Great reaction. Glad you did both the video and the live Conan performance. The video is key in portraying their artistic vision, and the live performance is great. You pulled out all the things I was hoping you would from both the music and the video. Good background info, particularly the email exchange between Simon and Draiman, with Simon giving his approval and Draiman paying homage to the legend. Loved the opening imagery of the harp, piano, guitar. A good way to visually convey the idea of the loss of music, with three instruments on your set, and with the drum also showing up. You had some great observations on his voice. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I love both the original and the cover, for differing reasons.
Hi Lee, since I know you are an avid listener and have been so for decades, I find it surprising if you don't notice the very obvious use of pitch correction in both the studio and the live version. But maybe you do and just find it fits the song, I'm not there, but it for sure is a valid point.
@@annatraustadottir4387 Hi Anna, good to hear from you. It has been a long time since we chatted. There are a lot of different aspects of the performances I didn't comment on. My comments tend to be too long as it is, so I focus on the things I want to communicate and relate to Amy about her reaction. I happen to really like this cover, so I was happy to see how much Amy enjoyed and related to it. There are plenty of other comments focused on the auto-tune (used on the live Conan) and pitch correction (used on the studio/music video), usually as evidence that this isn't a valid cover or that David Draiman really isn't a good singer. Many get this from the Wings of Pegasus analysis, but never seem to mention that Fil thinks David Draiman is a great singer, with great range, timbre, vibrato, and interval accuracy. But that like much of modern recordings, it tends to rely on this technology rather than doing multiple takes to get the starting pitch accurate, since as he says David has great interval accuracy. People also don't seem to mention that Fil also did a video on a 2009 live Simon & Garfunkel performance that is also auto-tuned. I don't like the use of auto-tune and pitch correction in general, but didn't find it worth dismissing these performances. I particularly don't like when it is used to make those that don't really have any natural talent sound good, but in the case of David Draiman I know he happens to be a great singer with genuine talent.
@@LeeKennison I understand what your are saying but at the same time not. I don't always dislike heavy pitch correction because it can fit the song and even if I don't find it fitting to the song, the artist can of course have different opinion and using it as a deliberate artistic choice, and really wanting the mechanical effect. But it is difficult being positive about it nowadays, because it is used so widely and without thought, just because it's available. And now it comes to the part I don't understand in your comment. Many say the same as you do, that you don't like it when it is used to make people that can't sing in tune, sing in tune, but if the singer can sing it's acceptable to help the performance or to reduce the time spent in studio. I in fact, don't care so much, if it is used to help singers that have difficulty singing in tune, at least it makes sense using it then. And it can never make a great singer out of a bad one. I hate when it is used when you have a good singer and that is what is done today. And it has very little to do with a singer singing a note or two out of tune. For sure, you can save time, fixing a note or two in Melodyne, in a tasteful natural way, instead of splicing different takes together or doing many takes. But usually the producer does a lot more. They are "correcting" singing that no one hears as out of pitch, nailing the voice to a line in a computer program, not allowing the natural movement of a human voice around a note and between notes. Taking away some elements of the singer's expression and some of the character of that singer's voice. And that is what I hear, and in THIS song, you can hear the mechanical sound, the robotic elements, through out the song. And why should you want to hear that, instead of the real human expression of a really good singer. You are not helping the singer to sound BETTER but making him sound WORSE, taking away some of his talent. In the studio version of this song it is used through the song, probably by using Melodyne or something similar program, and of course David is not singing half of the song out of pitch, it is used as an kind of an effect, an effect that is used in most pop music today and increasingly in other genres as well. And it's boring at best and disabling at worst. For sure it could fit the feeling and mood of certain songs and make sense to be even commonly used in certain genres, but it is used everywhere without much thought, just because. And in this song I find it disturbing, this strangled robotic long notes (the tempo is slow). I realize that people seem to be able to hear this to a different degree and I for sure do not always hear this. But in this song it is so, so, obvious. So I was curious, do you hear how the pitch correction program is used in this Disturbed song, and if you do, do you just find it to fit the song and mood, which could be a valid point. Finally, I would like you to listen to a performance, that many hail as great and many fans think is just natural singing and go to great lengths describing how great the singing is. The singing sounds awful and is extremely unnatural, although I'm sure that all the singers in this group are really good singers. The song is pitch corrected after the fact, by Melodyne, or something like that, not autotuned. So a person went through the song, editing the voices in order to let the singing sound like that. I could hardly listen to it after a friend sent it to me as an example of a great Christmas song and performance. I physically suffered through the song. It was then I realized for the first time, that many, many people do not hear the difference from real human voice and even extremely computerized voice. And it made me sad. ua-cam.com/video/ReJAU2mXm8w/v-deo.html The typical pop/rock producer today, would pitch correct to hell the greatest classical singers, singing a beautiful Puccini aria, believing they were improving the singing, but really killing it, and maybe in few years we will all clap along.
@@annatraustadottir4387 Thanks for the detailed explanation on why you feel so strongly about this. I went back and listened to it again with all you said in mind, and I still enjoy the performance, including vocally and without being bothered or distracted by any artificial digital manipulation, whether from using Melodyne or any other pitch correction. It does not sound robotic or mechanical to me at all, even though I know it is pitch corrected. In reality any recorded or amplified vocals is manipulated to some degree. You are never hearing the pure human voice that you hear in an unamplified live performance, such as you might experience with opera. If you have ever used any recording software, then I'm sure you are aware of how differently your own voice sounds through just simple EQ adjustment, without even applying other effects such as reverb. Or even how differently your voice will sound by just using a different microphone. So I am never expecting a completely pure and unaltered vocal. Although I do understand that the negative qualities that you say you are experiencing (robotic and mechanical sounding) is on a different level than EQ and microphone choices, just pointing out that nothing we hear through recording is pure. This is even more the case today, since just about everything we listen to since the 90s is digitally recorded or stored at some point in the process. Even if we ultimately listen to it on an analog vinyl recording. It is this digitally recorded image that allows something like pitch correction to adjust the pitch, while retaining the other qualities of the voice, so theoretically keeping it more natural sounding, without sounding artificial or robotic. Even Fil at the Wings of Pegasus wasn't critical on the quality of the resulting vocals, just the fact that it had been pitch corrected. He even made the point that he could have achieved the same result if they had done additional takes. He didn't mention it sounding robotic or mechanical. He is generally less critical of pitch-correction that is applied afterwards in the studio, than he is with auto-tune which is applied automatically, more often in live performances. He has shown how auto-tune really does make the vocals sound more artificial and manipulated, removing the human characteristics. Whereas carefully applied pitch correction can retain many of the other vocal characteristics. Bottom line, I really enjoy this performance, primarily as an artistic statement, but I also enjoy the vocal and musical performance. I am not going to stop enjoying it, even if people tell me I shouldn't for a variety of reasons. Disturbed is certainly living up to their name, by disturbing a lot of people. Perhaps I am not as discerning as people thing I should be, but I go with what I like, not what others say I should like. Granted, as I have gotten older my hearing has deteriorated and I have been spoiled by the convenience of digital music, and rarely listen to my better quality vinyl records. I used to be a hardcore audiophile, both in terms of equipment and recordings. One thing I learned through that process is that much of what we hear is psychological. We hear what we want to hear, which is why you should always do blind comparisons when evaluating two things. Since you feel so strongly about this, you will probably never be able to not hear the mechanical and robotic quality. Whereas I don't even notice it, which again may be due to my lack of discernment. I'm just glad that I can enjoy this for what it means to me.
The original was a friendly plea to listen. This is an outraged demand. We haven't learned, we didn't listen to the warning. So there is anger. And it's beautiful.
Wonderful thought. The Disturbed version is truly beautiful and powerful but perhaps it makes such an impact because of the S&G version from so many years before. They keep it just close enough to the original to almost constantly remind you of it throughout. Where S&G were almost melancholy, suddenly Disturbed is more angry and forceful.
Oh do fuck off. You just so happened to 'always' think the exact same thing that a thousand other people have ripped off from a comment on the original Disturbed YT video??? Word for word?
My criteria for a great cover is that the cover artist finds something that was in the song all along that was not brought out in the original. This is one of the absolute best ever. There is rage in those original lyrics, but S&G were not that kind of band. Disturbed is, and they absolutely nailed it.
I love both versions. I was against it, in theory, because SnG's song is such a perfect song. Why try to cover perfection? But then I heard it. It becomes a different song and an equally good one.
@@stanleymyrick4068 yeah in a way. I was asking myself if the perfect version was actually Simon and Garfunkel's original, or the one that their producer re-recorded without even telling them, projecting the song, and the duo, into fame.
What I love about this video is the (approx) 12 seconds of no sound at the beginning: the actual sound of silence. It trips a lot of people up and they think their volume has failed. Like you, I find the end scene satisfying: those with the instruments meet those with the music and it sends messages on a number of levels, about communication, collaboration, finding what's missing, working for a greater good, that we all want the same thing - I could go on.
