Paul Simon, Graceland: The African Concert (1987) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

A concert given in Zimbabwe, Africa, by singer Paul Simon, featuring such South African musicians as Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masakela. |

Plot Keywords:

Concert Film | Apartheid | Racism | Character Name In Title

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Paul Simon	...	Himself
Hugh Masekela	...	Himself
Miriam Makeba	...	Herself
Ladysmith Black Mambazo	...	Themselves

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Harare, Zimbabwe

Goofs:

Continuity: Bakithi Kumalo switches between two bass guitars (one fretless, one not) during the concert, which is fine. However, he switches back and forth between the two during the song "I Know What I Know".

Awesome, Spellbinding, Brilliant. Superlatives fail me.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is the TV version, and there may be more comments or info under one of the DVD versions, e.g. Graceland: The African Concert (1987) (V).

Recorded live in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1987. The tracklist features seventeen songs including 'You Can Call Me Al', 'Graceland', 'Diamonds On The Soles Of My Shoes', 'Hello My Baby', 'Homeless', 'Stimela', 'Gumboots' and 'Whispering Bells'.

Paul Simon is a tremendous artist and mixed with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba the result is tremendous.

T Shirts proclaiming 'Free Nelson Mandela' appear in the audience, and the musicians make several references to the politics of the time. Recall 1987 and the shame of the then government of South Africa. It is filmed in Harare, the capital of neighbouring Harare.At one stage, we see a street poster asking us to support Mugabe, who wit the benefit of hindsight now 20 years later, has unfortunately turned out to be a first class despot, and an incompetent one at that.

The music is first class, the singing tremendous, and the download conveys the atmosphere of the event. If you are a Paul Simon fan this is essential. Also essential is Classic Albums: Paul Simon - Graceland (1997) (V), a documentary on the making of the album, and its suite. Also downloadable.