PAUL SIMON Me and Julio down by the schoolyard Music Reaction -An exotic record - First time hearing

[@batmanforpresident9655]

Paul Simon is one of only a handful of artists who can be mentioned in the same breath with Bob Dylan as one of the greatest songwriters in history.

[@rickg3359]

And the man can pull off a turkey suit like nobody’s business. On SNL this bit was great. Playing hoops against a giant

[@davidschecter5247]

I would add Gordon Lightfoot to that very short list.

[@SBel65]

“Rymin’ Simon’!

[@robertpearson8798]

@@davidschecter5247 So did Bob Dylan.

[@74artgrrl]

Yeah. I’ve been a fan of both since the late 70’s because mom would play this awesome music. I’m still in awe of their songwriting and I have to agree. Yes.

[@sopdox]

The song was released in 1972. Corona is a neighborhood in Queens, NYC with a significant Latino and African-American population so you hear the local flavor in music. In the song, two boys break the law. Paul Simon doesn’t say what they did, but he has said in his mind he thinks it was something 2 young men could get into a lot of trouble being caught doing back then. Also, the line “Goodbye, Rosie, Queen of Corona” Queens is one of the most ethnically diverse areas on the planet. You can drive a few miles and hear and see hundreds of cultures. Paul Simon grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood called Kew Gardens Hills. Another famous Paul, Paul Stanley, lead singer of KISS lived in Kew Gardens as well. I, too live in Queens. My neighborhood is very heavily Asian (Korea, China, Vietnam) and also Greek. I went to the same middle school as Paul Stanley and college as Paul Simon. When he went on his retirement tour the final show was At Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which is partly in Flushing and partly in Corona, Queens (if you ever watch the US Tennis Open, it’s also held at the same park).

[@jacqueline4514]

Went to the Vinyl Hall of Fame ceremony there last September ❤(Old School Funk, R&B, Club music awards; was phenomenal); grew up in the Bronx and Brooklyn 😊

[@micheled6111]

Awesome info. I think this is my favorite Paul Simon song. My great grandparents were last name Simon from Hungary so I always wonder if there is any connection as I believe his family were Hungarian Jews.

[@danjoda755]

Hi neighbor, East Elmhurst sending greetings! I'm still on the hunt for those pigeonsSimon used in the background, lolllll. 😂✌️😇

[@14gilbertst]

His first solo album in 1972. Great album. ("When the radical priest came to get me released, we was all on the cover of Newsweek!" One of the greatest lyrics of all time!!)

[@pamalaalford1081]

Thanks for that line ... I always wondered what he said but never bothered to look it up!

[@tedcole9936]

Agreed, and this line does a double-slam on my head.. in the mid-to-late 70s I lived in Upstate New York, and I had a girlfriend who was a peaceful but radical leftist whose entire family was friends with the radical Catholic priests, the Berrigan brothers. (Anti-Viet Nam war protestors) She subsequently engaged in several political protest actions which were “against the law” and served several terms in federal prison as a result. The Berrigans were on the cover of Time magazine some time in the early 70s. (Newsweek rhymes better than Time in the song!!). Every time I hear this song, I think of her fondly! I couldn’t go down that road with her, but still respected her dedication to peaceful civil dis-obedience.

[@denisepaul7274]

Mama Pajama!!! One of my all time favorite songs!!!

[@DanielVolk-jm4nt]

Fantastic request Debbie. Always loved this song. 👍🙃🇺🇸🇨🇦🇬🇧🤴

[@lupodelupis3672]

There's a great scene in Wes Anderson's "The Tenenbaums" with this song...when Royal (a great Gene Hackman) take his nephews to live New York, doing shenanigans...so cool😁

[@donnadubyak6504]

Great Singer, songwriter. Extremely larger catalog.

[@becksullivan4796]

Paul Simon is just plain great. ‘Nuf said.

[@lcassamas]

According to Wikipedia, “The percussion sound in the song, unusual for American pop, was created with a cuica, a Brazilian friction drum instrument often used in samba music.” It was played by a brilliant Brazilian percussionist called Airto Moreira. I’ve long interpreted the song as being a metaphor for the antiwar protests going on on college campuses across the US at the time. I wouldn’t arm wrestle you over it, but that’s what I think.

[@jimwilcox2964]

Cuica drum, i knew that sounded familiar. I graduated high school in 75 and the band director had one of those we used in jazz band when we did Herbi Hancock's Watermelon Man

[@Cynthia...]