I never heard this version before. I always believed that this song was strong because of the vocal harmonies. But here with just one voice, this song remains so powerful. Amazing and pure beauty.
I’m sure you’ll have many comments like this, but… To me the original is a contemplative warning (which I love), and Disturbed’s is the anger and frustration at the needless damage we do to ourselves and others, and at our ignoring of the warnings given (which I also love.)
This song always gives me goosebumps. Always. His vocals are beyond good, at the peak, they rip through your soul and shake you. I love both versions, but the vocals, and the impeccable visuals (and silence at the beginning) just nails it. Even the original artists do like this version. It's so damn dark but also beautiful.... thank you for your reaction, I love it...especially that you go into the Live Version!
Love your reaction. Love Simon and Garfunkel. Absolutely love this song. Disturbed absolutely does this wonderful cover justice. It’s just beautiful. I was shocked the first time hearing this hearing this cover. I know this band and David Draimond . Disturbed Down with the sickness, always sticks in my head. I hope you listen to this song so you can understand why all of us Disturbed fans were shocked when we heard this for the first time.❤️✌️🌼
Paul Simon's lyrics are so unbelievably prophetic, in such a Nostradamian way, that only makes sense to those who have lived into and through the foreseen future. David's retelling of the great foretelling, is a product of the times encompassed in the poetic lyrical world. The anger of existing in such a bleakly anti-social world is palpable in his vocals; and having seen where the world was, and where it is, it is effortlessly empathized. I don't have the words to explain how much this song affected me when I first saw it on Conan's show; suffice to say it was soul deep and heart rending, and has left an indelible mark on my psyche.
I don't know what it is, but this version gives me the chills, every time i hear it. You can say the song flew out of the nest, it has been around and seen some shit, it reurned, and now it's angry!
That is because it is an opera version of it because it beats out the voice of it as if it is a way of trying to bring that of more emotion and more energy into the idea of what needs to be said
According to the background info Amy read, Paul Simon liked the Disturbed version. So for those who think this should never have been touched, apparently Paul himself was just fine with their interpretation.
Although I fully agree with your point, even if Paul Simon didn't like the cover: as long as the covering artist gets the Ok from the owner of the publishing rights (ideally that should always be the writers of the song) it's perfectly fine to cover great songs and add your own artistic skills. If covers would be a 'no no' we wouldn't have great songs like Johnny Cash's version of Hurt or Jimmy Hendrix "all along the watchtower" and so many other great covers. Of course there are covers that are terrible and kind of "rapes" the original: but as long as you don't steal a song (and forget to pay the royalties and acknowledging the original) covers are important as well
@@jantonkens9820 if I'm not mistaken, you can always cover a song. You just end up having to pay a fee. Can you imagine if you needed someone's permission just to sign a song? I just looked it up and it's called a "Compulsory Mechanical License" (you can make your own recording of the song but you have to pay a fee) but there are conditions such as the original artist must have released a recording, and you can't change the words. And there's a different license if you release a video. If you perform a cover live, then the venue would typically have a license for that already. A parodies are covered by fair use. There's a lot more to it, but basically you don't need permission directly from the original artist to make a cover.
Hey Lee! I have to comment on this because I see that many people are annoyed by this cover and I simply don't understand why. As I've written to Amy, this is one of the best covers ever made, to me, and in my opinion it did more than a justice to the original.
@@jovana_r Hey Jovana! Great to see you. I was hoping you would see this one. I also love this cover and don't understand the hostility to it either. Not only did Paul Simon appreciate it, but Amy herself really liked and appreciated it, including liking David Draiman's voice and the intensity of the rage he expresses. She pointed out a lot of the qualities that make his voice great. I certainly love and appreciate both the original and this cover. It doesn't have to be one or the other with me. I can like them both for different reasons. In a sense, David Draiman achieved his goal (as reflected in the band's name) of disturbing people. Sometimes people need to be disturbed in order to wake them up.
Please investigate David Draiman (lead singer of Disturbed). It's not generally my type of music, but his voice is amazing (he has a LOT of training, starting with choir as a young boy). His interview with The Charismatic Voice (Elizabeth Zharoff) is very enlightening (YT channel). He is very articulate and well-educated. A joy to listen to.
David is definitely highly educated , well spoken and articulate. He also takes very good care of himself; meaning he doesn’t fit the stereotype of metal guys constantly partying. He’s also very respectful to his religion and family. Although he didn’t become a Cantor as his father and grandfather, David does not have any tattoos and when he visits his family he removes his piercings. He’s a really caring person.
Elizabeth is my favorite person on here that does this. I think it would be great to hear Elizabeth and her get together and discuss a song together. Would be a great team
My favorite comment about this cover is that Simon and Garfunkel’s version made you think, while Disturbed’s version makes you feel. The original had the serious and somewhat disturbing (no pun intended lol) lyrics, the folk style was soothing and pretty…so the juxtaposition was interesting, but maybe allowed listeners to not pay attention to the subject. But you can’t ignore the anger and disappointment conveyed by the Disturbed version. This is a serious problem, you need to listen. I’m in my 50’s and have heard thousands of songs in my life, and I still think “Hello darkness my old friend” is the best opening lyric ever written.
Really love David's voice. His emphasis on the lyrics bring the meaning far more to the fore, than in the original. YES! These failures or refusals to listen to each other, to communicate effectively, are things to be 'Disturbed' about!
As you were struggling a bit to describe the vocal style common to heavy metal and some hard rock, so I wanted to tell you that many vocal coaches I’ve seen often refer to this as distortion (distortion can have various levels, from a slight raspiness up to a complete vocal frye). It’s a vocal technique that distorts the normal sound made by the vocal chords. Also, I think you’d also enjoy hearing The HU “Wolf Totem”..they are a modern band who incorporate Mongolian throat singing into their style.
A somewhat "different" telling of a story doesn't necessarily diminish the original author's work. I think... I also think You have shared one of the best takes on this case. Your respectful, thoughtful, and relevant analysis is impressive and commendable. Period. Full stop! Thank you for this, and best of wishes for your continued explorations! Cheers rl 🤘👹🤘
David Draiman... one of the best male vocalists on the planet imho...gorgeous baritone and clear beautiful tenor headvoice ....can even put vibrato on vocal fry!! Amazing!
This is the comment I was looking for, I’ve been blown away by his vocals for years, but what amazes me is how much he has improved throughout his career. Vocal Fry Vibrato is a pretty excellent post punk band name, and also a phrase I didn’t know I needed for describing this legend’s capabilities. 😂 so thanks for that 🙏
Vocal fry is what happens if there is not enough air pressure to make the vocal cords vibrate harmonically. The sound pulsates. What you hear in this case is bringing the skin inside the throat above the larynx into the air stream making it flap around (false cord engagement), most commonly known as "adding grit" to the voice. As false cord engagement is an additional effect a trained voice can add it on top of any other vocal technique. It is really not that uncommon to combine grit and vibrato. Just to scratch the surface. These are names anyone should know: James Hetfield Dio Freddy Mercury Russel Allen Bruce Dickinson Floor Jansen Marko Hietala Tommy Karevik Ozzy Osborn Nils Rue Lzzy Hale Brittney Slayes Noora Louhimo ...even Brian Johnson
Enjoyed listening to your take on this song. Its always been one of my favs. Makes me cry though, so i don't tend to listen to it often, always reminds me of my Grandfather and his father. Great-granddad from what I know was a WW2 Vet who had some serious PTSD and would have flashbacks and would settle his mind by playing his violin. Unfortunately my Grandfather was too young to understand and learnt to fear/avoid the sound which carried over into his adulthood despite the fact that he loved music and would collect a lot over his lifetime. But I grew up with Grandfather telling us kids to never be afraid of reaching out, either to help or be helped, doesn't matter which as long as you do. I've always thought this song is a great way to express this sentiment.
David's voice gives me chills from start to finish, and I've been a Disturbed fan from their very first album. A lot of Disturbs songs have a more melodic tone than a lot of the metal music I've heard (more so in their later works). For me that's what sets them apart and makes them stand out among metal bands.
I have no idea what David Draiman's current religious feelings might be, but I can't help thinking that his religious background energizes his outrage at the "neon god they made."
I love the original, I adore the Disturbed cover. The entire piece is one gigantic musical climax, building building building then breaking like an electrical storm (cue kettle drums for thunder). Draiman's voice is magnificent, the rattling growl still sends shivers through me. I can only wonder in sadness at what Queen and Freddie Mercury would have produced by way of a cover of the original song, something entirely unique I'm sure.
