Tuesday 14 April 2009

Elevator music for freedom

I won't be joining the thronging hordes queuing up to see Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel playing their particular brand of elevator music at Vector Arena, but if you enjoy shopping music like theirs then you're bound to enjoy this update of one of their wee tunes: Here's to You, Mr Jefferson.

6 comments:

Canterbury Atheists said...

More evidence that there is no God, or he’s got no taste in music.

I mean the cruel bastard let’s both Simon and Garfunkel live and continues to torture human-kind, yet kills-off Frank Zappa, Ian Curtis, 3 of the 4 Ramones, 2 of the 3 talented Beatles, Jimi Hendrix etc.

Gotta go.

Paul.

ZenTiger said...

Philistines!

PhilBest said...

In fairness to Paul Simon: his career did not end with "Simon and Garfunkel". But as usual with such people, the sad result of his eventual artistic maturity was work of musical substance that didn't sell, was over the heads of his original fan base, and that has not been discovered by those people who might appreciate it, either. His desire to mature artistically was also a major cause of the split with Garfunkel.

In my opinion, some of the songs from the album "Hearts and Bones" and the box-office bomb movie "One-Trick Pony" just beg to become classics of the jazz and art singer "cover" genre. I would love to hear a voice and piano arrangement of "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War" slipped into an art song recital as an encore, and see what the audience made of it.

I speak as an afficionado of serious music with particular expertise in both Jazz and Art Song, by the way. I appreciate P.C's regular art music tips.

PhilBest said...

Sorry, just like to add, the song "Jonah" begs to be done by George Benson.

And no way would I be seen dead at the Simon and Garfunkel reunion concert.

Frank Sinatra, along with arranger Don Costa, did a "real music" big band version of "Mrs Robinson" back in 1969. Hilarious alterations of lyrics included:

"The P.T.A., Mrs Robinson....
Won't O.K. the way you do your thing.....
Ding, ding, ding......"

Peter Cresswell said...

I must confess, Phil [looks around to see we're alone], I still like 'Graceland.'

But that's where I draw the line.

Falafulu Fisi said...

Graceland is awesome, especially with the involvement of the Black Mambazo group.