Simon & Garfunkel's Stupid Human Tricks | Letterman

The legendary duo talk about their early days as Tom & Jerry, show off their hidden talents and more. (From "Late Night," air date: 7/25/83)
#PaulSimon #ArtGarfunkel #Letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

[@TonyTube407]

It's so funny that Art mentioned he was a walker. I used to be a police officer in a rural area and late one night a deputy from the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Department got on the radio that he was going to check on someone walking alongside the road near Burbank, WA. A moment or two later he radioed into dispatch: "This is just Art Garfunkel out walking around the country. He's fine. I'll be clear." I distinctly remember thinking how odd that sounded at the time. True story.

[@MrEvans1973]

My high school biology teacher once gave him a ride near Lititz, PA in the 1970s. Apparently, he hitch-hiked / walked a long way every summer.

[@cindyinnew]

He’s also walked from NYC to the Oregon coast. He did it in fragments but always started back up from where he had ended the time before. He’s also walked across a major part of Europe. He’s a fascinating man. Both he and Simon are extremely intelligent and both are very funny. Especially Simon. He’s got a wicked sense of humor

[@kalmia01]

@@cindyinnew so true, very intelligent and got a wonderful sense of humour, also they made true art (not by chance :)), did music for the "Muse" not for making millions and for people to find in it joy, relief, peace and also at times deep critical thinking. They stand in a special place in music history

[@damianmusicofficial]

​@@cindyinnew Paul said in an interview that one time when they were doing the shows in Japan Art landed in a different city and walked across the Japan for 3 weeks prior to the concert.

[@cindyinnew]

@@damianmusicofficial yes I’ve heard he walked across Japan. He’s such an interesting person isn’t he?

[@K9TrueNH]

"This is a little silly even for your show, isn't it?" - Art Garfunkel. Terrific, fun interview. Dave, you always could humanize the biggest of stars. It's so good to see these clips again.

[@NichOlsonSmooth]

When Simon finished juggling, I was waiting for Garfunkel to storm off and say, "There you go again, Paul! Always upstaging me!"

[@lynnturman8157]

I was in high school when they did their Concert in Central Park. I remember going to a friend's house & watching it on his satellite TV on a live feed (back when satellite's first came out & were half as big as a house). It was a big deal when they got back together to do that concert. It was like the Beatles were getting back together. It wasn't quite as big as that but it was close. I still watch the videos from that concert on yt all the time.

[@hobbygamer6220]

you're right. it was bigger

[@rman52]

Dylan, Wilson, and Simon. The three best song writers of rock. Garfunkel and Carl Wilson. The two best voices of rock.

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

I like that list. I put Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Micky Dolenz in that list as well

[@Alejandro-ug1nc]

I wouldn't call Paul Simon "a rocker" but he's a great songrwiter and lyricist for sure. Pure poetry.

[@rman52]

@@Alejandro-ug1nc Folk rock is still a genre of rock. Simon has twice been inducted into the rock hall of fame. Although that doesn't necessarily mean anything with biggie and mad donna in there.

[@lawyeredup]

Paul in an earlier Dave Letterman interview said that Art was unusual. He looked that way to me in this interview. His description of why he walked across Japan was likely dead on. Since then, he has walked across the USA and Europe. On his website, he posted details of the routes he took. Among other things on the site, he has also listed all the books he has read since 1968, noting the year in which he read each. I'd say that was unusual. Loved their music.

[@VangeliRock]

Once upon a time, humans engaged in smart, witty conversation.

[@charlenemack7040]

Paul and Art.....both 80 years young! ❤️❤️

[@sharpeslass5452]

They broke up when I was two years old and I became smitten with Art Garfunkel when I was 16... Simon & Garfunkel are still firmly in my top five favorite musical acts, sand always will be.

[@steverutland9267]

Why does Paul sniff the balls once he's finished juggling 😂

[@sharpeslass5452]

Had such a crush on Art, starting when I was about 16 (1986). I finally got to see him perform live in the mid '00s. He was wonderful. His singing voice is truly one of the best ever.

[@cindyinnew]

So funny you mention your crush. Same here. Some people get it, others can’t get past his funny hair. All I ever saw were incredible eyes, great cheekbones, superior intellect, great sense of humor, confidence, and one of the greatest voices of all time ❤

[@sharpeslass5452]

@@cindyinnew Same, same, same! I wish I could post photos here; I did a really good Art (pun) sketch when I was 16. It's probably the best portrait I ever managed. (My devotion was intense.)

