| "Graceland" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byPaul Simon | ||||
| from the albumGraceland | ||||
| B-side | "Hearts and Bones" | |||
| Released | November 1986[1] | |||
| Recorded | November 1985 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:48 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter | Paul Simon | |||
| Producer | Paul Simon | |||
| Paul Simon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Graceland" is the title song of the albumGraceland, released in1986 byPaul Simon. The song features vocals bythe Everly Brothers. The lyrics follow the singer's thoughts during a road trip toGraceland after the failure of his marriage. Actress and authorCarrie Fisher, Simon's ex-wife, said that the song referred in part to their relationship.[2] An acoustic version of the song was included as a track onThe Unplugged Collection, Volume One.[3]
A cover byWillie Nelson peaked at number 70 on theBillboardHot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1993.[4]
Billboard said that "Remarkable supporting players from his South Africa sessions make Simon's multiple-meaning musings into something subtly exotic."[5]Cashbox called it a "sparse, thin and taut" title track and praised Simon's lyricism on the song.[6]
The song won the1988 Grammy Award forRecord of the Year. It was the lowest-charting song on any of theworld music charts to win Record of the Year until theRobert Plant andAlison Krauss US non-charting song "Please Read the Letter" won the same award in 2009.[citation needed] In 2004, it was listed at number 485 onRolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs.[7]
| Chart (1986–87) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 62 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 35 |
| Canada (RPM)[11] | 70 |
| CanadaAdult Contemporary (RPM)[12] | 14 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 27 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 79 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 37 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 98 |
| USAlbum Rock Tracks (Billboard)[17] | 38 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[18] | 81 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[19] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||