as the tribal drums and accordion are accented. The video looks primitive by today's high tech standards. The song was a big hit at the time but I think you'll remember it by it repeated chorus: These are they days of miracle and wonder. The producer of Graceland said that the label Warner Brothers, had never heard anything like what Paul was doing. They show the studio recording footage set to the track "I Know What I Know". Everyone seems to be having a really good time, from the back-up singers to the drummer. We learn that most of the song writing was done in that very studio, not before hand. Paul discusses that the album's title track "Graceland" was tough to set to music. The twangy southern guitar sounds compliment it well during his Saturday Night Live performance. The video for "Homeless" was banned in South Africa although it only highlights South African's daily life and culture at the time. This was a time of apartied, so that was a major factor. The song makes a powerful point-gently, as Paul Simon puts it.
During the discussion of "Crazy Love Vol. II" Simon speaks of how he was criticized both South Africa and the U.S. for trying to raise awareness about the area. Simon clears up that's not why he went there. He fell in love with their music and wanted to play with their musicians, and let their musicians tell their stories. Another Saturday Night Live performance is highlighted when Paul duets with Linda Ronstat on "Under African Skies". The duo lay down some great vocal harmonies together. The song that everyone is familiar with is obviously "You Can Call Me All". Who can forget that penny whistle riff and funky bass line. There's so much more that you learn about the song here. Did you know that the base line is made up of a lick that is played forward then backward? Paul isolates the track in the studio to demonstrate. We also learn that the first video for the song sucked. SNL producer Lorn Michael's actually pitched the idea of Simon doing the video with Chevy Chase. The video was light and funny, but Simon thought it under-cut the deep meaning of the song, which is really about him.
The Bad
Nothing
The Verdict
A very informative DVD; I have a whole new appreciation for Paul Simon's Graceland after watching it. I'm actually going out to get the album now.
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