Defending Paul Simon Against Charges of Cultural ‘Rip-Off’
Hey, Scot Tempesta, I’m with you! That Simon guy’s got a lot of damned nerve ripping off other cultures’ music and calling it his own. Paul Simon, if Scot and I want to hear another country’s music, we’ll just wander on over to that section of the record store, thank you very much!
And while we’re at it, I hate that George Gershwin slime bag. “Porgy and Bess,” my butt! Right, George--like you grew up surrounded by black people.
But worst of all is that Bill Shakespeare guy! Hey, pal, you’re English. Keep your greasy fingers out of Denmark, Italy and ancient Greece.
Sure, the rest of you think it’s fine for an artist to turn to other influences in the name of growing and experimenting. But Scot and I know better.
ALAN L. KATZ, Los Angeles
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