I'm 70. My youngest grandson of 22 years old began explaining this song to me. He was so enthusiastic I did not dare tell him at the time I knew the song. He was spot on. He could not believe I knew this song in the 60s. 💙💙
Don't you love when people your grandson's age explain a song to you that was released when you were a teen. It tends to throw them when you start to sing along with the song and you give them a cryptic smile.
Oh gosh! You should have!! It would have drawn a comparison/link to his own life. I LOVED knowing that my dad listened to all the good songs I loved when he was my age.
Did he learn of it from Disturbed covering it?? Disturbed made it an epic. I was born Thursday, July 7th, 19 hundred and sixty six!!!!!. I remember this on the radio. When they parted, is was like a death had happened in music. It's unfortunate they couldn't work together
Simon and Garfunkel are the soundtrack to my life. From falling asleep as a child while my Dad played their albums on the turntable, to high school and college where I interacted with the lyrics in a much more personal way, their music never loses impact. Paul Simon put poetry to music, and he is the reason I want more out of music than just a beat. He’s the reason I can’t find much value in acts who sing songs with one stanza lyrics repeated over and over. Paul is really the reason for my lifelong love of story and meaning expressed through music. Thanks for covering this, Professor of Rock.
I was 15 in 1965-66 and Sounds Of Silence was one of the best songs to come out that year. Lyrically it expressed the angst that we teens were feeling and you're right about its relevance in today's world. Excellent video professor.. You brought tears to my eyes with your excellent video.
When I lived in the Atlanta area (97-03) I worked as a waiter/manager at a piano bar/steak house. There was a vocal band which performed every few months, which had a blind member. At one point in the show the other members would walk off stage and he would "look around" and say "where'd everybody go?" Then he would go into a solo of Bridge Over Troubled Water. If you closed your eyes, you would think Art was on stage singing it. It was magical.
I was born in the late fifties, the youngest of 4, by 4 years. I grew up to all the sixties music, from almost day one. My sister was a great Simon and Garfunkel fan. When I first heard "The Sound of Silence", I would lie down, on the floor, between the speakers of my parents stereo and play the hell out of the sound of silence, over and over again. When "disturbed" came out with it's version, it took me back half a century. To this day I listen to both versions, although I prefer the "Disturbed" version. Sometimes they make me tear up, just thinking of my Mum and Dad yelling at me to change that damn song. lol.
I listened to the Disturbed cover for the first time a couple weeks ago. A vocal analyst on UA-cam I’m following had done an episode about it about a year ago but it popped up in my feed and I just seen Sound of Silence and assumed it was Simon & Garfunkel. As soon as she mentioned it was a cover version by a Metal group, I shut it off. Not a fan of most covers or Metal music. However, I read some of the comments including someone saying he heard Paul got goosebumps when he heard it. Despite his initial hesitation of listening to a Metal version of his iconic song, he was very impressed with it. After reading that, I gave it a listen and wow! What a fantastic performance! I played it for my two daughters and they were equally impressed. The original will always have its appropriate place in my playlists but I have to admit I prefer the Disturbed version.
The Sounds of Silence has been burned in my memory for life. It was the song my entire elementary school class had to memorize and sing at graduation in 1969 in New York. It was especially poignant because of the insecurity of leaving everything you’ve know for the unknown of high school. You went from being recognized and the oldest to the unrecognized and the youngest. It made me think of the last day of school that year and the sound of empty hallways never to be walked again. Leaving many friends who would end up in different schools. Yes, the Sounds of Silence was a rite of passage for me. That said, it is hauntingly relevant today. Sadly a pop prophesy. Very much how I feel the song “In the Year 2525” seems to be. Anyway, now I know the back story. Thank you!
My parents listened to S&G, so I got to appreciate them from a young age. The sounds of silence and Scarborough fair have always been my favourites. Their voices complimented each other’s beautifully. When these guys write lyrics, they can seem so simple and random, yet in the context of the song, be so meaningful. It’s a rare gift. ❤
Paul's knack for writing opening lyrics is otherworldly. I've never heard a better opener than "Hello darkness my old friend"! Not to mention The Boxer ("I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told"), Duncan ("Couple in the next room are bound to win a prize, they've been goin at it all night long") and Kodachrome ("When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, It’s a wonder I can think at all")
That last quote from Kodachrome is one of my favorites. I was an honor student in high school, but thinking back on the "crap" they spoon-fed us, Paul was spot on!
When I went to New York in 1979, the Sound of Silence was very much on my mind. For years I had felt compelled to go to New York and live out the song's lyrics in some way. So when I arrived in Manhattan, I was wearing a high collared Navy P-coat that I had envisioned from the song. I then went to see the Statue of Liberty. I had to catch a flight overseas soon and couldn't take the boat tour to the island...but I got a stranger to take a photo of me as I 'turned my collar to the cold and damp' with Lady Liberty in the background across the water. The mission that the song gave me was completed. From then on I knew that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. I have always treasured that faded old photo and the inspirational song that guided me. Thanks Professor!
I love this song as it reminds me of my Mom when I was young back in the 70s. David Draiman said in an interview a few years ago that he received a call from Paul Simon after they'd done the cover and Paul told him that he absolutely loved it. David said he was honored that Paul Simon liked it so much. Apparently the song still brings tears to the eyes of Disturbed fans when they play it at their concerts. It's a timeless song that every generation embraces as their own.
Paul Simon was a bit that way. When he heard the version of 59th Street Bridge by Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, he insisted on dubbing some harmonies on the version that went out on record.
@@MrRickburns I’m sure it was about street graffiti at the time it was written. It’s just when I hear “people talking without speaking,” it makes me think of texting.
The irony and magic of the ending of "The Graduate"....the bus scene where the smiles turn to looks of uncertainty...Dir. Mike Nichols didn't tell Ross and Hoffman that he left the camera rolling but just had them sit there until they got bored....capturing that iconic moment....then adding the "Sound of Silence" over the visuals in editing....combining the two perfectly..... truly was a work of cinematic and musical Genius.
I had a high school student come tearing into my classroom one day. She was obviously excited, "Ms. Teacher, have you ever heard of the song, 'The Sounds of Silence?!'" Ha! Funny! Was there anyone in my generation that had not heard the song? Had not formed associations and layers throughout their lives with this beautiful piece of music? Anyway, it was great to see her so excited. She had a transformative experience through the music. Later on, she created a very powerful flag routine to it. Anyway, to see the next generation find it and be so excited by it. A great endcap, if you will, to my own experience with this song, which I had, indeed heard of. This is a song that one can say of, 'it changes lives.' And people will nod without one accusing you of hyperbole.
Brilliant lyrics! That line reminds me of a Tom Waits story, with him you never know if it really happened or it's part of his wonderful, dark imagination that I love so much. He claims he toured the defunct Alcatraz prison and saw graffiti scrawled on a wall that said, "Hell Broke Luce", a clever pun on "hell broke loose", but meaning that the Hellish prison experience is so horrible that it actually broke Lucifer, ol' Scratch himself!👹 Of course he wrote a song and it, and it has a gritty bizarre video. The song is written from the perspective of an infantry soldier "grunt" in a foreign land: "When I was over here I never got to vote I left my arm in my coat My mom she died and never wrote We sat by the fire and ate a goat Just before he died he had a toke Now I'm home and I'm blind And I'm broke What is next!?" Any chance we'll ever have a Tom Waits episode?😻
I love Simon and Garfunkel, grieved when they dissolved their duo. As I heard the stories of their lost friendship as well, I felt so bad for both men. Their songs are so beautiful and so easy to hum or sing along with. Art Garfunkel's hauntingly beautiful sound on Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Waters cannot be compared. So many of their songs are the background of my childhood and continued with many of their solo songs as well. One of my favorites is My Little Town.
They had their disputes like the Everlys and most recently, Hall & Oates. Jealousy, ego, different temperaments, different lifestyles, and views are fatal to a duo. Sometimes age can also be a factor in not wanting to work together anymore, either due to health issues or wanting to do solo projects with what time they have left in their lives, or personalities change, and are not as compatible as they once were.
Yeah it’s such a waste. Both such great talens but it didn’t stop them from being petty and jealous. Art couldn’t stand that Paul was a much better song writer, and Paul couldn’t stand that Art was the better singer, that he was taller and had a film career.
This song has been a close friend since I was 8 years old. Blind in one eye,my parents did a great deal of work to try to bring sight to my bad eye, including covering my good eye leaving me blind for hours. Later in life I learned, being only half blind was better than no sighting at all. Still the song resonates my feelings and frustrations of my youth and is always part of my darkest days. Somehow bringing light to my life. I was fortunate enough to see Disturbed play this song and it bought me to tears. Still gives me chills when I hear it. Thank you for sharing this with us.
This was the first album I ever bought. During the summer vacation between my fifth grade and sixth grade years I saved up enough allowance to actually get a 33 1/3 rpm record instead of the little 45s I’d been collecting for about a year. I heard this song and knew I had to own a copy of it. A little music shop in the basement of an old hotel which had been converted to a dance studio and some assorted boutique shops (mostly abandoned) offered little ‘listening stations’ for customers to preview records they were considering. I don’t think I even bothered with the ‘listening’ step; I just confidently laid down my money in my best imitation grownup casual fashion, all the while feeling about to explode from the excitement and all the fluttering going on inside. I went home, immediately listened to the entire album, and had no regrets about skipping the preview step - it was amazing! I became a lifelong fan, then and there. I began to collect Simon and Garfunkel records and later CDs; I still do collect their music, both as a duo and their solo projects, only now it’s in my Apple Music playlist. Even my mother, who used to claim she only liked country music, found she liked at least one of their songs. During high school, the Girls’ Glee of which I was a part, sang it in three-part harmony - but that unsettling experience didn’t damage my love of the song, even a little. Then, a highlight came in 2004 when, on the night before my youngest child’s high school graduation, they were touring and had a show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a few hours from where we lived. Part of her graduation present was a trip to Milwaukee for just her and me, because even her generation appreciates genuinely timeless music, and she loves Simon and Garfunkel, too. That night, the duo introduced another team whom they credited as their influences, the Everly Brothers; and the four of them performed a few songs together - what an experience, and what memories this song has generated! Thank you, Mr. Simon and Mr. Garfunkel, for your music and your dedication & skill; and thank you, ‘Professor’, for sharing this story.
