Paul Simon Discussion Group
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Tormod Reiersen · e͏S͏o͏d͏o͏n͏t͏s͏p͏r͏6͏t͏4͏7͏h͏r͏M͏f͏l͏P͏c͏s͏0͏i͏t͏m͏6͏e͏1͏a͏8͏t͏ ͏m͏Y͏1͏2͏t͏5͏e͏a͏5͏6͏7͏9͏y͏d͏0͏1͏ ͏3͏2͏1͏4͏a͏g͏6͏1͏ ͏:͏ ·
Paul Simon turns 85 today!
April 2026: A moment of reverence. When Paul first walks out onto the stage, the entire audience rises to its feet and applauds. Paul lets us carry on for several minutes. He is clearly moved and lets us know it. Perhaps I can even see a little tear on his cheek. There are 2,000 of us in the legendary Falkoner Hall in Copenhagen. The audience pays tribute to him for everything he has meant to us. When the concert is over, we celebrate him once again for yet another extraordinary experience, but also for an experience unlike any he has given us before.
“I could hardly breathe.” Paul Simon and his band have just performed his latest work, Seven Psalms, in its entirety when my wife, who is almost as big a fan as I am, blurts out those words. You could hear a pin drop throughout the performance. Not a mobile phone in sight. The performance was both relaxed and intense at the same time.
For me personally, Simon is the greatest Paul in the history of music. And I am not talking about influence, although his influence is certainly no small thing either. His music has been with me since I was 12 or 13 years old, and it will stay with me for the rest of my life.
The penultimate encore is a quiet singalong to “The Boxer.” The band takes its leave after Paul has sung, “I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains.” I get goosebumps once again, because that is exactly what he is doing, and what we all have to do. Never give up. He remains alone on stage and performs “The Sound of Silence.”
The evening is over, and eventually Paul has to leave the hall. But before he goes, he takes his time. Time to let the audience pay tribute to him. Time to thank the audience. (Edit: Translated from Nowegian by help of AI)

There will always be another song to be written. Someone will write it. Why not you? www.garyeandrews.com