Paul Simon: A Music Icon Reflects on His Career and Collaborations

TLDRPaul Simon, renowned singer-songwriter, discusses his career and recent concerts in Japan and Europe. He also talks about his long-standing partnership with Art Garfunkel and the challenges of creating new work. Despite the pressure of success, Simon appreciates the privilege of having his music widely recognized and enjoyed.

Key insights

🎵Paul Simon reflects on his successful career as a singer-songwriter and performer.

🌍Simon describes his recent concert tours in Japan and Europe.

🎸The singer discusses his long-standing partnership with Art Garfunkel and their complex relationship.

🎵Simon talks about the challenges of creating new music and the pressure of maintaining his success.

👏Despite the challenges, Simon appreciates the privilege of having his music widely recognized and enjoyed by people.

Q&A

Did Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have a good working relationship?

Paul Simon describes his long-standing partnership with Art Garfunkel and acknowledges that they occasionally get on each other's nerves but also share many laughs and a unique way of communication.

How does Paul Simon feel about his music being played in elevators?

Paul Simon actually enjoys hearing his music in unexpected places like elevators because it indicates that people appreciate and recognize his work.

Is Paul Simon concerned about his personal safety while performing on stage?

Paul Simon acknowledges that he considers his personal safety when performing on stage, especially after the tragic death of John Lennon. However, he remains vigilant and chooses to focus on the joy and privilege of performing for his fans.

How does Paul Simon handle the pressure of success?

Despite feeling a sense of pressure when creating new music, Paul Simon recognizes that he has to separate the quality of his work from its commercial success. He finds fulfillment in the process of creating and is grateful for the fans who appreciate his music.

Has Paul Simon ever felt guilty about his work not receiving the same level of success?

At times, Paul Simon has felt guilty when his work is not as commercially successful as previous endeavors. However, he realizes that artistic accomplishments cannot always be measured solely by popularity and remains committed to creating quality music.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Paul Simon is a renowned singer-songwriter who has had a successful career spanning several decades.

06:12Simon reflects on his recent concert tours in Japan and Europe.

18:43He discusses his long-standing partnership with Art Garfunkel and their unique way of communicating and occasional disagreements.

37:20Simon talks about the pressure he feels when creating new music and how it can be challenging to match the success of his earlier works.

55:44Despite the challenges, Simon appreciates the privilege of having his music widely recognized and enjoyed by people.