It's one of those songs that the first time you ever heard it it hit our soul in a way that no other song ever has. No matter where you are, no matter what you're doing, when "The Sound of Silence" comes on, you stop whatever you're doing and just listen.
"I wish I could say that things have changed, you know, since Paul Simon wrote the song in the early 60's. But I can't." What a fittingly haunting sobriquet for one of the most haunting songs of living memory. Phenomenal work as always, Prof.
The version with the backing instruments made the song a hit, but for me the original acoustic version exemplifies the meaning of the song. Some folks here have referred to the intro being haunting. The whole damn original is like that.
I grew up with the music as a little kid in the ‘60s and finally saw The Graduate on VHS in the ‘80s. None of the scenes in the movie fit the images I had created in my mind with the S&G music and *especially* the lyrics. Even a rewatch a few years ago. Love the music though.
I watched it for the first time recently because I had heard of its popularity and how controversial it was for the time. The only part of the movie that I really enjoyed was the music.
This was my first “rock”album. My mom got it for me in ‘71 while my dad was in Vietnam. I was around 12 and hooked! To this day my favorite group above all others.
To answer the question: Paul and Art are undeniably and unquestionably the best duo ever. I grew up listening to them and I got to see them live twice. August of ‘83 at Grant Field and December of ‘03 at Philips Arena. I’m more of a Paul fan but cannot deny that they were near perfection together. If “Kathy’s Song “ doesn’t melt your heart, you don’t have one.
We were blest to be able to see Simon perform in a small club in Chicago, “The Vic”. It was sponsored by a local radio station, you had to call for the opportunity to buy only a pair of tickets. We did. It was unbelievable. And, when he sang Silence, no pun intended, wall to wall audience, his band temporarily departed the stage, you could hear a pin drop. What a privilege to be there for this show.
Again you did it! Love the stories you uncover! I know a lot of research must go into what you do, and there must be many Rabbit Holes you go down, and that must be challenge after challenge. Love the content and your energy, enthusiasm, reverence, and humor with it. Your respect with artists and their work... Artists and their work that I have grown up with and love. Many I have met, and have performed so many of their works. (This being one that I've sung.) You consistently blow my mind and you always bring a big dose of happy to my mind and heart! Thanks, brother, keep doing what you're doing
Paul Simon is one of those guys that, even when his music doesn't strike a chord, still commands enormous respect. SoS was the first of several great S&G tunes, and though most of his catalog doesn't resonate for me, Paul Simon will always be one of the greats.
When i was in middle school (90's) my brother (4 years older) would constantly play music of all genres on an old 8 track, cassette, or cd player he had. One night I was sick of what he was playing, so he asked me if I wanted "The Sound of Silence" or "Bridge Over Troubled Water". No knowing any better, i told him,"I opt for silence" because I wanted him to turn it off and leave me in peace. He played this song, and I started to appreciate his musical influence in my life.
1967 22 yr old air force kid headed for Vietnam. First stop, a Navy tech school. Heard this song. My friend played a 12 string so we had to get the music for it so he could play it, and I could learn the words. Hooked us both on Simon and Garfunkel. Through the years I have found VERY little of Paul Simon's work that I did not enjoy immensely!! Nearly every one tells a story, has a moral, is a prediction, holds a truth!! The ONLY artists that have ever made me really THINK and FEEL at the same time. I been Norman Mailered and Maxwel Tailored, been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I"m blind. But, I learned the truth, from Lenny Bruce, that all my wealth cant buy me health, so I smoke a pint of tea every day!! Not really but you had to BE there to even understand that. LOVED this historical fleshing out of the whole story. Some stuff here I did not know. Thanks man.
Yeah, I was surprised that with all the talk of Simon trying NOT to be another Dylan, nobody mentioned that he certainly was having a little dig at him in his "A Simple Desultory Philippic" found in S&G third album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme (1966).
In 1968 a radio DJ in Seattle held a contest: Send in a postcard guessing the name of his favorite song and win a guitar. I sent in 'Sounds of Silence' because it was my favorite too and I WON that guitar! I'm pretty sure the guitar was a reject, almost unplayable, but I didn't care, I was thrilled. For years after Paul Simon taught me how to play guitar through endless listening to his records, starting me on a ~30 year career.
@@Gizathecat2a person said they won a crappy guitar from a radio contest, & learning how to play it changed their life. You’re concerned that they made the story up?
"Hello Darkness my old friend" is such a mesmerizing opening line. When I hear it, I feel I need to pull up a chair and listen carefully to what comes next. The spell of the song is broken only when it ends.
My sister received a Christmas gift from our cousin, the collection of songs by Simon and Garfunkel. We were both learning how to play the guitar , and we dove into that book to try to learn every song. The Sounds of Silence was one of our favorites, but the chords were a little difficult to play. We later learned how to change the key of the song using a capo, and the rest was history. We played that song at every family gathering, and I still played it 40 years later, until my arthritis made it impossible. Still one of my favorite songs. Great video, and I totally agree with your analysis of it. Thanks.
“I am a rock, I am an island” became my mantra through my late teens early twenties. Paul’s words are more than just lyrics, often an expression of internal emotion that us mere mortals can’t express. Combining them with such beautiful melodies and with Art’s angelic voice either solo or in harmony with Paul’s creates truly Epic songs gifted with magic.
You and I must be pretty close in age. I'm 72. "I am a Rock" was indeed my mantra in the summer of '70. Just got my my 'Dear John' and on my way to the Tonkin Gulf. Don't think about it much any more.
I've mentioned this before in reaction videos. The original was a warning. Disturbed version is being pissed that we didn't listen to that warning and it happened.
I came to the comments to say that I have listened to this song many times and extracted many meanings from it. In my adulthood I have realised that the most important people I have met have been the ones who have made me look at the world differently. You just nailed a new viewpoint on this song for me, thank you.
My sister in law introduced me to the Disturbed rendition when we were talking about songs that had influenced us as youngsters. She said because I liked the S&G version so much I probably wouldn't like it. I actually thought it was very good. I commented that the S&G version is referencing hopelessness of the human condition. Disturbed is reacting to that with anger. They seem to express the fury people have that this hasn't gotten any better. I have an 11 year old granddaughter that one night we were talking about a movie and how it showed the world and that led to music and how it can express emotions and viewpoints of the world and people. She was getting rather annoyed even angry with herself because she didn't see all of this until we talked about it. How come I could see and mom could see it but she had to learn it. We talked about it and I asked if she thought I knew about the meanings when the song came out and she said yes. I reminded her that I had over 50 years to listen and reflect on it and many songs like it to just sort out what I thought about it. I said that is part of learning about people, the world and yourself. Take your time and accept that it may never be finished. She felt much better after the discussion and that she realized that she didn't need to understand everything at 11 and that it is fun to learn and to think about. That was a really good talk.
I've seen Simon and Garfunkel, and Paul Simon solo in concert a handful of times, and every time he sings "10,000 people maybe more" the crowd goes wild. They scream and clap like he's singing for us! But I never understood that because, according to the lyrics, the 10,000 people are being insulted. They're to be pitied. Yet everyone claps anyway, "it's me he's singing about!" Maybe they're just proving the point of this insightful and amazing song.
Sandy and Arts relationship of helping one another- brought a tear to my eye. Isn’t love ❤ grand ? ❤️❤️❤️ Learning something new every time I watch this channel! 👍 I believe Ringo Star said it best; “ Peace & Love ❤️ brothers & sister , Peace & Love - it’s the only way!
I was 3 years old when this song was first released. When I was 14, 11 years later, I had to recite it for a school assembly. I had to follow it up with what the lyrics meant - imagine being unable to see nature, but, can hear it? Close your eyes and inagine sitting by a babbling brook, and only being able to hear it.
In the rock era, three duos made an impact 1) The Everly Brothers (the template for many duos, bands, and sibling acts like the Bee Gees and the Wilson brothers in terms of harmonizing 2) Simon & Garfunkel (merging harmony with folk and rock) and 3) Hall & Oates (merging harmony with rock, pop and Philly soul); love all of them despite their issues. Paul Simon certainly came around when the remixed song hit #1.
Modern lyricists aren't given the respect of the poets of the past but many are every bit as profound and emotive as the best that history has to offer.
@retriever19golden55 My point is, we don't as a rule regard lyrics as poetry, We tend to look at lyrics as a song accompanied by a tune and ignore the quality of the poetry within, which in my opinion can be every bit as expressive, profound, and emotive as produced by the very best poets of the past.
I always consider lyrics as poems. Poetry is niche these days, but music reaches almost everyone. Combining the right words with the right melody is magic.
This song is beautiful and it's the very distinctive sound of haunting melody😊. My parents had several of their records and I used to listen to Sound of Silence and I Am a Rock over and over when I was an angsty teen and feeling sad or lonely or misunderstood as adolescents often do. They helped me process those emotions and move past them. I love music because sometimes they say exactly what you want to say but can't articulate. Writers of all kinds have that talent, but music has that extra element for me and it's just a constant pleasure 😊
I remember hearing this in the early 70s as a young whippersnapper. The melody stuck with me. As I grew older, the lyrics spoke to me. Sometimes, in not such a healthy way. The opening chords and lyrics would play in my mind as I would watch flag draped caskets loaded on Angel flights to take Soldiers of my unit home from Afghanistan. It made me reflect on what the whole GWOT was about and the cost in lives, fortune and the future. I was still on active duty when Disturb's cover was released, and the seething anger that I felt from the way they interpreted it resonated with my own feelings then and now. I do find it amazing that we can all hear the same words and music and use them in our own ways to see and interpret the world around us. I didn't want to apply the word subjective, because it seems extremely dismissive of someone else's thoughts, memories and life experiences. Y'all be well, and love one another. Thanks Professor!!
As soon as I saw the title my brain sang out inside "Hello darkness my old friend".... I was born in Sep 1963, and still grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel and several other fantastic 60's singers/groups.
One of your best Professor. I was in fifth grade when this song hit the airwaves. Our class actually analyzed the lyrics as part of a poetry lesson and I was hooked. Love this song, and love this video.
