Simon was heavily criticized for defying the United Nations cultural boycott against South Africa’s apartheid regime.
Explore the inspiration and controversy behind this landmark album through these first-hand accounts: Paul Simon Tells the Story of "Graceland" YouTube · Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Paul Simon - Graceland: Dealing with Criticism YouTube · PaulSimonVEVO Paul Simon - Graceland interview (1987) YouTube · slydogmania Musical Composition and Style
It blends pop-rock with traditional African styles and American roots music like zydeco. Key Tracks: Paul Simon - Graceland
Ranked 46th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020) and added to the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2006 for its cultural significance.
Released on August 25, 1986, is Paul Simon's most successful solo album, selling over 16 million copies worldwide . It is widely celebrated for its eclectic fusion of American pop with South African genres like mbaqanga and isicathamiya , a collaboration that revitalized Simon's career and won the 1987 Grammy for Album of the Year . Simon was heavily criticized for defying the United
: The title track, which won the 1988 Grammy for Record of the Year.
A 2012 documentary by Joe Berlinger revisited the album's creation and the ethical questions it raised 25 years later. National Recording Registry in 2006 for its cultural
Critics and groups like Artists United Against Apartheid accused Simon of cultural appropriation and "simonizing" African music.