[@NotHalfBadNomad]

Same! I don’t know what it is, but I think he is so beautiful. And there is something about the way he carries himself in the way that he speaks that seems very sexual to me. I’ve always loved him!

[@sharpeslass5452]

@@NotHalfBadNomad Agreed. Beautiful and sexy. Or was, at least, back in my younger days. (I always cast him as a worldly but romantic wandering minstrel type in my teen Princess in a Castle fantasies! 😳)

[@cindyinnew]

@@NotHalfBadNomad he exudes sensuality. His eyes are incredible. He is sooo self confident. And let’s face it…he rocks that crazy hair!

[@PlanetRockJesus]

I love what Art said about playing songs over and over.

[@ckp2ator389]

He's certainly an articulate and thoughtful person.

[@charlenemack7040]

My number one favorite all-time song is....The Sound of Silence! ❤️

[@sharpeslass5452]

Oooh... It's so close with Bridge Over Troubled Water, but I think Silence has the edge. I've always felt The Only Living Boy in New York was underrated. (I was a bit livid when the chorus showed up in a car commercial a while back.)

[@Fastvoice]

It's in fact "The Sounds of Silence". 😉

[@ChingolaChick-tz3dx]

Gotta be sound of silence no 1 any day,!!!!

[@joelhenderson4450]

Such magnetic personalities…

[@richardkuehn115]

Still enjoy watching after all these years.

[@vinnygi]

🎶 Oh-h-h-h, still watching after all these years… 🎵

[@qtrust]

See what you did there. ;)

[@richardkuehn115]

Of course. Even a blind frog catches a fly once in a while.

[@chazinko]

So groovy.

[@ericsinger7393]

Nice!! Good one!! Love it!!

[@Obiter3]

You get a glimpse here into the dynamic of they didn't really like each other all that much at this point.

[@sharpeslass5452]

I find that really sad.

[@cindyinnew]

Oh they never stopped liking each other. They are each other’s longest relationship in their entire lives. They are better for each other now when not working together. They bicker just like all people do

[@sharpeslass5452]

@@cindyinnew I'd always heard that there was some animosity between them. I'm glad if that isn't the case.

[@cindyinnew]

@@sharpeslass5452 I think there’s been tremendous friction but no more than the average people who were children together, grew up as best friends, did school, fun and music together, then worked together every day for years. It was like a marriage, friendship and business all wrapped up in just two people

[@kalmia01]

@@cindyinnew true, I guess they managed it sooo well actually, as the very intelligent (and I guess also caring) people they are. Separating for years and then getting back together, so that they kept a safe place for their special reciprocal "sparkle", and never made it totally extinguish... many marriages should take example from them ahaha:)) I also guess they were very very lucky to find each other, so early in life, and build such a unique artistic and human bond. A match made in heaven truly

[@RIXRADvidz]

I loved Stupid Human Tricks. I had two ready to go ! 1) refold a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillow cases back into it's original package 2) tie a marrichino cherry stem with my tongue. never got the chance to do them on TV, just at home every week on laundry day. cherry stems nsm

[@cindyinnew]

Haha 😂😂😂

[@zdauphinais]

This channel makes me so happy

[@avabrock3734]

paul off the perc

[@CraigLumpyLemke]

Kinda' what I was thinking. Off something or on something.

[@jeffclement2468]

Never seen this! Thanks for posting 😻

[@pika23]

I remember I was supposed to see their reunion in 2003, then art got busted for marijuana or something. The guy I was gonna go with ,well, I was talking to my now husband at the same time. Ended up with my husband who LOVES PAUL! His fave era is when Paul did the African stuff with Lady smith black mombazo

[@eruption257]

What a shame that new album never really materialized with Garfunkel. Hearts and Bones is a fantastic record, don't get me wrong, but man would it have been an interesting Simon & Garfunkel comeback album.

[@mibeatleman6767]

"Hearts And Bones" was supposed to be a Simon And Garfunkel album but Paul erased Art's vocals, making it a Simon solo album, what a shame.

[@cleopatra6912]

@@mibeatleman6767 That is not completely correct. The decision to release a new S&G album was made by their record companies following the success of their reunion concert. At that time Paul had already completed all songs for his solo album Hearts and Bones in their basis structure. But he agreed to turn it into a S&G album. All songs had been written only for one voice and had to be adopted to a two voices setup. Therefore they started to rewrite the songs and record the album together. At that time Art already had voice problems due to smoking cigarettes, which made it difficult for him to record. He often did not show up in the studio, went for long walks that sometimes took weeks. He decided to walk through Japan, which lead to a delay of nearly half a year and the album still had not been finished. After all deadlines had been blown, Paul asked the record company to be released from the S&G project and returned to his original solo project again.