What an awesome fifth grade teacher you had! Sounds like one of those pivotal moments that Adam was talking about. That teacher helped introduce you to something wonderful you've enjoyed all your life. My third grade teacher did that for me. I hated school, Id sit in my chair quietly and do nothing. I didn't do any homework assignments, had no friends. I've long suspected I'm on the autism spectrum. I loved to read though, and one day I snuck a book to school that my big sister gave me, a beautifully illustrated copy of "The Secret Garden". I got caught, and Mrs. Rucker had me stay after class. I thought I was in trouble, but she asked me to read a section of the book aloud, and I did, even changed my voice to sound cockney for one character (horrible cockney because I was copying Bert from "Mary Poppins"). She was impressed, and after that day she started giving me books to read that were young adult fiction. That changed everything. No one ever told me I was smart but Mrs. Rucker was an amazing teacher who saw what her students needed most. Knowing that she believed in me gave me the boost of confidence I needed. She was also that one teacher who also let us bring records to play on Friday. Fridays were "fun days" where she always planned something good. I still hated school, but I became a solid B student who loves to read because of that teacher.
You are so right. Looking back she was ahead of her time. I wish I could remember all of the commentary but I do recall we got into the symbolism of the lyrics andtried to apply it to our own lives. Thanks for your comment @@LazyIRanch
I never thought of "The Sound of Silence" being ahead of its time as I remember when it was new. That said I will admit over the past 60 years, I have heard some good arrangements, in other genres, slightly differing from the original. It still is a classic based on the Simon and Garfunkel rendition. Thanks, as always for your work.
@@ProfessorofRock Oh I don't remember the name, but some friends of one of my best friend and me said it reminded them of us. I'll try to recall and get back to you. Oh, of course, it was "Bridge Over Troubled Water." I felt honored to be compared to Paul Simon but I think that was because my friend was a head taller than me and had hair similar to Art Garfunkel.
If one looks a little deeper, you will find that the "Sound of Silence" is about the technology that is to be used on humans by sending signals into the brain..."people speaking without speaking?"
I remember the first time I heard the Sounds of Silence was at a weekend retreat for junior high C.C.D. students at our parish hall. A visiting Christian Brother was an expert guitar player and singer, and he played the song for us and passed out mimeograph lyric sheets. He also had unforgettable beautiful hands, so double the fascination of listening to him and watching him play. There was also a nun who played guitar and sang Don't Think Twice, so intro to Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel at the same event back in the 1960s, when my parents were still listening to Glenn Miller. Wow, a great memory! I never knew this about the background of the duo. I am just grateful for their contribution to the soundtrack of my youth. So fortuitous that they were brought back together.
The line, "People hearing without listening," always meant to me the problem with communications between generations. This song was written in the mid 60s when there was a LOT of generational miscommunication. For me, that was THE line that encapsulated the essence of what Simon was trying to get across. Of course, now that I know about the blind friend I can appreciate the lyrics even more! My wife and I have very different tastes in music. But The Sound Of Silence is one song that we both have on our favorites playlists. She even likes the Disturbed version more than I do.
My oldest brother's room was right across the hall from mine, growing up. Simon and Garfunkel were his favorite recording artists, and Sound of Silence his favorite song. I could sing along by age 7, but the lyrics had little meaning for me until he was killed when I was 14. Even now, some 50+ years later, hearing that song brings a flood of memories and emotions. It blows me away that so many words written so many years ago, not only this song, but many others, have even more relevance today than when they were first penned.
If there was a fire that could burn my sole to cinders, what would be left is the framework of music that gave my person structure, like titanium beams that stood the test of time. Paul Simon's music would be what everything else depended on to keep standing, no matter what. Thank you again for another wonderful video!
My stepdad married my mother when I was 7 years old and loved the first S&G album. He would play the tape in the car all the time when I was growing up back in the 80s. I didn't like much of my new dad's music but I loved Simon and Garfunkel. Not only is he responsible for my love of Sound of Silence and S&G but largely the fact that there was music that has already happened and might not be on the radio that I should investigate. Duncan is in very poor health at this time so if you are the praying kind your prayers are welcome.
I can see how you can find a connection between some of today's technology, and social behavior and "Sound of Silence", I grew up with it. Like at least one other commenter, I am 70, and still find it to be a powerful song. I can't say I could relate any specific emotional feeling either then or now, it just invokes a strong emotional response, then and now. I am not one to try and interpret meanings from works of art, I prefer to Feel them whether a song, classical music, paintings, pictures, movies, books, etc. The artist may have a specific message to send, or an impression to leave, but the individuals who experience the art will react individually with many experiencing much the same things, if the artist is good at their craft. It is both interesting and sad that this song still speaks to each generation since it debuted. Interesting in that it speaks to something primal and visceral, sad because many of the things it talks about are still very much unchanged, possibly worse. It motivated me to think about the indifference of society, the striving to get "mine", while paying lip service to helping the less fortunate, "talking without speaking", ignoring their suffering and troubles, "hearing without listening", and not working together to try to remedy the failings of society, "writing songs that voices never share", my thoughts were in response to my emotional reaction to the song. As I said, unlike many people, I prefer to get my meaning by experiencing the art, not analyzing it. Over the years, I have been disappointed in the lack of progress towards changing the situation made by each generation, and now my hope lies with Gen Z to make significant changes to help provide everyone an opportunity for a better life, since they will be part of that group in need of better opportunities. I have contemporaries who are distressed that Gen Z will eventually be in charge of our society, I am not, for they can hardly do worse than their predecessors. They have the potential to move our society towards greater compassion, empathy, and inclusion. They are likely to be the last generation I will see take control and would really love to see them achieve their potential.
Adam, not sure if you will do anything on the Disturbed rendition of this... but man, they NAILED it for our time, day and age. Not to take anything from S & G, it's just got a bit of modernization to it. Thanks for all the goods you bring us DAILY, appreciate ya' brother!
Actually, I remember hearing that Paul Simon said that Disturbed did it better than he could could ever have. He said they nailed it and made it even better.
The band Nevermore recorded their cover of The Sound of Silence fifteen years before Disturbed -who borrowed heavily from Nevermore's arrangement, losing much of that earlier covers originality.
I always knew that Art Garfunkel was a good guy, that story about him and Sandy just solidified that belief. What a wonderful story. Thank you again for a great show.
My granny loved Simon and Garfunkel! And would play the album with Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water, over and over. Always think of her when I hear them. She was born in 1905, BTW. Yeah cool granny. When Disturbed came out with their version I felt like she was there listening with me and enjoying the power they put behind it. 😢😊
@@CA7VINBACH The professor should do a show on all the guys dubbed “the fifth Beatle.” Billy Preston Billy Shears Campbell Eric Clapton Pete Best Jeff Lynn Alan Parsons Stu Sutcliffe Dhani Harrison
Draiman’s version just BLEW ME AWAY! It was his version of Sound of Silence that I FELT this song. I’ve mentioned (repeatedly) how I dislike covers and sampling, but when I listened to Disturb’s version, I set my opinions to the side and LISTENED… great frickin song! Thank you AGAIN for your words and music Paul Simon….
Once again, you take me back to my teen age years. In the early 1960's there was still a large "Folk Song" feel liked in music. Simon and Garfunkel, at the time, fit very nicely into the the group including "Pete, Paul, and Mary", and "Bob Dylan". I found that most of Paul's song reflected upon the way life is, and was, at the time. Songs like "The Boxer" for example, tell the sad side of life's story. "The Sound of Silence" however can be considered prophetic, It's story is quite like how people are today Addiction to our cell phones, is quite like "The Neon God". Simon and Garfunkel are ICON artists from the 1960's. Those of us from that era just love their music. One tune, "Homeward Bound" became a tune I identified with, when I went into the Navy, I really wished I was "Homeward Bound", instead of going off to the dread of going to war. ;-)
I have 'Wednesday Morning 3 A.M.' It's a decent album, it's typical of the folk records that proliferated in the early sixties before Dylan went electric. My mother walked by my room once while I was listening to it and she said, "That sounds like college music!" I said, "Yeah, I first got this album when I was in college!" 😃 In the greater NYC area, where I live, there was a "beautiful music" station owned by the Mormon Church, WRFM, that would play four sets of Mantovani-style instrumentals per hour, with each set having one vocal track. That's where I first heard Simon and Garfunkel's original acoustic version of "The Sound of Silence." I remember hearing it and thinking, "Wait - where's the band?" 😄 WRFM also played Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" and several Art Garfunkel solo tracks. The station went off the air in 1986.
Simon & Garfunkel, the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, the Brothers Four, John Denver … these were the artists that we listened to my whole childhood on every car trip we made. It was the music my parents liked and they controlled the music. We would all sing along. Even when I grew up and became an adult, I still love these artists and their songs. Have you heard this song from when they performed in Central Park? It was the only song I remember hearing that the audience sang louder than the performers, until Garth Brooks played in Central Park. My first album I was given was Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Speaking of songs that held true over decades, have you heard “Merry Minuet” by the Kingston Trio? That song held true until around 2020, maybe from 2016. It is a fun song. There are so many of the folk songs of the 50’s and 60’s that can still apply to current times.
I remember when this song first came out, it was like nothing I had heard before. Along with The Byrds cover of Mr. Tambourine Man and The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand, these songs pushed the developement of rock music through the 60s and beyond.
We all used to believe that music could change the world. It still can. We all need to vote with our dollar to keep musicians/songwriters alive so that they can keep the music alive. Buy their CDs, or vinyl, or mugs, or T-shirts so that they can LIVE while writing your future favorite song(s). It really, literally comes down to that today. Your $20 for a T-shirt can buy them dinner or part of the motel room to keep them safe while they’re on the road. Thank you soo much for supporting the music, professor and the tribe. 💖
The real tragedy is that Wednesday Morning 3AM was never given the attention it deserves. A TRULY great album from start to finish, but nobody knows any of the songs except Sound of Silence.
@@wmoore4476 I also have an original vinyl copy (which ... surprisingly ... is considered to have little to no resale value despite the "vinyl renaissance"). Ill stand by my statement that very few people recognise the quality of songs like The Sun is Burning or Bleecker Street. Whatever else you say about it, it certainly is the most underappreciated album Paul SImon ever made.
