Watch: Paul Simon Appears on ‘Colbert,’ Talks Favorite Original Music, Performing ‘Seven Psalms’ and More
On March 17, In Restless Dreams, a new documentary on Paul Simon and the making of his 15th solo LP, the 2023 release Seven Psalms, will premiere on MGM+. Ahead of the official drop of the Alex Gibney-directed two-episode series, the subject, Simon, appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he opened up about his storied career, including song favorites and disdain for a particular fan favorite.
When asked about choice cuts from his extensive repertoire, which rose to prominence in the 1960s, Simon dissected his gem cuts and categorized them, referencing “Graceland,” “Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard,” “Late in the Evening” and “Mother and Child Reunion” as selects for up-tempo numbers. He also claimed “The Sound of Silence,” “The Boxer,” and “Still Crazy After All These Years” as favored ballads.
By contrast, Simon also offered up a particular number, “The 59th Street Bridge Song,” adding, “I loathe that song,” he declared. “Sometimes in shows, if I made an error in some other song, I would sing that song as punishment. Here’s what it is: I come up to the line and just don’t want to sing, ‘Like, I love you, all is groovy.’ I don’t want to sing it.”
Simon also mentioned ongoing issues with hearing loss in his left ear, which caused him to step away from touring in 2018. He added, “That’s come back to enough of a degree that I’m comfortable singing and playing guitar and playing a few other instruments.” He continued, “I can hear my voice that I want in the context of the music.”
The musician also discussed the possibility of returning to the stage, sharing, “Next month, I’m going to try and do a rehearsal with the entire ensemble of Seven Psalms. I’ll see if I can get through the piece. I’ll see if I can sing it for 35 minutes and hear properly. And I’m optimistic that I can.”
Watch the full extended interview with Colbert, and clips from the one-on-one below.
