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| Headline | Paul´s 65th Birthday |
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| Author | Comment |
Bonnie
Jun-14-2006, 13:52 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
 | Okay... just went some threads, including ones which sparked controversy, so I want to bring up something that may prompt interest and problem-solving challenges, but bring us back together by bringing us back to common ground which is... our admiration for Paul Simon and appreciation of his music. Here´s my thought: collectively doing something meaningful for Paul Simon for his 65th birthday, coming up in October. When asked recently (and somewhat frequently) why it took him 6 years to come up with another solo album, his answer has been 2-fold: (1) bombing of the World Trade Towers in New York, which he said "stopped the world" and (2) his 60th birthday, which he said, "stopped me." If that´s what his 60th birthday did, imagine his 65th. Obviously he´s a sensitive man and age is likely making him more "in tune with nature, mortality, etc." I think one of the greatest tributes people can give one another is to say that they care for one another and their existence means something. My idea for a present is simply to send Mr. Simon a DVD of 20-second spots taped from people All Around The World saying that. Borrowing from Bodo´s questionnaire on this site, people could say something like, "My name is __________, I´m from ___________ and I just wanted to tell you that I Love your music. Your song/lyric _______________ really has special meaning to me. I saw you in concert in ___________ and I´ve been a fan ever since." Then maybe after all the individual 20-second clips, there can be film of everyone individually saying "Happy Birthday from (Austrailia/Germany/London/wherever." What do you think about tossing around this idea, seeing what kind of creative group thinking we can come up with and then proceding, if that´s what some of us want to do? Here are some preliminary "procedures" or "answers" to initial questions I think people may have:
1. no advertising or self-promotion. In fact, I think the more anonymous this is, the better. Maybe even so far as using first names only. I don´t think the important thing is our names, rather that we are people from different ages, races, religions, and nationalities who have been touched by Paul Simon and therefore have a connection.
2. Do I think Paul Simon will ever watch the DVD once he´s given it? I do. He was given a tape of music and listened to it, which led him on the whole journey to S. Africa to record Graceland.
3. How do make a DVD from all over? Individually tape our 20-second or so greetings, then either post them to a site or mail them to a physical address. (I´ll be happy to put the DVD together if we decide to do this.)
4. How do we give him the DVD? Anonymously, of course. Either through his management company or his business address. I don´t think that will be a problem. No return address so no one individual gets "credit." All one unified gift from fans across the globe.
I know I´ve been rambling. Everyone else´s turn to discuss. |
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Micky
Jun-14-2006, 14:14 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| I think it´s a brilliant idea Bonnie, and if you have a web cam you could record it that way.
But I do think it would be nice if he knew it came from his fans of this site, giving it the Kudos it deserves IMO. |
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Raumo
Jun-14-2006, 16:35 GMT
IP:
Israel
 | Wonderful idea! |
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babydriver
Jun-14-2006, 16:56 GMT
IP:
Germany
 | Great idea! :D |
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Ans
Jun-14-2006, 17:15 GMT
IP:
Netherlands
 | I think it´s a good idea to give Paul something from his fans for his 65th birthday.
But maybe it will become a long DVD to watch, it´s different to listen to a music tape.
I don´t want to destroy your idea because I think it´s very nice but maybe it´s an idea to make a book with our names and wishes in it, easier to look in. We could use the questionnaire and ofcourse no promoting and advertising.
But again, it´s just a thought, let´s see what other people think. |
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HÃ¥kan
Jun-15-2006, 08:14 GMT
IP:
Sweden
 | If this proposed DVD doesn´t make Paul "Stop" again for another decade or so, I don´t know what would... ;-)
More seriously, I don´t think that Paul is that "interested" in hearing from his fans, but go ahead if you want to! Just don´t expext any "answers" or "thanks" from him! |
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Micky
Jun-15-2006, 10:19 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| Hmmm...Why are you being so negative Hakan? You were the same about Kathy´s Song also. |
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Bonnie
Jun-15-2006, 12:19 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| I wouldn´t want nor expect any thanks. That´s the point of keeping it anonymous! |
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Bonnie
Jun-15-2006, 13:10 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| Hakan, I suppose it´s a good thing that my longer, rather heated response to you got lost in cyberspace because it was written with a bit too much "passion." Suffice to say that if you are simply suggesting that Mr. Simon is not interested in hearing people carry on, waxing poetic about him, I will conditionally agree. I don´t think he gets into holding himself out to be a demigod. However, I do think he would like to know that his life holds so much meaning to others, especially at a time such as this - on his birthday (milestone number or not). On the anniversary of ones birth, I think is a wonderful time to let someone know you are glad that s/he was born. That his/her presence is a blessing. That his/her life has made a (hopefully, positive)difference in your life. And that you believe the world is a better place because s/he was born.
I´m not suggesting anyone (other than me, if I am the one who puts the DVD together - which I will happily do) spend more than a few minutes total on it. The time it takes to record and send the message on its way. That´s likely less time than you spend on this site per day. Or on the web surfing sites such as this. And I do think Mr. Simon would be interested in hearing from people around the world (respectfully, at a distance, considerate of his privacy) that they are glad he is alive and that he and his music have touched perhaps hundreds of thousands or millions of lives in a positive way. Listen to his music. Listen to the words. Listen to the messages. What are you going to do? Wait until there are no new songs to say how great the Old ones were? Why not take 2 minutes and say how great they are now! And you´re right, Hakan, I wouldn´t sit around and expect an answer or a thanks. I don´t think of this as a gift for Mr. Simon, but as a thank you to him for sharing his gift of music and intelligence with me. And you. And millions of people he doesn´t even know. Sharing of himself and opening himself up to what, at times, has been harsh ridicule for his thoughts and beliefs. For someone who writes such intensely personal songs, that can be very painful.
--- And for someone who writes of the beauty in this world, I think he would see the beauty of what we were doing for him. Your choice to sit back and watch or to participate.
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Micky
Jun-15-2006, 14:22 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| Well said Bonnie....And Mr Simon...ooooh *crunches up face* I do´t like that. I hate it when NY Times does it. Makes him sound like a banker or worse still a politician..*eeek*
Of course that is my opinion. I don´t like being called by my title and surname either...*shudders* |
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HÃ¥kan
Jun-15-2006, 14:53 GMT
IP:
Sweden
| Bonnie: IF you feel strongly about this, you should of course go ahead!
Micky: I expressed an opinion about Paul´s (well documented) attitude towards fans. An opinion can of course be wrong (I´ve been wrong once before ;-)). You call it being "negative", I don´t agree.
And what is so negative about saying that "Kathy´s Song" "is one of Paul´s absolutely most beautiful songs"?? |
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nancy
Jun-15-2006, 16:09 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| Paul said on the CBS Sunday Moring Show that he is touched when people tell him what his music has meant to them.I think it is a good idea, Bonnie. He might say that those things don´t matter to him, but I suspect that in his heart of hearts they really do. |
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Micky
Jun-15-2006, 18:52 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| I think what it is Nancy is Paul feels slightly embarrassed when he´s given praise. He doesn´t much like lsitening to himself and will leave the room when his songs come on; which he mentioned in the Steve Wright interview.
We´ve all seen him when people say how great his music is and so on, the poor guy looks as if he wants the ground to open up. |
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nancy
Jun-16-2006, 05:54 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| He could watch the video in his bathroom with the water running. |
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nancy
Jun-16-2006, 05:55 GMT
IP:
USA - United Staates America
| Rats...I don´t know how to put the smilies in. |
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