When I heard Disturbed's version it blew me away having grown up with the original. The original was a warning, while the cover was the anger at not heeding the warning. One of the most amazing covers ever.
thank you for doing an excellent job on every episode of professor of rock that I have heard. I was born in 1959 and like many others Simon & Garfunkel were very important to my music repertoire. And without the sound of silence I probably would've never heard their rendition of "silent night 7 o'clock news". Which to me at the time was the epitome of bringing people from point A to point B in a musical message. in 1979 when I was getting ready to go to LA and cut a demo tape as a lead vocalist God revealed himself to me in a very powerful way that I could not argue with. you mentioned in the segment about how paths can radically change in life and mine certainly did. to make a long story short I actually became a front of house engineer for many of the top Christian contemporary artists that toured in the 80s. You do such a great job I would love to hear you do a couple episodes on some of the Christian artists like keith green, phil keaggy, matthew ward, second chapter of acts and skillet etc.. Thank you for an excellent program! Ron
I didn't really care for the movie, but I liked the way it finished up: a perfect climax/anti-climax ending. I do like discussing The Graduate because I don't believe the boomers at that time actually got it.
Thank you for covering this song! It has been one of my favorites ever since I heard it. And being from Germany and not understanding any of the lyrics as a child, this says a lot about this song and their masterpieces in general!!!! My sister had the albums by S&G and I used to listen to them over and over…
In "Concert in the Park", I was always blown away when they sang "And in the naked light l saw, 10 000 people, maybe more." to a roar from the crowd. Little realising the next line was rather unkind to them.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 No. The song was written in the late 60's. The concert performed twenty years later. What l mean is the audience were saying, "Yes, that's us- that "10 000 people", without realising that they are the same people who are "hearing without listening." Paul and Art must've looked at each other and shook their heads. They rest their case.
I first heard Sound of Silence when I was in 8th grade back in 1971. My English teacher, Mr. Lewis came to class and stated he had a hangover and proceeded to put his feet up. He said he had a song he wanted to play while we weren’t to bother him. He played S of S and wanted us to copy it in an essay and also what it meant to each of us personally. Thanks to my lazy English teacher, I can never get the lyrics out of my head.
When I was in 7th grade, back in the mid 70s (yes, I'm old) I took guitar lessons, and one of the songs we learned to play was The Sound Of Silence. It was my introduction to Simon & Garfunkel, and my teacher recognized that I was a good enough singer to handle the harmony line along with one other student, while the rest sang the melody, when we performed the song for our parents. I played the guitar all through high school, and still love it now.
Art Garfunkel has hated and resented Paul for nearly their entire career when behind Garfunkel‘s back, Paul Simon decided to get his own contract for a solo career. Art never forgave him even when they were making hits! By the way, Art Garfunkel‘s first cousin is the infamous Lou Pearlman, the manager of all those boy bands in the1990s and early 2000
A similar thing is happening now with Hall & Oates. John Oates wanted to sell his share of the H&O catalog to Primary Wave, but Daryl Hall is suing to stop the sale. Like Paul Simon, Daryl Hall has been the primary songwriter on many H&O songs though, like Art Garfunkel, John Oates also has contributed vocals and music as well as lyrics to the songs. Hall has accused Oates of the "ultimate betrayal" and Oates has fired back calling Hall's statements "inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate." Paul, it was commonly known, was jealous of Art's vocals, people loved Art's vocals rather than Paul's. Art's had an ethereal quality, and it was used to great effect on Bridge Over Troubled Water, which became the biggest hit of 1970 and won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys.
I was fortunate enough to see Simon and Garfunkel live in Ottawa in the mid sixties. Just the two of them, a guitar and a stool, in a sold out movie theatre. An evening I will never forget.
@@michaelmcdonald8452 - that strange new feeling you are experiencing is called empathy. Maybe try to lean into it and foster more of it going forward-you might end up with a few friends eventually!
Sound of silence has always been of those tunes you have to stop and listen to when it comes on the radio. The loneliness in the lyrics just hits you in your core. I think Dave Dramains deep voice in the Disturbed cover adds just another level of emotional connection that the song needed.
Some music and songs are like the flavor of the week… they build they hit, they fade. Others seem to become a piece of not only their times but times to come. Touching a place in everyone’s life evolution. Paul did this with The Sound of Silence. The man has a way with words in both imagery and feeling. “You read your Emily Dickerson and I my Robert frost, and we mark our place with book markers,that measure what we’ve lost”. This too is still true with I phones and kindles separating human connection of people, family and friends, sharing the same room or table but lose time to diversions. Time and connection that can never be regained. Simple lines creating elegant imagery describing simple truths. Paul has a talent for that.
Dude, my tablet is my way of connecting with people, sometimes on different continents. For us old folks, technology doesn't keep us apart. It brings us together. I love this song.
Thanks for including a few seconds of the Disturbed cover of the song. I'd never heard of it but became curious about it from the comments & was going to check it out even though I didn't want to. Now I don't have to. Thanks again.
I first heard SOS in 1966 when my older sister brought it home from college. We listened to it over and over again trying to decipher the story and interpret it. Still as riveting today as then.
@@constipatedinsincity4424 I hope you are! Sorry I've never followed professional baseball except for how I save photos of the players for my gay friend Michael. :-)
I was a real little kid in the 70's and my best friend's mom was a hippie type and she had the records. I remember when this song came on I sat back on my heels and went dead still and just listened. I'd never had a song do that to me before. It's like it just took me over and I couldn't do anything else until it finished. I was enraptured. It is still, to this day, one of my favorite songs. I love both of S&G's versions and Disturbs' is wonderful, too. Everything about it just makes you sit up and almost stop breathing until the last note dies away. It's amazing.
Another great video, Prof! Let's not overlook the song, "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" from the album of the same name. Fantastic song; fantastic vocal harmonies.
I have loved this song since it first came out. I can remember singing a 4-part version of it in chorus in Jr High School. I remember how it brought people to tears then, as it does just as well now. I'm so grateful to hear the Disturbed version. They brought it totally current in their killer version. I love their cover. I have always felt Paul Simon "gets it" about how I feel. Disturbed "gets it" too. Thanks for all you do. Your videos should be in the archives of the Rock Hall of Fame.
I somehow missed this song until a day in high school in 1969 when we were told to bring in songs to analyze. A classmate played it and I was mesmerized. (This song is one of the few songs that is a remake of itself).
Poll: Who is your pick for the GREATEST DUO of ALL TIME?
Daryl Hall and John Oates
Hall and Oates
Simon and Garfunkle
Righteous Brothers
Sam and Dave
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks and Dunn
Simon and Garfunkel
Johnny & June
George & Tammy
Flatt & Scruggs
I'm 70. My youngest grandson of 22 years old began explaining this song to me. He was so enthusiastic I did not dare tell him at the time I knew the song. He was spot on. He could not believe I knew this song in the 60s. 💙💙
Don't you love when people your grandson's age explain a song to you that was released when you were a teen. It tends to throw them when you start to sing along with the song and you give them a cryptic smile.
Young dude growing up for real ..
Heart warming
Oh gosh! You should have!!
It would have drawn a comparison/link to his own life.
I LOVED knowing that my dad listened to all the good songs I loved when he was my age.
Did he learn of it from Disturbed covering it??
Disturbed made it an epic. I was born Thursday, July 7th, 19 hundred and sixty six!!!!!.
I remember this on the radio. When they parted, is was like a death had happened in music.
It's unfortunate they couldn't work together
Typical clueless Gen Zero.
Simon and Garfunkel are the soundtrack to my life. From falling asleep as a child while my Dad played their albums on the turntable, to high school and college where I interacted with the lyrics in a much more personal way, their music never loses impact. Paul Simon put poetry to music, and he is the reason I want more out of music than just a beat. He’s the reason I can’t find much value in acts who sing songs with one stanza lyrics repeated over and over. Paul is really the reason for my lifelong love of story and meaning expressed through music.
Thanks for covering this, Professor of Rock.
I was 15 in 1965-66 and Sounds Of Silence was one of the best songs to come out that year. Lyrically it expressed the angst that we teens were feeling and you're right about its relevance in today's world. Excellent video professor.. You brought tears to my eyes with your excellent video.
Wow...well put.
When I lived in the Atlanta area (97-03) I worked as a waiter/manager at a piano bar/steak house. There was a vocal band which performed every few months, which had a blind member. At one point in the show the other members would walk off stage and he would "look around" and say "where'd everybody go?" Then he would go into a solo of Bridge Over Troubled Water. If you closed your eyes, you would think Art was on stage singing it. It was magical.
Who was the band?
WOW , that's cool !!
@@ProfessorofRock I think they were The BobbySox, but I could be wrong. A five vocal band with karaoke backing music. They were a big draw.
❤❤❤❤ awwwww
😊😊😊
What was the name of the band and did they have any hits?
The lyrics of Sounds of Silence are timeless, and when you add those haunting opening cords, it just gives you chills.
I was born in the late fifties, the youngest of 4, by 4 years. I grew up to all the sixties music, from almost day one. My sister was a great Simon and Garfunkel fan. When I first heard "The Sound of Silence", I would lie down, on the floor, between the speakers of my parents stereo and play the hell out of the sound of silence, over and over again. When "disturbed" came out with it's version, it took me back half a century. To this day I listen to both versions, although I prefer the "Disturbed" version. Sometimes they make me tear up, just thinking of my Mum and Dad yelling at me to change that damn song. lol.
LOL
I listened to the Disturbed cover for the first time a couple weeks ago. A vocal analyst on UA-cam I’m following had done an episode about it about a year ago but it popped up in my feed and I just seen Sound of Silence and assumed it was Simon & Garfunkel. As soon as she mentioned it was a cover version by a Metal group, I shut it off. Not a fan of most covers or Metal music. However, I read some of the comments including someone saying he heard Paul got goosebumps when he heard it. Despite his initial hesitation of listening to a Metal version of his iconic song, he was very impressed with it. After reading that, I gave it a listen and wow! What a fantastic performance! I played it for my two daughters and they were equally impressed. The original will always have its appropriate place in my playlists but I have to admit I prefer the Disturbed version.
The Sounds of Silence has been burned in my memory for life. It was the song my entire elementary school class had to memorize and sing at graduation in 1969 in New York. It was especially poignant because of the insecurity of leaving everything you’ve know for the unknown of high school. You went from being recognized and the oldest to the unrecognized and the youngest. It made me think of the last day of school that year and the sound of empty hallways never to be walked again. Leaving many friends who would end up in different schools. Yes, the Sounds of Silence was a rite of passage for me.
