100,000 people were gathered in front of the comparatively simple stage that afternoon on September 19, 1981, when Simon and Garfunkel became friends again.
The aura of reconciliation, reflection and pot hung over the site (even then, thanks were given to the firefighters, the police and the mayor), and indeed the two antipodes delivered a wonderful performance: from the beginnings with “Wake Up, Little Suzie” to the Hits “The Sound Of Silence” and “Mrs. Robinson” to Simon’s solo songs “Late In The Evening”, “Still Crazy After All These Years” and “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” everything is moving.
Killer scene: Art Garfunkel puts his hand on the back of his much smaller and much more talented partner at the end.
An article from the ROLLING STONE archive
Arne Willander takes a very personal look at Simon & Garfunkel and their “Concert in Central Park”
World Heritage Simon & Garfunkel
I’m watching the concert that Simon & Garfunkel gave on September 19, 1981 in Central Park, New York. It is always comforting to see this world heritage site. The stage is something like Our Little Town, with a large water reservoir and a fan in the background.
Mayor Ed Koch does not give a solemn speech, but announces “Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel”. Cook was not popular. Art Garfunkel, in Jenas, white shirt and waistcoat, is all a choirboy, Simon the geek in a suit, with his guitar slung over his shoulder. Simon thanks the fire department, the security guards, the city authorities. Weak applause. And Ed Koch. Faint grumbling and whistling.
Simon and Garfunkel hadn’t performed together for ten years, now they wanted to make a record together again, which soon failed. The concert blows you away in a very quiet way. They start with “Mrs. Robinson”, formerly their opening track. It’s fun and uplifting. With “Homeward Bound” the audience is moved. With “America” there are tears in the eyes.
“Kathy, I’m lost’, I said, though I know she was sleeping.” The thing about Paul Simon is that his lyrics are second to none, but his melodies are even better. They play “Wake Up, Little Susie,” the old Everly Brothers song. Then Sion sings his “Still Crazy After All These Years”. Then the band kicks off with the calypso of “Late In The Evening.”
After “A Heart In New York” he sings the new song “The Late Great Johnny Ace”, in which he thinks the evening of Johnny Ace’s death together with the evening of John Lennon’s death and outlines his whole life. The track later appeared on Hearts And Bones, the record planned with Garfunkel. It is absent from the album The Concert In Central Park, but not from the film.
Art Garfunkel can’t have liked the concert
Then “Kodachrome”, blended with Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Boxer” and, in the darkness of the park, “The Sound Of Silence”. The snooty Art Garfunkel can’t have liked the concert. The little one was just too good.
In 1969, CBS broadcast a documentary about Simon & Garfunkel’s tour and recording of the album Bridge over Troubled water. The two are in the car. The goldenthroat Garfunkel warbles a cadence. “On 1 and 3 and 5,” he says proudly. “If you understand anything about harmony.”
Next to him, Simon repeats mockingly: “If you understand anything about harmony. Do you know that Beethoven will be 200 years old in the seventies?” – Garfunkel’s face looks like he’s about to belch. “When? Next Thursday.” – “No, 1970. That’s next year, December 12th. I just wanted you to be prepared.”
After this point, Simon explains, concerning the harmony, that in Beethoven’s time the parallel fifth was not allowed. Beethoven asked: “Who says that?” Well, this one says this and that one, you don’t do it. And Beethoven replied, according to Simon, now louder and triumphant: “I say: THE PARALLEL FIFTH IS ALLOWED!”
Art Garfunkel, forced to face Simon and dreading the brilliant punchline, ponders whether to be impressed. Then he says: “He was a fool, this Beethoven.” After a pause he says: “Anyone else will live to be 200 years old.” Simon asks without interest: “Who?” Garfunkel says: “America. America turns 200, 1975.” Simon asks, “Do you think America will make it?”
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