Art, like Steve Perry, Neil Sedaka and Smokey Robinson are one of only a handful of 'modern' singers we know who have a vocal range called Tenor Altino. Very rare and spectacular.
I know very little about Simon and Garfunkel's earlier times but everything I've ever seen of Paul Simon makes me think the music is in his head and he "chose," Garfunkel because he had the ability to express the vision of his songs...I honestly don't know I have seen Garfunkel in concert he was spellbinding!
My mother asked me to sing this at her funeral. I told her I would not be able to without crying. So I sang it to her on her deathbed even tho we did not know if she could still hear me. And as I finished she squeezed my hand to let me know she had and died almost immediately. I can understand why it was her fave. It truly brings comfort in any situation. ❤
Oh, Honey - that was a beautiful thing you did - and, I'm sure your Mother knows that, TOO!! Your comment SO TEARED-ME-UP!! HUGS to YOU and your MAMA in Heaven!!
I'm so sorry. Bless your mom. My brother and me were with my mom's passing Oct 16. Just buried her son, my brother 2 days ago, he passed on his 72 birthday Nov. 6. He served in the navy for 23 years. Missing you already mike.
2 jewish boys from NYC taking you to church. Gotta love music. Garfunkel does most of the singing. Voice of an angel. Paul wrote this when he was 20. He plays the guitar. Simon wrote their music. (he's the little guy)
This song won five Grammy Awards including the 1971 Song of the Year, and was ranked #48 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. "Silver girl" (starting the last verse) is Paul's first wife Peggy Harper. Paul related that she was feeling down, having at age 30 found her first grey hairs, and Paul started calling her his silver girl. Paul was telling her that her best days were yet to come. Imagine being immortalized in an epic song like this!
Yes, this is the one Art Garfunkel will always be remembered for, deservedly so. There is a TH-cam video of Art performing this song at a live concert. He sings the better part of the song so completely relaxed, standing in front of the mic with his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. Amazing performance!!!
It's so hard to realize that there are people who have genuinely never heard some of these songs that have been in our bones for decades. But just as gratifying to see the appreciation and respect you have for them once you hear them. Keep going guys. It's the journey, not the destination.
@ Don’t be too harsh. Access to older generations music isn’t the same as when we heard our parents music from their album collections. Albums don’t exist anymore and radio stations (if anyone even listens to radio anymore) rarely play our music. Corporate media dictates what gets played and what is left behind. It takes effort like these you tube channels to keep some music alive.
Completely agree! It’s wild to think there are people who’ve never heard this song. But that’s why we love reaction videos-it starts with disbelief (“What? Who doesn’t know Simon & Garfunkel?”), then turns into pure joy as we watch someone experience and appreciate something so timeless for the first time. Honestly, I can’t even compare their reaction to my own because this song has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
We played this for my Mom as she was passing away on her 90th birthday. She was a musician all her life, part of our family income came from her, playing the piano in a dance band every Saturday night. And she absolutely loved the piano in this song and played it as well. ‘Sail on silver girl…’
Awww...thnx for sharing this. I'm betting music in your house always .... and her humming. It's hard to lose our moms. They visit us tho in many ways. May your Christmas be Merry and Bright. ❤
The tall guy is the angelic Art Garfunkel. He’s sings and harmonizes. Paul Simon is the shorter guy. He sings great and he writes all the songs. They were fabulous together. When they broke up, Paul Simon went on to be one of the best singers/ songwriters in America.
Superlative talents, Paul Simon's writing, Art Garfunkel's beautiful voice and their harmonies. On this recording that is gospel pianist Larry Knechtel. One of my favorite songs of theirs is The Boxer, such emotive lyrics.
Larry Knechtel gospel??? Since when? Knechtel was anything but a gospel pianist. He was a multi-instrumentalist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Byrds, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. He also was a member of the 1970s band Bread.
Paul Simon writes and does all of the arrangements, orchestration planning, etc and both he and Art do the singing. According to sources, Paul spent a night writing this and before recording it said I wrote it but Art has to sing it, it is for Art. They have had a well-publicised, tumultuous relationship over the decades but when Paul was once asked why he stuck with the partnership at the time even though it was contentious, Paul said 'have you heard him sing?' This is just one of their many classics. Paul had a stellar solo career and branched out many different genres and made many groups famous such as Ladysmith Black Mombazo from South Africa. You might want to check his solo career out as well. Thanks for sharing.
I read somewhere that Garfunkel didn't want to sing it, either because he wasn't feeling it or that he thought it was Simon's song, and he should sing it. Luckily Simon convinced him to do it.