Fantastic song Debbie. I love anything by Paul Simon. Thanks Harri.

[@terra274]

This is the New York City street sound of the early 70s with the Puerto Rican influence

[@danieledlefsen940]

That hoo hoo sound is a quica. A Brazilian instrument.

[@dwainwilder7337]

Paul Simon has always had this unique way of incorporating interesting percussion instruments in his songs. Great song! This was recorded in 1972. Please react to “50 Way to leave your lover”. FYI: Did you know that before Simon & Garfunkel. The name of the duo was Tom & Jerry?

[@nancywest1926]

Wow, my cousins would babysit my brother and I and bring their records over. Oh, the music! This song!

[@bethwvu1406]

The song makes full use of the stereo spectrum, with an acoustic guitar dominating the left channel, and lighter sounding guitar on the right. According to producer Phil Ramone, this right-channel guitar was an electric that was unplugged, with its strings dampened. Simon and David Spinozza played the guitars. The odd squiggly sound throughout the song was created with a cuica, which is a kind of percussion instrument. It was played by the Brazilian musician Airto Moreira. Simon did the whistling solo on this song himself. In concert, the whistling was sometimes replaced with a saxophone solo The line, "Rosie, the queen of Corona," references the Corona neighborhood in Queens, New York. On September 22, 2018, Simon played the last show on his farewell tour in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. "How much fun is it to sing a song about Corona in Corona?" he asked the crowd.

[@suzannesellers7383]

Such a fun song. I don’t hear it often enough. Paul is a fabulous songwriter and performer.

[@tedcole9936]

1972, Hari. The first song on Paul Simon’s first solo LP. Corona is a section of Queens, NYC. Where Paul Grew up. The exotic instrument always evoked a dog companion, who I’ve assumed is Julio. Second LP I ever purchased. A great album, through and through.

[@williambissell972]

The monkey sounding instrument is a Cuica, a Brazilian instrument heard most often in Samba music. The reason the guitars sound so interesting, apart from great groove, is that one of the two guitars is a close-miked,unplugged, solid body electric guitar, counterpointed with Simon playing acoustic guitar

[@Bob_Cats]

❤ This song. Thanks harribest

[@librarylady13]

[@elysehfm8797]

Hey Harri! You have a great amount of Simon and Garfunkel, but have you heard Garfunkel's For Emily Wherever I May Find Her? Technically Simon and Garfunkel, still. But it's so beautiful, you'd love it.

[@ericanderson8886]

Great solo Paul Simon, just a natural singer songwriter at his best in this one.

[@karenmandeville7116]

one of my favorite paul simon songs.

[@marybaillie8907]

And the question remains....what were Me and Julio doing down by the schoolyard ??? Such a wonderful song by Paul delivered as only he can. The lyrics, the magical instruments including the cuica and Paul's catchy performance made for a big hit. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Debbie. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

[@christimanley13]

I always got the impression they were smoking weed. That's what big kids are mostly doing hanging around their old school playgrounds.

[@davebzen795]

Debbie - "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" was a superb submission. This song is from Paul's first album if I recall correctly. Paul Simon is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. Great choice, and Harri, your review is very informative and entertaining. Bravo!!

[@southernbella6535]

My dad had this album and most all the others Paul Simon made. I grew up listening to this great song , its the one from my child hood that stuck ! This rabbit hole is very deep but omg worth the trip ! Ty and keep exploring great music :)

[@dagmar.6954]

Paul Simon is a great singer songwriter. After his success with Simon & Garfunkel in the 60's, Paul Simon went solo in 1970. He has a huge library of songs such as "Mother & Child Reunion", "Still Crazy After All These Years", "Gone At Last", "My Little Town", "Loves Me Like A Rock", "Slip Slidin' Away", "You Can Call Me Al", "Graceland" etc.

