Anachronistic train

The eighties were reshaped by the confrontation with the apartheid in South Africa, which ended in 1989 with the release of Nelson Mandela and the approval of free elections. The popular music culture remained of it not affected. Many artists sat down with the top of the views against racial segregation in the Cape. It was highly taboo to buy fruit from South Africa, vigils outside bank buildings were not uncommon, and had plenty of feed. Yellow Scarves expressed solidarity with the ANC. It appeared CDs that contained the mention that they - "for copyright reasons" - were not available in South Africa and there was even a sampler with the slogan "I Is not Gonna Go Sun City" (a South African theme park and popular venue) although many of those involved would probably anyway not come up with the idea to perform there. In this context also means that the decision makers were getting nervous in the multi-national corporations, because only free people can do business. Contrary to the United Nations sanctions against the apartheid regime with musicians from South Africa took Paul Simon, the brilliant album "Graceland" on - and so ended up in 1986 a superior, unrepeatable success.

"Graceland" is linked to the roots of rock music and has very lyrical texts. Together with the South African band "Ladysmith Black Mambazo" and the Mexican-American group "Los Lobos" Paul Simon has put together an unforgettable, timeless blend of rock, ethno, Calypso, Jazz, Folk and Soul. Already in the sixties, had Simon & Garfunkel, the music world with "El Condor Pasa" listen attentively. But when we speak today of "world music", this album is mainly mentioned. Many music lovers have not hardly seen an approach to music from other continents. Individual titles it be like playing on the radio as before: "The Boy In The Bubble", "You Can Call Me Al", "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes" and of course the title track "Graceland" enjoy long where large Popularity whose parents have at the time bought the LP.

This impeccably produced album is without doubt one of the most interesting works of contemporary culture and will certainly retain his undisputed place in the history of popular music. In hindsight, that this publication has probably contributed a great deal to overcome the inhuman apartheid because Paul Simon has thus steered the public perception on the conditions at the Cape and on the beauty of African music, rather than indulge in a rather helpless boycott attitude even ,