STOCKHOLM, 2025-06-19 13:26:00
TV
A Musical Journey Through Simon’s Mind
Alex Gibney’s “In Restless Dreams” dives deep into the music of Paul Simon, offering a rare glimpse into his creative process and career.
- The documentary primarily focuses on Simon’s music.
- It explores the creation of his latest album, “Seven Psalms.”
- It chronicles Simon’s career from Simon & Garfunkel to the present.
If you’re a fan of innovative music, then you’ll want to check out Alex Gibney’s “In Restless Dreams,” which premiered on SVT from Midsummer Eve. The documentary beautifully highlights the brilliance of Paul Simon, one of popular music’s most innovative artists and songwriters, and is currently available on SVT Play.
Subconscious Inspiration
The documentary artfully weaves together two key elements. First, it explores the making of Simon’s recent album, “Seven Psalms.” Second, it presents a chronological account of Simon’s career, starting with his breakthrough with Simon & Garfunkel and continuing to the present day. It’s a fascinating portrait of a music legend.
Simon revealed that the inspiration for “Seven Psalms” came to him in a dream. The lyrics emerged in a hazy state between sleep and wakefulness. He would wake in the middle of the night to record the lines that came to him. This is not the first time Simon has tapped into his subconscious for songwriting.
For example, the lyrics for “Mrs. Robinson” materialized in his mind and then became perfect for the Mike Nichols film, “Mandom test.” Similarly, the title track of Simon’s solo album “Graceland” was conceived. He shared that lines about Graceland flooded his mind while writing the album’s lyrics, even though the record was recorded in South Africa and built on South African music. “What does Graceland have to do with South Africa?” Simon asks in the documentary. Yet, he kept the lines about Graceland.
Open and Honest
The documentary’s seamless transitions between the creation of the new album and Simon’s career are expertly crafted. Simon is candid about both his successes and failures. Viewers gain insight into his complex relationship with Art Garfunkel and what led to the band’s split. The film doesn’t shy away from the difficult parts of his story.
One of the documentary’s strengths is its emphasis on the music. It showcases how sound technician Roy Halee used unconventional methods in the production of Simon & Garfunkel’s songs, such as recording drums in an elevator shaft, horns in a church, and using an echo chamber. The musical differences that contributed to Simon & Garfunkel’s breakup are also discussed. When Art Garfunkel wanted to prepare songs by Paul Simon and develop the harmonies on his own, Simon chose to end the collaboration.
The documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of some of Simon’s most classic solo albums. Simon has always sought out new musical expressions. In 1972, he was among the first non-Jamaican musicians to incorporate reggae elements with the song “Mother and Child Reunion.”
Rock and South African Fusion
The most compelling story revolves around the creation of Simon’s iconic solo album, “Graceland” (1986). It began when Simon heard a cassette in his car that he enjoyed. The record label traced the music to South Africa. Simon began listening to South African music and found three groups he wanted to collaborate with. He invited them to record with him, which they did.
The result was a fantastic mix of American rock and South African music, improvised with the help of South African musicians and recorded in five studios worldwide. This music was also very successful live. Simon performed the record in its entirety during a live performance in Stockholm in 2012.
The record was not without controversy when it came out. In 1986, South Africa was still under apartheid, and many felt it was best to avoid the country. Simon believed the record did the opposite, increasing opposition to the regime by highlighting the music and culture of Black South Africans.
“In restless dreams” is a tribute to a fantastic songwriter and artist. Simon popularized music from diverse areas, including South Africa, Brazil, and Jamaica. Paul Simon deserves his own chapter in music history.