I read recently they had dinner together and bridged (pun intended) that gap. They were childhood pals too and they're getting on in yrs. Me too. I prefer just love in my heart and I plan to literally die laughing. 😅
Simon wrote it and added harmonies on the last verse, Art sang lead, and Larry Knechtel (the Wrecking Crew studio band) did the piano arrangement and performance.
What you're feeling we were living; the 60s, I believe we're the greatest times to be young and alive. A penny was money, girls were girls, and Mom and Dad were no joke!
Art's voice is truly angelic. 😇 (Although I can't unseen the "Cossack moustache" of Simon's hair when you hide Simon's face with your finger now and can't stop giggling.)
My father-in-law died 9 years ago. He was an amazing man. He was the father of 7, worked two jobs, was God fearing and was a bridge over troubled for many people…. Family and strangers alike. He once invited a homeless man to our Thanks giving dinner. On both nights of his wake I heard this song on the radio on my way to it. I probably hadn’t heard the song on the radio in 15-20. It freaked me out. I announced that to his family and friends at the wake. My mom died 2 months later and she was also a bridge over troubled water for many as well…. That was Art Garfunkel singing lead on this classic song.
The keyboard player is Larry Knechtel, an incredibly talented man who also played bass who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Byrds, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. He also was a member of the 1970s band Bread.
I'm amazed that there are people, especially people in the US, who don't know who Simon and Garfunkel are, or who haven't heard this song before! Simon and Garfunkel are among the all-time greats and for good reason! :)
Simon is the genius - wrote everything they did - lyrics and music. Art is the angelic voice, usually in great harmony with Paul but in this particular song - it's all him singing. Some say that fact and the success of this particular song was what started the jealousy between them and eventually the breakup. Thank you for reacting to the best song of all time !
Paul Simon writer. Do Elvis in concert live version of this song. Haunting rendition. Paul Simon loved it. Receipts: Hollywood Reporter, Rona Barrett Hollywood, Elvis Box Sets interviews where Simon hails Elvis version.
This is Art Garfunkel singing lead. Paul Simon went on to have a stellar solo career. Perhaps, for a deeper dive on Simon you should check out "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes", "Graceland", or "You Can Call Me Al".
This was ART singing. He had a velvet voice! His solo album "Break Away" shows even more his talent since styles other than those written by Paul Simon get explored. "I only have eyes for you" was one of my favorites.
I love it that you described Art Garfunkel’s voice as ‘like a cloud.’ Both of you are beautiful for opening your hearts to a song like this. I hope you keep finding gifts in unexpected places and that you’ll keep in digging. Peace
Such a beautiful song. The piano almost has a gospel presence to it. Listen to the live version from The Concert in the Park 1981, Central Park, NYC.... That entire concert is iconic. Just amazing.
Simon joins in on the harmony in this, I believe. Interesting note : Paul Simon (the short one) was married to Carrie Fisher, the original Princess Leia from Star Wars
Art Garfunkel the tall guy was the singer who sounds like an angel. Simon wrote the music and lyrics. Paulis a genius. He is as great a lyricist as Dylan.
For this song and this singer to exist at the same time is damn near divine intervention. Garfunkel carried the first part then Simon joined in. A close vote for the most beautiful song of the 20th century.
This is one of the first songs I heard from Simon and Garfunkel, they were huge in the late 60's and early 70's. I was very young. This is Art Garfunkel's very best, he has a very angelic voice. Both are great talents.
From a geezer fan, as studio pros and writers you guys should know/appreciate the backstory. They usually sang together, amazing harmonies. This one Simon wrote but wasn't feeling. Garfunkel and the engineer knew it was gold. Simon told Art to sing it himself cause he liked his interpretation. Simon still wasn't into it. Said it was slow, too moody, could never be a hit. Said he didn't "get it" til a few years later hearing it in a car on the radio and went, "holy shit, now I know what everyone is talking about!" lol. To me it's a great lesson on how we really can get up our own asses when creating. Lucky he had some friends with talent who said, yo, go get some burritos and snapples, bitch, we got this. (btw true story, I was more than once kicked out of the studio and told to pick up burritos for everyone...usually so they could tune my drums and talk shit behind my back about me neglecting my drums). Rock on! peace
What hits is that he means it. It's earnest. It's heartfelt. It's not sarcastic or nod and a wink or being flip. It's not judgemental. It's an offer of comfort and friendship. To have someone say something like this to you, it can't help but hit hard.
4:23 Listen closely to the bass here . This takes me back . Wayyy back . I listened to this album and a couple others of these two when i was a child sooo many times .
