To commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of 9/11, singer-songwriter Paul Simon teamed up with a crowd of mourners at Ground Zero, where the act of venomous infamy, forever strained within our hearts took place. The 69 year old folk and rock veteran had just released a new album called "So Beautiful or So What in April this year, to a standing ovation. Fans lined up all around to buy the album and he has sold out shows in several different countries spanning the spring and summertime.
In a very moving four and a half minute tribute, Simon played a haunting, yet comforting vigil version of his classic "The Sounds of Silence," while many proceeded to bow their heads, workers, countrymen, servicemen, and amy officials, all bowing their heads to bask in silence and the music, a somewhat fitting ode to the bittersweet ache of the loved ones lost in the multiplicity and rancor of the tragedy of this day, a decade ago.
With every line that Simon sang, you could feel the grace of the somber atmosphere, or rather the sadness in the silence that so many people hold in memory from the towers falling in lower Manhattan. It was a well thought out, well sung tribute to the darkness that those loved ones lost have come to talk with again--though not intentionally.
Upon the scene, visions of the towers falling, people screaming, the second plane making its way into the South Tower, all are images seen yet again on this anniversary. For those searching for consolation, look no further than here to remember and to be blessed yet again by one of America's most shining talents. Greeted by warm applause the singer reached his way up to the stage, plainly strumming the notes in the introduction in a folky and mystical style. Then the tale in the lyrics comes to fruition and the essence of the moment comes into full view. The quiet, somber ground zero, pauses to reflect, and to remember. Some cry silently, but others just bow their heads to pray. On this day, the angels are smiling. The whole city stops as he steps up to the mic to perform. To all the viewers watching, it was as if the time had stood still. Work was not to be resumed until the end of the tribute.
The strains of Simon's guitar, in a pulsing, rhythmic, and beautiful B minor pulled at the heart strings of so many affected on that day. And who better to heal a nation of all of its wincing, deep pain other than the man New York has grown to love for the past fifty years. He is truly a bridge over troubled water to many many generations, whether in times of the robust, or in times of pain, or times of remembrance, such as this one, he still remains. He is truly the voice of the healer, for the better of the American people. May the lost rest in peace.
