Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland (1997)
Singer-songwriter Paul Simon had been on the cutting-edge of pop music throughout most of the 1960s and the '70s, first as half of the seminal folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, and then as a well-received solo artist. But the rise of 1980s rock and new wave saw a decline in Simon's commercial success, and the singer responded by experimenting with different musical styles--most notably, world beat--that culminated in his adventurous 1986 masterpiece GRACELAND. The album's fusion of American folk-rock songwriting and buoyant South African rhythms not only broke new ground in pop music, but became Simon's biggest-selling solo record. This episode of the CLASSIC ALBUMS series examines the making of Simon's groundbreaking work through interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, music videos, and live performances of album tracks such as "Boy in the Bubble," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "You Can Call Me Al," and "Under African Skies."
Cast
- Paul Simon - Self
- Ray Phiri - Self
- Roy Halee - Self
- Philip Glass - Self
Keywords
pop music, folk, rock, paul simon, "graceland"
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland about?
- Singer-songwriter Paul Simon had been on the cutting-edge of pop music throughout most of the 1960s and the '70s, first as half of the seminal folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, and then as a well-received solo artist. But the rise of 1980s rock and new wave saw a decline in Simon's commercial success, and the singer responded by experimenting with different musical styles--most notably, world beat--that culminated in his adventurous 1986 masterpiece GRACELAND. The album's fusion of American folk-rock songwriting and buoyant South African rhythms not only broke new ground in pop music, but became Simon's biggest-selling solo record. This episode of the CLASSIC ALBUMS series examines the making of Simon's groundbreaking work through interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, music videos, and live performances of album tracks such as "Boy in the Bubble," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "You Can Call Me Al," and "Under African Skies."
- Who directed Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland?
- Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland was directed by Jeremy Marre.
- Who stars in Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland?
- Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland stars Paul Simon, Ray Phiri, Roy Halee, Philip Glass.
- How long is Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland?
- Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland has a runtime of 1h 15m (75 minutes).
- What genre is Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland?
- Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland is a Music, Documentary film.