Posted on 11/20/2024 2:56:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
Paul Simon has abandoned one of his biggest hits, a decision that was entirely out of his control.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter, now 83 years old, has been open about his ongoing battle with hearing loss. While the condition has forced him to retire from touring, Simon has continued performing occasional concerts.
During a recent conversation with CBS Mornings, the musician explained how he manages his condition – and why it made him retire one of his most popular songs.
“There’s only about 6% [hearing] in my left ear,” Simon explained, noting how he has to use multiple monitors during performances. “When the balance is right, I can hear well.”
The condition has also affected his setlist decisions.
“I’m going through my repertoire and reducing a lot of the choices I make to acoustic versions,” he noted. “It’s all much quieter. It’s not ‘You Can Call Me Al.’ That’s gone. I can’t do that one.”
Paul Simon Working With Leading Scientists on Hearing Loss
Though Simon called his condition “incredibly frustrating,” he has a renewed sense of hope thanks to research being conducted at Stanford University. There, a team of scientists are working to reverse the affects of hearing loss, and their progress has been substantial.
The CBS Mornings segment highlighted two notable success stories. In one, scientists were able to restore hearing for zebrafish that had previously been deaf. In another, Stanford’s team were able to regenerate hair cells in mice (both animals have similar inner ear structures to humans). Simon admitted their progress “gives me hope that there is some significant improvement on the horizon.”
In the meantime, the musician – whose most recent album, Seven Psalms, was released in 2023 – will continue doing what he can.
“I don’t think creativity stops with disability,” Simon explained. “So far, I haven’t experienced that. And I hope not to.”
Tinnitus in my right ear is so distracting sometimes. Thank you so much for that. Some of those comments were so funny, lol. It worked for me and I only did it about ten times. Incredible.
I only have about 10% hearing in my left ear from driving the highway for years with the window down. Mainly wind damage.
One and one half wondering deaf people.
I thought that was funny.
LOL. Good one!
Bass guitar. Yes, drums are easier, unless you want to play like Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker, or Jonn Bonham.
I think he used to have a guy in the band that did the singing. Until they got pissy with each other.
Seems you are not a fan of drums.
First you forget that the drummer can hear the amps also.
Secondly, the drummer will play to the size of the venue, and sometimes need mics for medium to large venues to be heard over the other musicians.
Thirdly, it's often times that the guitar players are obsessed with increasing the volume.
Lastly, try telling a jazz drummer in a nightclub he is causing the trumpet or sax player that he is causing them to blow harder.
Your jazz drummers analogy doesn't apply; jazz drummers are musicians while drummers are... ...well, drummers.
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