Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (from The African Concert, 1987) Reaction

[@elizabethdemerie13]

Love it!!!! Thank you

[@Lchristyhastings]

Love your requests. Thanks

[@elizabethdemerie13]

@@Lchristyhastings thank you :)

[@vespoint]

This is nothing short of glorious. You should check out the entire Graceland album. It’s a masterpiece.

[@carojayess1723]

Agree! 💯💯🔥

[@seanhutt4621]

I 100% agree this is one of the great albums not of its era of all time

[@lauras3612]

Agree as well. It really is.

[@johnwinton2209]

Glorious. Exactly. Good word. This is Paul Simon as the architect. Everyone else are the builders of this masterpiece.

[@MrWadada1]

The group that is singing with Paul is Lady Blacksmith Mambazo. Paul helped these guys become popular in the west. He also helped popularize African music worldwide Their founder recently died. RIP

[@musicairplanes4884]

And the legendary Hugh Masekela on I think a trumpet or maybe a cornet.

[@MrWadada1]

Ladysmith Black Mambazo oops

[@netzahuacoyotl]

@@musicairplanes4884 I thought that was him!

[@homie1kenobi95]

This is how you bring people together, love it!!

[@elysehfm8797]

This album was HUGE when it came out. It was played everywhere forever.

[@robgal9695]

As it should have, genius

[@tommathews3964]

Quite simply, "Graceland" is one of those ESSENTIAL albums! Paul is up there in rare company as far as American songwriters go! To his credit, Paul has never quit evolving, and has never been afraid to take a chance!

[@ajschroetlin2196]

Paul Simon might just well be the best American singer songwriters ever. Imo.

[@timkaufhold6163]

Frank Zappa was.

[@octaviolove]

Dylan is up there as well

[@TheDivayenta]

And Stevie Wonder.

[@ajschroetlin2196]

@@TheDivayenta Love me some Stevie too. Both are national treasures, imo.

[@brianorzel1873]

Paul Simon is a genius! The entire Graceland album is a work of art!

[@jnagarya519]

Only if you avoid the criticisms about his cultural expropriations. He played South Africa despite the boycott against apartheid. Who cares: he made money.

[@guyfirey695]

Hugh Masakela leading the horn section on trumpet was amazing a true artist and amazing human being

[@trismaccarran9950]

I probably listen to this album more than any other in my collection; it's my "old reliable" for mood elevating. Love the backing musicians, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the authenticity they bring to the mix. For my money, I put Paul Simon up there with the best songwriters of our time.

[@jeffmorse645]

"Mood elevating" Exactly! It always cheers me up. I don't know how anyone could be in a bad mood listening to that. Happy music.

[@seanhutt4621]

This was one of my mother's favorite albums and with out fail even me a punk rock hard core kid I can't deny the power this album has it's Soo unique and wonderful

[@cshubs]

Everyone needs to see more videos of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Their music has been profoundly good for many decades. Oh, and you need to hear Fela Kuti. Start with Lady or Zombie.

[@jacqueline4514]

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful. Paul Simon never stopped evolving, this is one of his pinnacles 😊

[@1000teresa4ever]

I've had the pleasure of attending a Lady Smith Black Mambazo performance. For nearly 2 hours, just them singing acapella. The energy was from them was beautiful and so visceral.

[@timbeatty8411]

Teez you really have to check out this whole album. This is a African masterpiece.

[@tracyvolschenk7059]

My people, Ladysmith Black Mambazo with Paul. The group have been around for years and were so popular here in South Africa. You can hear the African music there. Go SA🌈🌈🌈 the rainbow nation.

[@rhodaj4215]

🎶🔥🎶 It’s Paul Simon what’s not to love ❤️

[@SOS-ct9mv]

One of the greatest albums of all time. Period.

[@RraMakutsi]

Paul Simon has many great songs, but this has always been my favorite :-)

[@seanhutt4621]

Same here

[@vruth23]

and watch all of this concert in Africa with Lady Smith Black Mombasa ( the singing group you see on the stage here dressed in orange). They are amazing Love that awesome Bass Riff!!

[@Jeremy-hx7zj]

Such a light, free melody. paul simon is a master of the craft

[@cherylwilliams9360]

The dancing guys are incredible singers, Ladysmith Black Mombazo.. I had one of their albums years ago that I wore out!

[@philfernandez2951]

I went down to Boston in 1990 when Nelson Mandela had just been released from prison. Paul Simon and Ladysmith, along with Stevie Wonder and Jackson Browne all played in front of 250,000 people. An amazing day of music and rejoicing...

