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Paul Simon

 I secretly wish to be a drummer. Specifically, a girl drummer for a rock band, that exact mental image-- hair short and dyed, wailing on a full kit, angry in that sexy way that women always are in movies made for men. Drum kits are sadly very expensive and I have a full enough schedule as it is, so that dream will remain on the back burner for a while. But I have one special indulgence, and it's listening to Paul Simon.

 No, Paul Simon is not a drummer. Or a girl. Or sexy-angry (sorry, Paul!). Paul Simon did record the album Graceland with a bunch of South African artists including the Gaza Sisters and the Boyoyo Boys, among others, with a lot of inspiration from the mbaqanga style. (Note: there's still debate about if this was appropriation or appreciation, especially given the cultural boycott on South Africa due to Apartheid at the time of recording).

 Paul Simon himself is actually pretty coincidental to my enjoyment of the album. I mean, the lyrics are great: "She makes the sign of a teaspoon / He makes the sign of a wave," or, "I need a photo opportunity, I want a shot at redemption / Don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard." How weird and awesome is that! But I like this album because the drums are perfect, and as I understand it Paul Simon had less to do with the percussion than the artists he was collaborating with.

 The other benefit to Paul Simon is that Graceland was the go-to road trip soundtrack for my family growing up. Now I listen to it exclusively in the car and play along on the steering wheel in traffic. Not quite my girl drummer fantasy, but it has its moments.

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