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Paul Simon's 1975 song 'too weird to be a hit' sold five million

Paul Simon thought the track "Still Crazy After All These Years" was unmarketable, yet it became one of his biggest commercial successes of the decade.

On air: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on Weekend Edition
Published 6:32 AM ET, Sunday, October 11, 2026

Photo: Matthew Straubmuller (imatty35) · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on this story, from Weekend Edition at 6:32 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Far Out Magazine's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Matthew Straubmuller (imatty35) · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Paul Simon — Photo: Matthew Straubmuller (imatty35) · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by Far Out Magazine: “In 1975, Paul Simon sold 5,000,000 copies of a song he called “too weird to be a hit””.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 6:32 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger.
Topics: Simon.
BBN covered this story before: Hurricane Simon strengthens to Category 4 off Mexico's coast (October 10).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Far Out MagazineIn 1975, Paul Simon sold 5,000,000 copies of a song he called “too weird to be a hit”

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIn 1975, Paul Simon wrote a song he thought was too weird to be a hit. It sold five million copies.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFive million! That's a perfect ten on my critic's scorecard, the same one I keep for the McDonald's Snack Wrap.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorYou keep a scorecard for a wrap.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt's a formal scorecard, Hank.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe song is Still Crazy After All These Years.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe man who wrote it said nobody would buy it. Five million people disagreed with him.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the artist is the worst critic in the room.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPresent company included. I rated a Starfleet drama a four after sleeping on it. I'll sleep on this one too, and I'll be wrong.

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