South African harmonies, bilingual songwriting, and hailing a taxi: Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (Paul Simon)

Listen to the songYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXe2HzFOJYQ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/71GvlH0VdeClloLIkHrAVu?si=86a85fa9cc56478c Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/song/diamonds-on-the-soles-of-her-shoes/529574619 Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0085LMFAE?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_InQKPS94PVgshxXsoqYCrDrci&trackAsin=B0085LMI9W Key takeawaysTrist and Elaine discuss “Diamonds in the Soles of Her Shoes” by Paul Simon in collaboration with the South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This song showcases the rich musical traditions of South Africa and addresses themes of class disparity and cultural integration during the apartheid eraThe lyrics of the song incorporate South African cultural elements, such as the "sign of a teaspoon" and "sign of a wave," which reference specific taxi signals in South Africa, adding depth and context to the narrativeIn the Mailbag portion, Trist and Elaine explore the idea that musical ability is not solely dependent on innate talent but can be cultivated through dedication and practice, emphasizing that anyone can achieve a decent level of musical proficiency with effortAbout usTrist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross.As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent.Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.