That said, it is hauntingly relevant today. Sadly a pop prophesy. Very much how I feel the song “In the Year 2525” seems to be.
Anyway, now I know the back story. Thank you!
My parents listened to S&G, so I got to appreciate them from a young age. The sounds of silence and Scarborough fair have always been my favourites. Their voices complimented each other’s beautifully. When these guys write lyrics, they can seem so simple and random, yet in the context of the song, be so meaningful. It’s a rare gift. ❤
Paul's knack for writing opening lyrics is otherworldly. I've never heard a better opener than "Hello darkness my old friend"! Not to mention The Boxer ("I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told"), Duncan ("Couple in the next room are bound to win a prize, they've been goin at it all night long") and Kodachrome ("When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school, It’s a wonder I can think at all")
That last quote from Kodachrome is one of my favorites. I was an honor student in high school, but thinking back on the "crap" they spoon-fed us, Paul was spot on!
Absolutely
When I went to New York in 1979, the Sound of Silence was very much on my mind. For years I had felt compelled to go to New York and live out the song's lyrics in some way.
So when I arrived in Manhattan, I was wearing a high collared Navy P-coat that I had envisioned from the song. I then went to see the Statue of Liberty. I had to catch a flight overseas soon and couldn't take the boat tour to the island...but I got a stranger to take a photo of me as I 'turned my collar to the cold and damp' with Lady Liberty in the background across the water.
The mission that the song gave me was completed. From then on I knew that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.
I have always treasured that faded old photo and the inspirational song that guided me.
Thanks Professor!
I love this song as it reminds me of my Mom when I was young back in the 70s.
David Draiman said in an interview a few years ago that he received a call from Paul Simon after they'd done the cover and Paul told him that he absolutely loved it. David said he was honored that Paul Simon liked it so much. Apparently the song still brings tears to the eyes of Disturbed fans when they play it at their concerts. It's a timeless song that every generation embraces as their own.
Paul Simon was a bit that way.
When he heard the version of 59th Street Bridge by Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, he insisted on dubbing some harmonies on the version that went out on record.
“People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening” has, for years, made me think of texting.
I hear ya' man
Because the song is about Street Graffiti.
@@MrRickburns I’m sure it was about street graffiti at the time it was written. It’s just when I hear “people talking without speaking,” it makes me think of texting.
That is profound. Yes it does.
Was graffiti a thing - back in the 60s ??
The irony and magic of the ending of "The Graduate"....the bus scene where the smiles turn to looks of uncertainty...Dir. Mike Nichols didn't tell Ross and Hoffman that he left the camera rolling but just had them sit there until they got bored....capturing that iconic moment....then adding the "Sound of Silence" over the visuals in editing....combining the two perfectly..... truly was a work of cinematic and musical Genius.
I had a high school student come tearing into my classroom one day. She was obviously excited,
"Ms. Teacher, have you ever heard of the song, 'The Sounds of Silence?!'"
Ha! Funny! Was there anyone in my generation that had not heard the song? Had not formed associations and layers throughout their lives with this beautiful piece of music? Anyway, it was great to see her so excited. She had a transformative experience through the music. Later on, she created a very powerful flag routine to it. Anyway, to see the next generation find it and be so excited by it. A great endcap, if you will, to my own experience with this song, which I had, indeed heard of. This is a song that one can say of, 'it changes lives.' And people will nod without one accusing you of hyperbole.
What do you teach, if you don’t mind saying?
Agreed!
Excellent post. Love it. A+
Tell us you teach special Ed without telling us you teach special Ed.
“The words of prophet are written on the subway walls, & tenement halls” one of my favorite lyrics ever! Just creepy & powerful Dylaneque imagery 🤘
For sure. So many great lines in this song!
Brilliant lyrics! That line reminds me of a Tom Waits story, with him you never know if it really happened or it's part of his wonderful, dark imagination that I love so much.
He claims he toured the defunct Alcatraz prison and saw graffiti scrawled on a wall that said, "Hell Broke Luce", a clever pun on "hell broke loose", but meaning that the Hellish prison experience is so horrible that it actually broke Lucifer, ol' Scratch himself!👹
Of course he wrote a song and it, and it has a gritty bizarre video. The song is written from the perspective of an infantry soldier "grunt" in a foreign land:
"When I was over here I never got to vote
I left my arm in my coat
My mom she died and never wrote
We sat by the fire and ate a goat
Just before he died he had a toke
Now I'm home and I'm blind
And I'm broke
What is next!?"
Any chance we'll ever have a Tom Waits episode?😻
Did you ever notice how the Rush song "The Spirit Of Radio" quoted tht lyric but changed the end?
@@bobdavis4848 ohhhh hell ya 🤘🤘. another reason I love it!!
Great song, loved it.
I love Simon and Garfunkel, grieved when they dissolved their duo. As I heard the stories of their lost friendship as well, I felt so bad for both men. Their songs are so beautiful and so easy to hum or sing along with. Art Garfunkel's hauntingly beautiful sound on Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Waters cannot be compared. So many of their songs are the background of my childhood and continued with many of their solo songs as well. One of my favorites is My Little Town.
They had their disputes like the Everlys and most recently, Hall & Oates. Jealousy, ego, different temperaments, different lifestyles, and views are fatal to a duo. Sometimes age can also be a factor in not wanting to work together anymore, either due to health issues or wanting to do solo projects with what time they have left in their lives, or personalities change, and are not as compatible as they once were.
Yeah it’s such a waste. Both such great talens but it didn’t stop them from being petty and jealous. Art couldn’t stand that Paul was a much better song writer, and Paul couldn’t stand that Art was the better singer, that he was taller and had a film career.
This song has been a close friend since I was 8 years old. Blind in one eye,my parents did a great deal of work to try to bring sight to my bad eye, including covering my good eye leaving me blind for hours. Later in life I learned, being only half blind was better than no sighting at all. Still the song resonates my feelings and frustrations of my youth and is always part of my darkest days. Somehow bringing light to my life. I was fortunate enough to see Disturbed play this song and it bought me to tears. Still gives me chills when I hear it. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Absolutely one eye is much better than none. My brother is a successful doctor and he was born blind in his right eye. Have a blessed day.✌🏼
I'm over 70 and while I still prefer the original S&G version of my youth, I think the Disturbed version is excellent.
This was the first album I ever bought. During the summer vacation between my fifth grade and sixth grade years I saved up enough allowance to actually get a 33 1/3 rpm record instead of the little 45s I’d been collecting for about a year. I heard this song and knew I had to own a copy of it. A little music shop in the basement of an old hotel which had been converted to a dance studio and some assorted boutique shops (mostly abandoned) offered little ‘listening stations’ for customers to preview records they were considering. I don’t think I even bothered with the ‘listening’ step; I just confidently laid down my money in my best imitation grownup casual fashion, all the while feeling about to explode from the excitement and all the fluttering going on inside. I went home, immediately listened to the entire album, and had no regrets about skipping the preview step - it was amazing! I became a lifelong fan, then and there. I began to collect Simon and Garfunkel records and later CDs; I still do collect their music, both as a duo and their solo projects, only now it’s in my Apple Music playlist. Even my mother, who used to claim she only liked country music, found she liked at least one of their songs. During high school, the Girls’ Glee of which I was a part, sang it in three-part harmony - but that unsettling experience didn’t damage my love of the song, even a little. Then, a highlight came in 2004 when, on the night before my youngest child’s high school graduation, they were touring and had a show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a few hours from where we lived. Part of her graduation present was a trip to Milwaukee for just her and me, because even her generation appreciates genuinely timeless music, and she loves Simon and Garfunkel, too. That night, the duo introduced another team whom they credited as their influences, the Everly Brothers; and the four of them performed a few songs together - what an experience, and what memories this song has generated! Thank you, Mr. Simon and Mr. Garfunkel, for your music and your dedication & skill; and thank you, ‘Professor’, for sharing this story.
It's one of those songs that the first time you ever heard it it hit our soul in a way that no other song ever has. No matter where you are, no matter what you're doing, when "The Sound of Silence" comes on, you stop whatever you're doing and just listen.
"I wish I could say that things have changed, you know, since Paul Simon wrote the song in the early 60's. But I can't." What a fittingly haunting sobriquet for one of the most haunting songs of living memory. Phenomenal work as always, Prof.
The version with the backing instruments made the song a hit, but for me the original acoustic version exemplifies the meaning of the song. Some folks here have referred to the intro being haunting. The whole damn original is like that.
The Graduate is one of the most perfectly scored movies in history. S&G’a music made that movie come alive.
No question!
I grew up with the music as a little kid in the ‘60s and finally saw The Graduate on VHS in the ‘80s. None of the scenes in the movie fit the images I had created in my mind with the S&G music and *especially* the lyrics. Even a rewatch a few years ago. Love the music though.
Without their music the Graduate would have just been a train wreck.
I watched it for the first time recently because I had heard of its popularity and how controversial it was for the time. The only part of the movie that I really enjoyed was the music.
Agreed. The score was MUCH better than the movie.
Holy cow Bat Man, that’s one of the most incredible backstories to a song ever.
You and me both!
Indeed! ❤
This was my first “rock”album. My mom got it for me in ‘71 while my dad was in Vietnam. I was around 12 and hooked! To this day my favorite group above all others.
I hope your Dad made it home.
To answer the question: Paul and Art are undeniably and unquestionably the best duo ever. I grew up listening to them and I got to see them live twice. August of ‘83 at Grant Field and December of ‘03 at Philips Arena. I’m more of a Paul fan but cannot deny that they were near perfection together. If “Kathy’s Song “ doesn’t melt your heart, you don’t have one.
We were blest to be able to see Simon perform in a small club in Chicago, “The Vic”. It was sponsored by a local radio station, you had to call for the opportunity to buy only a pair of tickets. We did. It was unbelievable. And, when he sang Silence, no pun intended, wall to wall audience, his band temporarily departed the stage, you could hear a pin drop. What a privilege to be there for this show.
The part about Garfunkel and Sandy is really touching - beautiful. Thank you!
Thanks for watching.