[@brenthowell8883]

Check out his song Still Crazy. Wonderful slow and smooth song from this Brother!♥️✌️

[@bethwvu1406]

I remember when I bought this first solo album in 1972, I was so disappointed about the S&G breakup, but I quickly warmed to this great album.....Paul said of this song, "When asked what it was that “Mama Pajama” saw, Simon told Rolling Stone in a 1972 interview, “I have no idea what it is. Something sexual is what I imagine … I never bothered to figure out what it was. Didn’t make any difference to me.”...In the official video, Mickey Mantle is also at the playground with all the kids - Paul is a huge Yankees fan and Mickey his favorite player. It's a fun video!...Later, when "Mrs. Robinson" was written for the film, "The Graduate", Mickey asked Paul why was Joe DiMaggio mentioned and not me...Paul said it was a matter of syllables....PS is still writing music at age 81....HIs latest venture...a 33 minute piece called "Seven Psalms" just arrived today in my mailbox....His genius will live forever!

[@robertmarriott6767]

Love it ❤ tune 😊

[@missblondie2393]

This is one of those songs that I must dance too A favorite Great choice 🎉❤

[@cjdesign5700]

Great one Debbie abd Harri. Paul was starting to show his interest into universal genres

[@thequietrevolution3404]

The "Australian thing " sound is a percussion instrument called the Cuica. As for the history of this song, only a true Paul Simon aficionado will be able to tell you. (Edit) Great reaction to a great song.

[@gioconda43]

I do know this one very well! 😊😊 brasilian sound...

[@johnharding7650]

Oh yeah! You got to this one!

[@timgrady4630]

Outstanding Harri ...unforgettable vibe .

[@allisonlopez5089]

My first 45 was Paul Simon. Chotachrom and Love Me Like a Rock.

[@lisaharrod8386]

So tongue in cheek...brilliant writing...such a joyful tune! Glad you covered this one! You pick the best stuff!😍😍😍

[@Y_.R]

Another great song of his with this kind of beat is one of my favorites - “Late in the Evening.”

[@Prof_Jeff]

That's one of my Paul Simon favorites. I believe Steve Gadd did drums and percussion on that track.

[@debjorgo]

This sounds like solo Paul Simon to me. There were a few Simon and Garfunkel songs that sounded like solo Paul, Cecilia and Keep the Customer Satisfied. But Kodachrome, Mother and Child Reunion, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Slip Slidin' 'Away, and this song, sounds like solo Paul. He had yet a third sound, with the album Graceland and the ones that came after that. I didn't care as much for that later period, but I lot of people did. You'd like Duncan!

[@cog4life]

Love this fun song!!

[@paulrt3]

Such a great song. Should check out "Kodachrome" and "Loves me like a Rock"

[@3dagalathor]

or Late in the Evening

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Wonderful little song love you

[@tektoniks_architects]

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Paul Simon had one of the most impactful careers in popular music of the 1970's. TY Harri.

[@joanneperlmutter2038]

Sir, the 'J' in Spanish is pronounced like an "H." Therefore, this person's name is pronounced Hulio. Thanks for all of your other authentic reactions!

[@m06een00]

It's the hit single from his eponymous first solo album, all recorded in Jamaica.

[@kathylee1261]

The video is great

[@thomasgrover3223]

Great reaction ❤😅

[@jacqueline4514]

You know how bad boys can tease girls when they are around 12 and 13? Well this song was a source of torture for me because my maiden name rhymed with Julio and one kid Matthew would sing “Me and Pou..io down by the schoolyard” in front of everybody. 😡. Found out years later that he liked me 😂

[@Imadrummin]

👍👍👍

[@mickleyba5918]

Love the song though better than what I cañ do for sure

[@victoria2050nin]

This song sounds soo New Yawk! This from a former Queens NYC girl!.

[@mickleyba5918]

We did a survey one person out of fifty knew what Lolo was about

[@agnetesorensenelbom5085]

Do remember this song

[@jeanninelockridge5235]

This song came out after he broke off with Art Garfunkel. Paul Simon played the guitar. He is an amazing song writer.

[@rubroken]

Harri, Julio is pronounced hoo-leo, the name is spanish and j' is pronounced as an h'(spanish speaking people forgive me for a gringo explanation)

[@septictopix4797]

That's actually a latin percussion instrument called a cuica. It looks like a drum, but instead of hitting it, you reach inside of it and there it s stick attached to the head that you rub with your fingers. The amount of friction you create, along with the speed in which you rub is what makes those sounds.

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thanx

[@famat161]

My vote for what's next by Paul Simon is "Duncan".

[@JD_Cool]

Absolutely. "Duncan" is such an amazing coming of age tale. One of my fave Simon tunes

[@RedRuffinsore]

I just found out that Paul Simon moved about 10 minutes away from me (Wimberly, Texas) - I keep hoping I'll run into him.

