2012

Manhattan, New York

Paul Simon was in Tuschinksky-Pathe Amsterdam, invited by the international documentary film festival amsterdam. There Harrry de Winter had an interview with Paul Simon and he asked him what Nelson Mandela did say about his album Graceland.

At the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Paul Simon speaks mainly about the relationship between music, memory, and storytelling, in connection with a documentary about his life and work.

He explains that his songs are not meant to tell linear stories, but rather to function as emotional fragments that gain meaning over time. Music, he says, often communicates more deeply than direct speech because it leaves room for personal interpretation.

Simon also discusses his creative process, describing it as slow, demanding, and built on doubt and revision. He rejects the idea of effortless inspiration, presenting himself instead as a craftsman who shapes songs through repeated adjustments and failures.

Another key theme is the distance between the artist and the work. Once a song is released, Simon believes it no longer belongs entirely to its creator but to the audience, who gives it new meanings.