Charlie Rose Science Series
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Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--and How It Can Renew America
by Thomas L. Friedman
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by Thomas L. Friedman
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06/28/2007
Paul Simon
A conversation with musician Paul Simon
Keywords:
A conversation with musician Paul Simon. Simon is the recipient of the first annual Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Simon also discusses his upcoming CD The Essential Paul Simon and performs Slip Sliding Away.
DVD
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Charlie Rose DVDs on Amazon.
Audio
Audio available through Audible.com.
Audio available through Audible.com.
Transcripts
Transcripts available through Voxant.
Transcripts available through Voxant.
this interview was beautiful but sad
Why is everyone asking questions about this interview or asking for a replay of it? It's right here on the webpage - just click play...
This was one of the most delightful interviews I have seen in years. The discussion of art and the artistic view of the world, as well as Simon's method of writing, I found particularly engaging. Having seen the concert for the Gershwin award on PBS just the night before, further enhanced the interview. Thanks you both.
I enjoyed the interview so very much - thank you Charlie Rose and thank you Paul Simon. Will it be aired again or how can I get a copy? I would love to share the interview with my daughter who is an aspiring musician. Love your show!
i don't mind charlie's "interruptions". he's interested and engaged and it's a conversation. thanks for another great segment.
I have been a fan of Paul Simon's music since the age of 13 when I first heard the 59th Steet Bridge Song in 1966. Rarely throughout the years have I been able to listen to him speak conversationally with a talented interviewer. The show was a treasure. Please release the DVD for sale soon. Thank you for interviewing Mr. Simon and thanks to Mr. Simon for making the rare appearance.
I have always been Paul Simon's #1 fan. What a delight to hear him really talk about his creative process. Thank you so very much.
Wonderful, wonderful interview. I've never really watched this show before, but tuned in to see Paul Simon. Was so thrilled to hear him speak. Unfortunately, when he (too seldomly) guests on other talk shows, he is just a musical performer, not one of the interviewees. But Charlie Rose had him talking most of the hour and Paul Simon has so much to say... and says it so well. It was truly delightful to hear an intelligent, and intellectually stimulating, conversation between the two. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to hear the thoughts of Paul Simon whose music is undoubtedly nice to listen to, but whose spoken words I think I like even better!
Dear Charlie: Your conversation with Paul Simon soared making it one of your treasured hours. Asking about the song writing process, patiently waiting for his thought process to churn and blossom was why you excel in your craft. I kept thinking you could express yourself and your program in a similiar way. Yes 2 professionals in an incomarable interview. Take pride, smile and nod saying it was a good evening Keith
Charlie: Forget the picky people who complain about your style.Your many years of solid performance with the world's most interesting people speaks with volumes of prodigious entertainment. Thank you for Paul Simon and all the others through those great years right up through 06-28-07.
Charlie's Paul Simon full hour last night was among the most wonderful CR shows of now -- 15 years of watching. I have been humming "Slip Sliding Away" all morning. I was so moved by the hour with Paul Simon, that I wrote 3 quick e-mails to good friends on the West Coast to alert them to it. Here's the synopsis I wrote to one friend: Hi Mark: A very good full hour with Paul Simon on Charlie Rose (KQED in SF) tonight and again, tomorrow afternoon. Paul has a lot to say, and he says it well, and then does it, very, very well. Well into the hour, he talks about the creative process, learning, constructing art, and doing so over time, in other words -- he talks about living a full life -- and how to go about it. See it or record it if you can. Tim +++ Charlie, you are not too intrusive with your guests. You are enthused, engaging and brilliant. I don't think viewers understand just how hard your work is to accomplish with the panache, and you do it so well. Tim Butler
"too much Rose not enough guest or not the right question--inevitable I suppose." It is not inevitable. Charlie, too full of himself, continues too diminish the appearances of his fabulous guests with his incessant interruptions. Even these high powered people cannot always remember what point they were trying to make, and very few have the backbone to stand up to his rudeness as deserved. The confrontational technique necessary with lying political types is incredibly irritating and selfish when applied to most other folks. As for his toadying to celebrities, the show with Angelina Jolie and Mariane Pearl was typical. I respect Angelina Jolie on many levels, but even she could not keep the focus where it belonged, on Mariane and the film. Tavis Smiley toadys also, but at least he lets people finish thoughts. Occasionally his guests are less conventional and more interesting, as are his questions. Thank god Bill Moyer is still around to show how this should be done; granted a nightly show is harder. Too bad Moyer does not have one. With Charlie's guest list, his show could be so much more than it is. I still watch it, but I yell at the screen in frustration; I don't care enough with anyone not on PBS to bother.
