With Graceland, Paul Simon brilliantly merged his perceptive songwriting with the rich, little-known mbaqanga music of South Africa, creating a captivating fusion that re-engaged his old audience and attracted a new one. The South African influence, along with its controversial aspects during apartheid, served as a powerful marketing tool.
The infectious music presented listeners with that magical combination: something entirely new yet comfortably familiar. As eclectic as any of Simon’s previous works, the album also explored zydeco and conjunto-flavored rock & roll. Lyrically, Simon took a surprising turn from his typical narrative style, opting for highly poetic (“Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”), abstract (“The Boy in the Bubble”), and satirical (“I Know What I Know”) snapshots of modern life. These songs were often charged with striking imagery and phrases inspired by headlines and contemporary conversations. **Graceland** became an enormously successful record, setting a benchmark for subsequent musical experiments by major artists.
English