Paul Simon was a guest on The Late Show on Thursday night, performing his 1973 song “Something So Right” and talking with Stephen Colbert about his upcoming tour.
The folk icon first sat down for an extensive interview, covering everything from his early days living in Europe to how his life was “irrevocably changed” when “The Sound of Silence” hit the charts. Simon also shared some busking secrets (wait till the third row of people show up and then send around a pretty girl with a hat — “The first group, they can’t get out”), and discussed his favorite American lyricists. He named Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell (Canadian, oops), and Stevie Wonder, but opened with Chuck Berry: “I would start to say that in the ’50s, Chuck Berry wrote things that were so good, they could have bene part of the Harlem Renaissance. He taught my whole generation; they’re all influenced by Chuck Berry — Bob [Dylan] and The Beatles, and everybody — because he made stories in words that flowed effortlessly.”
Simon stuck around for a performance of “Something So Right” off his 1973 classic There Goes Rhymin’ Simon. Sat on a stool with a full band — strings and flute included — behind him, Simon’s voice proved just as soothing and mesmerizing as ever at 84 years old. Watch the video below, and note the monitor placed to Simon’s right; he originally retired from touring due to severe hearing loss, but tricks like this new monitor placement have allowed him to return to the road.
Paul Simon’s “A Quiet Celebration Tour” will see him performing his 2023 album Seven Psalms in full, followed by a second set of hits and beloved favorites. The European leg launches April 9th in Prague and runs through a May 20th stop in Dublin, while the North American leg begins June 4th in Palo Alto, California and stretches to July 18th in Chicago. See the full itinerary below, and get tickets here.