TMax: born 1947. Paul Simon fan for 40+ years and a guitar player. I have seen a number of his interviews over the years and he is always a joy. Charlie, 1) No offense but please read the comments and learn. We want to hear from the guest, not you. Prompting a line of thought is fine but we are not as interested in your insights as we are in the guest's. There is only so much time and you are now bordering on pompous (and I'm being kind). 2) Re-broadcast this show ASAP. I was recording it to DVD via OTA digital signal and my PBS station let me down big time when their signal dropped off 40 minutes in. Perhaps their squirrel died or took a coffee break but I did not get his performance at the end of the show. I did see it because I switched to analog (also did get the opening snippet). Paul is truly at his best in this kind of intimate setting w/ just his guitar a-la that performance and his similar one in September '05 ("Take Me to the Mardi Gras" [Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast\). Could ya at least replay the performance? Please!
paul simon was intellectually and emotionally brilliant in the interview. invaluable for anyone in the arts. should be shown in every art, writing, music, philosophy class. now, i would like to ask him if he would like to write a longer book from this interview. i do think charlie gets quite excited about learning or wants to be challenging, so tends to jump back in too soon.
If there was ever a case for PBS vs. commercial TV,this interview comes just a couple of days after Larry King's miserable hour of self-promotion that was supposed to be a meeting of Paul McCartney,Ringo Starr,Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison. Rose's time spent wih Simon is like a banquet,while Larry serves the public a can of reheated SpaghettiOs(a la King).
Great songwriter. I realized how great twenty some years ago when I listened to the first track in Graceland, Boy in the Bubble. But I loved him since Sound of Silence. BTW, I agree with Timothy. Mr. Rose is terribly annoying with his interruptions. In fact, I remember his being called to task by a British actress (whose name I forgot) with a not so tongue-in-cheek "Just let me finish". He should learn something about interviewing from Jeffrey Brown, impressively skillful in this kind of work.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to hear Paul Simon's thoughts on his own creative process even though I only caught the last 1/2 hr. I can't wait until the video is released to watch it again & in full detail.
Marg: The name of the scientist is E.O. Wilson. Unlike a previous poster, I found Simon's discussion of the creative process fascinating. I do wish Charlie would not interrupt his guests so often...especially someone as naturally reticent and difficult to draw out as Paul Simon. There were a couple points tonight at which I really wish Charlie had held back a bit. Hard to blame him though. He seems to be a fan of Simon's too. Overall, a great show. The Gershwin Prize was richly deserved.
I came into the interview late. What was the name of the scientist/author they were talking about. He is in his 80's they said. Thanks
Didn't see the entire interview. Did he talk about Garfunkel? Did he talk about Bob Dylan? The meanderings about the artistic process were boring. Lesson: only the art matters. The song was beautiful--reminded me of Tennessee Williams's writing. Enjoy Charlie Rose though sometimes it's too much Rose not enough guest or not the right question--inevitable I suppose.
enjoyed it very much. I salute you both
What a facinating interview. I had forgotten what a brilliant composer and musician Paul Simon is. Mr. Rose always brings out the best and asks questions that provokes the viewer to gain more insight into the person he is interviewing. What a great way to end the day.