NOTE: that David Draiman was really sick and had a fever for the Conan live performance and I heard he was not pleased with his performance, being the perfectionist that he is I can understand why he felt that way. However, the production as a whole performance was amazing and he voice was EXCEPTIONAL! I loved it. So POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL! - Disturbed "The Sound Of Silence" 03/28/16 | CONAN on TBS Team Coco Diane ❤
THANK YOU for that video. And thanks for some background info on it. I really didn't know about the email exchange between Simon and Draiman. So, that was step two on your exploration of the four step journey of this song: 1) Simon & Garfunkel - a warning about the future in the style of a typical sixties protest 2) Disturbed - anger and outrage that the former warning went unheard 3) Pentatonix - a little celebration of a hope that might be there after all 4) Geoff Castellucci - the wake and funeral of the thought that there may have been that silly hope Four times the same lyrics and the same basic melody, but completely different moods and messages. This goes to show what kind of masterpiece Simon created in the first place and how other extremely talented musicians and artists can even elevate a masterpiece to new hights when they put their hearts in it. I know it might be a sacrilege to do so, but I want to point you to another channel: David Draiman did a long interview with Elisabeth Zharoff on "The Charismatic Voice" in which he talks, amongst many other topics, about this song and his reluctance and fear to do it at all. Very recommendable!
What I love about the Disturbed version is it's like a crescendo. It builds and builds and builds, and then he finally releases the tension with the last two words.
Long before Disturbed did this cover. They did Land of Confusion from Phil Collins. And they did a great job on it as well. Both covers they brought feelings into the song. While the originals are very good songs to start with. Disturbed adds just enough of a kick to it to add feeling to it.
They "Disturbed" a lot of people by pulling them in and giving them chills and had them crying...I'm 1 of them. This is THE BEST cover of any song ever!!!!!
Just found your channel the other day. Your passion and joy and love of music are contagious! You are teaching us a new way to appreciate the music we've listened to for years. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Great reaction! I love this version. A true masterpiece, IMHO. I think you may really like Geoff Castellucci's version as well. Geoff is the bass for the Acapella group VoicePlay and has the lowest, richest bass voice out there. But he also has a 5 octave range and layers himself singing all the parts. I promise you won't be prepared for Geoff's voice.
I am so glad you viewed the Disturbed excellent video. Perhaps because their cover is so dramatic, few reviewers address the visuals. Their opening, as you mention, is brilliant and that desolate theme is carried through the entire presentation. When the instruments are returned to the people, it is almost a religious experience. The arc image ties into your 'pagan', mythical concept which is so appropriate for both the band and the message. Noah and the arch come to mind and adds to the epic feel. Someone long ago commented that S&G's song was a plea, while Disturbed is outraged that the plea went unanswered. Outrage that we are still worshipping that same neon god we made.
David was quite ill during the live show but insisted on going on anyway, with a significant fever and typical flu symptoms. He was trained as a cantor, his grandfather was a famous cantor in Israel. He's such a talented singer, you really need to check out more of Disturbed songs, they're not afraid to try new things. I'm a 70 y o granny and I love all of their songs, they have deep meanings and emotions.
So nice to hear someone take Sounds of Silence and put some guts & power into the way it was done, it struck me right away that that was what this somg always needed. I thought it lifted that song to the intensity level it should be at.. It reminds me of the way Stairway to Heaven was done and came across.
The live version is incredible! A truly spine-tingling performance, also if I am not mistaken David Draiman was fighting off a cold at the time too. What I love about the video is the visual play of one side of the river being musicians with no songs to play, and on the other side are song writers with no musicians to bring their songs to life. Until they are united at the end. So it is like saying "together, we can end the silence".
After reading the views of people who didn't like the cover of 'Brothers In Arms' and now the cover of 'The Sound Of Silence' I can't help but wonder whether some people don't approve of songs being covered at all. I think that's a shame, if nothing else a cover is a wonderful way to introduce a song to a new generation. Take the Bob Dylan song 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' for example. When Guns N' Roses covered it millions of people who probably wouldn't have come across the song suddenly heard it, and a percentage would've searched out the original. Covers shouldn't be seen as something that detracts from the original, quite the opposite, they extend the life of the original by introducing the song to a new audience.
David Draiman is a classically trained vocalist. It just doesn’t allow itself to be shown frequently in heavy-metal, aggressive music. This cover was the perfect vehicle to show his vocal prowess. Amazing, haunting and emotional piece of work. Simon’s work often makes a person come to terms with his or her feelings.
This version is shocking at first!! I was SO surprised!!! Dave is a trained singer, but you probably already knew that!!!! The members are playing the other instruments. This is still a great song. I am old enough to recall when Art & Paul released this masterpiece. This is mighty fine cover!!!! Bravo!.... Thanks lady......................
And once again, even with interruptions, I find myself in tears at the song. The original doesn't do this to me. It doesn't hit me at all. This one TEARS out of me.
I fell in love with Heavy Metal when I was a 13 year old kid in Germany and I heard Motorhead for the first time. It got me hooked fast and a lot of that was the passion of the music, "how expressive it is" as Amy stated. I've felt that way since that day 40+ years ago and I still feel that's the case now.
Another interesting song is "Love Hurts". Originally performed by the Everly Brothers in 1960, and Nazareth performed a cover with their version in the mid 70's. Another cover which was more popular than the original release is "Hurt", originally written and performed by Nine Nails and the cover was one of Johnny Cash's final album.
The lyrics are the same, but Simon and Garfunkel, with their light harmonies give a sense of hope(?) where Disturbed's version is darker and more like the lyrics convey. Both great
David inherits the tradition and training of a Hebrew cantor from his father and grandfather. While he serves a broader congregation, I think he upholds the tradition
You should also check out Geoff Castellucci's version of this too. Well worth it. It has been said that the original S&G version is the warning. Disturbed's version is the anger the warning was ignored. GC's version is sorrow that the warning was ignored. Geoff Castellucci is a bass singer in acapella group VoicePlay and has a solo channel too.
This was so well done. The effortless power behind the vocals. I would thought that his vocal cords would have been shot but the vocals still feel smooth despite the rough nature of the delivery (if that makes sense, it's just a feeling I get).
17:28 I like on the video version that you commented on the musicians crossing the river to connect to the people on the other side as it often goes uncommented on. I have commented that to me it shows the ability of music to voice the feelings of the masses, the ability of musicians to express the words to the those that will listen of the people that often go unheard. I also fully agree with the comments that the S & G original version was a warning to people are disconnecting & not speaking to each other where Disturbed's version expresses the anger that that warning had been ignored with people sitting in the break rooms of work or on the bus buried in their cell phones instead of talking to the person sitting beside them.
David Draiman was raised as an Orthodox Jew and his amazing voice is due to the fact that not only was he born with it, but he is also a trained Cantor. Diane ❤😊
I loved to see this with you. Nice to meet you. 😆 There's so much happening that even after 1000x we discover something new. I saw you got really invested in that final scene. Something I love about it is that the songwriters are writing songs in a border but they don't have the instruments (to portrait that they don't have voices to share their songs) and at the other border, they have the instruments but don't have the songs (they can talk but doesn't have what to say, showing the "talking without speaking"). Then, at the end they find a way to cross the distance and finally disturb the sound of silence.
The people wrote the music and wait on the shore holding their sheets of music for the boat to come with the instruments and musicians so the two sides are no longer divided. Thank you really enjoyed your review.
There is a considerable overlap with those who enjoy Heavy Metal and Symphony music. At least, that seemed to be the case with the people I knew at university anyway.
It's true. And it's magnificent in the rare times that they converge! Metallica's first S&M album is my absolute favorite of theirs; them in their prime, performing with the outstanding Michael Kamen led San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The whole album is perfection, they complement each other beautifully.
the whole time i was watching enjoying but hoping "man, i wish she would have watched the live version." feels so satisfying to have you then watch that version after the official video!
I usually do not like covers, but Disturbed did the song justice. Disturbed has done of covers, but nothing compares to this. You can tell true talent of musicians when they, as in this case, depart from their base genre.
Also, whether or not you believe in spirit guides, I recently discovered that I am blessed to have some and decided to start listening to them. They actually led me to Disturbed and David Draiman on UA-cam and their cover B&W 4K video rendition of Simon and Garfunkels The Sound of Silence. My spirit guides are screaming at me to tell all of you that if we lose our Democracy we will lose our freedom to listen to the music of our choice like Disturbed! If THEY can ban our books, THEY can ban/outlaw our music 🎶! Love you all, Diane ❤
Me (being 56 years of age) knew that song for decades, and I loved it it. But now Disturbed owns it, period! I think there will never be a better version in my lifetime.
