The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Paul Simon (Extended) | Bye Bye Bondi
Apr 3, 2026
Paul Simon, legendary singer-songwriter who rose to fame with Simon & Garfunkel and a storied solo career. He recounts busking in Paris and moving to Europe in the 1960s. He talks about songwriting rhythms, taking playful onstage requests, the origin of Graceland, and the lyricists who shaped his music.
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Paris Busking Trick That Builds A Crowd
- Paul Simon busked in Paris by playing in recessed storefronts to create natural echo and draw semicircles of listeners.
- His partner would circulate with a hat to the first crowd once a third group formed, keeping people in place and boosting donations.
London Years Shaped His Guitar And Stagecraft
- Living in 1960s London deepened Paul Simon's musical vocabulary by exposing him to Celtic and English folk roots and fingerpicking guitar techniques.
- He credits small folk clubs above pubs for teaching him stagecraft, set-building, and audience patter.
Finding Out A Hit While Touring Europe
- Paul Simon learned his song’s chart rise from printed trade magazines while touring Europe, discovering The Sound Of Silence creeping up Cashbox from Bubbling Under.
- He vividly remembers checking issues in Denmark and seeing the song at #59, which he says irrevocably changed his life.