@@AndySmith-p6r Yes, correct. I guess I don’t think of contributing lyrics as song writing. I know they’re vitally important, but to me there are composers and lyricists. Being a musician, I place a lot more weight on creating the music (adding harmonies is akin to arranging). There are composers and there are arrangers. Simon was a composer.
@@tomheim9516 I agree with what your saying there m8 lets just say together these 2 were magic and inspired each other to incredibly beautiful music and songs with their own unique talents.
Both of them sang...their voices blended perfectly for those magic harmonies. Paul wrote most of their material, including this song, which he gave to Artie to sing. Artie had the angelic soprano voice, while Paul's voice was more unique and different, perfect for their sharper message songs. Paul is a lyrical genius.
I still remember hearing this for the first time, when it first came out in 1970. I was in Biba, a large, fashionable London boutique, filled with young shoppers and cool trendy salesgirls. Music played loudly in the background, all the latest and greatest music of the times... . But when those opening bars of Bridge Over Troubled Water started up it was as if time stopped and the whole place paused for a moment to listen. Such is the power of music. Other tracks from S&G you guys should definitely listen to, if you haven't already, are The Boxer (big production, small but perfectly formed lyrics) and Scarborough Fair/ Canticle (an old English folk song blended with an anti-war song). I also love Homeward Bound (about life for a touring musical act in the 1960s) and America (about a road trip across the US), which are more in their simpler, early folk/ acoustic style. A couple of later solo songs you might like from Paul Simon's acclaimed Graceland album are The Boy in the Bubble (about the mildly dystopian 'miracles and wonders' of modern life) and Under African Skies (a tribute to the roots of music), but every song on this album is great. Then there's Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover (semi-comic ditty about one significant relationship ending and another one beginning - perhaps). But, really, there's no end to the musical and lyrical riches these guys blessed us with.
A gorgeous song by Simon & Garfunkel. Arts beautiful voice and Pauls writing genius. That’s Arts Garfunkel’s gorgeous voice. Larry Knechtel played the piano on Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's song "Bridge Over Troubled Water": Simon wanted the song to have a gospel feel, so he hired Knechtel, a session musician from Los Angeles, to work with Garfunkel on the first verse. Simon was impressed with Knechtel's interpretation and asked him to play a third verse, which Simon then wrote lyrics for. Knechtel shared a Grammy with Simon, Garfunkel, Jimmie Haskell, and Ernie Freeman for Best Arrangement of the Year. Larry was a session musician with The Wrecking Crew…The Carpenters also used musicians from The Wrecking Crew. ❤❤ ❤❤
Garfunkel is the angelic voice you are hearing right now. There are live performances for this song, Sounds of Silence, Scarborough Fair, etc .... definitely worth a watch. No question sings these songs! ❤️
Love this song, matter of fact love this whole album!!❤❤ My parents had this on vinyl, I remember we listened so much we had to use masking tape around the edges to hold the cover together. That cover has the lyrics to all of the songs on the album on the back of it. Glad you loved the song! Thanks BP and Krizz!!❤❤
Larry Knechtel of the Wrecking Crew won a grammy for the piano performance. Music and lyrics by Simon, stunning vocals by Garfunkel (with Simon harmonies on the last verse).
Larry Knechtel, session musician, is the pianist for this song. He was also a member of The Wrecking Crew. Played the guitar solo on Breads song, Guitar Man, and also toured with them. Sadly, he died in 2009.
I'm sure you've been told, but just in case, Paul Simon was the main writer, but also sang (backup on this one), and Art Garfunkel has the angelic voice on lead. Their split up was contentious, but they did get back together and did a live concert in Central Park back in the day that is on TH-cam. The pianist was Larry Knechtel.
Garfunkle lent his beautiful voice but Simon did all of the writing and guitar work. Paul Simon is a musical genius and true poet. His solo catalogue is astounding!
Even though Simon and Garfunkel are Jewish...they were stuck on lyrics and inspired by a 1959 Gospel song which itself was inspired by Mary Why do You Weep and the 1700s song by Bach "O Scared Head Now Wounded" both referring to Mary staring at Her Son Jesus after he passed away but before he was taken down off the Cross...It's about either The Holy Spirit, A Good Samaritan, or a just a lifelong friend who is always there to lift you up at the deepest depths of your life....you are never alone. This song has been an inspirtaion for Homeless people on the streets, for recovering addicts, or people contemplating ending their own lives ever since- this won FIVE grammys- including album and song of the year at the 1971 Awards
If you ever have a friend like this, who will bring a shovel if you ever wake up with a dead body, who will always be there, no matter what, even if it’s just one, you are truly blessed.
