The long-awaited reunion concert of the renowned pop music duo, more than a decade after their separation as musical performers.The long-awaited reunion concert of the renowned pop music duo, more than a decade after their separation as musical performers.The long-awaited reunion concert of the renowned pop music duo, more than a decade after their separation as musical performers.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Musician
- (as Jerry Niewood)
- Musician
- (as David Tafoni)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe song 'The Late Great Johnny Ace' was interrupted by a fan on stage, resulting in it being the only song which did not appear on the soundtrack.
- Quotes
Paul Simon: Well it's great to do a neighborhood concert. I hope everyone can hear us. I hope that the sound is good. I hope we are blasting Central Park West and Fifth Avenue pretty much away. I just want to thank the police department and the fire department and the parks commissioner, and Ed Koch.
[Audience boos, Garfunkel laughs]
Paul Simon: And particularly, you know, people that never get recognized for doing good things for the city, a group of people that have donated half of the proceeds that they're making tonight, the guys who are selling loose joints are giving the city half of their income tonight.
[Simon laughs, starts to play "America"]
- ConnectionsReferenced in Paul Simon's Concert in the Park (1991)
What's more awe-inspiring is the decision to include many of Paul Simon's material from his solo career - and to exclude Art Garfunkel's (with the exception of his pandering, ineffectual quasi-love song, "Heart in New York", that is clearly the weak point in the concert). Though Simon enjoyed more critical acclaim, one of the things that made S&G so special in the 1960s is that they were a team of two equal musicians with distinct gifts. Art, for his part, appears pleased to join in Paul's songs throughout the concert. In fact, on "Slip Sliding Away", Art moves stage left while Paul sings the solo verse. The camera catches Art merrily singing along like any normal concert-goer, before returning to the mic to harmonize on the refrain.
There is nothing overly exceptional about the cinematography of this video (not that you need it for a 1981 concert of folk musicians), but it does an adequate job of capturing all the musicians on stage. The opening aerial view of Central Park gives the viewer an idea of the enormity of the concert (500,000+ in attendance). When it's all said and done, this video lets the performance of two great musicians stand alone.
This is, arguably, S&G's finest concert EVER, when you consider the scope of music and the fact that these men are in the musical prime of their life. Regardless of age or musical taste, you can't help but enjoy this epic concert.
- erik-484
- Aug 12, 2007