"American Tune"(Paul Simon/slide show by Ilana)

[bobthedistroyer]

so is there a port of entry on the west coast that non Europeans came though? does any one know?

[imjunipernow]

Let us not forget how we got here

[odnalor1960]

one of my favorites,i missed new york i was there in 2002,i wish to see you again

[homousios]

lovely! thank you

[mikejstrehl]

Yes, but Bach also stole it. This is earlier. Still and all, it's great!

[moles2000]

I posted this last year on our local blog, love the music and the pictures are priceless. I still love to watch this after a year gone by. My grandparents came on a cattle boat.

Thanks Ilana!

[MrTahitijack]

I mean it:  THANK YOU ....

[MrTahitijack]

Thank You .... 

[funfunfuntheautobahn]

perfect

[PianoMan278]

i just came here for the song...

[PanJasnovidec]

Wonderful slideshow - uplifting and inspirational. Your choice of`pictures encapsulated very well for me the idea of America that I think Paul Simon was trying to convey - a land of opportunity, endeavour and enterpise. What thoughts, dreams and ambitions must have been going through the heads of these new settlers? I hope their dreams were achieved so that in their own small way, they too helped to make that country what it is today. Not perfect, but look at some of the alternatives ...

[bogoas81]

@PanJasnovidec Sadly America is in a rapid & painful decline. When inflation is considered, average male earnings in America are now LOWER than they were in 1973 - 38 years ago! Inequality has returned to the level of 1920s - with the richest 400 Americans having the same net worth as the poorest 160,000,000 Americans. Earnings for the young (under 30) are falling fastest - down 9% in the past 10 years. In health and education levels America is falling far behind many other developed countries.

[DaveWollenberg]

Paul hit #34 in Billboard, 1-12-74. God bless ya, for postin' it. Thanx. Shalom, Paul!

[Courtneymister]

My favorite song of ALL time 4 ever

[redsfanstu]

Your pictures provided a dramatic landscape to what I feel (IMO) is the best song composed by Paul Simon, if not the best American Pop tune of all time!

[believablebaker]

@redsfanstu "Composed by Paul Simon" is only partially accurate...the melody is pretty directly lifted from a German melody that Bach scored. Most English speaking churchgoers now it as "O Sacred Head Now Wounded." Still a great song, and hey - if you're gonna borrow from somebody, you can hardly beat Bach

[redsfanstu]

@believablebaker I'll take your word for it concerning the shared music with Johann Sebastien, BUT, I am fairly certain that J.S. Bach could not have had any alliance with the lyrical composition, which to me makes "American Tune" so wonderful! Yes Bach is a great composer, and I believe he inspired McGuinn when he came up with the opening lick to "Mr. Tambourine Man"!

[peacefreak9]

@redsfanstu Mr. Tambourine Man was written by Bob Dylan........

[arturoewallis]

@peacefreak9 , Yeah..but the guy is right when he said that Bach inspired McGuinn for the INTRO of the song.

[Forestski]

one of my very favorite songs set to a very nice video. great job!

[mukeshcuster]

wow ive got a totally different version on vinyl, it sounds really strange to me this, lol!

[DaveWollenberg]

Hit #35 in Billboard. God bless!

[cheifguggletram]

Anyone know if Paul is using a different tuning for this song?

[Nina1496]

I love this video and this song <3

[yasushi590618]

アメリカにも韓国人と中国人がのさばってるだよね　なら日本人が出る幕ないわな。　好い詩だね＾＾

[jametjohn]

thank you for your ｎｉｃｅ work  ! I like this song very murch

[tranurse]

does anyone have the commercial from the democratic national convention last year set to this song????

[schlesmail]

You're not thinking of the "American Tune' video prepared for Ron Paul's 2008 bid for the Republican presidential candidacy, are you?

[tranurse]

maybe, but i thought paul simon sang this at the democratic convention.

[Sheenstwin]

Who knows...maybe my mother's great aunt who came through Ellis Island from Ireland is in that photo!

[spasmodioustmonkeybo]

Wonderful and very inspiting...I have to think that this was exactly what Paul Simon had in mind.

[leporca]

great gift!

[bonnieblu313]

i need to clarify my question,,lol,,are some of the pics of your family?..lots of good images...i love old photos,,,

[KarenBIS64]

Some of these are, yes. Glad you like them!

[ajohms]

An absolutely beautiful video!

I am so highly impressed

[bonnieblu313]

i love this song and if i may ask are these photos of your family??....maybe ellis island ?

[KarenBIS64]

Ilana, thank you!!! This is such a sweet, sweet mother's day present!! I love, love, love it!!!! And I love you!!!