What is important about Paul Simons Graceland?
Paul Simon’s Graceland is an album that was released by Warner Bros. in August 1986. A break from Simon’s standard songwriting, the album featured music based on rhythm as opposed to melody, and introduced African themes into pop music.South African PopSimon recorded Graceland with South African musicians, incorporating the polyrhythms and groove of mbaqanga music, a first for a major pop album.ExposureArtists like Ladysmith Black Mambazo and other South African musicians that Simon worked with received songwriting credits and gained massive exposure as a result of Graceland’s popularity.CriticismAt the time Simon visited South Africa to record Graceland, the United Nations had placed a cultural boycott on the country for its practice of apartheid, for which Simon was criticized.Simon’s CareerAfter a disappointing response to his album “Hearts and Bones,” Graceland marked a huge shift in Simon’s popularity.
