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Today, a tip of the football helmet to the late John Madden, who made a cameo appearance in the video of the song we highlighted back on 7/2/20.
Rest in peace, Coach.
Here's the original post:
Where do I begin when trying to highlight the reasons why I believe today's song is a "Great Song of the '70s?"
*Do I start with the fact it's by Paul Simon?
*How about the fact that it's catchy--and quirky?
*That it's probably the only hit record to feature a whistle solo and a cuica?
*Or maybe I should mention the cool video?
In 1972, Simon released "Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard:" a song about a boy and his friend Julio who are involved in some sort of crime. They are arrested and jailed, but later released when a radical priest steps in.
When Simon was asked by "Rolling Stone" Magazine what it was all about, he basically said, "I have no idea."
The distinctive Latin beat was something rarely heard on mainstream radio in the early '70s, and that made quite an impact on Hispanic listeners who--as Simon discovered later-- were "thrilled" to hear their style of music on the air.
The "wobbly" sound heard throughout the song was made by a cuica--a Brazilian percussion instrument, which also fit well with Simon's "whistle solo." Quirky, Indeed!
And then there was the video, which was filmed a few years later in New York City's Hell's Kitchen, and featured cameos by rappers Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie, basketball star Spud Webb, baseball Hall-of-,Famer Mickey Mantle, and football's John Madden. (See link below)
All of the reasons listed above (and maybe a few more--like the impressive rope jumpers) make "Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard" a "Great Song of the '70s!"
Here's the must-see1988 video:
Here's the original version:
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