Paul Simon achieved enormous success and praise in his early career. It was particularly through his collaboration with Art Garfunkel in the duo Simon and Garfunkel. Their music was praised for its poetic lyricism and melodic beauty, resulting in widespread recognition and adoration. However, Simon, like many other artists, faced challenges and setbacks throughout his career. He reminds us that even the most revered figures in music must navigate the complexities of fame and artistic evolution.
Any person in the public eye will inevitably face a period of ridicule that will be difficult to overcome. For some, it’s an insurmountable obstacle to overcome, and their career is never restored to its former glory. This chapter surprised Simon, but instead of swallowing him up, it inspired him to write a classic track.
Simon and Garfunkel unexpectedly found success after their song ‘The Sound of Silence‘ was picked up by college radio. But they had no idea what to expect. Simon had already relocated to England, where he was establishing an underground folk career. He was completely oblivious to the buzz that was forming around his name in the United States.
Paul Simon reunited with Garfunkel after the attention became too much to ignore, and the good times continued for the next few years. The duo’s reputation grew with each full-length release. And by the time they released their final album, Bridge over Troubled Water, in 1970, they were one of the world’s most successful acts.
Everything was going well commercially. But Simon had noticed a shift in the perception of him among critics, who had previously adored anything he touched. In response to the shift in opinion, Simon defiantly wrote ‘The Boxer‘, which established his identity and explained his origin story.
During an interview with Playboy in 1984, Simon said of the track: “I think the song was about me. Everybody’s beating me up, and I’m telling you now I’m going to leave if you don’t stop. We had already received our first criticism by then. “For the first few years, it was all praise.”
He went on to say, “It took two or three years for people to realize that we weren’t strange creatures from England. But rather two guys from Queens who used to sing rock ‘n’ roll. And maybe we weren’t true folkies at all! Perhaps we weren’t even hippies!”
After facing unfair attacks, Simon responded in the most powerful way possible. He created a masterpiece that demonstrated the full extent of his immense talent, proving those wrong who had dared to tarnish his name.
Art is subjective, and musicians cannot please everyone with their work. The harsh words understandably hurt Simon. However, instead of letting the criticisms consume him or altering his artistry to meet the assumed demands of critics, Simon came out swinging, living up to his reputation as ‘The Boxer‘.