Great reaction, dear Amy! I am extremely happy that you liked it and saw the power of it. As I've said, this is, to me, one of the best covers ever made and I adore it. David is an amazing and very unique singer. Btw, in this live performance he was ill, barely able to speak and he thought he would not be able to sing, but in the end he did it and even though I can hear the instability in his voice, I am amazed how he managed to sing it. I'd like to see your reaction to some of Disturbed's older songs. My favorite is definitely "Inside the fire" but it might be too intense for you. Well, actually most of their songs might be too intense. They are very intense, loud and heavy band. But worth of checking out. They are very popular, especially in US. Thank you, Amy! 🖤
This cover was powerful and iconic in and of itself, but what really put it over the top for me was being a fan of Disturbed since their early days, and knowing that fact that normally they have a very harsh sound, with Draiman providing both clean, harsh, and even machine-gun staccato vocals, with lyrics and violent subject matter that have that lovely "Parental Advisory" sticker on just about everything they've released - and realizing that just like me, they can have appreciation and even reverence for 60s folk music despite the head-banging preference.
Its unintended, but the song makes a serviceable critique of smart phone culture, metaphorically. Everyone talking, but nobody listening, everyone praying to the neon god they made (as they stare at the phone).
It's a voice that bypasses your ears and goes straight to your soul. Both power and softness, clarity & emotion. Covering such a well known song often does not end well, this one exceeds all expectations.
I can only imagine the privilege of being present at that performance on Conan that night. Truly iconic moment in music. Extraordinary considering Draiman was unwell at the time. Brilliance from him, the band and the orchestra creating a moment in time. ❤
This is a great example of how punk was the evolution of folk music. Folk was a gentle call to change the status quo. When it didn't work punk came and said change is coming so get ready
I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but some context on the live performance: He was suffering from an upper respiratory infection during that performance, and he still did THAT good of a job. Also, the lead singer brought this song to Paul Simon, and asked him to listen to it. He said that if Paul Simon didn't approve, he wasn't going to release it. Paul Simon said it was the single best version of Sound of Silence he had ever heard. He followed that by saying the original was intended to be a warning to the listener, and this version is the anger that comes from the warning being ignored.
Thanks for reaction! Very nice to listen. As you said you would want to hear some of their original songs. I would recommend highly "Down with the Sickness". Listen to that, and think how it can even be the same singer. David has such a unique voice and broad skills for different sounds. And the song is one of their most popular songs too. If you go for that song, just don't pick the official music video, as it's shorter cut version, where big part of song is left out. Pick some lyric video instead. Though be warned, the language in that extra bit can be bit harsh. But even that gives good example of David's voice.
I've paused the video, while you are still giving stats in the beginning, only to say that I had always LOVED the Simon & Garfunkel version (I'm 54). Disturbed's version feels closer to the emotional tone of the song and is my favorite version. ... Back to your video...
I agree. As the band had matured so has their songs. The first time I watched the video of Hold on the the Memories. It reduced me to tears. The subject hit hard.
Thank You for watching/listening this with us. Reminder to everyone: two things can be true at the same time 😂 The original and the cover, both enjoyable.
Regarding Draimon's use of vibrato in conjunction with a harsh vocal style : First, it demonstrates that there is no unwanted tension in his vocal tract. His vocal production is healthy. Second, the distortion is all created supra-glotally, so there are two distinct and separate processes happening at the same time. One process is the vocal folds producing the pitch and vibrato. The other is the addition of distortion using components higher up in the vocal tract. It does take a lot of hard work to refine one's control to this degree.
Well said! This really helps folks understand what’s happening while he sings. At least those of us not trained in vocals. I grew up a musician so I understand music theory and composition but nothing about vocals. I do know that David still uses a vocal coach who helps people with using distortion in a healthy way. Plus being trained as a Cantor when he was young certainly helped too. Anyhoo, thanks for the explanation!! 😊
Great reaction and observations. Usually with the "rock voice" I've heard vocal coaches refer to it as "distortion" (interestingly also the term used to describe the signature "angry" sound of rock guitars) or "fry". Singers who are less experienced can actually damage their vocal chords if they truly scream and growl through hour-long performances; however, the more professional rock vocalists who are much more conscious of what they are doing have methods of achieving that "growl" sound in the vocal chords in a way that doesn't harm them. It is a conscious and practiced technique. David Draiman's "growl" is definitely one of these. Much like movie stunts look dangerous but are performed by professionals who have calculated everything as carefully as possible and know exactly what they are doing, the rock growl from a professional like Draiman sounds primal, emotional, and spontaneous, but it is in fact very conscious and deliberate in the way it is delivered. Another interesting observation is the way you observed how the duration of the end note is held long on "silence". But what's so interesting about Draimain's performance in particular is that the instinct of most performers would be to hold the note on the vowel where the voice is open: sil [E] nce. Draiman instead carries the note on a resonant consonant: sile [N] ce. So your attention is captured not just by the fact that he holds the note long, but also that he does it on consonant, so he sort of "hums" this note at you, which is not what you might expect. It also makes the note sound more "soft" and "warm" in its expression, which has a storytelling quality that pulls you in.
I've never been much for Simon and Garfunkel, so I obviously think this cover is a thousand times better. In the live version, the tympany takes this cover and kicks it up a notch, to a whole new level, a do the strings!
The anger in this version is because nothing has changed in the last 50-odd years. Simon's warning went unheeded and we're right back where we started.
This cover is somewhat the opposite side of Disturbed. If you want their heavy side try 'Down with the Sickness' (long version). You will understand why they call themselves 'disturbed'. The subject is difficult, but they convey the outrage and heavy message very well. It is an amazingly strong song.
Great Covers suggestion: You've Got a Friend, by Carol King, and James Taylor's cover (even though I think he recorded his version first). I think you'll really enjoy both of these artists.
I'm so happy you appreciated the way they used the harsh vocals here. Many non-metal people assume that sound is always meant to sound aggressive, or even evil. But that is not always the case these days. Yes, it's frequently portraying anger, but it is also used to portray sorrow and anguish. Or righteous indignation. Metal has grown up. Not all of it, of course. But there's quite a lot of it out there now that is rather poignant and, dare I say, sophisticated. It's good to open your mind. It might be disgusting to you at first, but if you listen carefully, you'll find real art in metal music quite often today.
Great reaction. Glad you did both the video and the live Conan performance. The video is key in portraying their artistic vision, and the live performance is great. You pulled out all the things I was hoping you would from both the music and the video. Good background info, particularly the email exchange between Simon and Draiman, with Simon giving his approval and Draiman paying homage to the legend. Loved the opening imagery of the harp, piano, guitar. A good way to visually convey the idea of the loss of music, with three instruments on your set, and with the drum also showing up. You had some great observations on his voice. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I love both the original and the cover, for differing reasons.
Hi Lee, since I know you are an avid listener and have been so for decades, I find it surprising if you don't notice the very obvious use of pitch correction in both the studio and the live version. But maybe you do and just find it fits the song, I'm not there, but it for sure is a valid point.
@@annatraustadottir4387 Hi Anna, good to hear from you. It has been a long time since we chatted. There are a lot of different aspects of the performances I didn't comment on. My comments tend to be too long as it is, so I focus on the things I want to communicate and relate to Amy about her reaction. I happen to really like this cover, so I was happy to see how much Amy enjoyed and related to it. There are plenty of other comments focused on the auto-tune (used on the live Conan) and pitch correction (used on the studio/music video), usually as evidence that this isn't a valid cover or that David Draiman really isn't a good singer. Many get this from the Wings of Pegasus analysis, but never seem to mention that Fil thinks David Draiman is a great singer, with great range, timbre, vibrato, and interval accuracy. But that like much of modern recordings, it tends to rely on this technology rather than doing multiple takes to get the starting pitch accurate, since as he says David has great interval accuracy. People also don't seem to mention that Fil also did a video on a 2009 live Simon & Garfunkel performance that is also auto-tuned. I don't like the use of auto-tune and pitch correction in general, but didn't find it worth dismissing these performances. I particularly don't like when it is used to make those that don't really have any natural talent sound good, but in the case of David Draiman I know he happens to be a great singer with genuine talent.
so many of the bands i love, they SUCK live, like they don't take their craft seriously and just slob through it.
@@LeeKennison I understand what your are saying but at the same time not. I don't always dislike heavy pitch correction because it can fit the song and even if I don't find it fitting to the song, the artist can of course have different opinion and using it as a deliberate artistic choice, and really wanting the mechanical effect. But it is difficult being positive about it nowadays, because it is used so widely and without thought, just because it's available.
