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| Headline | how do you feel re: all the Jesus stuff |
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| Author | Comment |
Proof
Apr-30-2011, 23:33 GMT
USA - United Staates America
 | I am uncomfortable with all the Christian imagry. Along the lines of when Lennon didn´t want McCartney to put out Let It Be.
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neongoddess
Apr-30-2011, 23:36 GMT
USA - United Staates America
| I find it strange, actually, since Paul has said in interviews that he´s not religious. However, being raised in the U.S., which is a largely Christian culture, it´s understandable that some imagery would show up in the music, especially as Paul contemplates mortality. |
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Proof
Apr-30-2011, 23:38 GMT
USA - United Staates America
| Maybe he still feels like the small Jewish kid who was aliented from his culture. If you´re not Christian in this country, you feel bullied. (PS - did not mean to post this twice, sorry) |
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Pelle
May-01-2011, 10:26 GMT
Sweden
 | Im not a beliver, I don´t belive in god, but for me Paul Simon can write what he wants, If he will write about god fine for me, If it´s a good song he can write about and ants or a Zebra whit he has just done, I dont care it´s his pen |
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deleted_user
May-01-2011, 12:44 GMT
Unknown
 | I agree with Pelle. Religion is superstition to me, but if Paul wants to write about it, I will listen. |
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Brenda
May-01-2011, 13:23 GMT
Australia
 | Paul has said he is not a religious person but believes in God. He does not follow any particular religion. I agree he can write about anything he wishes too. |
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Bodo
May-01-2011, 13:25 GMT
Austria
 | It is interesting to read that. I had(or have?) no opinion about it, but only because I am not a native listener. For me the music is always much more important when I first listen. To undestand Pauls lyrics it takes some time. But now I feel/think if Paul would sing in German, my first thought would maybe that it is too much about god and religion (Or I imagine a German singer like Grönemeyer would sing just songs about god...). I maybe would not be that happy with it, thats right. But the intersting thing is that Paul really does not want to deliver any message with that. HE said that he does not know where those lyrics came from, why god is in nearly every song. So that is confusing (I hope Paul is not a ´medium´ or something like that).
I still can live with it very good, because Pauls lyrics are more clever than those pure christian songs (Love me jesus...uh uh uh). The Afterlife is just fun, and lines like ´Love me, love me, thats the main request I receive...´ show me that Paul is not on a christianisation tour. Big bang, thats a joke that I made up once I had eons to kill. Christian people could even see those lines as blasphemie..
I had two friends, about 10 years ago, they formed a small live band. One was a big Simon fan, so they played a few of his songs. The othe one was from a free christian church. He refused to play the song ´Old´ because of the line ´God is old, the bible is old´. Well I am pretty sure he would refuse to play songs like The Afterlife or LIESL too.
I think from a christian point of view, Paul is a sometimes a really bad guy. Because most folks, they don´t get when he´s joking. |
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DannyJ
May-01-2011, 16:31 GMT
United Kingdom
 | To add to Bobo´s reply, I find it amusing that Paul is using the concept of God as a musical/lyrical vehicle... It´s almost like he´s avoided the topic until Surprise, and now he´s saying "hey, I really don´t care anymore".
Paul is not religious, but that should not stop him from using imagery that´s familiar to just about everyone in the world, which the concept of God/God´s is. I know people who don´t believe in Love, but there´s plenty of songs about it!
I´m not religious AT ALL, but God crops up in my vernacular from time to time... "For Christs Sake", "Oh My God" for example (no offense God people).
Imagery, concepts, stories... Paul the poet. Amen. |
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DannyJ
May-01-2011, 16:34 GMT
United Kingdom
| Oh, and I sang ´God Save the Queen´ VERY loud on Friday after the Royal Wedding! Hmmmm.... |
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Carol
May-01-2011, 16:40 GMT
Unknown
| I am a Christian, but am not offended by Mr. Simon´s lyrics. I didn´t like GRFCD at fist because I thought he was poking fun at the African American preacher, which he´s not. Even if you´re not a believer in organized religion, it has always been a big part of our culture and in the U.S. and you are exposed to a lot of it. |
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Mike
May-01-2011, 16:45 GMT
USA - United Staates America
| Clearly religion is a touchy subject, so it´s a breath of fresh air when people on this forum can peacefully share their opinions.
I think all writers feel a certain connection to something beyond their realm of perception. Like many artists have said, their work often flows through them as if from some other source. The beauty in this is that one can perceive this in whatever way they would like. The inspiration could be coming from the unconscious mind, from one´s surroundings, from a greater being, or from some wonderful blend of everything out there.
Whether religious or not, much of Simon´s work has at least mentioned the role of God in what goes on in the world, so this album is nothing different in that respect as far as I´m concerned. |
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neongoddess
May-01-2011, 17:05 GMT
USA - United Staates America
| Someone mentioned that Paul avoided the subject of God until recently. Interestingly, while Paul may not have written specifically about religion, he has used Christian imagery in songs throughout his career. "Bleeker Street" ("30 dollars pays your rent"), "Think Too Much" ("me and girls from St. Augustine/up in the mezzanine´)..."Mrs. Robinson"...the imagery has always been there. I think now he´s just getting more frequent and less subtle about it. |
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Proof
May-01-2011, 23:35 GMT
USA - United Staates America
| Paul Simon was crucified by critics for your sins. ;) |
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Brenda
May-02-2011, 02:47 GMT
Australia
| Latest review of the album.
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2011/may/01/pop-note
s-simons-so-beautiful-ponders-lif-20110501/?nwa-fe
atures |
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DannyJ
May-02-2011, 21:21 GMT
United Kingdom
| Check out the thread for the BBC Radio 2 interview... the topic of God etc... is brought up there if you can listen... Interesting stuff! |
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