Paul Simon was the creative genious behind the songs written and Art Garfunkel was known for his beautiful voice. Their harmonies were sublime nevertheless and together they were extraordinary. 💙🕊☮
I saw them in Australia in the 1980's at the Sydney Sports Ground. There had been some criticism at the time from the neighbourhood of the SSG, angry about the noise from nighttime concerts. So when Simon and Garfunkle were booked they promised to manage the volume. And the people who lived nearby ended up complaining they couldn't hear the concert!
Yeah, Garfunkel sang this. His voice is absolutely angelic!! Elvis did a live performance of this song that is very very beautiful. Please give his a listen, I know you will love it
Written by Paul Simon, the vocal performance by Art Garfunkel was probably the pinnacle of his career.
I love Garfunkel's album Angel Clair
I still love and listen to Garfunkels, Bright Eyes. A massive hit in the UK
@janetsilverhawk7204 Me too. I've owned it forever. Favorite songs are Barbara Allen and All I Know.❤❤
@@richardrichard9631 I remember this in, I think, an animated Bambi movie.
@jimreadey4837 yes. I remember going to see it.
That is art Garfunkel singing lead. He has the voice of an angel.
Paul Simon wrote this specifically for Garfunkel's voice as far as I know.
Art, like Steve Perry, Neil Sedaka and Smokey Robinson are one of only a handful of 'modern' singers we know who have a vocal range called Tenor Altino. Very rare and spectacular.
A quote from Paul Simon: “Without Arthur’s voice, I never would have enjoyed that success.”
Nicely said. Without his songs Arthur wouldn’t be as popular.
Art Garfunkel's "All I Know" is a masterpiece too.
They both are so talented!
I know very little about Simon and Garfunkel's earlier times but everything I've ever seen of Paul Simon makes me think the music is in his head and he "chose," Garfunkel because he had the ability to express the vision of his songs...I honestly don't know I have seen Garfunkel in concert he was spellbinding!
I watched Art preform this in San Bernardino 13-14 years ago.
My mother asked me to sing this at her funeral. I told her I would not be able to without crying. So I sang it to her on her deathbed even tho we did not know if she could still hear me. And as I finished she squeezed my hand to let me know she had and died almost immediately. I can understand why it was her fave. It truly brings comfort in any situation. ❤
Oh, Honey - that was a beautiful thing you did - and, I'm sure your Mother knows that, TOO!! Your comment SO TEARED-ME-UP!! HUGS to YOU and your MAMA in Heaven!!
@Jude_196 Thank you so much! Hugs back.
That was so sweet. I'm sorry for your loss 😢
God bless you.
I'm so sorry. Bless your mom. My brother and me were with my mom's passing Oct 16. Just buried her son, my brother 2 days ago, he passed on his 72 birthday Nov. 6. He served in the navy for 23 years. Missing you already mike.
Yeah, that angelic solo voice is Art Garfunkel. And this one still gives me chills more than 50 years later.
2 jewish boys from NYC taking you to church. Gotta love music. Garfunkel does most of the singing. Voice of an angel. Paul wrote this when he was 20. He plays the guitar. Simon wrote their music. (he's the little guy)
AMEN
As Paul Simon himself once said: "This is closer to gospel than two jewish kids from Queens should ever be allowed to get".
Yes…they’re from Queens…I’m from Staten Island. Two NY boys! ❤❤
This song won five Grammy Awards including the 1971 Song of the Year, and was ranked #48 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. "Silver girl" (starting the last verse) is Paul's first wife Peggy Harper. Paul related that she was feeling down, having at age 30 found her first grey hairs, and Paul started calling her his silver girl. Paul was telling her that her best days were yet to come. Imagine being immortalized in an epic song like this!
I'm 74 and listened to this thousands of times and always wondered about "Silver Girl" you've made my day thanks so much for the comment!!
Yes, this is the one Art Garfunkel will always be remembered for, deservedly so. There is a TH-cam video of Art performing this song at a live concert. He sings the better part of the song so completely relaxed, standing in front of the mic with his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. Amazing performance!!!
That was their reunion concert in Central Park in the early 1980s.
It's so hard to realize that there are people who have genuinely never heard some of these songs that have been in our bones for decades. But just as gratifying to see the appreciation and respect you have for them once you hear them. Keep going guys. It's the journey, not the destination.
What's the matter with this generation, didn't you every listen to your parents or grandparents music, where have you been🤔
@ Don’t be too harsh. Access to older generations music isn’t the same as when we heard our parents music from their album collections. Albums don’t exist anymore and radio stations (if anyone even listens to radio anymore) rarely play our music. Corporate media dictates what gets played and what is left behind. It takes effort like these you tube channels to keep some music alive.