And now it comes to the part I don't understand in your comment. Many say the same as you do, that you don't like it when it is used to make people that can't sing in tune, sing in tune, but if the singer can sing it's acceptable to help the performance or to reduce the time spent in studio. I in fact, don't care so much, if it is used to help singers that have difficulty singing in tune, at least it makes sense using it then. And it can never make a great singer out of a bad one. I hate when it is used when you have a good singer and that is what is done today. And it has very little to do with a singer singing a note or two out of tune. For sure, you can save time, fixing a note or two in Melodyne, in a tasteful natural way, instead of splicing different takes together or doing many takes. But usually the producer does a lot more. They are "correcting" singing that no one hears as out of pitch, nailing the voice to a line in a computer program, not allowing the natural movement of a human voice around a note and between notes. Taking away some elements of the singer's expression and some of the character of that singer's voice. And that is what I hear, and in THIS song, you can hear the mechanical sound, the robotic elements, through out the song. And why should you want to hear that, instead of the real human expression of a really good singer. You are not helping the singer to sound BETTER but making him sound WORSE, taking away some of his talent. In the studio version of this song it is used through the song, probably by using Melodyne or something similar program, and of course David is not singing half of the song out of pitch, it is used as an kind of an effect, an effect that is used in most pop music today and increasingly in other genres as well. And it's boring at best and disabling at worst. For sure it could fit the feeling and mood of certain songs and make sense to be even commonly used in certain genres, but it is used everywhere without much thought, just because. And in this song I find it disturbing, this strangled robotic long notes (the tempo is slow). I realize that people seem to be able to hear this to a different degree and I for sure do not always hear this. But in this song it is so, so, obvious. So I was curious, do you hear how the pitch correction program is used in this Disturbed song, and if you do, do you just find it to fit the song and mood, which could be a valid point.
Finally, I would like you to listen to a performance, that many hail as great and many fans think is just natural singing and go to great lengths describing how great the singing is. The singing sounds awful and is extremely unnatural, although I'm sure that all the singers in this group are really good singers. The song is pitch corrected after the fact, by Melodyne, or something like that, not autotuned. So a person went through the song, editing the voices in order to let the singing sound like that. I could hardly listen to it after a friend sent it to me as an example of a great Christmas song and performance. I physically suffered through the song. It was then I realized for the first time, that many, many people do not hear the difference from real human voice and even extremely computerized voice. And it made me sad. ua-cam.com/video/ReJAU2mXm8w/v-deo.html
The typical pop/rock producer today, would pitch correct to hell the greatest classical singers, singing a beautiful Puccini aria, believing they were improving the singing, but really killing it, and maybe in few years we will all clap along.
@@annatraustadottir4387 Thanks for the detailed explanation on why you feel so strongly about this. I went back and listened to it again with all you said in mind, and I still enjoy the performance, including vocally and without being bothered or distracted by any artificial digital manipulation, whether from using Melodyne or any other pitch correction. It does not sound robotic or mechanical to me at all, even though I know it is pitch corrected. In reality any recorded or amplified vocals is manipulated to some degree. You are never hearing the pure human voice that you hear in an unamplified live performance, such as you might experience with opera. If you have ever used any recording software, then I'm sure you are aware of how differently your own voice sounds through just simple EQ adjustment, without even applying other effects such as reverb. Or even how differently your voice will sound by just using a different microphone. So I am never expecting a completely pure and unaltered vocal.
Although I do understand that the negative qualities that you say you are experiencing (robotic and mechanical sounding) is on a different level than EQ and microphone choices, just pointing out that nothing we hear through recording is pure. This is even more the case today, since just about everything we listen to since the 90s is digitally recorded or stored at some point in the process. Even if we ultimately listen to it on an analog vinyl recording. It is this digitally recorded image that allows something like pitch correction to adjust the pitch, while retaining the other qualities of the voice, so theoretically keeping it more natural sounding, without sounding artificial or robotic.
Even Fil at the Wings of Pegasus wasn't critical on the quality of the resulting vocals, just the fact that it had been pitch corrected. He even made the point that he could have achieved the same result if they had done additional takes. He didn't mention it sounding robotic or mechanical. He is generally less critical of pitch-correction that is applied afterwards in the studio, than he is with auto-tune which is applied automatically, more often in live performances. He has shown how auto-tune really does make the vocals sound more artificial and manipulated, removing the human characteristics. Whereas carefully applied pitch correction can retain many of the other vocal characteristics.
Bottom line, I really enjoy this performance, primarily as an artistic statement, but I also enjoy the vocal and musical performance. I am not going to stop enjoying it, even if people tell me I shouldn't for a variety of reasons. Disturbed is certainly living up to their name, by disturbing a lot of people. Perhaps I am not as discerning as people thing I should be, but I go with what I like, not what others say I should like. Granted, as I have gotten older my hearing has deteriorated and I have been spoiled by the convenience of digital music, and rarely listen to my better quality vinyl records. I used to be a hardcore audiophile, both in terms of equipment and recordings. One thing I learned through that process is that much of what we hear is psychological. We hear what we want to hear, which is why you should always do blind comparisons when evaluating two things. Since you feel so strongly about this, you will probably never be able to not hear the mechanical and robotic quality. Whereas I don't even notice it, which again may be due to my lack of discernment. I'm just glad that I can enjoy this for what it means to me.
The original was a friendly plea to listen. This is an outraged demand. We haven't learned, we didn't listen to the warning. So there is anger. And it's beautiful.
@@sillysausage4549 aye, good for you pal.
Greta Thunberg arranged it!
@@sillysausage4549pretty reflected of what is happening. Basically a tantrum.
Quite nicely addressed!
"Here's the rage I feel when I hear your song."
I always felt that the S&G original is a warning to everyone and the Disturbed version is anger that the warning wasn’t heeded.
Wonderful thought. The Disturbed version is truly beautiful and powerful but perhaps it makes such an impact because of the S&G version from so many years before. They keep it just close enough to the original to almost constantly remind you of it throughout. Where S&G were almost melancholy, suddenly Disturbed is more angry and forceful.
Oh do fuck off. You just so happened to 'always' think the exact same thing that a thousand other people have ripped off from a comment on the original Disturbed YT video??? Word for word?
And the PTX version that their is still hope.
No
My criteria for a great cover is that the cover artist finds something that was in the song all along that was not brought out in the original. This is one of the absolute best ever. There is rage in those original lyrics, but S&G were not that kind of band. Disturbed is, and they absolutely nailed it.
maestro shit here!
Two really good covers are
Arno - Knowing me, knowing you
Sierra Hull - Mad world
I love both versions. I was against it, in theory, because SnG's song is such a perfect song. Why try to cover perfection? But then I heard it. It becomes a different song and an equally good one.
I like to add: it did where the Metallica cover of Dire Straits failed miserably for me.
Good cover from disturbed. Another cover you canister to is Amazing grace by Dan Vasc.
Which is perfect, the real original or the remix most people believe to be the original? 😊
@@HardcoreIPA Do you really care?
@@stanleymyrick4068 yeah in a way. I was asking myself if the perfect version was actually Simon and Garfunkel's original, or the one that their producer re-recorded without even telling them, projecting the song, and the duo, into fame.
What I love about this video is the (approx) 12 seconds of no sound at the beginning: the actual sound of silence. It trips a lot of people up and they think their volume has failed. Like you, I find the end scene satisfying: those with the instruments meet those with the music and it sends messages on a number of levels, about communication, collaboration, finding what's missing, working for a greater good, that we all want the same thing - I could go on.
This is where this man proved to the world he can truly sing.......
This isn't even his best singing performance, it's just well known coz the cover
Nah. Listen to "Prayer" one day. Or "You are mine." Heck - listen to everything Disturbed released.
I never heard this version before. I always believed that this song was strong because of the vocal harmonies. But here with just one voice, this song remains so powerful. Amazing and pure beauty.
I’m sure you’ll have many comments like this, but… To me the original is a contemplative warning (which I love), and Disturbed’s is the anger and frustration at the needless damage we do to ourselves and others, and at our ignoring of the warnings given (which I also love.)
Nah
This song always gives me goosebumps. Always. His vocals are beyond good, at the peak, they rip through your soul and shake you. I love both versions, but the vocals, and the impeccable visuals (and silence at the beginning) just nails it. Even the original artists do like this version. It's so damn dark but also beautiful.... thank you for your reaction, I love it...especially that you go into the Live Version!
This is a brilliant cover. More of an angry aftermath than a warning. Same lyrics, different energy. Beautiful
It's pretty similar
Love your reaction. Love Simon and Garfunkel. Absolutely love this song. Disturbed absolutely does this wonderful cover justice. It’s just beautiful. I was shocked the first time hearing this hearing this cover. I know this band and David Draimond . Disturbed Down with the sickness, always sticks in my head. I hope you listen to this song so you can understand why all of us Disturbed fans were shocked when we heard this for the first time.❤️✌️🌼
Paul Simon's lyrics are so unbelievably prophetic, in such a Nostradamian way, that only makes sense to those who have lived into and through the foreseen future.
David's retelling of the great foretelling, is a product of the times encompassed in the poetic lyrical world. The anger of existing in such a bleakly anti-social world is palpable in his vocals; and having seen where the world was, and where it is, it is effortlessly empathized.
I don't have the words to explain how much this song affected me when I first saw it on Conan's show; suffice to say it was soul deep and heart rending, and has left an indelible mark on my psyche.
This version of this song is a master class in elevating a cover to greater heights than even the original artist imagined.
David Draiman showcased his exceptional voice and vocal range with this song. It's the best cover of any song I've ever heard.
