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The Scroll

There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, in Israel

A suggested setlist

By Marc Tracy|May 4, 2011 10:00 AM|14comments
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Paul Simon (L) and his longtime partner Tzipi Livni (R).(Ye Olde Tablet Magazine Photoshoppe)

Paul Simon will likely play Ramat Gan Stadium outside Tel Aviv this summer. As with Bob Dylan, he gets an Israel-themed setlist.

“Homeward Bound”: For Israel.

“The Sound of Silence”: For the Israeli left.

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”: For the myriad failures of the peace process.

“Loves Me Like a Rock”: That there may one day be peace at the Temple Mount.

“Mrs. Robinson”: For Mary Robinson, Israel’s favorite U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Old Friends”: For Fatah and Hamas, apparently.

“I Am A Rock”: For Israel’s strength and the fact that it is an island of democracy in a sea of dictatorships (or, if you prefer, for Israel’s immobility and international isolation).

“One Man’s Ceiling Is Another’ Man’s Floor”: For Ehud Barak (get it, cause he’s short?).

“Keep the Customer Satisfied”: For ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert, who at least always did this in his real estate schemes.

ENCORE:

“Still Crazy After All These Years”: For Bibi.

“Me and Julio Down by the School Yard”: For Juliano Mer-Khamis (lyrics adjusted accordingly).

“Graceland”: For the Messiah.

Paul Simon May Perform in Israel [Ynet]
Earlier: Dylan Plays Israel: A Suggested Setlist
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  • M. Brukhes

    Good stuff!!

  • Al

    I have a lot of respect for all artists, famous or not, for visiting Israel and not caving in to the intimidation of the groups that promote the cultural boycott of Israel.

  • fw

    Simon is an interesting case. Years ago, he refused to sign a petition condemning artists who had performed in Sun City in South Africa, admitting that, while he had declined an invitation to appear there, he had considered it. He’s evidently not a man who uses his celebrity as a cudgel.

  • fw

    And a salute to fellow audience members from ’81, in the Park.

  • Dani ben Leb

    funny.

  • Debby

    “Mrs Robinson” for Mary Robinson? Surely YOU can come up with a better dedicatee, Marc!

  • Marc Tracy

    to clarify for the folks at home, I am the proud grandson of a far better Mrs. Robinson.

  • http://adderabbi.blogspot.com Elli

    #1 on the list (though a rather obscure track): “The Dangling Conversation”
    Do I even need to explain why?

  • http://adderabbi.blogspot.com Elli

    The Boxer:
    “In a clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade, and he carries the reminder of every glove that laid him out or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame ‘I am leaving, I am leaving,’ but the fighter still remains.”

    Once again, need I really explain?

  • http://adderabbi.blogspot.com Elli

    Scarborough Fair – because it’s frequently used for “Dror Yikra” (at least it was until “Sloop John B” inherited that crown).

  • http://adderabbi.blogspot.com Elli

    Bridge over Troubled Water – because it speaks to the very reason that the State of Israel was founded.

  • http://adderabbi.blogspot.com Elli

    Slip Slidin Away – “God only knows; God makes his plans. The information’s unavailable to the mortal man. We work our jobs, collect our pay; we think we’re riding down the highway but instead we’re slip sliding away.” This is Yiddish wisdom (“mensch tracht un Gott lacht”).

  • Rosalie H. Kaye

    very happy that he will do a concert in Israel- far too much attention is given to those that will not, than to those few that will! Hats off to Paul Simon! Hope it will be a sell out!
    wish I could be there.
    Rosalie

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There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, in Israel

A suggested setlist