# Paul Simon calls fan up to stage to play his song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436 "2011-05-19T13:09:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/1 "2011-05-19T13:09:53Z")
A fan shouts up to Paul Simon that she learned to play the guitar using his song ‘Duncan’. Simon: “Come on up here and play it on my guitar”. I love Simon’s gesture and his encouragement. I love the woman’s guts and gratitude. Most of all, I am blown away by the support the audience gave her. [Link](http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/music/ive-never-loved-paul-simon-mor.html) mmm ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/2 "2011-05-19T13:16:02Z")
Just posted it to my Facebook feed with the comment “Am I allowed to cry a little bit at work? That’s just awesome.” Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/3 "2011-05-19T13:41:33Z")
I like how much Simon was obviously enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/4 "2011-05-19T13:49:51Z")
Yesterday I saw My Chemical Romance in concert, and they invited a 13-year-ish girl to sing a song with them, because she had written them about how she had been bullied in school and singing a song with them was her life’s dream. Whenever the singer looked at her she looked like she was about to faint, it was touching 🙂 But yes the audience offered support to her, too, despite the fact that her mic was turned down so much you could barely hear her. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I like how much Simon was obviously enjoying it. When I saw Coheed and Cambria, and Claudio did an acoustic version of The Light and the Glass, when the entire audience started singing “Liar! Liar!” at the appropriate moment, he had this huge grin like he thought it was completely awesome that we all knew the words to his songs. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/5 "2011-05-19T13:51:48Z")
Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/6 "2011-05-19T15:25:21Z")
Wow…nice move Paul…your stock has risen in my book. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/7 "2011-05-19T16:15:11Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Just posted it to my Facebook feed with the comment “Am I allowed to cry a little bit at work? That’s just awesome.” > > Thanks for sharing. Posted the video to my Facebook as well. That’s so awesome, I think I woulda crapped my pants. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/8 "2011-05-19T16:15:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I like how much Simon was obviously enjoying it. Me too. Classy dude. As if we needed another reason to love the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/9 "2011-05-19T16:18:37Z")
How sweet! ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/10 "2011-05-19T17:27:53Z")
My sister sent me the story with the message, “On second thought, go ahead and wish for whatever you’d like!” Her link did not have video. I was near tears, grinning like an idiot, and had goosebumps the whole time I watched it. Hooray for Rayna being able to keep it together and actually play and sing. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/11 "2011-05-19T17:51:56Z")
Neat! A question though: why is Al Pacino playing the drums? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/12 "2011-05-19T19:39:22Z")
As much as I love Paul Simon, he does have a reputation for being a dick. It’s nice to see him be super cool. Good for her, too. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/13 "2011-05-19T20:04:22Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Simon: “Come on up here and play it on my guitar”. And, by the way, I think she got to play a guitar worth about $5,000 [http://m2w.net/wiki/index.php/OM-42PS\_(Paul\_Simon)](http://m2w.net/wiki/index.php/OM-42PS_(Paul_Simon)) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/14 "2011-05-19T21:27:21Z")
That was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/15 "2011-05-19T21:54:07Z")
What a moment for that woman. I think I have something in my eye… ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/16 "2011-05-19T22:07:36Z")
I heard _Chicago_ invites an audience member up on stage at every concert to sing one of their songs. I’ve also heard _Weazer_ had a bunch of audience members up on stage to play one of their songs with various odd instruments. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/17 "2011-05-19T23:06:47Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > And, by the way, I think she got to play a guitar worth about $5,000 > > [http://m2w.net/wiki/index.php/OM-42PS\_(Paul\_Simon)](http://m2w.net/wiki/index.php/OM-42PS_(Paul_Simon)) This thread inspired me to go back and listen to some of Paul’s solo stuff as well as some of his stuff with Art Garfunkel…I’d forgotten what an accomplished, understated guitar player Paul Simon is. And his lyrics are magnificent. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/18 "2011-05-20T00:06:32Z")
When I saw U2 in the mid80s in New Jersey, they brought up an audience member to play guitar on Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”. At least we assumed he was an audience member. I sort of remember Bono asking for someone who could play guitar.Anyways, we had seats behind the stage (best we could do) and after the song he was behind the stage just pumping his fists in joy over what he got to do. Of course there was the time at a Who concert where Keith Moon took too many drugs before the show, collapsed during the concert and they brought an audience member up to play drums. I think it was Cow Palace, San Francisco in 1971 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/19 "2011-05-20T00:41:54Z")
So very cool. Thanks for the link ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436/20 "2011-05-20T00:53:23Z")
I love how Simon quietly mouths the lyrics while she’s singing. He seems proud that she knows _his song_ (as if there aren’t a million other people who do). How great that must feel to have the ability to make someone feel so special. mmm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-simon-calls-fan-up-to-stage-to-play-his-song/582436.md?page=2)