Father and Daughter

"Father and Daughter"
"Father and Daughter"
Single by Paul Simon
from the album The Wild Thornberrys Movie Soundtrack and Surprise
Released	October 28, 2002
Length	4:12
Label	Jive; Nick;
Songwriter(s)	Paul Simon
Producer(s)	Paul Simon
Paul Simon singles chronology

"Father and Daughter" is a song by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. The song, written for the animated family film The Wild Thornberrys Movie, was released as a single in October 2002. An alternate version later appeared on Simon's 11th solo album, Surprise (2006). When re-released as a single in 2006, the song became a top-40 hit in the UK, giving Simon his most recent hit. The song is a ballad in which Simon expresses his love for his daughter, Lulu. "Father and Daughter" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song,^[1] as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.^[2]

Background

The song expresses the singer's hopes and dreams for his daughter.^[3] Simon wrote the song as an ode to his daughter, Lulu, who was seven at the time it was completed.^[4] Simon's son, Adrian, sings harmony on the song's choruses; he was 10 years old at the time of recording. He had heard his son singing along to it while driving and encouraged him to contribute to it.^[4]

The song was written for the animated family film The Wild Thornberrys Movie and released in 2002. The song also appeared on the movie soundtrack album, and a different mix of the same performance was used for Simon's 2006 release, Surprise, and the 2007 compilation, The Essential Paul Simon.

Reception

The song received a favorable response from critics. Scott Mervis, writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, considered it "the best pop song he's written in years,"^[5] while Claudia Puig of USA Today dubbed it "classic Simon."^[6] Heather Phares of AllMusic felt it "mellow [and] amiable."^[7]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Wayne Isham and features Simon performing the song in a child's bedroom, intercut with clips from The Wild Thornberrys Movie, as well as live action clips of wild animals (which were used in the end credits of the film).

Track listings

2002 CD single^[8]

"Father and Daughter" (album version) – 4:12
"Father and Daughter" (instrumental) – 4:12
"Father and Daughter" (video)

2006 CD single^[9]

"Father and Daughter" – 4:11
"Another Galaxy" – 5:22

Personnel

Paul Simon – vocals, electric guitar, nylon-string acoustic guitar, high-string acoustic guitar
Vincent Nguini – acoustic guitar
Steve Gadd – drums
Abe Laboriel – bass
Adrian Simon – vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002–2003)	Peak position
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[10]	5
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[11]	20

Chart (2006)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)^[12]	31

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Position
US Triple-A (Billboard)^[13]	23

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 28, 2002	Adult contemporary hot adult contemporary triple A radio	Jive Nick	^[14]
United Kingdom	May 29, 2006	CD	Warner Bros.	^[15]

References

^ "Eminem builds on Oscar buzz". BBC. February 14, 2003. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
^ Rick Lyman (December 20, 2002). "'Chicago' and 'The Hours' Lead Golden Globes Race". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ "New Simon, P. Diddy Tracks Highlight 'Wild Thornberrys'". Billboard. October 30, 2002. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ ^a ^b Tamara Conniff (January 16, 2003). "Father & Daughter a Simon family affair". The Hollywood Reporter.
^ Scott Mervis (December 20, 2002). "'The Wild Thornberrys Movie': A fun family romp on the Serengeti". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ Claudia Puig (December 19, 2002). "Cute, spunky 'Thornberrys'". USA Today. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ Heather Phares. "The Wild Thornberries". Allmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ Paul Simon (2002). Father and Daughter (CD single liner notes). Jive Records, Nick Records. 9254472.
^ Paul Simon (2006). Father and Daughter (CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. W719CD, 5439 15705 2.
^ "Paul Simon Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Paul Simon Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 47.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1476. October 25, 2002. p. 27.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 27, 2006. p. 29. Misprinted as the issue date, May 27, on source.

[1] "Eminem builds on Oscar buzz". BBC. February 14, 2003. Retrieved August 24, 2010.

[golden-2] Rick Lyman (December 20, 2002). "'Chicago' and 'The Hours' Lead Golden Globes Race". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[bb02-3] "New Simon, P. Diddy Tracks Highlight 'Wild Thornberrys'". Billboard. October 30, 2002. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[hr03-4] Tamara Conniff (January 16, 2003). "Father & Daughter a Simon family affair". The Hollywood Reporter.

[5] Scott Mervis (December 20, 2002). "'The Wild Thornberrys Movie': A fun family romp on the Serengeti". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[6] Claudia Puig (December 19, 2002). "Cute, spunky 'Thornberrys'". USA Today. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[7] Heather Phares. "The Wild Thornberries". Allmusic. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[8] Paul Simon (2002). Father and Daughter (CD single liner notes). Jive Records, Nick Records. 9254472.

[9] Paul Simon (2006). Father and Daughter (CD single liner notes). Warner Bros. Records. W719CD, 5439 15705 2.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_Paul_Simon-10] "Paul Simon Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Paul_Simon-11] "Paul Simon Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[UK-12] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 30, 2015.

[13] "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 47.

[14] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1476. October 25, 2002. p. 27.

[15] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 27, 2006. p. 29. Misprinted as the issue date, May 27, on source.

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v t e Paul Simon songs
Discography
The Paul Simon Songbook	"I Am a Rock" "Leaves That Are Green" "April Come She Will" "The Sound of Silence" "A Simple Desultory Philippic" "Patterns"
Paul Simon	"Mother and Child Reunion" "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" "Duncan"
There Goes Rhymin' Simon	"Kodachrome" "Loves Me Like a Rock" "American Tune" "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" "Something So Right" "St. Judy's Comet"
Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'	"The Sound of Silence"
Still Crazy After All These Years	"Gone at Last" "My Little Town" "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" "Still Crazy After All These Years"
Greatest Hits, Etc.	"Slip Slidin' Away" "Stranded in a Limousine"
One-Trick Pony	"Late in the Evening" "One-Trick Pony" "Oh, Marion"
Hearts and Bones	"Allergies" "The Late Great Johnny Ace" "Think Too Much"
Graceland	"You Can Call Me Al" "Graceland" "The Boy in the Bubble" "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" "Under African Skies" "Homeless"
The Rhythm of the Saints	"The Obvious Child" "Proof" "Born at the Right Time"
You're the One	"Old" "You're the One"
Surprise	"Father and Daughter" "That's Me" "Outrageous"
So Beautiful or So What	"Getting Ready for Christmas Day" "The Afterlife"
Stranger to Stranger	"Wristband" "Cool Papa Bell" "The Werewolf"
Featured singles	"Wonderful World" "The Blues" "The Boxer" "New York Is My Home"
Other songs	"Rene and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog after the War" "Thelma"
Category

v t e The Wild Thornberrys
Episodes
Films	The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) Rugrats Go Wild (2003)
Video games	Rambler Nicktoons Racing Nickelodeon Party Blast Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2
Music	"Father and Daughter"
Category