Completely agree! It’s wild to think there are people who’ve never heard this song. But that’s why we love reaction videos-it starts with disbelief (“What? Who doesn’t know Simon & Garfunkel?”), then turns into pure joy as we watch someone experience and appreciate something so timeless for the first time. Honestly, I can’t even compare their reaction to my own because this song has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Their performance of this song live in Central Park is a must see and listen!
Yes it's Art Garfunkel singing this particular song. The live version is even better
I agree the central park live is fantastic it gives me goosebumps. Art stood there hands in pockets WOW brilliant ❤
The live performance is stunning for being live, but there is a lot in the studio version that could not be replicated there.
Agree the Central Park 👍
Respectfully disagree, i think the studio version is perfection. IMHO
The live version is definitely _not_ better. 😆
We played this for my Mom as she was passing away on her 90th birthday. She was a musician all her life, part of our family income came from her, playing the piano in a dance band every Saturday night. And she absolutely loved the piano in this song and played it as well. ‘Sail on silver girl…’
❤❤❤❤❤
Awww...thnx for sharing this. I'm betting music in your house always .... and her humming.
It's hard to lose our moms.
They visit us tho in many ways.
May your Christmas be Merry and Bright.
❤
@@juliecrane9647 thank you so much. Merry Christmas. ❤️
The tall guy with the voice of an angel is Art Garfunkel. The short guy with the writing ability of Shakespeare is Paul Simon. Now do The Boxer by S&G
The Boxer may be their best piece. There are SO MANY greats, but I think that one's my favorite.
The tall guy is the angelic Art Garfunkel. He’s sings and harmonizes. Paul Simon is the shorter guy. He sings great and he writes all the songs. They were fabulous together. When they broke up, Paul Simon went on to be one of the best singers/ songwriters in America.
Simon's album "Graceland" is something you should know about.
Most definately!!!!!
Abso-bloody-lutely!! ❤️❤️❤️
Superlative talents, Paul Simon's writing, Art Garfunkel's beautiful voice and their harmonies. On this recording that is gospel pianist Larry Knechtel.
One of my favorite songs of theirs is The Boxer, such emotive lyrics.
Larry Knechtel gospel??? Since when?
Knechtel was anything but a gospel pianist. He was a multi-instrumentalist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Byrds, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. He also was a member of the 1970s band Bread.
Knechtel won a Grammy for the piano work on this song
Song of the year and Album of the year when it came out. Just as impactful today as it was 50 years ago.
Everybody likes this song. It was the biggest selling single of 1970!😮😊
It was #1 the week I was born
Paul Simon writes and does all of the arrangements, orchestration planning, etc and both he and Art do the singing.
According to sources, Paul spent a night writing this and before recording it said I wrote it but Art has to sing it, it is for Art.
They have had a well-publicised, tumultuous relationship over the decades but when Paul was once asked why he stuck with the partnership at the time even though it was contentious, Paul said 'have you heard him sing?'
This is just one of their many classics.
Paul had a stellar solo career and branched out many different genres and made many groups famous such as Ladysmith Black Mombazo from South Africa. You might want to check his solo career out as well.
Thanks for sharing.
I read somewhere that Garfunkel didn't want to sing it, either because he wasn't feeling it or that he thought it was Simon's song, and he should sing it. Luckily Simon convinced him to do it.
I read recently they had dinner together and bridged (pun intended) that gap.
They were childhood pals too and they're getting on in yrs.
Me too. I prefer just love in my heart and I plan to literally die laughing. 😅
Simon wrote it and added harmonies on the last verse, Art sang lead, and Larry Knechtel (the Wrecking Crew studio band) did the piano arrangement and performance.
Wrecking crew studio musicians helped on many iconic songs!
What you're feeling we were living; the 60s, I believe we're the greatest times to be young and alive. A penny was money, girls were girls, and Mom and Dad were no joke!
This song is 70s..entered the top 40 in February 1970 and hit number 1 end of February 1970.
Not for everyone. 😕
Garfunkel has the voice of an angel
Garfunkel was singing and Simon kicked in. Together they're beautiful 💙
Art is the tall one, Simon the shorter and main writer of all the hits and went on to have a legit solo career.
One of my favorites is "The Dangling Conversation." Poetry set to music!
I sing this in my head when I'm having my blood pressure checked to calm myself down, lol.
