these are the days of miracle and wonder…
One lucky thing about living in different countries around the world is that you get to take a little ownership of many different cultures. It’s always cool when those cultures mix in a way you hadn’t previously realized. Paul Simon’s Graceland album was a staple on family road trips in a lot of childhoods of people around our age group. We were too young to remember or fully comprehend the controversy Simon caused when he came here to Johannesburg to record it in 1985; he was breaking the international cultural boycott against South Africa and her apartheid government (though the album showcased black South African musicians and obviously didn’t support the apartheid government). For the 25th anniversary of the Graceland album, the documentary Under African Skies examines that controversy through footage of recordings and tours, and interviews with Simon, Paul McCartney, David Byrne, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri, Joseph Shabalala and many more.
It was really cool and touching to see the story behind such a fixture of American culture that was recorded right here in the city I love and live in as an adult. 25 years after it was made, apartheid is a thing of the past, but the country still hasn’t yet fully healed.
I can’t decide on my favorite moment of the documentary. One was the interviews with Joseph Shabalala and other members of Ladysmith Black Mamabazo about their trip to the U.S. to promote the album and perform on Saturday Night Live. When they got to NYC, they asked Simon where they must go to get a pass to visit Central Park, it hadn’t sunk in yet that they were free to go where they pleased.
Here’s a good excerpt of all the artists sing N’kosi Sikeleli (then the unofficial and now part of the national anthem) and another one of Miriam Makeba and Paul Simon singing Under African Skies.
I saw it at the Bioscope on Sunday. LOVED it. My favorite parts were all the old footage from the SA recording sessions in 1985. Especially the Shangaan ladies who showed up in those beautiful outfits with their babies. I might have to get a DVD of that film — I feel like I could watch it over and over again.
i love the footage of the babies on the floor!! it’s hilar and heartwarming at the same time. also when he asks that dude what the lyric “I know what I know” meant to him.
Yes! And of course the Basotho guy with the accordion…It was all so great.
So they recently recorded a new version in Joburg again, yes? Is it out yet?
(I’m the one who thought for years that Chevy Chase was Paul Simon, after seeing the video)
OMG Jeroen, I thought I was the only one.
i don’t know if they put it on cd- he was here last year for a reunion concert and it made me sad that it was before our joburg time!
The concert last year was a “secret” (although everyone seemed to know about it) and by invitation only. I don’t know anyone who was invited.
love this, i’ll have to tell my dad to check this out too. we also listened to that album like whoa on family trips. miss you wakey wakey mama
ya you and greg should most def check it out! miss you tons too xxxxxxxx
totally, completely agree. finally got to see it last night – it was amazing. best film i’ve seen in ages.
right???