Latest news with #AQuietCelebration
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Paul Simon Delivers As ‘A Quiet Celebration' Tour Winds Down
Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL 'Here's a… an old song,' said Paul Simon with a smile on stage in Chicago. 'I suddenly realized they're all old songs,' he said softly with a wink on opening night of a sold out three evening stand at Symphony Center, part of his 'A Quiet Celebration' return run. Few songwriters can match the canon of music Simon, 83, has meticulously crafted over the course of more than six decades. Partnering with Art Garfunkel, Simon moved over 100 million records globally, tacking on another 35 million albums sold as a solo artist, rendering him one of the best selling artists of all time. The duo's final studio album Bridge Over Troubled Water stood for a spell as the best selling album ever following its release in 1970, with Simon continually experimenting with an array of sounds in his wonderfully diverse body of solo work, going on to move in excess of 16 million copies of his 1986 opus Graceland. Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL Following a farewell tour in 2018, Simon has appeared on stage a handful of times but 'A Quiet Celebration' marks his first full tour since, with the legendary singer and songwriter appearing for multi night runs in each city, performing in smaller theaters better equipped to support and showcase the nuance in his new music better than the arenas he could otherwise easily fill (a North American run which continues this weekend in San Francisco, California ahead of closing shows in Vancouver, British Columbia July 26 through 28 and Seattle, Washington on July 31 and August 2 and 3). At the heart of the incredible return run lies Simon's latest album Seven Psalms, a spiritual affair inspired by the old testament's Book of Psalms which appears on record as an acoustic suite: seven unbroken songs ruminating upon life and mortality which were designed to be absorbed by the listener in full, with the carefully chosen rooms on this tour supporting Simon's mission. Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL On stage at Symphony Center, home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Simon and company opened the show with the new album uninterrupted over the course of about 35 minutes, closing the performance with both deep cuts and hits over about two hours and 15 minutes. 'The Lord' read the screen flanking the band as Simon got going with sparse acoustic guitar while voices built the conclusion of the new album's opening track. Flute cut through xylophone and percussion early as more guitar and timpani rang out later. That dueling percussion lent 'My Professional Opinion' a bit of a shuffle while Simon plucked in an almost flamenco fashion during 'Your Forgiveness.' Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL Vocalist Edie Brickell, Simon's wife of 33 years, joined for both 'The Sacred Harp' and 'Wait,' with the backing band swelling to 12 as Simon and Brickell harmonized on the chorus of the former while church bells brought the stunning full album performance of the new Seven Psalms to a close moments later. 'This is the first time since COVID that I'm able to play with my fellow musicians,' noted Simon at the top of the show, setting up the album suite. 'The second half is a bunch of hits. Some deep tracks - sort of,' explained the songwriter. 'Songs I always liked - but haven't played live much before. I hope you enjoy yourselves.' Slide guitar, flute and fiddle fueled a hootenanny as Simon donned his trademark baseball cap during 'Graceland." Simon started 'Slip Slidin' Away' solo acoustic before dusting off 'Train in the Distance' from 1983's Hearts and Bones record. 'Here's a song from the Simon & Garfunkel days,' he said, characteristically underselling 'Homeward Bound' as the second set began to find its footing. Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL One of the great storytellers, Simon was in fine form on stage, returning to Hearts and Bones as he told the story behind 'The Late Great Johnny Ace,' a highlight on opening night in Chicago. 'Here's a song direct from a childhood memory…' he began. 'When I was an adolescent, there was a blues singer named Johnny Ace. His #1 record was 'Pledging My Love.' I loved that song,' Simon continued, explaining how Ace accidentally shot himself on Christmas day in 1954. 'I heard it the next day on the radio. The DJ said, 'We're gonna play his new song and from now on we're gonna call him the late great Johnny Ace.'' Simon conducted a bit as drums stomped in, gesturing left toward flute, violin and cello as images of John Lennon and John F. Kennedy appeared on screen as Simon namechecked them lyrically (also both victims of gun violence). Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL 'This next song comes from the Graceland album and it's written about a specific person,' said Simon, reintroducing fans to Joseph Shabalala of South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. 