Paul Simon makes a fan's day

Subject: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 May 11 - 01:20 PM

Paul Simon And A Moment Of Pure Sobbing Joy
Bob Boilen
NPR All Songs Considered Blog

"Paul Simon has brought joy to so many for so long, but on this night he made Rayna Ford's unimaginable dream come true. During a show in Toronto the other night, Rayna Ford, a fan from Newfoundland, called out for Simon to play the song "Duncan," and said something to the effect that she learned to play guitar on the song. In a moment of astonishment and disbelief, Paul Simon invited her on stage, handed her a guitar and asked her to play it for the crowd. And when she strapped on the guitar, the audience went crazy. In a few strums, the band played along, tears ran down Rayna Ford's cheeks and Simon stood by her side in smiles."

Pics & video at the link.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: harpmolly
Date: 14 May 11 - 01:48 PM

That's one of the best things I've seen in ages. :D

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 May 11 - 02:50 PM

That's pretty cool.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Bernard
Date: 14 May 11 - 02:51 PM

Nice to know he realises who put him where he is!! Lovely story!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: My guru always said
Date: 15 May 11 - 03:04 AM

HOw fantastic is that!!!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 15 May 11 - 03:39 AM

Great way to wake up on a Sunday!!! Thank you.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 15 May 11 - 09:14 AM

Wow.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: paul vaughan
Date: 15 May 11 - 01:45 PM

I love this! Maybe I'll try that next time I see Steve Earle, what are my chances d'ya think?

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 15 May 11 - 01:47 PM

Joyous!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: frogprince
Date: 15 May 11 - 02:09 PM

Lookit Simon's face, too; I think he knew he'd never done anything more right in his life.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: GUEST,Ref
Date: 15 May 11 - 02:23 PM

That's nice. I've always heard he was kind of a dick as a person. He shows better here.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: C-flat
Date: 15 May 11 - 02:26 PM

What a great way to connect with yout fans.
Every member of the audience must have felt uplifted by seeing that girl live a moment that will stay with her forever.
Paul Simons' PR team couldn't buy that sort of winning exposure and the look on Simons' face told me that he realised how something that cost him nothing was worth so much to that one fan and, by extension, to everyone else present who felt they were up there with her.
A small risk to take at a live gig but in taking it he's at once elevated and further esteemed.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: C-flat
Date: 15 May 11 - 02:29 PM

... I was tempted to add a similar sentiment about his reputation for being "a dick" but, in truth, I couldn't remember what I'd heard or where from, so thought better of it.
If he has gained a reputation for being a prima donna, then he's gone a long way to dispel that.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Wesley S
Date: 15 May 11 - 02:32 PM

I remember the story about Kieth Moon passing out on stage and Peter Townsend asking if anyone in the audience played drums. Some lucky stiff got to finish out the concert.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 May 11 - 03:48 PM

Just freakin' tear jerking!   Karen and I both sat hear with tears. Both of us are huge fans of him but that was really cool........

When something goes right
Well it's likely to lose me
It's apt to confuse me
It's such an unusual sight
I can't get used to something so right
Something so right

..........and that was right!


Spaw

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Dave Swan
Date: 15 May 11 - 03:52 PM

I love the times she thinks she's had her moment and is ready to surrender the stage to Simon, when he keeps her going while conducting his band. Just great.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: bobad
Date: 15 May 11 - 04:08 PM

If that don't make you smile check your pulse.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 11 - 04:14 PM

This was a wonderful moment in that concert, very generous, and as mentioned, memorable!

SRS

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 May 11 - 05:39 PM

Fareffingout! And, what the rest of you said. Crying my eyes out with joy. Thanks , Becky!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: The other Hank
Date: 15 May 11 - 08:35 PM

It makes one realize why they're a fan in the first place! Class tells and Paul Simon drips with it. Sweet story! Thank you.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Janie
Date: 15 May 11 - 11:47 PM

Lovely.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Bernard
Date: 15 May 11 - 11:57 PM

Not only did she get to sing for her hero, but she got to play his guitar, too! What a memory to have! She's probably still somewhere up on the ceiling!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: KT
Date: 16 May 11 - 01:54 AM

I'm thinkin' about all of the smiles generated from that one small act. Delightful!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 16 May 11 - 05:50 AM

I posted the YouTube link a couple of times, on my Facebook account and on 2 Forums that I use, and it seemed to make peoples' day, from some of the comments I got.

It's great where she sings the line:

"Well, she took me to the woods
Saying here comes something and it feels so good"

and the smile just breaks out all over her face.

I can't believe she had either the guts to get up there or the presence of mind to actually respond to the lyrics she was singing in a way that showed she was "all there". In the same position I'd have been a fumble-fingered bag of jelly with no recollection of the correct lyrics, never mind being able to respond to them in real-time while snging them.

Just a fantastic little moment in the march of time.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Pistachio
Date: 16 May 11 - 03:59 PM

Brilliant - what a feelgood factor! Thanks.
H

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 16 May 11 - 04:42 PM

I remember the story of the time whe he played at the Hammersmith Odeon, either late 70s or early 80s he bought everyone in the audience a drink!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Bob Landry
Date: 17 May 11 - 12:06 AM

I listened to Rayna Ford being interviewed on CBC Radio's "As It Happens" a couple of days after the concert. She was still highly excited. Her husband is a musician who was playing "Duncan" in a bar when she first met him. That's why she wanted to learn it.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Bob Landry
Date: 17 May 11 - 12:06 AM

I listened to Rayna Ford being interviewed on CBC Radio's "As It Happens" a couple of days after the concert. She was still highly excited. Her husband is a musician who was playing "Duncan" in a bar when she first met him. That's why she wanted to learn it.

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Bob Landry
Date: 17 May 11 - 12:07 AM

oops - sorry about the hiccup!

Subject: RE: Paul Simon makes a fan's day
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 17 May 11 - 05:34 AM

SPB-Cooperator: I remember the story of the time whe he played at the Hammersmith Odeon, either late 70s or early 80s he bought everyone in the audience a drink!

I did that at the last open mic I went to.

Cost me £12.50.