I don't know what it is, but this version gives me the chills, every time i hear it. You can say the song flew out of the nest, it has been around and seen some shit, it reurned, and now it's angry!
That is because it is an opera version of it because it beats out the voice of it as if it is a way of trying to bring that of more emotion and more energy into the idea of what needs to be said
Every time!
According to the background info Amy read, Paul Simon liked the Disturbed version. So for those who think this should never have been touched, apparently Paul himself was just fine with their interpretation.
Although I fully agree with your point, even if Paul Simon didn't like the cover: as long as the covering artist gets the Ok from the owner of the publishing rights (ideally that should always be the writers of the song) it's perfectly fine to cover great songs and add your own artistic skills. If covers would be a 'no no' we wouldn't have great songs like Johnny Cash's version of Hurt or Jimmy Hendrix "all along the watchtower" and so many other great covers.
Of course there are covers that are terrible and kind of "rapes" the original: but as long as you don't steal a song (and forget to pay the royalties and acknowledging the original) covers are important as well
@@jantonkens9820 if I'm not mistaken, you can always cover a song. You just end up having to pay a fee. Can you imagine if you needed someone's permission just to sign a song? I just looked it up and it's called a "Compulsory Mechanical License" (you can make your own recording of the song but you have to pay a fee) but there are conditions such as the original artist must have released a recording, and you can't change the words. And there's a different license if you release a video. If you perform a cover live, then the venue would typically have a license for that already. A parodies are covered by fair use. There's a lot more to it, but basically you don't need permission directly from the original artist to make a cover.
Hey Lee!
I have to comment on this because I see that many people are annoyed by this cover and I simply don't understand why. As I've written to Amy, this is one of the best covers ever made, to me, and in my opinion it did more than a justice to the original.
@@jovana_r Hey Jovana! Great to see you. I was hoping you would see this one. I also love this cover and don't understand the hostility to it either. Not only did Paul Simon appreciate it, but Amy herself really liked and appreciated it, including liking David Draiman's voice and the intensity of the rage he expresses. She pointed out a lot of the qualities that make his voice great. I certainly love and appreciate both the original and this cover. It doesn't have to be one or the other with me. I can like them both for different reasons. In a sense, David Draiman achieved his goal (as reflected in the band's name) of disturbing people. Sometimes people need to be disturbed in order to wake them up.
@@LeeKennison Completely agree. Unfortunately, being disturbed is the best way to wake up.
I consider the original and the cover to be completely different songs that just happen to have the same lyrics. Both are spectacular.
Please investigate David Draiman (lead singer of Disturbed). It's not generally my type of music, but his voice is amazing (he has a LOT of training, starting with choir as a young boy). His interview with The Charismatic Voice (Elizabeth Zharoff) is very enlightening (YT channel). He is very articulate and well-educated. A joy to listen to.
David is definitely highly educated , well spoken and articulate. He also takes very good care of himself; meaning he doesn’t fit the stereotype of metal guys constantly partying. He’s also very respectful to his religion and family. Although he didn’t become a Cantor as his father and grandfather, David does not have any tattoos and when he visits his family he removes his piercings. He’s a really caring person.
it's like the jazz singer
I saw himin concert live and his sermons after and in between songs are very Christian but rebellious as well.
Elizabeth is my favorite person on here that does this. I think it would be great to hear Elizabeth and her get together and discuss a song together. Would be a great team
@sk818factory5 David follows the Jewish not Christian faith.
My favorite comment about this cover is that Simon and Garfunkel’s version made you think, while Disturbed’s version makes you feel. The original had the serious and somewhat disturbing (no pun intended lol) lyrics, the folk style was soothing and pretty…so the juxtaposition was interesting, but maybe allowed listeners to not pay attention to the subject. But you can’t ignore the anger and disappointment conveyed by the Disturbed version. This is a serious problem, you need to listen. I’m in my 50’s and have heard thousands of songs in my life, and I still think “Hello darkness my old friend” is the best opening lyric ever written.
Great post!
Nah
“Hello darkness my old friend” Is such an incredible bar, you are absolutely right about that!
@@eeveegee666 no that's not a bar
Really love David's voice. His emphasis on the lyrics bring the meaning far more to the fore, than in the original. YES! These failures or refusals to listen to each other, to communicate effectively, are things to be 'Disturbed' about!
If you think so
As you were struggling a bit to describe the vocal style common to heavy metal and some hard rock, so I wanted to tell you that many vocal coaches I’ve seen often refer to this as distortion (distortion can have various levels, from a slight raspiness up to a complete vocal frye). It’s a vocal technique that distorts the normal sound made by the vocal chords. Also, I think you’d also enjoy hearing The HU “Wolf Totem”..they are a modern band who incorporate Mongolian throat singing into their style.
A somewhat "different" telling of a story doesn't necessarily diminish the original author's work. I think...
I also think You have shared one of the best takes on this case. Your respectful, thoughtful, and relevant analysis is impressive and commendable. Period. Full stop!
Thank you for this, and best of wishes for your continued explorations!
Cheers
rl
🤘👹🤘
David Draiman... one of the best male vocalists on the planet imho...gorgeous baritone and clear beautiful tenor headvoice ....can even put vibrato on vocal fry!! Amazing!
This is the comment I was looking for, I’ve been blown away by his vocals for years, but what amazes me is how much he has improved throughout his career. Vocal Fry Vibrato is a pretty excellent post punk band name, and also a phrase I didn’t know I needed for describing this legend’s capabilities. 😂 so thanks for that 🙏
Vocal fry is what happens if there is not enough air pressure to make the vocal cords vibrate harmonically. The sound pulsates. What you hear in this case is bringing the skin inside the throat above the larynx into the air stream making it flap around (false cord engagement), most commonly known as "adding grit" to the voice.
As false cord engagement is an additional effect a trained voice can add it on top of any other vocal technique.
It is really not that uncommon to combine grit and vibrato. Just to scratch the surface. These are names anyone should know:
James Hetfield
Dio
Freddy Mercury
Russel Allen
Bruce Dickinson
Floor Jansen
Marko Hietala
Tommy Karevik
Ozzy Osborn
Nils Rue
Lzzy Hale
Brittney Slayes
Noora Louhimo
...even Brian Johnson
The chills you feel when 10000+ metal heads are all singing along with them is an awesome experience to be had
Enjoyed listening to your take on this song. Its always been one of my favs. Makes me cry though, so i don't tend to listen to it often, always reminds me of my Grandfather and his father. Great-granddad from what I know was a WW2 Vet who had some serious PTSD and would have flashbacks and would settle his mind by playing his violin. Unfortunately my Grandfather was too young to understand and learnt to fear/avoid the sound which carried over into his adulthood despite the fact that he loved music and would collect a lot over his lifetime. But I grew up with Grandfather telling us kids to never be afraid of reaching out, either to help or be helped, doesn't matter which as long as you do.
I've always thought this song is a great way to express this sentiment.
David's voice gives me chills from start to finish, and I've been a Disturbed fan from their very first album. A lot of Disturbs songs have a more melodic tone than a lot of the metal music I've heard (more so in their later works). For me that's what sets them apart and makes them stand out among metal bands.
Thank you for reacting to this!
David trained as a Cantor.
David Draiman was trained as a Jewish Cantor. So he has an amazing voice, both harsh and smooth.
I have no idea what David Draiman's current religious feelings might be, but I can't help thinking that his religious background energizes his outrage at the "neon god they made."
I love the original, I adore the Disturbed cover. The entire piece is one gigantic musical climax, building building building then breaking like an electrical storm (cue kettle drums for thunder). Draiman's voice is magnificent, the rattling growl still sends shivers through me. I can only wonder in sadness at what Queen and Freddie Mercury would have produced by way of a cover of the original song, something entirely unique I'm sure.
The live version showed that the audience respected the performance so much that they waited until the last note faded before applauding.
NOTE: that David Draiman was really sick and had a fever for the Conan live performance and I heard he was not pleased with his performance, being the perfectionist that he is I can understand why he felt that way. However, the production as a whole performance was amazing and he voice was EXCEPTIONAL! I loved it. So POWERFUL and EMOTIONAL! - Disturbed "The Sound Of Silence" 03/28/16 | CONAN on TBS Team Coco
Diane ❤
@@junco1312not only sick and insisted to perform anyway, he refused to allow them to use autotune to help
@txheadshots There is autotune, while minor, which is why he was upset with the performance.
Nah
THANK YOU for that video. And thanks for some background info on it. I really didn't know about the email exchange between Simon and Draiman.
So, that was step two on your exploration of the four step journey of this song:
1) Simon & Garfunkel - a warning about the future in the style of a typical sixties protest
2) Disturbed - anger and outrage that the former warning went unheard
3) Pentatonix - a little celebration of a hope that might be there after all
4) Geoff Castellucci - the wake and funeral of the thought that there may have been that silly hope
Four times the same lyrics and the same basic melody, but completely different moods and messages. This goes to show what kind of masterpiece Simon created in the first place and how other extremely talented musicians and artists can even elevate a masterpiece to new hights when they put their hearts in it.
