Paul Simons From revision guide

Question 1

Graceland Story

Answer 1

Story about Paul Simons road trip from Louisiana to Graceland (home of Elvis Presley)

Question 2

Graceland Rhythm

Answer 2

Typical of American Country Music
Include slapback echo, syllabic lyrics and irrgualr intervals in vocals

Question 3

Graceland structure

Answer 3

Verse-chorus
Long instrumental introduction

Question 4

Chords used in Graceland

Answer 4

Major chords I, IV and V
Minor chords VI

Question 5

USe of minor chords in music

Answer 5

Used in country music by rarely in African Music

Question 6

Instruments in Graceland

Answer 6

Pedal steel guitar
Fretless Bass
Bass and electrical guitars

Question 7

Use of Pedal Steel Guitar in Graceland

Answer 7

common in Country Music

Question 8

Use of Fretless Bass in Graceland

Answer 8

Slides
Heard in introduction

Question 9

Use of Bass and Electric Guitars in Graceland

Answer 9

Riffs
Key part of Chorus
Typical of American Music
Play broken chords
Strummed chords

Question 10

First Chorus Bass in Graceland

Answer 10

Plays similar to vocal melody

Question 11

Texture of Graceland

Answer 11

Melody and accompaniment

Question 12

Graceland Metre

Answer 12

4
4
Emphasised by kick drum and shaker

Question 13

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes Story

Answer 13

Romance between a rich girl and poor boy

Question 14

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes Introduction

Answer 14

Long introduction with a different style

Question 15

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes Introduction features

Answer 15

Acapella singing in Zulu
Homophonic to create a sense texture
Paul Simons sings over the acapella part
In E major and key change to F major

Question 16

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes structure

Answer 16

Verse Chorus

Question 17

Instrumentation sections

Answer 17

Trumpets, saxophones, electric guitars and fretless bass

Question 18

What does the main melody of Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes use

Answer 18

Elements of the pentatonic scale
Vocal line improvises areound the main idea and phrasing is often irregular

Question 19

What does the bass guitar in Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes use

Answer 19

Improvises fills
Interacts and imitates the vocal line

Question 20

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes Metre

Answer 20

4
4
Snare drum in off-beat click

Question 21

You can Call me Al story

Answer 21

Man having a mid-life crisis
Lyrics at the end refer to Simons own experiences of travelling South Africa

Question 22

You can Call me Al Structure

Answer 22

Verse chorus

Question 23

You can Call me Al Introduction

Answer 23

Synthesiser, trumpet, trombone hook

Question 24

You can Call me Al Instrumental Solos

Answer 24

Penny Whistle
Bass guitar

Question 25

You can Call me Al Vocal Melody

Answer 25

Flexible Sometimes improvised Almost Spoken Lyrics in Verse

Question 26

You can Call me Al Harmony

Answer 26

Based around chords I and V Occasion II

Question 27

You can Call me Al Texture

Answer 27

melody and accompaniment Chorus has a more interesting texture as the synths, trumpets and trombones play the hook as a counter melody against the lead vocal

Question 28

You can Call me Al Penny Whistle Solo

Answer 28

Uses delay Makes it sound fuller

Question 29

You can Call me Al Bass Guitar Solo

Answer 29

First half played then copies and reversed to make the solo longer

Question 30

You can Call me Al effects

Answer 30

Tape delays to thicken the vocal lead and so Paul Simons could be easily heard