[@OnBleeckerStreet]

It’s great how non-exhausting and even intelligent the audience sounds

[@lembagnol5882]

Paul Simon is like shy, while Art Garfunkel was playing the role of big brother.

[@charlenemack7040]

My number one favorite all-time song is.....Sound of silence

[@KendraAndTheLaw]

fantastic

[@dontcare563]

I like their music but never realized how odd they really were!

[@ckp2ator389]

Yes, maybe it comes with genius. The way that they are odd each in their own way, it's actually a wonder that they were able to get along enough for musical reunions through the years.

[@bluebear1985]

We'll be right back with Mary Tyler Moore. Stick around, kids.

[@jamesviola79]

Simon and Garfunkel barely tolerating one another as usual...

[@nancywarren7331]

Most enjoyable 🎉

[@chrisboch931]

I was at that Akron show. It was perhaps the best concert I have ever seen. Music, fireworks and the Goodyear blimp flying over with a thank you message from S & G. Then they got into a fight backstage and cancelled the rest of the tour.

[@chadbuarsons8551]

That's not true, they did the full tour. Later on through Paul did remove Artie's vocals from Hearts and Bones and released it as a solo album.

[@AvengerII]

I have a hard time believing Akron was EVER a big record market! Then again, I didn't live there in the 1930s and 1940s before it went bust. The NE of Ohio is part of the rust belt of manufacturing in the US; sad fact but reality. It's hard to imagine ANY part of Ohio was a large part of the WW2 war effort but there it was in the Akron area! Good Year alone sprung out thousands of Corsair fighter clones (called FG Corsair to distinguish from the Vought F4U Corsair). Weird how things develop in history.

[@FranciscoSantos-ti6nt]

Paul Simon has a woman within

[@hobbygamer6220]

2 boys who sing make that the name of you twos next album ! 🙂

[@paulferranti8536]

I saw this tour….it had The Everly Brothers as the between sets act…awesome

[@ThomasLeonard454]

Wow, this is an OLD clip of all 3 of these entertainers.

[@kinsmed]

Thirty... thirty EIGHT-and a half years ago?!!

[@garycrawford5246]

Fabulous, legendary musicians. Great interviewees? Not so much. Good for young Dave for hanging in there.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

It's difficult to interview 2 superstars simultaneously in the span of 15 mins.

[@garycrawford5246]

@@moaningpheromones Mid-30s is not young?

[@JamesACosby]

I thought it was great.

[@cindyinnew]

@@JamesACosby same!

[@williamknell864]

Starting a big tour in Ohio, in the 80s, was an Akronism.

[@TTM9691]

Ha. Simon shivved Garfunkel right after this and the "new album" Garfunkel speaks off ended up Simon's solo album "Hearts And Bones" in which Simon wiped Art's vocal tracks! lol.

[@sharpeslass5452]

Not exactly how it happened, but Simon has, in my opinion, consistently done Arty wrong.

[@davejanas948]

Seems like Art has a big chip on his shoulder, especially with Dave.

[@andersenchang9524]

mixes them up with penn and teller

[@keefriff99]

Art seems very intelligent but very difficult to deal with.

[@allendracabal0819]

I have the exact same impression.

[@sharpeslass5452]

From everything I've read, Paul Simon is the difficult one. He's very type A, and a perfectionist. Art was very hurt when Paul decided to break up the band (when they were still best friends!), so of course some of those feelings are going to bleed through.

[@cindyinnew]

@@sharpeslass5452 I adore Art but he’s a different egg. He isn’t easy either. Both are extremely interesting and intelligent men

[@sharpeslass5452]

@@cindyinnew Fair. I recognize Simon's incredible talent, but will always have a soft spot for Artie. I had a mad crush on him when I was 16 (even though they broke up when I was two). My sister and I checked out The Concert in Central Park video so many times that the librarian eventually just gave it to us.

[@cindyinnew]

@@sharpeslass5452 I feel that. I too have ALWAYS found Artie to be sooo sexy. Those eyes, his stance, intellect, wit and that voice…omg. Funny about the librarian lol 😂

[@fabrisoto]

🌹👏🏽🌹👏🏽🌹👏🏽🌹👏🏽

[@ruthecker399]

love dave miss him

[@amichels]

What the hell is Art talking about?