I know it might be a sacrilege to do so, but I want to point you to another channel: David Draiman did a long interview with Elisabeth Zharoff on "The Charismatic Voice" in which he talks, amongst many other topics, about this song and his reluctance and fear to do it at all. Very recommendable!
It's good to remember that he was a Cantor in his synagogue. :)
What I love about the Disturbed version is it's like a crescendo. It builds and builds and builds, and then he finally releases the tension with the last two words.
Long before Disturbed did this cover. They did Land of Confusion from Phil Collins. And they did a great job on it as well. Both covers they brought feelings into the song. While the originals are very good songs to start with. Disturbed adds just enough of a kick to it to add feeling to it.
'Land of Confusion' is a Genesis song.
They "Disturbed" a lot of people by pulling them in and giving them chills and had them crying...I'm 1 of them. This is THE BEST cover of any song ever!!!!!
Just found your channel the other day. Your passion and joy and love of music are contagious! You are teaching us a new way to appreciate the music we've listened to for years. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Great reaction! I love this version. A true masterpiece, IMHO. I think you may really like Geoff Castellucci's version as well. Geoff is the bass for the Acapella group VoicePlay and has the lowest, richest bass voice out there. But he also has a 5 octave range and layers himself singing all the parts. I promise you won't be prepared for Geoff's voice.
I am so glad you viewed the Disturbed excellent video. Perhaps because their cover is so dramatic, few reviewers address the visuals. Their opening, as you mention, is brilliant and that desolate theme is carried through the entire presentation. When the instruments are returned to the people, it is almost a religious experience. The arc image ties into your 'pagan', mythical concept which is so appropriate for both the band and the message. Noah and the arch come to mind and adds to the epic feel.
Someone long ago commented that S&G's song was a plea, while Disturbed is outraged that the plea went unanswered. Outrage that we are still worshipping that same neon god we made.
David was quite ill during the live show but insisted on going on anyway, with a significant fever and typical flu symptoms. He was trained as a cantor, his grandfather was a famous cantor in Israel. He's such a talented singer, you really need to check out more of Disturbed songs, they're not afraid to try new things. I'm a 70 y o granny and I love all of their songs, they have deep meanings and emotions.
I always loved the end of the video uniting the instruments with the music to end the silence.
So nice to hear someone take Sounds of Silence and put some guts & power into the way it was done, it struck me right away that that was what this somg always needed. I thought it lifted that song to the intensity level it should be at.. It reminds me of the way Stairway to Heaven was done and came across.
I'm glad you listened to both the recorded and the live versions!
The live version is incredible! A truly spine-tingling performance, also if I am not mistaken David Draiman was fighting off a cold at the time too. What I love about the video is the visual play of one side of the river being musicians with no songs to play, and on the other side are song writers with no musicians to bring their songs to life. Until they are united at the end. So it is like saying "together, we can end the silence".
Awesome version of the song. As a police officer patrolling a town at night on foot on my own ( no gun) I often sang this song
Omg.. by any chance have you listened to the tale of jenny and screech by ren? and is that why you pointed out you have no gun?
Richard… REN’s Screech tale mentions that Richard the police officer that walks out on the street is 6 foot 3 so I gotta ask are you 6 foot 3?
@richardprescott6322 the Renegades have questions...where did you patrol? Are you retired?
How tall are you? Please tell me you’re 6ft 3. Listen to Ren - The Tales of Jenny and Screech x
@@richardprescott6322 RICHARDDDDD!! please answer our questions 🙏🏼😏
After reading the views of people who didn't like the cover of 'Brothers In Arms' and now the cover of 'The Sound Of Silence' I can't help but wonder whether some people don't approve of songs being covered at all. I think that's a shame, if nothing else a cover is a wonderful way to introduce a song to a new generation. Take the Bob Dylan song 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' for example. When Guns N' Roses covered it millions of people who probably wouldn't have come across the song suddenly heard it, and a percentage would've searched out the original. Covers shouldn't be seen as something that detracts from the original, quite the opposite, they extend the life of the original by introducing the song to a new audience.
It's also the highest compliment that can be made to the song writer, musicians, band etc.
The billion watches are well earned
David Draiman is a classically trained vocalist. It just doesn’t allow itself to be shown frequently in heavy-metal, aggressive music. This cover was the perfect vehicle to show his vocal prowess. Amazing, haunting and emotional piece of work. Simon’s work often makes a person come to terms with his or her feelings.
I really love your explanations. You are so gifted in wording. You paint pictures with your words, especially in this review.
Agreed! Rare in reaction videos. Delightful
This version is shocking at first!! I was SO surprised!!! Dave is a trained singer, but you probably already knew that!!!! The members are playing the other instruments. This is still a great song. I am old enough to recall when Art & Paul released this masterpiece. This is mighty fine cover!!!! Bravo!.... Thanks lady......................
It’s really a wonderful display of his vocal capability as he shows off his range both clean and with rasp.
Well, since both studio and the Conan version are obviously very pitch corrected, it does not show his talent clearly, but he is a very good singer.
@@annatraustadottir4387 Thanks for calling that out. It's so overdone as to be pathetic. IMHO. Doesn't even sound human.
And once again, even with interruptions, I find myself in tears at the song. The original doesn't do this to me. It doesn't hit me at all. This one TEARS out of me.
I fell in love with Heavy Metal when I was a 13 year old kid in Germany and I heard Motorhead for the first time. It got me hooked fast and a lot of that was the passion of the music, "how expressive it is" as Amy stated. I've felt that way since that day 40+ years ago and I still feel that's the case now.
Another interesting song is "Love Hurts". Originally performed by the Everly Brothers in 1960, and Nazareth performed a cover with their version in the mid 70's.
Another cover which was more popular than the original release is "Hurt", originally written and performed by Nine Nails and the cover was one of Johnny Cash's final album.
Applause for this. One of those comments I couldn't realize in my own head until I saw written down. 😊😊
The lyrics are the same, but Simon and Garfunkel, with their light harmonies give a sense of hope(?) where Disturbed's version is darker and more like the lyrics convey. Both great
David inherits the tradition and training of a Hebrew cantor from his father and grandfather. While he serves a broader congregation, I think he upholds the tradition
You should also check out Geoff Castellucci's version of this too. Well worth it.
It has been said that the original S&G version is the warning. Disturbed's version is the anger the warning was ignored. GC's version is sorrow that the warning was ignored.
Geoff Castellucci is a bass singer in acapella group VoicePlay and has a solo channel too.
This was so well done. The effortless power behind the vocals. I would thought that his vocal cords would have been shot but the vocals still feel smooth despite the rough nature of the delivery (if that makes sense, it's just a feeling I get).
17:28 I like on the video version that you commented on the musicians crossing the river to connect to the people on the other side as it often goes uncommented on. I have commented that to me it shows the ability of music to voice the feelings of the masses, the ability of musicians to express the words to the those that will listen of the people that often go unheard.
I also fully agree with the comments that the S & G original version was a warning to people are disconnecting & not speaking to each other where Disturbed's version expresses the anger that that warning had been ignored with people sitting in the break rooms of work or on the bus buried in their cell phones instead of talking to the person sitting beside them.
David Draiman was raised as an Orthodox Jew and his amazing voice is due to the fact that not only was he born with it, but he is also a trained Cantor.
Diane ❤😊
I loved to see this with you. Nice to meet you. 😆
There's so much happening that even after 1000x we discover something new. I saw you got really invested in that final scene. Something I love about it is that the songwriters are writing songs in a border but they don't have the instruments (to portrait that they don't have voices to share their songs) and at the other border, they have the instruments but don't have the songs (they can talk but doesn't have what to say, showing the "talking without speaking"). Then, at the end they find a way to cross the distance and finally disturb the sound of silence.
The people wrote the music and wait on the shore holding their sheets of music for the boat to come with the instruments and musicians so the two sides are no longer divided. Thank you really enjoyed your review.
There is a considerable overlap with those who enjoy Heavy Metal and Symphony music. At least, that seemed to be the case with the people I knew at university anyway.
It's true. And it's magnificent in the rare times that they converge! Metallica's first S&M album is my absolute favorite of theirs; them in their prime, performing with the outstanding Michael Kamen led San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. The whole album is perfection, they complement each other beautifully.
I really appreciate these discussions. They definitely increase my appreciation for the music itself.
A reminder that great poetry (and all art for that matter) continues to speak to us all, even as time passes.
the whole time i was watching enjoying but hoping "man, i wish she would have watched the live version." feels so satisfying to have you then watch that version after the official video!
Very few covers equal the original. This one does and perhaps, even surpasses.
Nah
@@hinoartsNah indeed.
