A list of all Paul Simon's plagiarism?
I'm compiling a list, because all the conversations are all over the place. Here's what I have so far:
- He stole from the "Zy Dekko" band (New Orleans band on for Graceland, he famously couldn't say Zydeco correctly).
- He stole from the South Africans & Heidi Berg's concept (became Graceland)
- He stole from Los Lobos.
- He stole Scarborough Fair from Martin Carthy, and that's just a riff of an old english folk song, but he lifted the entire guitar arrangement.
- He knifed Garfunkel, who was his best friend since 11. I know that's more complex.
- He stole Cloudy from Bruce Woodley, or at least tried. BMI wrote Woodley in to the songwriting tho Simon claimed it was his alone.
- With American Tune, he ripped off Bach who ripped off someone else. This was not "riffing".
- He gave himself song writing credits on "Silent Night"
All these situations, like ridding of Garfunkel, is that Simon couldn't handle the public thinking he was collaborating, and he would deny song writing credits. When Los Lobos approached him, he said "Sue me and we'll see what happens". source: https://www.laweekly.com/los-lobos-on-paul-simon-do-you-mean-zydeco-when-you-say-zy-decko/
There's other more tin-foil hat discussions about some other of his work. Wondering if anyone knows of other accusations. ALSO... I'm no expert. Knock this down, prove it wrong. I just think his continued inability to admit he collaborates and reward people with royalties, rightfully, is scummy.