'Here to help me sing - and improve the performance vastly - is Edie Brickell,' said Simon dryly with a smile. While he experimented with South African sounds on Graceland (bassist Bakithi Kumalo, 69, who performed on the album, is back for this live run) it was authentic reggae he was after in 1972, working with Jimmy Cliff's backing band on 'Mother and Child Reunion.' Heading for home, Simon and company worked up 'Me and Julio Down Down by the Schoolyard' shortly thereafter as opening night neared encore. Paul Simon performs on stage during his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at ... More Symphony Center in Chicago, IL Returning to the stage, the Chicago faithful went berserk as Simon put his spin upon '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,' clapping along slightly offbeat as he made his way back to the Simon & Garfunkel canon one more time. 'This song is called 'The Boxer,'' he said simply. Starting the legendary track on his own, the band came swooping in out of the first verse as the crowd roared, with Simon's arms spread wide as the band took a bow. Gazing to his left, Simon was clearly swept up in the moment as he wrapped up the evening with the iconic 'The Sound of Silence,' delivering both a stirring and stunning solo take on the unparalleled number to the rapt audience. 'In restless dreams I walked alone…' sang Paul Simon as 'A Quiet Celebration' drew to a close on opening night in the Windy City.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
A fan paid Paul Simon $20 to play this song — and it worked
Paul Simon may not take requests, but for $20, he'll make an exception. During the final night of his five-show run at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday, July 16, the legendary singer-songwriter paused his acoustic set when a fan shouted out a request for 'Kodachrome,' the beloved 1973 track he hadn't performed live since 2019. 'I don't take requests,' Simon quipped from the stage. 'But I'll do some of it for 20 bucks.' The fan, unfettered, produced a $20 bill and offered it up. Simon, 83, walked over, took the cash, and delivered on his promise — strumming through the first verse and chorus of the nostalgic tune to cheers and laughter from the audience. The spontaneous moment was captured by concertgoers and quickly spread across social media. One fan posted, 'Holy smokes I can't believe that just happened,' alongside video of the interaction. The performance marked a lighthearted interlude in a series of otherwise intimate and contemplative shows. Simon's current tour — his first major outing in seven years — follows recent surgery for severe back pain and comes amid ongoing struggles with hearing loss. According to a Los Angeles Times review, his voice, guitar work and lyrical precision remain striking, particularly in performances of material from his 2023 album 'Seven Psalms.' Simon is scheduled to bring his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour to San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall on July 19 and 21-22, before wrapping the tour in Vancouver and Seattle. The singer rose to fame in the 1960s as co-founder of the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, with hits such as 'Mrs. Robinson' and 'The Sound of Silence,' before launching his solo career in the '70s. Simon's recent tour came as a surprise to many, after the musician indicated in 2018 that he was retiring from touring due to hearing loss. A year later, however, he performed a headlining set at San Francisco's Outside Lands festival. To assist with live performances, Simon has worked with his production team and Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss to adapt his stage setup with moving monitors to ensure optimal acoustics. For those hoping to hear a favorite deep cut, it seems a $20 bill might help. July 16, 2025 Set 1 'The Lord' 'Love Is Like a Braid' 'My Professional Opinion' 'Your Forgiveness' 'Trail of Volcanoes' 'The Sacred Harp' (with Edie Brickell) 'Wait' (with Edie Brickell) Set 2 'Graceland' 'Slip Slidin' Away' 'Train in the Distance' 'Homeward Bound' (Simon & Garfunkel) 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' 'St. Judy's Comet' 'Under African Skies' (with Edie Brickell) 'Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War' 'Rewrite' 'Spirit Voices' 'The Cool, Cool River' 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' (with Edie Brickell) Encore 'Kodachrome' (abridged) 'Father and Daughter' '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' 'The Boxer' (Simon & Garfunkel)
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Paul Simon shares health update after back surgery: 'It went well, as expected'
Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon is on the mend after undergoing a surgical procedure to alleviate severe back pain. The 83-year-old musician, currently on his 'A Quiet Celebration' tour, had to cancel two shows in Philadelphia due to what his team described as 'chronic and intense back pain. ' On July 3, Simon's official social media account shared a statement confirming the surgery was successful and that he is recovering well. 'Thanks to a great team of doctors…' The statement began by reassuring fans reading, 'Paul Simon underwent a surgical procedure this week to alleviate severe back pain that he has been experiencing for some time. Thanks to a great team of doctors, the surgery went well, as expected.' However, the recovery process required a slight adjustment to his tour schedule, as 'it has become clear he will need one additional day of rest and recuperation to insure he is able to perform at the top of his ability in Long Beach. ' As a result, Simon's July 7 performance at 'The Terrace Theatre' in Long Beach, California, has been postponed to July 8. They shared, 'We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but Paul is looking forward to seeing everyone.' 