‘Dangling Conversation’: The Simon and Garfunkel song Rick Rubin couldn’t live without
Rick Rubin is a testament to knowing what you like and sticking by it. He isn’t musically trained in any way, yet he is responsible for some of the biggest songs in recent decades. The world-renowned producer proudly flaunts that he doesn’t have any specific musical talent; instead, he knows what he likes, why he likes it, and can communicate that to those he works with.
Of course, while some people might have a natural talent for playing the guitar or singing, there is no such thing as a natural talent for production and musical understanding. That comes from dedicating time to listening to what is popular, exposing yourself to different cultures, sights and sounds, and accepting that you will never know everything, so having an open mind to experiencing new things.
Rick Rubin practices all of these various aspects. Though he might not have dedicated his life to learning an instrument or understanding music theory, he has devoted his life to music in general and the creative process. The result is excellent intuition when putting music together and an eclectic taste.
One duo who has had a significant impact on the producer is Simon and Garfunkel. This isn’t just because of their abilities as musicians but also because of the messages conveyed within some of their music. When he appeared on Desert Island Discs, Rubin highlighted the song ‘The Dangling Conversation’ in particular, saying that it’s a tune he couldn’t live without.
“I can relate it to a story I was told two days ago,” said Rubin when discussing the song, “The person I was speaking to is from Edinburgh, and she said, people from Edinburgh look outward, people from London look inward, and people in Manhattan look inward, and people from Long Island, where I come from, look outward. Growing up on Long Island, I wished I lived in Manhattan, but had I lived in Manhattan, I might have looked inward more than looking outward.”
The aforementioned qualities make a good producer, as well as having eclectic taste and being open to various styles and genres, resulting from a willingness to look outward. As such, it’s not inconceivable to think that Rubin’s taste wouldn’t have been as defined if he were not from Long Island, which has contributed massively towards his success within the world of music.
“So in some way,” he said, “the fact that I wasn’t where I wanted to be, physically, geographically, ended up being a good thing, taste-wise, in my life.”
Different mindsets contribute towards different music. To have as successful a range as Rick Rubin has, it’s important to look outward and not just be content with the kind of sound within spitting distance. He was happy to look further from his hometown for inspiration and, in doing so, developed the skills necessary to be as successful as he is today. In his mind, nothing highlights that desire to look outward for inspiration more than ‘The Dangling Conversation’ by Simon and Garfunkel.