[@bobschenkel7921]

Luckily had the chance to see this show in Philly, an amazing musical experience. Ladysmith Black Mambazo was a revelation, a combination of Gregorian chants and The Temptations. Smooth moves and perfect harmonies.

[@alanlantz8663]

I've been fortunate to have listened to S and G since I was a kid. I'd sit in my Dads car and listen to his 8 tracks. But when I saw Paul live in Milwaukee, my mouth dropped open and I had never heard these sounds. Beautuful

[@robtintelnot9107]

Nice. This entire show was awesome. Thanks to the requestor.

[@sallyh5413]

Ahhhh, the music of my childhood, instant happiness. This album (Graceland) was the feel good album of the decade. 💖

[@jcpg9592]

2:04 probably the best summary of Paul Simon’s career I’ve ever heard!

[@TOYSTITCHER]

MAN it’s hard to not get up and dance when African music is playing !….AND YOU didn’t pause it !!!YAY👍 Thanks so much for this one 😁✨

[@jazzmystic23]

I got to see Ladysmith live when they toured in ‘88 after they got popular from this album. They we amazing! No band, just all a cappella vocals and dance. No matter where you’re from, music like this brings the whole human family together like nothing else can!

[@DerpTheBass]

Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the other performers who worked with him on that album wanted to sing the (illegal at the time) South African national anthem. Paul Simon (from a respectful place) was like nah I’m not singing that. That’s your song. They said hell no we’re teaching you the words and you’re coming up and singing it with us 😂 everything about that concert was so beautiful

[@stormwarrow]

the base player on the fretless - so good

[@danduntz9112]

I believe this massive audience was the first time black and white people attended a concert together. One of my absolute favorite songs!

[@crobert79]

grew up listening to this and it still sounds great

[@debramcmillan1634]

The Graceland album is truly a joy to hear . I immediately became a fan of ladysmith black mombazo and was lucy enough to get to see them live . Wonderful !!!!!

[@johnwinton2209]

A talented man.

[@TheDivayenta]

Love this! Ladysmith Black Mombazo is the name of the great South African men’s’ group!

[@janna2245]

This same concert features Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela. It's AMAZING

[@murryshaw3733]

First cassette I bought kid.. still play the album regularly, and my kids love it too. Cheers Mr T.

[@lukoshey79]

That bass guitar..

[@Gideon_Clarke]

Bakithi Kumalo! GOAT

[@leahdoerr731]

Saw Paul Simon in Billings Montana in 2017 the song was awesome you're doing a great job by the way hello from Cody Wyoming😁

[@christophermoffett7517]

That concert set my life tone i was going into the 6th grade when i heard this concert. Amazing turnedv on my musicianship

[@maryhanrahan]

Graceland was one of my all time albums

[@dannwalker9865]

I love this song so much! Great choice 🤘🎶🎵🔥❤

[@dhakomodherooherokoko6037]

Paul simon ..my favourite

[@bushyprout]

Diamonds on the soles of her shoes. So, in the diamond producing parts of Africa, if you take a guided tour, they make you remove your shoes as you leave and they check the soles for dimonds stuck in the treads.

[@donnabruhn6907]

Great reaction, Teez, great song choices. Love this whole Graceland album

[@walterjenkins4536]

""People say I'm crazy I got Diamonds on the Sole of My Shoes ""

[@meticulousgeek]

Amazingness is now a word.

[@thebadgerno.1872]

No.1 album….top album bass on this song funky as Hell….that South African unreal sound…Lush!!!!

[@katherineumberhind6033]

Love Paul Simon.

[@lauras3612]

Great commentary Teez! One of my favorite songs and concert video footage. If only I could have been there!

[@angelagraves865]

I'm late to the comment section so I don't know if you've watched this whole concert yet, but it's one hellava beautiful concert. I highly recommend it. ✌🏽

[@CA5124]

Awesome and Just Class 👌 💎

[@DevInvest]

This whole concert is magic Buy it.

[@13scubapro]

You should check out an old PBS program produced by Susan Lacey and presented as an AMERICAN MASTERS special entitled Born At the Right Time. It focuses on Paul Simon’s Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints albums two of the most beautiful and successful albums ever recorded. Some have (wrongly) accused Simon of cultural appropriation of African and Latin music. Simon fell in love with this music and these people and did a wonderful job exposing this music to tens of millions of listeners who would likely never have had the opportunity except for his efforts.

[@juankasper4260]

The entire Graceland album is brilliant !!!!

[@jeffstevens4262]

If I remember rightly, this gig was surrounded by controversy because there was still apartheit going on, but Paul was determined to perform with Ladysmith Black Mambazo live on stage, and screw it. Bless him.

