Posted on May 18, 2011 at 4:18 pm
I have been so inspired by Paul Simon for my entire creative life, and never more so than now, when he’s got a spectacular new album, So Beautiful or So What, for which he’s been touring around the country with the most incredible band I’ve ever seen onstage in my life.
So today, when I was trying out some new things in my studio (I finally upgraded GarageBand after five years), I decided to take a crack at one of Paul’s many masterpieces. It’s an honor to sing a song this beautiful. (This is one take with no fixes.)
American Tune
Music and lyric by Paul Simon (1973)
JRB: piano and vocals
Recorded live at Casa JRB, Los Angeles, CA, 5/18/11
6 comments
This is so beautiful. It is nice to know of someone who inspired you. Because you yourself have been so inspirational to me and many others. Thank you for sharing this song. And thanks for always talking about something interesting on your weblog.
What kind of upgrades are there for GarageBand? I have had it for two years. And I love it.
Thanks again.
[FROM JRB: Thanks, Christopher! For the GarageBand updates, just clink on the link in the article above.]
Wow! This is beautiful! Thanks for posting it! Your arrangement is nice and needs nothing more… Well done!
I work in both Garage Band and Logic… and, to be honest, I prefer Garage Band’s simplicity.
Thanks!
John
So exposed and vulnerable.
Paul Simon is such a prolific writer, yet his compositions come across effortless. Such a wonderful marriage of melody, lyric and chords. You sound great and really honored the piece. Thanks for sharing.
So glad to hear you’re feeling better after the cold you had in NYC– but this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Love this, JRB. I first saw PS when I was 10. My mom (how cool was she?) took me to Dodger Stadium to see the Simon and Garfunkel reunion tour. Art sang this. PS’s music has been the soundtrack of my life.
This is a beautiful rendition of his music.
Now I want to hear him sing yours.
I am a big fan of Paul Simon, and a new fan of you. Well done. I really like your rendition.
Thank you.
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