Again you did it! Love the stories you uncover! I know a lot of research must go into what you do, and there must be many Rabbit Holes you go down, and that must be challenge after challenge. Love the content and your energy, enthusiasm, reverence, and humor with it. Your respect with artists and their work... Artists and their work that I have grown up with and love. Many I have met, and have performed so many of their works. (This being one that I've sung.)
You consistently blow my mind and you always bring a big dose of happy to my mind and heart! Thanks, brother, keep doing what you're doing
Wow! Thank you. That made my week!
Paul Simon is one of those guys that, even when his music doesn't strike a chord, still commands enormous respect. SoS was the first of several great S&G tunes, and though most of his catalog doesn't resonate for me, Paul Simon will always be one of the greats.
When i was in middle school (90's) my brother (4 years older) would constantly play music of all genres on an old 8 track, cassette, or cd player he had. One night I was sick of what he was playing, so he asked me if I wanted "The Sound of Silence" or "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
No knowing any better, i told him,"I opt for silence" because I wanted him to turn it off and leave me in peace.
He played this song, and I started to appreciate his musical influence in my life.
1967 22 yr old air force kid headed for Vietnam. First stop, a Navy tech school. Heard this song. My friend played a 12 string so we had to get the music for it so he could play it, and I could learn the words. Hooked us both on Simon and Garfunkel. Through the years I have found VERY little of Paul Simon's work that I did not enjoy immensely!! Nearly every one tells a story, has a moral, is a prediction, holds a truth!! The ONLY artists that have ever made me really THINK and FEEL at the same time. I been Norman Mailered and Maxwel Tailored, been Rolling Stoned and Beatled till I"m blind. But, I learned the truth, from Lenny Bruce, that all my wealth cant buy me health, so I smoke a pint of tea every day!! Not really but you had to BE there to even understand that. LOVED this historical fleshing out of the whole story. Some stuff here I did not know. Thanks man.
Yeah, I was surprised that with all the talk of Simon trying NOT to be another Dylan, nobody mentioned that he certainly was having a little dig at him in his "A Simple Desultory Philippic" found in S&G third album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme (1966).
In 1968 a radio DJ in Seattle held a contest: Send in a postcard guessing the name of his favorite song and win a guitar. I sent in 'Sounds of Silence' because it was my favorite too and I WON that guitar! I'm pretty sure the guitar was a reject, almost unplayable, but I didn't care, I was thrilled. For years after Paul Simon taught me how to play guitar through endless listening to his records, starting me on a ~30 year career.
What an awesome story!
@@jillwklausen It was an awesome experience!
What station and who was the dj?
@@Gizathecat2geez you gotta fact check?
@@Gizathecat2a person said they won a crappy guitar from a radio contest, & learning how to play it changed their life. You’re concerned that they made the story up?
"Hello Darkness my old friend" is such a mesmerizing opening line. When I hear it, I feel I need to pull up a chair and listen carefully to what comes next. The spell of the song is broken only when it ends.
So true. One of the greatest opening lines in history, wouldn't you say?
Yes, absolutely.
Rock on!@@christineml1476
The line, "Hello Darkness my old friend" always came to mind when I was leaving on a night patrol in Viet Nam.
@@Fox4Alpha That had to have been absolutely surreal and terrifying! Thank you for your service, and I'm glad you got to come home.❤
I'm trying to imagine that we might have never heard Disturbed's version of this song.
Very, VERY thankful for this.
My sister received a Christmas gift from our cousin, the collection of songs by Simon and Garfunkel. We were both learning how to play the guitar , and we dove into that book to try to learn every song. The Sounds of Silence was one of our favorites, but the chords were a little difficult to play. We later learned how to change the key of the song using a capo, and the rest was history. We played that song at every family gathering, and I still played it 40 years later, until my arthritis made it impossible. Still one of my favorite songs. Great video, and I totally agree with your analysis of it. Thanks.
“I am a rock, I am an island” became my mantra through my late teens early twenties. Paul’s words are more than just lyrics, often an expression of internal emotion that us mere mortals can’t express. Combining them with such beautiful melodies and with Art’s angelic voice either solo or in harmony with Paul’s creates truly Epic songs gifted with magic.
You and I must be pretty close in age. I'm 72. "I am a Rock" was indeed my mantra in the summer of '70. Just got my my 'Dear John' and on my way to the Tonkin Gulf. Don't think about it much any more.
I've mentioned this before in reaction videos. The original was a warning. Disturbed version is being pissed that we didn't listen to that warning and it happened.
Man! Great comment!
YES, EXACTLY.
I came to the comments to say that I have listened to this song many times and extracted many meanings from it. In my adulthood I have realised that the most important people I have met have been the ones who have made me look at the world differently. You just nailed a new viewpoint on this song for me, thank you.
Great Point
My sister in law introduced me to the Disturbed rendition when we were talking about songs that had influenced us as youngsters. She said because I liked the S&G version so much I probably wouldn't like it. I actually thought it was very good. I commented that the S&G version is referencing hopelessness of the human condition. Disturbed is reacting to that with anger. They seem to express the fury people have that this hasn't gotten any better.
I have an 11 year old granddaughter that one night we were talking about a movie and how it showed the world and that led to music and how it can express emotions and viewpoints of the world and people. She was getting rather annoyed even angry with herself because she didn't see all of this until we talked about it. How come I could see and mom could see it but she had to learn it. We talked about it and I asked if she thought I knew about the meanings when the song came out and she said yes. I reminded her that I had over 50 years to listen and reflect on it and many songs like it to just sort out what I thought about it. I said that is part of learning about people, the world and yourself. Take your time and accept that it may never be finished. She felt much better after the discussion and that she realized that she didn't need to understand everything at 11 and that it is fun to learn and to think about. That was a really good talk.
I had thought of Paul Simon as one choice for distinctive voice. Such a great song. Their songs dig deep into the conciousness
So true!
“His Songs”. Garfunkel had very little writing influence on Simon’s work.
Paul Simon’s voice is so distinct.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 You know it is him right away :)
My absolute favorite duo, period. Paul Simon should be a national treasure! He is amazing!❤❤❤❤❤❤
I've seen Simon and Garfunkel, and Paul Simon solo in concert a handful of times, and every time he sings "10,000 people maybe more" the crowd goes wild. They scream and clap like he's singing for us!
But I never understood that because, according to the lyrics, the 10,000 people are being insulted. They're to be pitied.
Yet everyone claps anyway, "it's me he's singing about!" Maybe they're just proving the point of this insightful and amazing song.
People talking without speaking, People hearing without listening
And isn't it ironic
Perhaps they'll listen now
One of my absolute favorite songs by Simon and Garfunkel. Beautifully dark, and melancholic. So much beauty tied up with so much sadness.
Sandy and Arts relationship of
helping one another- brought a
tear to my eye.
Isn’t love ❤ grand ? ❤️❤️❤️
Learning something new every time I watch this channel! 👍
I believe Ringo Star said it best;
“ Peace & Love ❤️ brothers & sister , Peace & Love - it’s the only way!
I was 3 years old when this song was first released.
When I was 14, 11 years later, I had to recite it for a school assembly. I had to follow it up with what the lyrics meant - imagine being unable to see nature, but, can hear it? Close your eyes and inagine sitting by a babbling brook, and only being able to hear it.
They were just two young boys making history almost 60 years ago! What a great vocal duo, second to none!
rock on!
There voices together were a perfect fit for the music.
In the rock era, three duos made an impact 1) The Everly Brothers (the template for many duos, bands, and sibling acts like the Bee Gees and the Wilson brothers in terms of harmonizing 2) Simon & Garfunkel (merging harmony with folk and rock) and 3) Hall & Oates (merging harmony with rock, pop and Philly soul); love all of them despite their issues. Paul Simon certainly came around when the remixed song hit #1.
Their voices are unmistakeable.
Modern lyricists aren't given the respect of the poets of the past but many are every bit as profound and emotive as the best that history has to offer.
A different style of music, but Amigo the Devil and Willi Carlyle write haunting lyrics.
@retriever19golden55 My point is, we don't as a rule regard lyrics as poetry,
We tend to look at lyrics as a song accompanied by a tune and ignore the quality of the poetry within, which in my opinion can be every bit as expressive, profound, and emotive as produced by the very best poets of the past.
I always consider lyrics as poems. Poetry is niche these days, but music reaches almost everyone. Combining the right words with the right melody is magic.
This song is beautiful and it's the very distinctive sound of haunting melody😊. My parents had several of their records and I used to listen to Sound of Silence and I Am a Rock over and over when I was an angsty teen and feeling sad or lonely or misunderstood as adolescents often do. They helped me process those emotions and move past them. I love music because sometimes they say exactly what you want to say but can't articulate. Writers of all kinds have that talent, but music has that extra element for me and it's just a constant pleasure 😊
Thanks Linda!
I have totally related to I Am a Rock multiple times.
I remember hearing this in the early 70s as a young whippersnapper. The melody stuck with me. As I grew older, the lyrics spoke to me. Sometimes, in not such a healthy way. The opening chords and lyrics would play in my mind as I would watch flag draped caskets loaded on Angel flights to take Soldiers of my unit home from Afghanistan. It made me reflect on what the whole GWOT was about and the cost in lives, fortune and the future. I was still on active duty when Disturb's cover was released, and the seething anger that I felt from the way they interpreted it resonated with my own feelings then and now. I do find it amazing that we can all hear the same words and music and use them in our own ways to see and interpret the world around us. I didn't want to apply the word subjective, because it seems extremely dismissive of someone else's thoughts, memories and life experiences. Y'all be well, and love one another. Thanks Professor!!
As soon as I saw the title my brain sang out inside "Hello darkness my old friend".... I was born in Sep 1963, and still grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel and several other fantastic 60's singers/groups.
One of your best Professor. I was in fifth grade when this song hit the airwaves. Our class actually analyzed the lyrics as part of a poetry lesson and I was hooked. Love this song, and love this video.
Very cool! Where'd you go to school?
What an awesome fifth grade teacher you had! Sounds like one of those pivotal moments that Adam was talking about. That teacher helped introduce you to something wonderful you've enjoyed all your life.
My third grade teacher did that for me. I hated school, Id sit in my chair quietly and do nothing. I didn't do any homework assignments, had no friends. I've long suspected I'm on the autism spectrum.
