There Went Rhymin’ Simon

Bittersweet evening seeing the great Paul Simon tonight in Queens for the final performance on his farewell tour, wishing my brother Bill were here like he and Terence were for Art Garfunkel in 2015. Bill introduced us to Simon and Garfunkel as kids -- we’d play their albums constantly in our basement on 13 Mile while hanging out or playing table tennis -- and the love never faded.

The show opened with "America" -- perhaps my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song -- "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "The Boy in the Bubble" and while the middle was a little heavy on some of Simon's post-peak solo years, didn't disappoint. "Kodachrome" and "Late in the Evening" got the crowd really going, yet no one sat for ever the most somber of songs. "Rene and Georgette Magritte" was a very pleasant surprise -- "Hearts and Bones" is an unsung masterpiece -- and the final encore including "Homeward Bound," "The Boxer, ""American Tune" and "The Sound of Silence" were a stern reminder of why Simon is one of the preeminent songwriters of all time. 

Always a pleasure with my Damian, There's only one way the night could have been more perfect. 

Song of the Day: 'Let Me Live in Your City' by Paul Simon

Music history is littered with brilliant songs that didn't start out as good. "That's Jungle for You" -- the original refrain from became Culture Club's delightful "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" -- "You Always Hang Around" -- the inferior first take of the Breeders' "Divine Hammer"and "The Disco Song" -- the heartless first crack at Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and the so-wrong demo of the Pretenders' "Brass in Pocket," where Chrissie sings "you're special, so special" -- quickly come to mind. But I think this early version of Paul Simon's "Something So Right" might be the biggest improvement of them all. It's not that there's anything wrong with it. It's just the idea of there not being a song so optimistically unoptimistic makes me shudder.

When something goes wrong 
I'm the first to admit it 
I'm the first to admit it 
But the last one to know 
When something goes right 
Well it's likely to lose me 
It's apt to confuse me 
It's such an unusual sight 
I can't get used to something so right 
Something so right

Can you think of any songs that got major overhauls for the better? 

Song of the Day: 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes' by Paul Simon

Few songs make me as happy as this romantic ditty does. 

And she said honey take me dancing
But they ended up by sleeping
In a doorway
By the bodegas and the lights on
Upper broadway
Wearing diamonds on the soles of their shoes

I haven't had the guts to look at the upcoming setlist to see if it made the cut.

Song of the Day: 'He Was My Brother' by Paul Simon

Finally broke down and bought tickets for Paul Simon's upcoming "Homeward Bound" farewell tour. Wish to God I were going with my brother Bill -- who introduced Terence and me to Simon and Garfunkel in the basement of our house on 13 Mile Road when we were boys -- but I will just have to cherish the memory of the Walsh brothers seeing Art at Carnegie Hall in 2015 before life was irrevocably changed for the worse. Hard to believe it's my first time seeing Paul.

Remains of the Day (02/05)

Newsweek: Wasn't it awful when the police used tear-gas and billy clubs on people rioting in the streets of Philadelphia last night after the Eagles won? Oh, wait -- they didn't. They were just white "revelers"

NewNowNext: Is this why my friend had three transgender kids in a class he taught of 15?

KIT212: Christie Brinkley's son is incredibly fuckable

Matthew's Island of Misfit Toys: Gratuitous shirtless football photos

The Gay Almanac: Will this sour gays on their Costa Rica vacations?

Dlisted: John Stamos got married and robbed in the same weekend

Vents: Don't miss the retrospective exhibition of Jayne County, the legendary Warhol actress and early punk pioneer

The Daily News: Did Newsweek fire its editor-in-chief, deputy editor and 3 reporters in retaliation for negative coverage?

The New Yorker: How to survive a cold

Gr8er Days: Cops turn up the heat on Robert Wagner in Natalie Wood investigation

Greg in Hollywood: Now that's what I call a sexy back ... and front

The Washington Post: Dow drops more than 1,500 points in second day of significant market sell-off

KIT212: Why can't all straight white men be this smart and have sexy facial hair?