In and interview Simon was ask:
"Why did you choose Garfunkel"
He answered: Have you heard an angel singing
Rolling Stone magazine called this a perfectly recorded masterpiece. ❤
Art's voice is truly angelic. 😇
(Although I can't unseen the "Cossack moustache" of Simon's hair when you hide Simon's face with your finger now and can't stop giggling.)
😂😂
Garfunkel is singing this song. He does the harmonies on most of their songs. Paul Simon is the songwriter and also sings.
"I am a Rock", is a good one too Pegasus!
My father-in-law died 9 years ago. He was an amazing man. He was the father of 7, worked two jobs, was God fearing and was a bridge over troubled for many people…. Family and strangers alike. He once invited a homeless man to our Thanks giving dinner. On both nights of his wake I heard this song on the radio on my way to it. I probably hadn’t heard the song on the radio in 15-20. It freaked me out. I announced that to his family and friends at the wake. My mom died 2 months later and she was also a bridge over troubled water for many as well…. That was Art Garfunkel singing lead on this classic song.
I cannot listen to this song without crying. Beautiful.
The keyboard player is Larry Knechtel, an incredibly talented man who also played bass who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Byrds, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley. He also was a member of the 1970s band Bread.
Art Garfunkle sang and Simon wrote this one.❤
Most beautiful song ever. No 1 forever
NUMBER 1 IN 1970
I graduated in 1973 and this song was our class song. Love, love this song.
Awwwww how nice. We had police. I was like what the heck? Police. That's why the most popular had too much power in school.
One of the best songs of the twentieth century!
I'm amazed that there are people, especially people in the US, who don't know who Simon and Garfunkel are, or who haven't heard this song before! Simon and Garfunkel are among the all-time greats and for good reason! :)
Simon is the genius - wrote everything they did - lyrics and music. Art is the angelic voice, usually in great harmony with Paul but in this particular song - it's all him singing. Some say that fact and the success of this particular song was what started the jealousy between them and eventually the breakup. Thank you for reacting to the best song of all time !
Paul Simon writer. Do Elvis in concert live version of this song. Haunting rendition.
Paul Simon loved it. Receipts: Hollywood Reporter, Rona Barrett Hollywood, Elvis Box Sets interviews where Simon hails Elvis version.
Hope, hope, hope you listen to Elvis' live version recommended here. It's just... ❤❤❤
This is Art Garfunkel singing lead. Paul Simon went on to have a stellar solo career. Perhaps, for a deeper dive on Simon you should check out "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes", "Graceland", or "You Can Call Me Al".
50 ways to leave your lover!
This was ART singing. He had a velvet voice! His solo album "Break Away" shows even more his talent since styles other than those written by Paul Simon get explored. "I only have eyes for you" was one of my favorites.
You should really watch the Simon & Garfunkel live appearance at Madison Square Garden. Then you would have no more questions.
I love it that you described Art Garfunkel’s voice as ‘like a cloud.’
Both of you are beautiful for opening your hearts to a song like this.
I hope you keep finding gifts in unexpected places and that you’ll keep in digging.
Peace
I'm just days away from being 64 years old, I've listened to this song hundreds of times over the decades, I still get goosebumps every time
Such a beautiful song. The piano almost has a gospel presence to it. Listen to the live version from The Concert in the Park 1981, Central Park, NYC.... That entire concert is iconic. Just amazing.
Heard this song a thousand times and still gets me.
Every time I hear it I cry
Listen to elvis version in Vegas 1970 Simon and garfunkel saw his performance and said how can we follow this.
Simon joins in on the harmony in this, I believe. Interesting note : Paul Simon (the short one) was married to Carrie Fisher, the original Princess Leia from Star Wars
Garfunkel I believe is the main singer, Paul the main writer....both sings!
The live Central Park version is very beautiful and moving. You should text to that version too.
Most beautiful song ever made ❤
Almost, I'd say the best secular song ever written.
I do not think there will ever be 2 voices that harmonized as beautifully as theirs.
Art Garfunkel the tall guy was the singer who sounds like an angel. Simon wrote the music and lyrics. Paulis a genius. He is as great a lyricist as Dylan.
54 years later this sounds even better now that when I bought the album in 1970...a 100% classic hit. 👍🤗
I saw this performed by Elvis Presley in concert. One of the great songs of that era. Master Piece.
these lyrics.. they are the best.. my song for my son..I" will lay me down..like a bridge over troubled waters.."
"Concert in the Park" version is incredible. Garfunkel comes out stands with his hands on his pockets and just kills it. You gotta see it
the best!
For this song and this singer to exist at the same time is damn near divine intervention.
Garfunkel carried the first part then Simon joined in.