'Today it became unmanageable and demands immediate attention' The health update followed a previous statement issued on June 30, when Simon abruptly cancelled two shows at Philadelphia's Academy of Music. 'Paul has been struggling with chronic and intense back pain,' the statement read. Adding, 'Today it became unmanageable and demands immediate attention.' At the time, his team explained that the shows could not be rescheduled, saying, 'Unfortunately, we have to cancel these shows at this time, as we don't have the ability to reschedule them.' Still, they remained optimistic about his recovery with 'We are hopeful after this minor surgical procedure which has been scheduled in the next few days, Paul will be able to complete the tour as well as look into returning to make up these dates. ' Looking ahead Simon's 'A Quiet Celebration' tour marks his return to live performance after retiring from touring in 2018 due to hearing loss. The current tour features music from his 2023 album 'Seven Psalms' and select hits from his solo career and the Simon & Garfunkel catalogue. With the surgery behind him, fans are hopeful that Simon will continue the tour as planned and possibly revisit the cancelled Philadelphia dates.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Simon Recovering From Successful Back Surgery After Canceling Tour Dates
Paul Simon is on the mend after canceling two shows from his A Quiet Celebration tour to undergo minor back surgery. On Thursday, the 16x Grammy winner updated his fans with a statement after having the procedure to 'alleviate severe back pain that he has been experiencing for some time,' but he will have to push his return to the tour by one more day. More from Deadline Paul Simon Cancels 2 Shows To Undergo 'Minor Surgical Procedure' For Back Pain Paul Simon Un-Retires From Touring For North American Trek Of Smaller Venues Dick Van Dyke Drops Out Of Malibu Fan Event Amid "Bad Day" At 99 'Thanks to the great team of doctors, the surgery went well, as expected,' the statement continued. 'However, it has become clear he will need one additional day of rest and recuperation to insure he is able to perform at the top of his ability in Long Beach.' Originally scheduled for Monday, July 7, Simon's show at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California, has been bumped one night to July 8 'out of an abundance of caution' as he recovers from the procedure. He then begins a five-night run at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, starting July 9. 'We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but Paul is looking forward to seeing everyone in Long Beach on Tuesday,' Simon's statement added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paul Simon (@paulsimonofficial) Simon previously cancelled his June 28 and 29 shows in Philadelphia to get the surgery for his 'chronic and intense back pain.' After retiring from touring in 2018 due to hearing loss, Simon announced his 20-city tour in February, kicking off in New Orleans back in April. A Quiet Celebration features music from his 2023 album Seven Psalms, as well as notable hits from his solo career and Simon & Garfunkel. Best of Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Justin Theroux To Jason Ritter Remembering Michael Madsen: A Career In Photos 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Paul Simon cancels shows due to 'intense' back pain that 'demands immediate attention'
Paul Simon has scrapped a pair of shows and will undergo a surgical procedure due to "intense" back pain. The legendary Simon & Garfunkel singer, 83, shared in a statement on Instagram that he has canceled his performances set for Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29, at Philadelphia's Academy of Music. "Paul has been struggling with chronic and intense back pain," the statement said. "Today it became unmanageable and demands immediate attention. Unfortunately we have to cancel these shows at this time, as we don't have the ability to reschedule them." Simon's announcement said that he will undergo a "minor surgical procedure" in the next few days but that he is "hopeful" he will be able to complete his tour and make up the Philadelphia shows. Refunds for the performances are available at the point of purchase. The "Bridge Over Troubled Water" hitmaker is currently in the middle of his A Quiet Celebration tour. He completed a farewell tour in 2018 but announced his return in February, fresh off an appearance on the 50th anniversary special of "Saturday Night Live" with Sabrina Carpenter. Paul Simon returns to touring after 7-year hiatus and 2018 retirement According to his February tour announcement, Simon, "who has been dealing with severe hearing loss," chose "intimate venues with optimal acoustics" for the shows, which began in New Orleans in April and will conclude in August in Seattle, Washington. Paul Simon, graceful poet and musical genius, gets his documentary due 'In Restless Dreams' In a June appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," the 16-time Grammy winner explained he previously "didn't think it was possible for me to be able to perform again with other musicians" due to his hearing loss. Simon is next scheduled to perform in Long Beach, California, on July 7, according to his website. He then has more shows scheduled throughout July in California before he's off to Vancouver and Seattle.