[@jimbrentar]

the story in the lyrics is interesting

[@MuricaTurkey]

It seems Simon didn't put a whole lot of thought into the exact plot of the song, but rather made a mish-mash of a comedic poem out of random thoughts regarding his growing up in Queens. So, the narrator (not necessarily him. Many of Simon's songs are clearly not autobiographical) and a boy, Julio, get in some kind of trouble. He says he's not sure what, but something minor and "sexual". My guess is they're teens who were seen hiring a pro lady if the night. He has to run away because his parents now despise him for embarrassing their family. He makes sure to say goodbye to Rosie, who is a sort of neighborhood popular girl living in Corona (a nearby district. The pro lady perhaps? I think so, anyway. Though he's not confirmed this) He runs away, but gets caught soon after by the cops and thrown in jail. A "radical priest" fights for his release, and is successful. They both get put on magazines as a result. This character is probably inspired by Daniel Barrigan, a famous antiwar, pacifist priest who is definitely someone who would work to have prisoners freed from unnecessarily cruel sentences. And was featured on the cover of "Time" magazine around the time this song was written. The narrator is free, but has no idea what he's going to do with his life now. He's going to "get out there" and live, but has no idea what that really means. He then thinks about how he's going to miss getting into trouble with his boyhood friend, ending the song where it began.

[@davidrauh8118]

Check out the music video for this song.

[@alhollywood6486]

Please check out the Josh Turner Guitar cover of this, it will uplift you!❤️

[@Hobodeluxe960]

Lots of Josh's covers are worthy of reacting to. "Stuck In The Middle With You"- Stealer's Wheels cover, "Sloop John B"- Beach Boys cover - "Little Wing" on a mandolin so much talent he and his friends have.

[@alhollywood6486]

@@Hobodeluxe960 just wanted to wet his feet😂😂

[@Hobodeluxe960]

@@alhollywood6486 was hoping other readers might check these out and continue browsing his channel. There's hours of quality entertainment there.

[@alhollywood6486]

@@Hobodeluxe960 💯

[@alhollywood6486]

@@Hobodeluxe960 Sixteen Tons, Operator, so many...

[@4yules]

if u get a chance...watch the video for this song...

[@Nancy-n4o8k]

That's a Latin Beat.

[@mickleyba5918]

Lola. The. Kinks I believe

[@daviddragavon7555]

He is more fun than Dylan, in general. I am a fan of both!

[@daviddragavon7555]

Thanks Harri! Paul, especially in his solo years, was especially influenced by the cultures he met in his travels, and he would work hard to incorporate their music into his. Pretty cool! Good companion songs for Me and Julio: "Half a mile away" Billy Joel and "We got to get you a woman" Todd Rundgren. All about young city dwelling guys with a lot of time on their hands in the summer.

[@brianyaniro4797]

I always thought it was about him smoking weed on the playground.

[@cecileluv]

Julio is Spanish, so HOOLIO

[@AP-gb3eh]

1970s New York song

[@bradsullivan2495]

1972. Simon and Garfunkel had broken up and Paul went on to a great solo career, periodically reuniting with Garfunkel, who had an iconic voice, but no songwriting ability.

[@GroovingPict]

Simon did actually perform this song with Garfunkel at the 1981 reuninon concert in Central Park: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5C1fHaGbr2psLM

[@atombomb31458]

72

[@ethelwulfmountbattenderoth2286]

I'm sure this has been mentioned but the, "Australian noise," is really a Brazilian noise. It's a percussion instrument called a, Cuica. Why here's a short video explaining it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIeypXhnpriso7c Bonus points for trying to explain the noise it makes by imitating it. Cuz you will look and sound like a goof

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thanx

[@burrichgrrl57]

Actually, this doesn't remind me of Simon and Garfunkel at all. Most of their music was very folky and 60's. Still, great reaction. :-)

[@AngelicaH3ART]

It sounds like Hoolio, not Joolio lol.

[@gullyfoyle-uf6fr]

What mama say was an act of homosexuality. Ground breaking song !

[@Nurse66]

I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS SONG REALLY… DID HIS MOTHER SEE HIM AND HULIO DOING SOMETHING AGAINST THE LAW SO THEY ARE ON THE RUN???😂😂😂

[@johnharding7650]

Clearly the mama pajama witnessed a homosexual event, so to speak