Talk:Kodachrome (song)

In an interview with Paul

In an interview with Paul I heard on the radio, the better/worse in black and white line was sung different with each performance.

Definitely predates Paul Simon's Concert in the park, at any rate. It's 'better' on The Concert in Central Park. Bogfjellmo 14:36, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Fleetwood Mac's "Peacekeeper" sounds a lot— like Kodachrome, doesn't it!???!! 131.191.64.130 (talk) 23:49, 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Funny, but I’d always assumed that Kodak paid him to write this song, and I was surprised that BBC banned it over trademark infringement. Surely it’s some of the best free advertising any company’s ever had. As for the song’s meaning, as an avid amateur photographer, I always took at face value that it’s partly about the joy of photography, the vividness of Kodachrome, and that artistic expression isn’t a product of one’s education. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:19C:5302:2D70:9888:57DF:157:9F9A (talk) 22:51, 8 November 2022 (UTC)

Relationship to LSD

It seems fairly obvious to me that this song was written about LSD banning. This song was published in 1973, likely written a little before then. LSD was made illegal in 1971. Lyrics suggest this "Kodachrome" is quite likely to be taken away: "Mama, don't take my Kodachrome" and "I can read the writing on the wall." So, does that association warrant mention? Can we find a reference somewhere besides this talk page? -- ke4roh (talk) 20:27, 23 November 2007 (UTC)

When i drove to my work this morning, the song was on the radio, and though i know the song already for years, suddenly i knew for sure that this song must be about mariuhana or LSD. ("nice bright colours") —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.86.192.235 (talk) 21:58, 26 August 2010 (UTC)

There's a certain type of person, and a certain type of computer professional - less common now, but still around - that sees every artistic endeavour as either fuelled by drugs, or a reference to drugs, or both; you wouldn't happen to be one of those people, would you? -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 17:50, 22 July 2009 (UTC)

LSD was criminalized federally in the US in 1966 and then the Controlled Substances Act further restricted it in 1970 IIRC. But I strongly suspect Ke4roh is correct, or at least agree that it's a reasonable assumption given Simon's interest in the Sacraments and the lyrics of this song. 95.154.227.214 (talk) 22:37, 15 September 2009 (UTC)

I got my masters in business in the mid 70ies in the USA and for me and my colleagues it was clear, that Kodachrome was used as a symbol for LSD - (although we had refrained from trying it ourselves, but it was for sale quite openly as "acid" at music festivals - e.g. Summer Jam at Watkins Glen in 1973.) Bonu (talk) 11:16, 6 January 2015 (UTC)

You people are weird. The lyrics make me think of a highschool dropout who's glad in having learnt reading in spite of "all the crap" they tried to teach him in school. He then proceeds by reading out (maybe a bit in a Forrest Gump-style) what's in front of him on the wall, which happens to be a promotional poster for Kodachrome slide film. Could also be that the words on the poster (which unlike "all the crap in highschool" are pretty simple and catchy) console him in some way, much like TV and radio jingles do for autistics, which is why he starts chanting them like mantras. --87.180.197.207 (talk) 00:06, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

lyrics

Are the lyrics banned? I would think the lyrics would make a natural section--Patbahn (talk) 21:41, 19 January 2011 (UTC)