Dave's Fiction Warehouse

In which I bloviate about books, TV, movies, politics and other stuff.

  • Books
  • Movies
  • TV
  • politics
  • Other Stuff
  • thatfuckingtrump

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Powered by Genesis

Paul Simon strikes another chord

October 21, 2011 by Dave Knadler

Sometimes a song gets lodged in your head and loops there endlessly for the rest of the day. Today it’s “She Moves On,” the underrated masterpiece from Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints album in 1990. As songs go, it’s a great one to have stuck on repeat. A lot better than, say, “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Don’t ask me how it got there. Maybe the opening lyric: “I feel good, it’s a fine day …” I was walking the dog on a crisp sunny morning and a pretty woman smiled as I passed. I see fewer crisp mornings and beautiful smiles than I used to, so it struck a chord, so to speak. A fine day indeed.

I do love this song. Maybe because it never got played to death on the radio and didn’t show up on a lot of compilation albums. To me it represents everything that is great about Paul Simon: the subtle, evocative lyrics, the exotic instrumentation, the emotional complexity that he always makes seem simple. The guy is an enduring genius. Hard to believe he’s 70. But then, it’s hard to believe I’m … well, never mind.

Give it a listen. The video’s from his Central Park concert in 1991 or so, so the quality isn’t great. Or, listen to the studio version. Either way, I always get a little tingle when the backing vocals come in over that samba beat. And of course the chorus:

“Ooh, my storybook lover
You have underestimated my power
As you shortly will discover …”

More along these lines:

  • Consider yourself permanently warned
  • carolers at christmas‘Quiet!’ the introvert angels sing …
  • jacksonville fireworks fourth of julyHappy Fifth of July
  • Packers, shmackers. How about those ads?
  • standard cat memeOne lab rat to another

Filed Under: Music, Other Stuff

About Dave Knadler

Obscure writer. Lazy photographer. Bashful guitarist. Perhaps too fond of wine. Tireless nemesis of New York Times crosswords, Wordle, Semantle and all other puzzles du jour.

Comments

  1. Maritza N. Heg says

    October 30, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Talented and deep…Paul Simon. Yes. The guy is GREAT.

Recent posts

  • We don’t need no stinking followers
  • This could be
    the last time
  • Still life with dicks
  • Not throwing away
    my shot
  • February fugue

Recent comments

  • Paul Silverman on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers

FInd something

send dave cash

The obligatory PayPal donation button. Go ahead: Make my day.