A close vote for the most beautiful song of the 20th century.
This is one of the first songs I heard from Simon and Garfunkel, they were huge in the late 60's and early 70's. I was very young. This is Art Garfunkel's very best, he has a very angelic voice. Both are great talents.
From a geezer fan, as studio pros and writers you guys should know/appreciate the backstory. They usually sang together, amazing harmonies. This one Simon wrote but wasn't feeling. Garfunkel and the engineer knew it was gold. Simon told Art to sing it himself cause he liked his interpretation. Simon still wasn't into it. Said it was slow, too moody, could never be a hit. Said he didn't "get it" til a few years later hearing it in a car on the radio and went, "holy shit, now I know what everyone is talking about!" lol. To me it's a great lesson on how we really can get up our own asses when creating. Lucky he had some friends with talent who said, yo, go get some burritos and snapples, bitch, we got this. (btw true story, I was more than once kicked out of the studio and told to pick up burritos for everyone...usually so they could tune my drums and talk shit behind my back about me neglecting my drums). Rock on! peace
What hits is that he means it. It's earnest. It's heartfelt. It's not sarcastic or nod and a wink or being flip. It's not judgemental. It's an offer of comfort and friendship. To have someone say something like this to you, it can't help but hit hard.
4:23 Listen closely to the bass here . This takes me back . Wayyy back . I listened to this album and a couple others of these two when i was a child sooo many times .
Art Garfunkel is singing this song but they both wrote and sang lead on various different songs.
They each contributed vocals, but I am not aware of any song that Garfunkel wrote for their partnership.
@@tomheim9516 He wrote most of the poems that became the basis for there songs and also wrote a lot of the harmonies.
@@AndySmith-p6r Yes, correct. I guess I don’t think of contributing lyrics as song writing. I know they’re vitally important, but to me there are composers and lyricists. Being a musician, I place a lot more weight on creating the music (adding harmonies is akin to arranging). There are composers and there are arrangers. Simon was a composer.
@@tomheim9516 I agree with what your saying there m8 lets just say together these 2 were magic and inspired each other to incredibly beautiful music and songs with their own unique talents.
@@AndySmith-p6r I couldn’t agree more!
Both of them sang...their voices blended perfectly for those magic harmonies. Paul wrote most of their material, including this song, which he gave to Artie to sing. Artie had the angelic soprano voice, while Paul's voice was more unique and different, perfect for their sharper message songs. Paul is a lyrical genius.
I still remember hearing this for the first time, when it first came out in 1970. I was in Biba, a large, fashionable London boutique, filled with young shoppers and cool trendy salesgirls. Music played loudly in the background, all the latest and greatest music of the times... . But when those opening bars of Bridge Over Troubled Water started up it was as if time stopped and the whole place paused for a moment to listen. Such is the power of music.
Other tracks from S&G you guys should definitely listen to, if you haven't already, are The Boxer (big production, small but perfectly formed lyrics) and Scarborough Fair/ Canticle (an old English folk song blended with an anti-war song). I also love Homeward Bound (about life for a touring musical act in the 1960s) and America (about a road trip across the US), which are more in their simpler, early folk/ acoustic style.
A couple of later solo songs you might like from Paul Simon's acclaimed Graceland album are The Boy in the Bubble (about the mildly dystopian 'miracles and wonders' of modern life) and Under African Skies (a tribute to the roots of music), but every song on this album is great. Then there's Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover (semi-comic ditty about one significant relationship ending and another one beginning - perhaps). But, really, there's no end to the musical and lyrical riches these guys blessed us with.
A gorgeous song by Simon & Garfunkel. Arts beautiful voice and Pauls writing genius.
That’s Arts Garfunkel’s gorgeous voice.
Larry Knechtel played the piano on Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's song "Bridge Over Troubled Water":
Simon wanted the song to have a gospel feel, so he hired Knechtel, a session musician from Los Angeles, to work with Garfunkel on the first verse. Simon was impressed with Knechtel's interpretation and asked him to play a third verse, which Simon then wrote lyrics for. Knechtel shared a Grammy with Simon, Garfunkel, Jimmie Haskell, and Ernie Freeman for Best Arrangement of the Year.
Larry was a session musician with The Wrecking Crew…The Carpenters also used musicians from The Wrecking Crew. ❤❤
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Art Garfunkel sang lead on this song… Probably the best of his career! Simon and Garfunkel had many many hits! Glad you found them!
If you want to know what Garfunkel did, watch Bridge OTW live at Central Park. Or, compare Garfunkel to Aretha. They do the same thing for the song.