In your opinion maybe.
@@alancumming6407 No, not maybe. It is my opinion. :)
@@emc4069 You made a definitive statement which you should have qualified by saying it was "in your opinion".
One of the things I love about David's voice is that he is a trained Cantor. He was taught at an early age to sing with varying degrees.
The thing that blows me away about the live version on Conan is that HE'S SITTING DOWN THE ENTIRE TIME
David had the flu and a very high fever that day. That's why he did it sitting.
I usually do not like covers, but Disturbed did the song justice. Disturbed has done of covers, but nothing compares to this. You can tell true talent of musicians when they, as in this case, depart from their base genre.
The instruments surviving on the Arc of Noah is a powerful message. Love the video (also love the cover itself, but the video supporting it)
Disturbed has an amazing catalogue of their original songs and they are very lyrically heavy. There is a great deal of depth in their lyrics.
The image that disturbed version gave me was this is some Orwellian bleak future where music and word had been outlawed. Love both versions
Also, whether or not you believe in spirit guides, I recently discovered that I am blessed to have some and decided to start listening to them. They actually led me to Disturbed and David Draiman on UA-cam and their cover B&W 4K video rendition of Simon and Garfunkels The Sound of Silence. My spirit guides are screaming at me to tell all of you that if we lose our Democracy we will lose our freedom to listen to the music of our choice like Disturbed! If THEY can ban our books, THEY can ban/outlaw our music 🎶! Love you all, Diane ❤
Me (being 56 years of age) knew that song for decades, and I loved it it. But now Disturbed owns it, period! I think there will never be a better version in my lifetime.
Great reaction, dear Amy! I am extremely happy that you liked it and saw the power of it.
As I've said, this is, to me, one of the best covers ever made and I adore it. David is an amazing and very unique singer. Btw, in this live performance he was ill, barely able to speak and he thought he would not be able to sing, but in the end he did it and even though I can hear the instability in his voice, I am amazed how he managed to sing it.
I'd like to see your reaction to some of Disturbed's older songs. My favorite is definitely "Inside the fire" but it might be too intense for you. Well, actually most of their songs might be too intense. They are very intense, loud and heavy band. But worth of checking out. They are very popular, especially in US.
Thank you, Amy! 🖤
This cover was powerful and iconic in and of itself, but what really put it over the top for me was being a fan of Disturbed since their early days, and knowing that fact that normally they have a very harsh sound, with Draiman providing both clean, harsh, and even machine-gun staccato vocals, with lyrics and violent subject matter that have that lovely "Parental Advisory" sticker on just about everything they've released - and realizing that just like me, they can have appreciation and even reverence for 60s folk music despite the head-banging preference.
Its unintended, but the song makes a serviceable critique of smart phone culture, metaphorically. Everyone talking, but nobody listening, everyone praying to the neon god they made (as they stare at the phone).
It was kind of intended but for T, it's just that technology has advanced.
Meh
David Draiman is unreal , even if you aren't into the style of music they make , it's hard not to realize how good he is at what he does
It's a voice that bypasses your ears and goes straight to your soul. Both power and softness, clarity & emotion. Covering such a well known song often does not end well, this one exceeds all expectations.
It doesn't bypass my ears
there are some covers that had no right to even work out and yet managed to become absolute masterpieces, this is one of them
I can only imagine the privilege of being present at that performance on Conan that night. Truly iconic moment in music. Extraordinary considering Draiman was unwell at the time. Brilliance from him, the band and the orchestra creating a moment in time. ❤
This is a great example of how punk was the evolution of folk music. Folk was a gentle call to change the status quo. When it didn't work punk came and said change is coming so get ready
I TEAR UP EVERYTIME I HEAR EITHER SONG I LOVE BOTH GROUPS!!!!
I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but some context on the live performance: He was suffering from an upper respiratory infection during that performance, and he still did THAT good of a job.
Also, the lead singer brought this song to Paul Simon, and asked him to listen to it. He said that if Paul Simon didn't approve, he wasn't going to release it. Paul Simon said it was the single best version of Sound of Silence he had ever heard. He followed that by saying the original was intended to be a warning to the listener, and this version is the anger that comes from the warning being ignored.
Thanks for reaction! Very nice to listen. As you said you would want to hear some of their original songs. I would recommend highly "Down with the Sickness". Listen to that, and think how it can even be the same singer. David has such a unique voice and broad skills for different sounds. And the song is one of their most popular songs too.
If you go for that song, just don't pick the official music video, as it's shorter cut version, where big part of song is left out. Pick some lyric video instead. Though be warned, the language in that extra bit can be bit harsh. But even that gives good example of David's voice.
I've paused the video, while you are still giving stats in the beginning, only to say that I had always LOVED the Simon & Garfunkel version (I'm 54). Disturbed's version feels closer to the emotional tone of the song and is my favorite version. ... Back to your video...
'great to see you listen to both versions (the live is my fav')
Some of theirs that I recommend are The Light, Reason to Fight (the live video is emotional), and Hold on to Memories
I agree. As the band had matured so has their songs. The first time I watched the video of Hold on the the Memories. It reduced me to tears. The subject hit hard.
Thank You for watching/listening this with us.
Reminder to everyone: two things can be true at the same time 😂 The original and the cover, both enjoyable.
Indeed, you don’t have to pick a side, too much of that nowadays
That scream, growl, or roar you're referring to is the "angst" in the a lot of metal vocalists' voices.
Regarding Draimon's use of vibrato in conjunction with a harsh vocal style :
First, it demonstrates that there is no unwanted tension in his vocal tract. His vocal production is healthy.
Second, the distortion is all created supra-glotally, so there are two distinct and separate processes happening at the same time. One process is the vocal folds producing the pitch and vibrato. The other is the addition of distortion using components higher up in the vocal tract. It does take a lot of hard work to refine one's control to this degree.
Well said! This really helps folks understand what’s happening while he sings. At least those of us not trained in vocals. I grew up a musician so I understand music theory and composition but nothing about vocals. I do know that David still uses a vocal coach who helps people with using distortion in a healthy way. Plus being trained as a Cantor when he was young certainly helped too. Anyhoo, thanks for the explanation!! 😊
Great reaction and observations. Usually with the "rock voice" I've heard vocal coaches refer to it as "distortion" (interestingly also the term used to describe the signature "angry" sound of rock guitars) or "fry". Singers who are less experienced can actually damage their vocal chords if they truly scream and growl through hour-long performances; however, the more professional rock vocalists who are much more conscious of what they are doing have methods of achieving that "growl" sound in the vocal chords in a way that doesn't harm them. It is a conscious and practiced technique. David Draiman's "growl" is definitely one of these. Much like movie stunts look dangerous but are performed by professionals who have calculated everything as carefully as possible and know exactly what they are doing, the rock growl from a professional like Draiman sounds primal, emotional, and spontaneous, but it is in fact very conscious and deliberate in the way it is delivered. Another interesting observation is the way you observed how the duration of the end note is held long on "silence". But what's so interesting about Draimain's performance in particular is that the instinct of most performers would be to hold the note on the vowel where the voice is open: sil [E] nce. Draiman instead carries the note on a resonant consonant: sile [N] ce. So your attention is captured not just by the fact that he holds the note long, but also that he does it on consonant, so he sort of "hums" this note at you, which is not what you might expect. It also makes the note sound more "soft" and "warm" in its expression, which has a storytelling quality that pulls you in.
I feel like Disturbed hit what Simon and Garfunkle were aiming for.
I've never been much for Simon and Garfunkel, so I obviously think this cover is a thousand times better. In the live version, the tympany takes this cover and kicks it up a notch, to a whole new level, a do the strings!
The anger in this version is because nothing has changed in the last 50-odd years. Simon's warning went unheeded and we're right back where we started.
Well the song does say the message was ignored
Lol
Just a note. The live performance you watched. He was actually just getting over the flu. He said that earlier in the day he could hardly speak.
This cover is somewhat the opposite side of Disturbed. If you want their heavy side try 'Down with the Sickness' (long version). You will understand why they call themselves 'disturbed'. The subject is difficult, but they convey the outrage and heavy message very well. It is an amazingly strong song.
I just love listening to your poetic exploration and insights. It is sublime art in itself sometimes
Great Covers suggestion: You've Got a Friend, by Carol King, and James Taylor's cover (even though I think he recorded his version first). I think you'll really enjoy both of these artists.
I'm so happy you appreciated the way they used the harsh vocals here. Many non-metal people assume that sound is always meant to sound aggressive, or even evil. But that is not always the case these days. Yes, it's frequently portraying anger, but it is also used to portray sorrow and anguish. Or righteous indignation. Metal has grown up. Not all of it, of course. But there's quite a lot of it out there now that is rather poignant and, dare I say, sophisticated. It's good to open your mind. It might be disgusting to you at first, but if you listen carefully, you'll find real art in metal music quite often today.