NEED TO KNOW
For a small fee, Paul Simon takes requests.
The Simon & Garfunkel icon, 83, performed a string of shows at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles this month. At one point during his performance on Wednesday, July 16, Simon accepted a $20 cash bribe to perform his 1973 hit “Kodachrome” for the first time in years.
An attendee shared a video of the moment on Instagram and explained what went down in the post’s caption: “Some dude yelled ‘Play Kodachrome!’ (He hasn’t played it since 2019) And Paul Simon says I don’t do requests…. Unless you got $20 bucks,” wrote the concertgoer, noting that the 16-time Grammy winner was “obviously being a silly goose.”
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Gett
However, the crowd member came through, “whipped out a $20 and Paul went ahead, took the $20 and kept his [promise],” wrote the Instagram user. “Can’t believe I saw this.”
In the video, Simon sits on a stool with his guitar, sees the fan’s $20 bill and gets up to accept it — before launching into “Kodachrome.”
The “Mrs. Robinson” singer-songwriter’s latest shows come amid his return to the road after canceling and postponing several shows in June due to undergoing surgery to alleviate “severe back pain.”
“Thanks to a great team of doctors, the surgery went well, as expected,” read a statement on behalf of Simon, who was next set to perform at The Terrace Theater in Long Beach, Calif. on July 7 at the time. “However, it has become clear he will need one additional day of rest and recuperation to ensure he is able to perform at the top of his ability in Long Beach.”
Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty
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He ultimately performed one show in Long Beach on July 8 before his five performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall this month.
Simon has concerts scheduled in San Francisco, Vancouver and Seattle through August — and if you want to hear a specific song, maybe bring $20.