I loved to read though, and one day I snuck a book to school that my big sister gave me, a beautifully illustrated copy of "The Secret Garden". I got caught, and Mrs. Rucker had me stay after class. I thought I was in trouble, but she asked me to read a section of the book aloud, and I did, even changed my voice to sound cockney for one character (horrible cockney because I was copying Bert from "Mary Poppins"). She was impressed, and after that day she started giving me books to read that were young adult fiction.
That changed everything. No one ever told me I was smart but Mrs. Rucker was an amazing teacher who saw what her students needed most. Knowing that she believed in me gave me the boost of confidence I needed. She was also that one teacher who also let us bring records to play on Friday. Fridays were "fun days" where she always planned something good.
I still hated school, but I became a solid B student who loves to read because of that teacher.
You are so right. Looking back she was ahead of her time. I wish I could remember all of the commentary but I do recall we got into the symbolism of the lyrics andtried to apply it to our own lives. Thanks for your comment @@LazyIRanch
I was in the hot bed of surf music..Southern California. It was a great school and she was a super cool teacher.@@ProfessorofRock
My English teacher had us do lyrical analysis to multiple songs too!
I never thought of "The Sound of Silence" being ahead of its time as I remember when it was new. That said I will admit over the past 60 years, I have heard some good arrangements, in other genres, slightly differing from the original. It still is a classic based on the Simon and Garfunkel rendition. Thanks, as always for your work.
What's your favorite of the covers?
For me, none, only the original @@ProfessorofRock
@@ProfessorofRock Oh I don't remember the name, but some friends of one of my best friend and me said it reminded them of us. I'll try to recall and get back to you. Oh, of course, it was "Bridge Over Troubled Water." I felt honored to be compared to Paul Simon but I think that was because my friend was a head taller than me and had hair similar to Art Garfunkel.
If one looks a little deeper, you will find that the "Sound of Silence" is about the technology that is to be used on humans by sending signals into the brain..."people speaking without speaking?"
@@ProfessorofRockDisturbed, love the video 💜
I remember the first time I heard the Sounds of Silence was at a weekend retreat for junior high C.C.D. students at our parish hall. A visiting Christian Brother was an expert guitar player and singer, and he played the song for us and passed out mimeograph lyric sheets. He also had unforgettable beautiful hands, so double the fascination of listening to him and watching him play. There was also a nun who played guitar and sang Don't Think Twice, so intro to Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel at the same event back in the 1960s, when my parents were still listening to Glenn Miller. Wow, a great memory!
I never knew this about the background of the duo. I am just grateful for their contribution to the soundtrack of my youth. So fortuitous that they were brought back together.
The line, "People hearing without listening," always meant to me the problem with communications between generations. This song was written in the mid 60s when there was a LOT of generational miscommunication. For me, that was THE line that encapsulated the essence of what Simon was trying to get across.
Of course, now that I know about the blind friend I can appreciate the lyrics even more! My wife and I have very different tastes in music. But The Sound Of Silence is one song that we both have on our favorites playlists. She even likes the Disturbed version more than I do.
Thanks!
It’s a great line. And we still have some divides between generations today.
Thank you immensely for talking about Tom Wilson- one of the GREAT, unsung, truly pioneering producers and visionaries of the 60s music scene. 😊
My oldest brother's room was right across the hall from mine, growing up. Simon and Garfunkel were his favorite recording artists, and Sound of Silence his favorite song. I could sing along by age 7, but the lyrics had little meaning for me until he was killed when I was 14. Even now, some 50+ years later, hearing that song brings a flood of memories and emotions. It blows me away that so many words written so many years ago, not only this song, but many others, have even more relevance today than when they were first penned.
If there was a fire that could burn my sole to cinders, what would be left is the framework of music that gave my person structure, like titanium beams that stood the test of time. Paul Simon's music would be what everything else depended on to keep standing, no matter what. Thank you again for another wonderful video!
My stepdad married my mother when I was 7 years old and loved the first S&G album. He would play the tape in the car all the time when I was growing up back in the 80s. I didn't like much of my new dad's music but I loved Simon and Garfunkel. Not only is he responsible for my love of Sound of Silence and S&G but largely the fact that there was music that has already happened and might not be on the radio that I should investigate. Duncan is in very poor health at this time so if you are the praying kind your prayers are welcome.
Praying for him and your family.
Sending love to you and Duncan and your family.
I can see how you can find a connection between some of today's technology, and social behavior and "Sound of Silence", I grew up with it. Like at least one other commenter, I am 70, and still find it to be a powerful song. I can't say I could relate any specific emotional feeling either then or now, it just invokes a strong emotional response, then and now. I am not one to try and interpret meanings from works of art, I prefer to Feel them whether a song, classical music, paintings, pictures, movies, books, etc. The artist may have a specific message to send, or an impression to leave, but the individuals who experience the art will react individually with many experiencing much the same things, if the artist is good at their craft.
It is both interesting and sad that this song still speaks to each generation since it debuted. Interesting in that it speaks to something primal and visceral, sad because many of the things it talks about are still very much unchanged, possibly worse.
It motivated me to think about the indifference of society, the striving to get "mine", while paying lip service to helping the less fortunate, "talking without speaking", ignoring their suffering and troubles, "hearing without listening", and not working together to try to remedy the failings of society, "writing songs that voices never share", my thoughts were in response to my emotional reaction to the song. As I said, unlike many people, I prefer to get my meaning by experiencing the art, not analyzing it. Over the years, I have been disappointed in the lack of progress towards changing the situation made by each generation, and now my hope lies with Gen Z to make significant changes to help provide everyone an opportunity for a better life, since they will be part of that group in need of better opportunities. I have contemporaries who are distressed that Gen Z will eventually be in charge of our society, I am not, for they can hardly do worse than their predecessors. They have the potential to move our society towards greater compassion, empathy, and inclusion. They are likely to be the last generation I will see take control and would really love to see them achieve their potential.
One of the greatest songs ever written, IMHO. Another one that reaches deeply into the soul.
I remember hearing this song in the early 80's. I became a fan immediately. I didn't know any of this back story. Thank you.
Adam, not sure if you will do anything on the Disturbed rendition of this... but man, they NAILED it for our time, day and age. Not to take anything from S & G, it's just got a bit of modernization to it. Thanks for all the goods you bring us DAILY, appreciate ya' brother!
Actually, I remember hearing that Paul Simon said that Disturbed did it better than he could could ever have. He said they nailed it and made it even better.
@@erichvereen1988 Strange ... I felt like Disturbed version missed it: they took a very simple folk portend and over-dramaticized it.
@@erichvereen1988I assure you Paul Simon did not ever say that
They gave it an edge that the OG didn't have. That live version on Conan was perfect.
The band Nevermore recorded their cover of The Sound of Silence fifteen years before Disturbed -who borrowed heavily from Nevermore's arrangement, losing much of that earlier covers originality.
I always knew that Art Garfunkel was a good guy, that story about him and Sandy just solidified that belief. What a wonderful story. Thank you again for a great show.
My granny loved Simon and Garfunkel! And would play the album with Sounds of Silence and Bridge Over Troubled Water, over and over. Always think of her when I hear them. She was born in 1905, BTW. Yeah cool granny. When Disturbed came out with their version I felt like she was there listening with me and enjoying the power they put behind it. 😢😊
That and God Only Knows are the best songs ever written, imo.
Good call!
Yes, I love them both !!
Beatles legend George Martin aka the 5th Beatle as expressed himself that God Only Knows is the best pop song he as ever heard.
@@CA7VINBACH
The professor should do a show on all the guys dubbed “the fifth Beatle.”
Billy Preston
Billy Shears Campbell
Eric Clapton
Pete Best
Jeff Lynn
Alan Parsons
Stu Sutcliffe
Dhani Harrison
God Only Knows is my favorite song ever.
Huge song. Profound doesn't BEGIN to describe it.
Absolute PERFECTION
Draiman’s version just BLEW ME AWAY! It was his version of Sound of Silence that I FELT this song. I’ve mentioned (repeatedly) how I dislike covers and sampling, but when I listened to Disturb’s version, I set my opinions to the side and LISTENED… great frickin song! Thank you AGAIN for your words and music Paul Simon….
Both are amazing. What a song eh?
Disturbed did a really amazing job.
I like Sharm’s version too. Ayn Rand seems to peak out of the shadows, George Orwell as well. Have fun
Once again, you take me back to my teen age years. In the early 1960's there was still a large "Folk Song" feel liked in music. Simon and Garfunkel, at the time, fit very nicely into the the group including "Pete, Paul, and Mary", and "Bob Dylan".
I found that most of Paul's song reflected upon the way life is, and was, at the time. Songs like "The Boxer" for example, tell the sad side of life's story.
"The Sound of Silence" however can be considered prophetic, It's story is quite like how people are today Addiction to our cell phones, is quite like "The Neon God".
Simon and Garfunkel are ICON artists from the 1960's. Those of us from that era just love their music. One tune, "Homeward Bound" became a tune I identified with, when I went into the Navy, I really wished I was "Homeward Bound", instead of going off to the dread of going to war. ;-)
I have 'Wednesday Morning 3 A.M.' It's a decent album, it's typical of the folk records that proliferated in the early sixties before Dylan went electric. My mother walked by my room once while I was listening to it and she said, "That sounds like college music!" I said, "Yeah, I first got this album when I was in college!" 😃
In the greater NYC area, where I live, there was a "beautiful music" station owned by the Mormon Church, WRFM, that would play four sets of Mantovani-style instrumentals per hour, with each set having one vocal track. That's where I first heard Simon and Garfunkel's original acoustic version of "The Sound of Silence." I remember hearing it and thinking, "Wait - where's the band?" 😄
WRFM also played Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" and several Art Garfunkel solo tracks. The station went off the air in 1986.
Simon & Garfunkel, the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, the Brothers Four, John Denver … these were the artists that we listened to my whole childhood on every car trip we made. It was the music my parents liked and they controlled the music. We would all sing along. Even when I grew up and became an adult, I still love these artists and their songs. Have you heard this song from when they performed in Central Park? It was the only song I remember hearing that the audience sang louder than the performers, until Garth Brooks played in Central Park. My first album I was given was Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
Speaking of songs that held true over decades, have you heard “Merry Minuet” by the Kingston Trio? That song held true until around 2020, maybe from 2016. It is a fun song. There are so many of the folk songs of the 50’s and 60’s that can still apply to current times.