[@whereismyxanax]

His ego. It's always about his ego

[@chalkbunt81]

I've never seen a band break up on live tv before. The tension between the two is palpable. Did they even make it to Akron?

[@JamesACosby]

Didn't get that at all.

[@mindroots]

I feel that yes

[@CraigLumpyLemke]

Paul has looked uncomfortable and nervous in every TV interview I've seen. Artie has looked distracted and bothered in every TV interview I've seen.

[@soroushbahrami438]

❤

[@nigelgreenwood9010]

It's a shame they were at each others throats.

[@michaelgrace5677]

Painful interview, I can see why they broke up LOL

[@sosure]

need money??? lol!

[@martinmayhew145]

Paul is Moe, Garfunkel is Curly, where is the third Stooge😊?

[@ddburrows988]

Paul looks like he could play Chico Marx in a biopic, and there is some...little...je ne sais quoi about Art that reminds me of Harpo...

[@CraigLumpyLemke]

Ever seen a picture of Art's son? I'm not sure how old he is now. As a 6 y/o he was a mirror image "Mini-Me" of Art. Including the blonde fro.

[@ScottBaietti]

Are they the first guests on Late Night ever, or their first appearance on Late Night?

[@qthelost]

Late Night had been on air for almost a year and a half when this show aired. Simon had already been on the show, it was Art's first time. (Bill Murray was the first ever guest on Late Night.)

[@user-xb6yr4vv6j]

😊

[@fernicusmaximus9282]

I don't get the whole Steve Martin bit.

[@cattnipp]

Would have been nice to see Flunkie the Clown come out and then decline to juggle.

[@johnpatmos1722]

Garfunkel would quickly get on my nerves.

[@sharpeslass5452]

He could have quickly gotten on any part of me. 💕

[@whereismyxanax]

His very egotistical

[@cindyinnew]

@@whereismyxanax I don’t see that. I see him as intellectual

[@cindyinnew]

@@sharpeslass5452 same!

[@JoseHernandez-dd1zb]

Pensaba que Paul era un algo pedante. Pero en conjunto parece que Garfunkel sale sobrado. Por supuesto, se les puede perdonar.

[@jpants5144]

dont see hair like that these days

[@Flea-Flicker]

My God good musicians with rediculous hair styles, yes, yes, I know it is 1983 but in 1983 I said the same thing.

[@jerzeyguy71]

So these two wasted there time writing songs, when the circus life was right there?!?!?!?

[@suehaden6103]

Art didn’t write a word. Paul’s wrote everything they did…

[@sharpeslass5452]

@@suehaden6103 And Art's voice elevated it.

[@cindyinnew]

@@suehaden6103 yet Art also did a great deal of the arranging, especially the piano parts. And Simon didn’t do engineering and Art did. Simon is quite possibly our country’s greatest songwriter. And Art is one of this country’s greatest voices. End of story

[@sharpeslass5452]

@@cindyinnew Excellent summary. One of the best musical acts of all time, and definitely the best duo.

[@jahimjauh-hey5653]

It's a bit pretentious how he describes his walk around Japan. It kind of seems like he did it to seem deep and interesting.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

Or..... maybe he actually was (is) deep and interesting.

[@daveidmarx8296]

I didn't see it that way at all. It helps to remember that these men experienced fame and recognition on a level that the average person will never be able to comprehend. I would have to imagine that on some level it messes with one's sense of self-worth and importance to be surrounded by yes-men sycophants on an almost constant basis. Kudos to Art for recognizing this and wanting to restore his life to some degree of obscurity to perhaps return to a more "normal" sense of being. That walk across Japan sounds like it was an amazing experience for him.

[@CraigLumpyLemke]

It was in the script; the story board; the contract rider. It's a multi million dollar per minute production. They are paying the guests to tell good stories. "We want Artie to talk about his walk around Japan for 1min 28 seconds, have him 'reveal' how it made him feel deep and interesting. Then Paul talks about their first gig for 1 min 45 seconds. There's 1 min 47 seconds of long time [time 'left over' in case the story goes long]. Commercial at 5:00"

[@fordprefect.betelguese]

Paul Simon looks so wired in this video .. he also looks weird

[@Toobula]

Take-away for me was to look up the Eidophor large-format projection system. Wikipedia has it. The technology is defunct, losing to LCD and DLP.

[@cindyinnew]

Well this was 38 years ago