Paul Simon played his final ever concert last night (September 22) in Queens, just minutes from where he grew up.
‘The Boxer’ star ended his ‘Homeward Bound’ farewell tour at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, playing a 26-strong set that ended with two separate encores.
Explaining the reason behind his decision to play his final concert in Flushing, Simon said: “It feels more like fate than coincidence that I should do the final show on the final tour at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.”
He added: “I could have ridden my bike from home to the park in about 20 minutes when I was a kid. But this is less a goodbye than a farewell. Thank you all for the ride, I had a great time.” You can see fan-footage and reaction to his final gig below:
https://twitter.com/shoedesign1/status/1043662829507825664
Goodbye Rosie, Queen of Corona, indeed! Paul Simon in Flushing Meadow-Corona Park. pic.twitter.com/z0LVJGwL9S
— steve greenberg (@steviegpro) September 23, 2018
Paul Simon says goodbye in Queens. #PaulSimonFarewellTour pic.twitter.com/i6FnpFQYrA
— Robert Levin (@Rlevin85) September 23, 2018
Paul Simon closes his last ever show with what else, but “The Sound Of Silence.” Every person around me was wiping away tears. Unforgettable moment. #PaulSimonFarewellTour
— Will Oliver (@weallwantsome1) September 23, 2018
Only cried 4 times at Paul Simon’s last show tonight. What a special night ❤️ pic.twitter.com/4mC5ODy19p
— Candace Svoma (@canicallucandy) September 23, 2018
“Strange times,” says Paul Simon at his final concert. “Don’t give up.” #paulsimon
— Betsy Gleick (@BetsyGleick) September 23, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoDjndVgoFR/?tagged=paulsimon
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoDeM5wjEYL/?tagged=paulsimon
Opening with Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘America’, Simon played some of his most revered tracks during the gig including ‘The Boy in the Bubble’, ‘Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
The encore closed with other classics including ‘Graceland’, ‘The Boxer’ and ‘The Sound of Silence’.
Speaking earlier this year about his farewell tour, Simon said: “I’ve often wondered what it would feel like to reach the point where I’d consider bringing my performing career to a natural end. Now I know: it feels a little unsettling, a touch exhilarating and something of a relief.”
He added: “I love making music, my voice is still strong, and my band is a tight, extraordinary group of gifted musicians. I think about music constantly. I am very grateful for a fulfilling career and, of course, most of all to the audiences who heard something in their music that touched their hearts.”
Earlier in September, Simon also released a new album – ‘The Blue Light’ – to coincide with his final tour. Featuring re-worked versions of his songs through the years, the album included collaborations with artists such as Bryce Dessner and the instrumental music ensemble yMusic.
Towards the end of the gig, Simon hinted that he would be “open” to playing “one-off” performances in the future but confirmed that ‘Homeward Bound’ would be his final ever tour. You can see the set-list for the concert below:
Setlist:
America
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
The Boy in the Bubble
Dazzling Blue
That Was Your Mother
Rewrite
Mother and Child Reunion
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard (with Edie Brickell)
Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War (with yMusic)
Can’t Run But (with yMusic)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (with yMusic)
Wristband
Spirit Voices
The Obvious Child
Questions for the Angels
The Cool, Cool River
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
You Can Call Me Al
Encore 1:
Late in the Evening
Still Crazy After All These Years
Graceland
Encore 2:
Homeward Bound
Kodachrome
The Boxer
American Tune
The Sound of Silence