I remember when this song first came out, it was like nothing I had heard before. Along with The Byrds cover of Mr. Tambourine Man and The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand, these songs pushed the developement of rock music through the 60s and beyond.
So true!
I Want to Hold your Hand was revolutionary!
Paul Simon is a genius lyricist. I first heard Simon and Garfunkel thanks to my Mum when I was about 7 - have loved their songs ever since
I ❤ Paul Simon's song writing. Thank you for the story behind this song 🎵.
Thanks for watching Catherine!
Me too. It’s so profound.
We all used to believe that music could change the world. It still can. We all need to vote with our dollar to keep musicians/songwriters alive so that they can keep the music alive. Buy their CDs, or vinyl, or mugs, or T-shirts so that they can LIVE while writing your future favorite song(s). It really, literally comes down to that today. Your $20 for a T-shirt can buy them dinner or part of the motel room to keep them safe while they’re on the road. Thank you soo much for supporting the music, professor and the tribe. 💖
The real tragedy is that Wednesday Morning 3AM was never given the attention it deserves. A TRULY great album from start to finish, but nobody knows any of the songs except Sound of Silence.
I respectfully disagree. True Simon and Garfunkle fans know the entire album. I have an original copy, that I don't play anymore. The CD gets played.
@@wmoore4476 I also have an original vinyl copy (which ... surprisingly ... is considered to have little to no resale value despite the "vinyl renaissance"). Ill stand by my statement that very few people recognise the quality of songs like The Sun is Burning or Bleecker Street.
Whatever else you say about it, it certainly is the most underappreciated album Paul SImon ever made.
When I heard Disturbed's version it blew me away having grown up with the original. The original was a warning, while the cover was the anger at not heeding the warning. One of the most amazing covers ever.
One of my favorite songs and even as an old man today I love Disturbed's Cover. His voice is so powerful he was ment to sing this Awesome song
Yes!
thank you for doing an excellent job on every episode of professor of rock that I have heard. I was born in 1959 and like many others Simon & Garfunkel were very important to my music repertoire. And without the sound of silence I probably would've never heard their rendition of "silent night 7 o'clock news". Which to me at the time was the epitome of bringing people from point A to point B in a musical message. in 1979 when I was getting ready to go to LA and cut a demo tape as a lead vocalist God revealed himself to me in a very powerful way that I could not argue with.
you mentioned in the segment about how paths can radically change in life and mine certainly did. to make a long story short I actually became a front of house engineer for many of the top Christian contemporary artists that toured in the 80s.
You do such a great job I would love to hear you do a couple episodes on some of the Christian artists like keith green, phil keaggy,
matthew ward, second chapter of acts and skillet etc..
Thank you for an excellent program!
Ron
Awesome song! “The Graduate” is one of my favorite movies! Cool story Professor! 🤘🔥
Thanks Brent!
I didn't really care for the movie, but I liked the way it finished up: a perfect climax/anti-climax ending.
I do like discussing The Graduate because I don't believe the boomers at that time actually got it.
@@BigBri550 to me it was the classic WTF am I going to do with my life.
@@brentcox7772 To me, Benjamin Braddock was not merely clueless: he was disgustingly prodigal. He was immoral and amoral.
@@BigBri550 true
Thank you for covering this song! It has been one of my favorites ever since I heard it. And being from Germany and not understanding any of the lyrics as a child, this says a lot about this song and their masterpieces in general!!!! My sister had the albums by S&G and I used to listen to them over and over…
In "Concert in the Park", I was always blown away when they sang "And in the naked light l saw, 10 000 people, maybe more." to a roar from the crowd.
Little realising the next line was rather unkind to them.
Amen to that!
I love how they acknowledge the crowd like that.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Huh?
@@rolandoscar1696 Is that not what you mean, no?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 No. The song was written in the late 60's. The concert performed twenty years later. What l mean is the audience were saying, "Yes, that's us- that "10 000 people", without realising that they are the same people who are "hearing without listening."
Paul and Art must've looked at each other and shook their heads. They rest their case.
I first heard Sound of Silence when I was in 8th grade back in 1971. My English teacher, Mr. Lewis came to class and stated he had a hangover and proceeded to put his feet up. He said he had a song he wanted to play while we weren’t to bother him. He played S of S and wanted us to copy it in an essay and also what it meant to each of us personally. Thanks to my lazy English teacher, I can never get the lyrics out of my head.
Love the shirt man! Saw that Money tour! He was awesome. As always a great story and loved the photo.
Thanks so much! So cool. Where at?
When I was in 7th grade, back in the mid 70s (yes, I'm old) I took guitar lessons, and one of the songs we learned to play was The Sound Of Silence. It was my introduction to Simon & Garfunkel, and my teacher recognized that I was a good enough singer to handle the harmony line along with one other student, while the rest sang the melody, when we performed the song for our parents. I played the guitar all through high school, and still love it now.
Art Garfunkel has hated and resented Paul for nearly their entire career when behind Garfunkel‘s back, Paul Simon decided to get his own contract for a solo career. Art never forgave him even when they were making hits! By the way, Art Garfunkel‘s first cousin is the infamous Lou Pearlman, the manager of all those boy bands in the1990s and early 2000
He was just jealous that Paul had cooler hair.
A similar thing is happening now with Hall & Oates. John Oates wanted to sell his share of the H&O catalog to Primary Wave, but Daryl Hall is suing to stop the sale. Like Paul Simon, Daryl Hall has been the primary songwriter on many H&O songs though, like Art Garfunkel, John Oates also has contributed vocals and music as well as lyrics to the songs. Hall has accused Oates of the "ultimate betrayal" and Oates has fired back calling Hall's statements "inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate."
Paul, it was commonly known, was jealous of Art's vocals, people loved Art's vocals rather than Paul's. Art's had an ethereal quality, and it was used to great effect on Bridge Over Troubled Water, which became the biggest hit of 1970 and won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys.
@@themeanhornet1070Actually, it's ART who has the "cooler" hair! Duh!!😝
I was fortunate enough to see Simon and Garfunkel live in Ottawa in the mid sixties. Just the two of them, a guitar and a stool, in a sold out movie theatre. An evening I will never forget.
I WISH the Sounds of Silence predicted our era! We need more silence and less goddamned bellaring about obnoxious shit all over social media 😧
Bowing to the neon GOD. pretty crazy.
@@ProfessorofRock I never thought of it that way before, Professor! Not a "neon god," but turning God into a neon edifice.
Life really was better without social media.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 My life wasn't better before social media, but it seems like there was a little less bs flying around.
Paul Simon has always been my most favorite lyricist. He says so much with a very few words.
When I sing this song I change the word "neon" to "android". People bowing and praying to the "android god they made" is ubiquitous today.
So true. With AI it's even more insane! Thanks for watching.
Why not Apple? After all that was the fruit offered by Satan
I'm embarrassed for you that you think that's a clever observation.
@@michaelmcdonald8452 - that strange new feeling you are experiencing is called empathy. Maybe try to lean into it and foster more of it going forward-you might end up with a few friends eventually!
@@BooksForever Not really
Sound of silence has always been of those tunes you have to stop and listen to when it comes on the radio. The loneliness in the lyrics just hits you in your core. I think Dave Dramains deep voice in the Disturbed cover adds just another level of emotional connection that the song needed.
Some music and songs are like the flavor of the week… they build they hit, they fade. Others seem to become a piece of not only their times but times to come. Touching a place in everyone’s life evolution. Paul did this with The Sound of Silence.
The man has a way with words in both imagery and feeling. “You read your Emily Dickerson and I my Robert frost, and we mark our place with book markers,that measure what we’ve lost”. This too is still true with I phones and kindles separating human connection of people, family and friends, sharing the same room or table but lose time to diversions. Time and connection that can never be regained.
Simple lines creating elegant imagery describing simple truths. Paul has a talent for that.
Great comment!
Robert Frost would be so proud of The Sound of Silence.
Dude, my tablet is my way of connecting with people, sometimes on different continents. For us old folks, technology doesn't keep us apart. It brings us together. I love this song.
Great story. Just one of many great S&G songs. The Boxer is my favorite.
Thanks for including a few seconds of the Disturbed cover of the song. I'd never heard of it but became curious about it from the comments & was going to check it out even though I didn't want to. Now I don't have to. Thanks again.
Darkness was the nickname that Rick James gave to Charlie Murphy. Eddie Murphys brother!
I first heard SOS in 1966 when my older sister brought it home from college. We listened to it over and over again trying to decipher the story and interpret it. Still as riveting today as then.
Back in the Saddle Again Naturally!
Good morning, constipated! I hope you get your question answered!
@@bobdavis4848 Me too. How are you doing Bob?Are you ready for the beginning of the MLB season?
@@constipatedinsincity4424 I hope you are! Sorry I've never followed professional baseball except for how I save photos of the players for my gay friend Michael. :-)
@@bobdavis4848 Any certain players?
I was a real little kid in the 70's and my best friend's mom was a hippie type and she had the records. I remember when this song came on I sat back on my heels and went dead still and just listened. I'd never had a song do that to me before. It's like it just took me over and I couldn't do anything else until it finished. I was enraptured. It is still, to this day, one of my favorite songs. I love both of S&G's versions and Disturbs' is wonderful, too. Everything about it just makes you sit up and almost stop breathing until the last note dies away. It's amazing.
Tom and Jerry!
Another great video, Prof! Let's not overlook the song, "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" from the album of the same name. Fantastic song; fantastic vocal harmonies.
I have loved this song since it first came out. I can remember singing a 4-part version of it in chorus in Jr High School. I remember how it brought people to tears then, as it does just as well now. I'm so grateful to hear the Disturbed version. They brought it totally current in their killer version. I love their cover. I have always felt Paul Simon "gets it" about how I feel. Disturbed "gets it" too. Thanks for all you do. Your videos should be in the archives of the Rock Hall of Fame.
I somehow missed this song until a day in high school in 1969 when we were told to bring in songs to analyze. A classmate played it and I was mesmerized. (This song is one of the few songs that is a remake of itself).