That's my favourite version
Makes me emotional and full of goosebumps
Hearing Garfunkle sing this live is in Central Park is astonishing. I believe the audience is over 500,000.
This song always makes me cry 😢 It just oozes so much emotion that I get goosebumps every time
The most beautiful song in the world.
Chris, I LOVE your voice! I also love when Art hits the high note at the end of the song and the face of BP. Yup, that did it.
Art Garfunkel sang the song! That is what he did.
Garfunkel is the angelic voice you are hearing right now. There are live performances for this song, Sounds of Silence, Scarborough Fair, etc .... definitely worth a watch. No question sings these songs! ❤️
That’s one of my favorite songs of all time beautiful. Paul Simon lyrics Garfunkel the voice
And Paul can play many instruments. Idk if he played any in this song. ? I would assume he played/ and sang in some parts.
Paul Simon “you can call me Al” official video needs to be next. Chevy Chase helps lighten the mood on it.
Love this song, matter of fact love this whole album!!❤❤ My parents had this on vinyl, I remember we listened so much we had to use masking tape around the edges to hold the cover together. That cover has the lyrics to all of the songs on the album on the back of it.
Glad you loved the song! Thanks BP and Krizz!!❤❤
Larry Knechtel of the Wrecking Crew won a grammy for the piano performance. Music and lyrics by Simon, stunning vocals by Garfunkel (with Simon harmonies on the last verse).
I really enjoy these two reacting together! They bounce off each other and mesh really well!
Simon composition. Garfunkel falsetto,Simon harmonizing & bringing it home.
I've said it many times, everyone needs such a friend or needs to be at times. Loved growing up in the 60s and 70s. We really did have the best music
I was born in 1960 i can RELATE HUGE TIME ,
I feel like my soul's been ripped out of my heart. This has to been amazing. Thank you.
If you can't hear this song without at least tearing up, & probably sobbing by the end, check yourself for a soul.
Larry Knechtel, session musician, is the pianist for this song. He was also a member of The Wrecking Crew. Played the guitar solo on Breads song, Guitar Man, and also toured with them. Sadly, he died in 2009.
I'm sure you've been told, but just in case, Paul Simon was the main writer, but also sang (backup on this one), and Art Garfunkel has the angelic voice on lead. Their split up was contentious, but they did get back together and did a live concert in Central Park back in the day that is on TH-cam. The pianist was Larry Knechtel.
One of a few songs I consider the top tier. It's beautiful. Emotional.
Garfunkle lent his beautiful voice but Simon did all of the writing and guitar work. Paul Simon is a musical genius and true poet. His solo catalogue is astounding!
Even though Simon and Garfunkel are Jewish...they were stuck on lyrics and inspired by a 1959 Gospel song which itself was inspired by Mary Why do You Weep and the 1700s song by Bach "O Scared Head Now Wounded" both referring to Mary staring at Her Son Jesus after he passed away but before he was taken down off the Cross...It's about either The Holy Spirit, A Good Samaritan, or a just a lifelong friend who is always there to lift you up at the deepest depths of your life....you are never alone. This song has been an inspirtaion for Homeless people on the streets, for recovering addicts, or people contemplating ending their own lives ever since- this won FIVE grammys- including album and song of the year at the 1971 Awards
One of the first albums I ever bought. A magic performance fab beautiful song. I know all the words , but can never match this performance.
If you ever have a friend like this, who will bring a shovel if you ever wake up with a dead body, who will always be there, no matter what, even if it’s just one, you are truly blessed.
Paul Simon was the creative genious behind the songs written and Art Garfunkel was known for his beautiful voice. Their harmonies were sublime nevertheless and together they were extraordinary. 💙🕊☮
I saw them in Australia in the 1980's at the Sydney Sports Ground. There had been some criticism at the time from the neighbourhood of the SSG, angry about the noise from nighttime concerts. So when Simon and Garfunkle were booked they promised to manage the volume. And the people who lived nearby ended up complaining they couldn't hear the concert!
Goosebumps every time I hear this song❣️🙏🏻
PS love seeing you two together, love ya both, from Australia 🇦🇺
Yeah, Garfunkel sang this. His voice is absolutely angelic!! Elvis did a live performance of this song that is very very beautiful. Please give his a listen, I know you will love it
Thank you for watching REAL music. Keep going, you're in for a treat.
The angelic tones of Art Garfunkel.
You should play this when they did it in 2009 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anniversary. To hear them do this at their age was phenomenal
If you put your thumb over Paul Simon’s face it looks like Art Garfunkel has a huge bandito moustache. Once you see it, you can never unsee it