[@paigel.969]

TEEZ, I love your show! Your thoughtful curiosity and openess is unique. I bet it will lead to many great adventures for you. the song "Graceland" "Further to Fly" ~beautiful, you'll love it "Cecilia" ~Simon & Garfunkel an upbeat one! =-) Peace and love to you

[@TeezMcGee]

You’re appreciated! Thank you so much Paige!

[@cecileluv]

Backup group was Ladysmith Black Mombasa, a old famous group.Check them out.

[@tully8406]

Loved that album

[@spindletopcenter]

Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes: a reference to colonialism and diamond mining. Walking blues is well... American Blues. Just genius. Also Ladysmith!

[@stretchgilbert]

Now THAT is a whole vibe! #masterpiece

[@maine420grow]

Still crazy is still my favorite PS solo album but this is off Graceland, a very close second.

[@AndyFNQ84]

every song on this album is a banger, so check out more please

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Simon did OK in his solo career the first half dozen albums, but then Graceland and 16 million albums, four times what the previous six albums sold. His next album, Rhythm of the Saints was also African rhythms and sold great. The musicians who worked with Simon, as you could tell here, were fantastic. The guitar, bass, drums all standouts, and let's not forget Joseph Shabalala (credited as co-writer on several songs) and Lady Blacksmith Mambazo.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Rhythm of the Saints had a lot of Afro-Brazilian flavor as well. I believe he recorded the album in Rio.

[@dougieyou]

Teez, if this dosn't make you feel good and lift ur spirits...nothing will.

[@uncledan7500]

I actually watched this live in Tv.. You picked a great one. Think Hugh masekela played trumpet.

[@thomasvieth6063]

Have you not noticed what the bass is doing in this thing?

[@kestrelle5345]

VIBETASTIC! :0

[@shirleyclay6761]

yes!!!

[@jamesliche]

This video cut off the drums show that came after. In this concert everyone was allowed to feature in their zone

[@heatherhobbit2931]

This album came out when apartheid was alive and well, Ladysmith Black Mambazo couldn't play this arena. Paul Simon said he refused to play this concert without ALL of his musicians. This opened the door for more musicians to do the same. That apartheid was abolished in my lifetime is mind boggling. That it still exists in this country is worse. :(

[@D45VR]

Makes me remember King Sunny Ade

[@vzshadow1]

Great music. I like your sweatshirt.

[@RUSHChick]

Graceland really is a wonderful album. Paul Simon has successfully mastered the art of evolving as an artist. There was serious political controversy around this album at the time. Controversy aside, the musical collaboration that was brought into the spot light was flat out nothing like folks were remotely used to hearing. Paul Simon’s Graceland may have been the very first cassette tape I ever owned.

[@TeezMcGee]

He is truly something special 🔥🔥🔥

[@Telukin]

2:04 Truth :)

[@dwhite849]

Paul Simon did the unthinkable in this concert. Apartheid laws forbade white and black mixed audiences - against the law and tens of thousands of mixed race enjoyed the music.

[@elysehfm8797]

FIIIIF!

[@dodgingcars]

You need to check out Vampire Weekend, who were obviously very inspired by Paul Simon.

[@mikepiccione886]

The song Homeless from the same concert would be great next

[@cayleyturner3556]

❤️🔥

[@VCCassidy]

You should check out some Vampire Weekend. They were really influenced by Simon’s Afro-pop era.

[@kimmaart1976]

Lady Smith black mambazo are rhe African singers..

[@janna2245]

Diamonds are mined in South Africa by disadvantaged and (at this time) segregated) black workers. The song is amazing

[@bamai59]

Really important to remember that Paul took lot of shit for playing in apartheid South Africa. But he showcased Black talent to a mixed audience. Very daring and heroic in its day.

[@violetsignora8267]

This concert was in Harare, Zimbabwe...not in South Africa.

[@violetsignora8267]

It was in 1987 and I was there with my friends. Just lekker it was!!

[@bamai59]

@@violetsignora8267 I stand corrected

[@davidbaker6912]

Always thought it was refer on diamond trade...?

[@ThirdCoastNative]

Hey brother, idk how you do ur request but if you could react to 311-Love Song and Hootie & the blow fish - I only wanna be with you. I know you’d love them both💯❤️

[@inrainbows1829]

Check out Biko by Peter Gabriel A song about Stephen Biko a man the South African apartheid government had killed because Biko wanted equality for all humans

[@lmagdangal4842]

the screen tho

[@youngworipre7952]

D's present generation shud learn from ds

[@octaviolove]

The bass player is bad