It was the mid-1980′s. I was being born. Paul Simon was recording with Black South Africans to create a new record: Graceland. Aside from being, in my opinion, the greatest record ever created, Graceland is an absolute piece of music-changing history. Along with Peter Gabriel, who was recording around the same time, Paul Simon brought world-wide attention to the aptly-named genre of world music. Sounds and songs not found in our Western musical palette but imported from overseas. In the case of Graceland, it was South African musicians that Simon brought on board to help him craft his record. But it was certainly more important than just bringing a new sound to the world.

Paul Simon traveled to South Africa, teamed up with Black South Africans, right in the middle of that country’s most radical racial segregation known as apartheid. At a time when blacks and non-blacks were radically separated, Simon went in, or brought musicians out, and made music with them. An act of incredible defiance of the country’s policies, and a beautiful artistic gesture.

The result, when all was said and done, was not only an incredible record full of rich, new sounds, but a global awareness of an issue that few had really understood or acknowledged previously.

Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes

This video comes from Simon’s Graceland concert. A 1987 performance that he staged in neighbouring Zimbabwe featuring a whole host of South African performers, some who had been exiled from their country for previously collaborating with white musicians or speaking out against their government.

Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes might well be my favourite track ever, if I had to pick one. It’s got it where it counts. I mean, just listen to the bass line.