In this classic 1977 clip from Sesame Street, American singer-songwriter Paul Simon sings ‘Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard’ on the front stoop of 123 Sesame Street, accompanied by a girl who enthusiastically improvises her own lyrics during instrumental parts of the song.
Simon also sang ‘El Cóndor Pasa‘ for the episode. The song is a cover of a piece by Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles, “written in 1913 and based on traditional Andean music, specifically folk music from Peru.”
Related reading: How ‘Sesame Street’ Started a Musical Revolution.
Watch these videos next: Pinball Number Count, Ben Vereen sings Pure Imagination on The Muppet Show (1977), and Dizzy Gillespie & the Electric Mayhem on The Muppet Show (1980).Now, as it marks its 50th anniversary — after 4,526 episodes, not to mention specials, movies, albums and more — the legacy of “Sesame” is clear: It impacted the music world as much as it shaped TV history, inspiring countless fans and generations of artists. And the show is still innovating, finding ever more ways to sing out loud.
Bonus: Talkin’ Scat with Hoots the Owl and Gordon.
h/t Noodle Loaf podcast.
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