Paul Simon.
The singer-songwriter whose seventh studio album was called Graceland is Paul Simon. Released in 1986, Graceland became one of his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful works. After achieving fame as one half of the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon went on to establish a thriving solo career. By the mid-1980s, however, his popularity had waned somewhat. Seeking new inspiration, Simon immersed himself in South African music, which led to the creation of Graceland.
The album was a groundbreaking fusion of Western pop and African musical styles, particularly mbaqanga, a genre native to South Africa. Simon collaborated with numerous South African musicians, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, guitarist Ray Phiri, and the band Stimela. These collaborations infused Graceland with rich rhythms, harmonies, and textures that were fresh and unique to Western audiences at the time.
The title track, “Graceland,” refers to Elvis Presley’s famous mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, but the album’s themes extend far beyond that. It explores subjects like loss, redemption, travel, and cultural connection. Songs such as “You Can Call Me Al” and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” became international hits, helping to cement the album’s legendary status.
Graceland won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1987 and has since been considered one of the greatest albums of all time. It also sparked important discussions about cultural appropriation versus collaboration, as Simon recorded much of the album in South Africa during the apartheid era. Nonetheless, many argue that Graceland helped bring global attention to South African music and culture.
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