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"The Boy in the Bubble" is a song by Paul Simon, released as the third single from his seventh studio album, Graceland, in February 1987. The song was written by Simon and Forere Motloheloa, an accordionist from Lesotho.
The track explores themes of starvation and terrorism, juxtaposed with wit and optimism. Its lyrics touch on technological progress, medicine, surveillance, and inequality. The song's title was inspired by the medical cases of David Vetter and Ted DeVita.
Key features of "The Boy in the Bubble" include:
Musical elements:
- African rhythms and zydeco influences
- Accordion played by Forere Motloheloa
- Guitar synthesizer by Adrian Belew
Chart performance:
- Reached No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Peaked at No. 15 on the Album Rock Tracks chart
- Achieved top 30 positions in the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands
Critical reception:
- Praised for its cross-cultural fusion and intelligent lyrics
- Described as a "thriller" by Pitchfork in their review of Graceland's 25th anniversary edition
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