Baseline: Genie Bouchard is officially a less-focused Anna Kournikova -- but with better taste in men

Oh my stars: Hayden Monteleone makes a very persuasive case for boxer shorts

Curbed: 8 ways to help the homeless in New York City

My New Plaid Pants: You would be so nice to come home to, Mark Ruffalo

Homorazzi: This is ridiculous, even by Insta-Stud standards

Towleroad: Sean Cody Star Jordan Joplin charged with murder of surgeon in Alaska

Sun-Sentinel: Move over, sharks, gators and dolphins: Manatees are having their moment in pop culture

Boy Culture: Why that "Call Me by Your Name" dance scene was so painful to film (or does he mean watch?)

OMG Blog: Fitness guru Justin Charles Reed flaunts his lengthy, um, barbell

The Ellen Show: Gus Kenworthy is still ridiculous adorable, bruises and all

Hornet: Former Bloomberg reporter documents racism in gay dating apps

Brooklyn Vegan: Paul Simon announces "Homeward Bound" farewell tour

JoeMyGod: Turns out God doesn't want Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann in the Senate

Hunk du Jour: I'll bet men make passes at this man in glasses (his eyes are up here)

HuffPost: Troye Sivan says playing a conversion therapy survivor was "intense" (I wonder what having that "e" on the end of his name is like)

The Film Experience: "Jumanji" and "Showman" won't quit at the box office

The Hill: There may be a little hope for the midterms after all

Hot Cat of the Day: Hey, if you're gonna get rescued from a car's transmission, he's the guy you want to do it

Song of the Day: 'Hearts and Bones' by Paul Simon

Was surprised so many of my colleagues (even of a certain age) didn't realize Carrie Fisher had been married to Paul Simon. Although one called it a "two-second" marriage, they were actually a couple for 13 years on and off, even after the divorce. Paul wrote a number of songs about Debbie and Eddie's girl, but this one is surely my favorite of them all. Carrie said it best: "If you can get Paul Simon to write a song about you, do it. Because he is so brilliant at it."

Suddenly Crazy After All These Years

For my reader who wanted to know when Art Garfunkel became Ed Koch, I give you Paul Simon and his oh-so-natural new face. Yikes.

Song of the Day: '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' by Paul Simon

Had such a fun time at John Cameron Mitchell's Mattachine party at Julius' last night. John and Fred Schneider of the B-52s co-DJ-ed -- to great effect with Paul Simon ("50 Ways"), Andy Gibb ("I Just Want to Be Your Everything"), Melissa Manchester ("You Should Hear How She Talks About You"), INXS ("Don't Change") and every other song you wish a bar would play but they don't -- but it was the delightful crowd that made it so great, like Jorge Clar (above), who divides his time between being an editor, BLOGGER and make-it-up-as-you-go-along nutritionist to clients such as Scooter LaForge. What a night!

50 Ways to Heave Your Lover

Paul Simon and wife Edie Brickell were holding hands as they appeared in court today over the Saturday dispute at their New Canaan, Conn., home, in which the two apparently shoved each other during an argument and Brickell’s mother called police. A judge let the two leave without putting in place a protective order. The couple is due back in court May 16. Read HERE.

Simon & Simon

THIS is tonight. It sounds pretty incredible, although I am not going. (Rub it in my face if you do.)

Song of the Day: 'The Boy in the Bubble' by Paul Simon

Haven't caught "Under African Skies," the documentary about the making of Paul Simon's landmark "Graceland" album, yet. (And would you believe I didn't even put it in my Top 10 albums in 1986? Debbie Harry's "Rockbird" topped the list!) But I've seen the trailer and the songs from it are in heavy rotation before movies at the Angelika -- and this is one of my favorites.

 

Paul Simon: 'Hearts and Bones'

The heart-stirring title track from Rhymin' Simon's nearly perfect 1983 album. "Train in the Distance" is a must-have song, too.