Talking about Paul Simon at Emory

Don Saliers (William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus) talks about "The Sound of Silence" - its historical context in the 1960s, its theological underpinnings, and his personal connection to the song.

When asked about their favorite Paul Simon song, many Emory faculty and staff mentioned "The Boxer" because, like so many of Simon's songs, it tells a great story with a poet's use of language.

Members of Atlanta's Bet Haverim Chorus and Music Ensemble talk about their motivation and inspiration behind singing Paul Simon's "American Tune" to their congregation. The Chorus first performed the song on January 22, 2010, and sings at occasional liturgical services, major holidays, community events, and special occasions.

Faculty, students and staff recall their reaction to the news that Paul Simon will be giving the 2013 Richard Ellmann Lectures at Emory University, Feb. 10-12.

Allison Adams, an editor in Emory's Center for Faculty Development and Excellence, offers a peek of her home-movie tribute to Paul Simon from her teenage days (pre-YouTube!).

Poet Kevin Young talks about Aretha Franklin's soulful version (1971) of Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1969). He describes the hymn-like aspect of the song and its use of language in describing a primal landscape of rivers, bridges, crossings and connections.

Arianna Skibell 14C (Psychology and Linguistics) talks about Paul Simon's latest album, "So Beautiful or So What," and how it speaks to her generation. She is currently the executive editor of the "Emory Wheel" and the editor and designer of "Frequency," Emory's music and culture magazine.

Jericho Brown, an assistant professor of creative writing/English at Emory University, talks about Paul Simon’s latest album, “So Beautiful or So What,” describing the “calling back” he does over and over again to African-American music and themes.

Lauren Henrickson 13C (Linguistics and Religion), says the music of Paul Simon reminds her of "the smaller pockets of life that we experience but don't necessarily talk about." Some of her strongest memories of Simon's music involve singing "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with her high school choir." with her high school choir.

Rosemary Magee, Vice President and Secretary, talks about her memories of listening to Paul Simon while she was a college undergrad. Simon, she says, "helped create a travel narrative of our lives." Paul Simon will deliver the 2013 Richard Ellmann Lectures in Modern Literature at Emory University, February 10-12, 2013. The Ellmann Lectures consist of a series of public lectures that are ticketed but free and open to the public. Simon's lectures will concern, in part, an overview of the historical antecedents of the music made between 1966 and 1970. Rosemary Magee is the newly appointed director of MARBL, Emory's Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. As a professor and administrator, she has worked to strengthen interdisciplinary scholarship, the arts, and creativity. An essayist and fiction writer, she believes in the power of stories, poetry, and songs to shape our world.

Walt Reed, William R. Kenan University Professor at Emory University, takes a close look at the song "Graceland" (1986) by Paul Simon, treating the lyrics as a poem that can stand by itself without music or vocals. Paul Simon will deliver the 2013 Richard Ellmann Lectures in Modern Literature at Emory University, February 10-12, 2013. The Ellmann Lectures consist of a series of public lectures that are ticketed but free and open to the public. Simon's lectures will concern, in part, an overview of the historical antecedents of the music made between 1966 and 1970. Prof. Reed teaches poetry and other types of literature at Emory, and is interested in folk and popular American music.

Marshall Duke, Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Emory University, talks about Paul Simon's ability to connect with people across generations, especially in his song "Old Friends" (recorded in 1968). Paul Simon will deliver the 2013 Richard Ellmann Lectures in Modern Literature at Emory University, February 10-12, 2013. The Ellmann Lectures consist of a series of public lectures that are ticketed but free and open to the public. Simon's lectures will concern, in part, an overview of the historical antecedents of the music made between 1966 and 1970. Prof. Marshall is a clinical psychologist whose teaching and research examine questions of personality and psychopathology through the lenses of art, fiction and music. He has also studied the importance of rituals and family stories in the health and well-being of children.