Alert! Paul Simon’s near-career-ending collaboration with ’50s “cool cat” Dion has been buried in the backyard and Mr. Simon’s soul redeemed: Art Garfunkel has just emerged onstage and the pair are currently tearing through a medley of “Mrs. Robinson” and Grateful Dead hallmark “Not Fade Away.” And oh look, now they’re doing “The Boxer.” These two are goin’ places!
Not sure what to make of this one. For the first fifteen minutes, Paul Simon’s set was going just fine. “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” and “You Can Call Me Al” (sans Chevy, boooo!) were all going predictably awesome. And then out came ’50s rock icon Dion. Taking over lead vocals and putting ol’ man Simon on some distant rear mike, Dion strutted and “YO!’d” his way through “The Wanderer.” How many times did he throw in a “Yo!”? We lost track. We were actually too busy equating the pairing of Paul Simon and Dion to a peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich. Here’s to hoping Simon & Garfunkel’s set later isn’t accented by special guest Meatloaf.
Well, for one night only at any rate. The Beacon Theatre finally reopened its doors on Friday night, after a seven-month, $15 million renovation program, for a party of ridiculous proportions—where the “Surprise!” moment at the end of the show had a couple thousand New Yorkers speechless.
It was an impressive soiree from the get-go. Heading down the red carpet to the Beacon—which looks now more than ever like the kind of dazzling movie palace you see in Cary Grant flicks—were Mayor Bloomberg, Paul McCartney, James Gandolfini, Lorne Michaels (Mr. SNL), Jon Bon Jovi, the Jonas Brothers and Whoopi Goldberg. Rosie O’Donnell stood in front of us at the T-shirt stand. We’re talking glamor here, people.
As we’ve mentioned, Garfunkel’s lesser-known pal, Paul Simon, is reopening the Beacon Theatre this weekend. It got me thinking about the great moments Simon’s music has contributed to film. Here are some of the best:
1. The Graduate
Yep, pretty damn easy choice here—the whole movie resonates with excellent S&G, but the last scene is one for the time capsule.
Check it:
Having undergone a $15 million face-lift, the Beacon Theatre reopens its doors and shows off its shiny new everything, with two special performances from the naturally boyish Paul Simon, Friday and Saturday. Expect to get a warm, twinkly feeling when the avowed New Yorker plays his odes to the city: “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy”), “The Boxer,” “The Only Living Boy in New York.”
Chances are you’ll see any number of hipster fans—the likes of Vampire Weekend and Grizzly Bear—in the audience, as reported in TONY’s preview of Rhymin’ Simon’s BAM shows last summer.
And for more ways to get your kicks this Valentine’s weekend, read on…
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