LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Simon performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Wednesday, bringing back his 1973 hit “Kodachrome” for the first time since 2019, thanks to a $20 bill from an enthusiastic audience member.
A video shared on Instagram by user @dethsyndicate captured the moment. According to the post, someone in the audience shouted, “Play ‘Kodachrome’!” Simon responded, “I don’t do requests … unless you got 20 bucks,” jokingly. The audience member then handed over $20, and Simon obliged, performing the song.
“Kodachrome,” released as the lead single from Simon’s third album, “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon,” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song remains one of Simon’s most popular hits.
On Wednesday, “Kodachrome” was part of Simon’s first encore, which included a set of 24 songs. The 83-year-old singer also performed three Simon & Garfunkel classics: “Homeward Bound,” “The Boxer,” and “The Sound of Silence,” which closed the show. Additionally, he played his latest solo album, 2023’s “Seven Psalms,” in its entirety.
Simon is currently on his “A Quiet Celebration” tour, which began in April. This marks his first tour since the 2018 “Homeward Bound” tour, initially intended as a farewell tour. In 2023, Simon revealed he had lost most of his hearing in one ear, impacting his ability to perform live. However, he has regained enough hearing to return to the stage, and the current tour is a more intimate experience compared to his previous tours.
Despite ongoing health challenges, including a recent cancellation of shows in Philadelphia due to back pain, Simon has continued with the tour. He is scheduled to perform in San Francisco, Vancouver, and Seattle through early August.