Classical Composer Reacts to Sound of Silence (Disturbed) | The Daily Doug (Episode 69) 

I find myself intrigued by the idea that he didn't "have to" add the grit, and that his voice had the necessary expertise to communicate the feeling by sheer vocal power. I have to wonder what alternate interpretation that might have brought. But, still....this cover has continued to give me chills and put tears in my eyes ever since the first time I heard it, probably some six years ago. I feel that the grit is a necessary part of building the frustration and anger in the song, and bringing it to that ultimate drop into peace, as the hope of unity emerges. I can't imagine it differently.

The growl? He doesn't growl in this, at all lol

It's not really a growl) it's grit and rasp.

Growl, grit, rasp, call it what you wish, but it brought the emotion to life in the song.

@@jameskratzer2014 surely did

Nice put

I love the way you put this. I love both versions of the song but they’re just such different songs

Profound...

I don't think there is a better way to "compare" both versions. I loved the original, it's a classic. I grew up listening to disturbed, one of my favorite bands to date. That being said, I was a little nervous that they were doing this because it was so different from their typical music. They've attempted ballads before, and David has even said he was a bit leary to do another one because fans didn't take to it very well. But listening to their version, I got chills, I still do every time I hear it. Probably gonna get hated on for this, but I honestly prefer Disturbed's version, simply because it truly does make you feel. And I love the "gruff". Was it technically necessary, no, the song would still be beautiful without it. But it helped convey the emotion and power behind the words. Not only that, but that holds true to their style, their music.

Well said

Agreed. He had to add their sound to make it their own.

I completely agree!

Yessssssss

I love the growl❤

If he had just looked at Disturbed wiki page genre: HEAVY METAL

AMEN ✊🏼❗❗

Very well said !

Yeah, I always translate the versions as Simon and Garfunkel singing a warning in hope of a better future. Disburbed version is anger that the warning ignored.

ISRAEL / GAZA VS 1960's PROTESTS WERE FOR PEACE NOT MUTUAL ANNIHILATION OF LIFE & SUSTENANCE FOR ALL. HOW SICK IS THIS WHOLE DAMNED EARTH? TELL ME!

Seen this comment on EVERY. SINGLE. VIDEO. OF. THIS. COVER. Geez, come up with something of your own​@@GamerFlair

Wow, that’s cool! Good on them. RIP.

Hard to read this post with a dry eye. Very moving song for a very moving reason.

God bless. It’s something that no parent can recover from. It was kind of David to listen to you and honor your request. I do believe he had studied to be a rabbi or a cantor so it would be in his nature. I hope it have you some solace

Sorry to hear this. No one should have to go throught such a loss. I just hope you're now as good as you can be. Know that from a place far away, a guy you never met, just wishes you and your family well.

Wow Tears

I agree

I agree!

same. it's an expression of rage, people are worshiping their "neon gods" for S&G it was maybe TVs, updated perhaps, phones. it's all here for you if you open your eyes and ears

I agree 100 % . Also it is so sexy !

and that's why this guy isn't a metal singer

I never liked the Sim & Garf version. But I do so love this one

It is horrible, I opened this video hoping that the "composer" would bash it relentlessly

damn straight

Well simon and garfunkel, when they heard this version, they told David it wasn't their song anymore.

@@pnut3844able they were just trying to be nice

Well said.

Wow , very poetic 🙏🇺🇸

Pentatonix is the hope we still can learn

Nailed it. I have said the same thing on other people's reaction to this song.

I love your comment.. smart person

Oh yeh! Very powerful on a more emotional level which people seem to be acting on nowadays. We were much more thoughtful back then. Now we are much more feeling, which I'm not sure is a good state to be in considering the crap the world is in.

Not "reciprocate". You mean "reiterate". You are telling again what was said. To reciprocate would be to respond. You are not responding but, telling us what was already spoken or written.

How fitting…

@@RalphSampson... thanks! English is not my native language so always happy with the help.

Very beautifully said. I didn't know at all that Disturbed made a cover, and for sure this isn't what I would have expected, but yeah with a song like this you don't just make it metal, it has so much meaning. I never thought I would have liked anyone doing a cover because the original always brings tears to my eye, but this... I might be just taken by the moment, but it might be even better, because of that disappointed rage, it's even more devastating, holy shit... The visual too is utterly heartbreaking, I am seriously in awe.

I get you, also gives me goosebumps ❤

Gives me chills every time and also makes me cry!

I agree with you this made me cry,I am 75 and know this song, and both versions are spot on

I agree. S & G's version gets the heart, but Disturbed's gets the soul.

Man, that is deep. Never thought of it that way until now.

David Draiman honoured the songwriter's of this masterpiece.

Simon refers to darkness as being his "old friend" that he came to talk with because he was awoken in the middle of the night, of a nightmare that still lingers in his head, that gives his a considerable amount of distress. So bad that the awful visions were still flashing before his eyes as he is awake. Second stanza begins setting the scene in which the dream took place: at night, him walking along the cobblestone road where he stops below the light of a streetlight. The cold chill runs up his back, so he lifts his collar to the "cold and damp." Just then, a blight neon sign lit up, showing that he, in fact, was not alone. But there were "ten thousand maybe more" all gathered in the cold night. The people who are talking, not speaking, are politicians, who are using false words to sway the population to vote for them, never revealing true intentions. The people therefore are hearing are not listening. They are taking these words that are spoken to them in plain value, not examining or putting into depth anything that is said. Because of this, as referred to later, these politicians have formed a government that the people in fact voted for and supported until it began to act as a dictatorship. This seems that Simon is making an inditement to a large government that has taken away the freedoms of its people. A future for America it seemed with the rise of government in world affairs as in entered Vietnam. This "future America" has given Americans everything, and has the power the take it all away, hence the people "bow and pray to the neon god they made." The Silence that is referred to is the silence of the people, afraid to say anything against the government for fear of death or worse. Simon, or whoever has had this dream, tries to bring people to speak out. Saying "Fools, you do not know, Silence like a cancer grows" that as more are afraid to speak, the more control the government takes and the less anyone will stand up to the new government. As all hope is about to be given up, someone steps up and says to the crowd that the future they will hold has been written on the walls of subways and tenement halls. This is because this form of protest can be done anonymously, therefore no one can get in trouble for it. This begins the whispering in the silence of the people, and starts the beginning of a revolt.

This. He added it because that is the band’s sound. It adds emotion to a song that so many do more vanilla, so to speak. It’s amazing.

Second seconding.

I adore the growl.

exactly. he had to give it the flavor. he wasn't trying to emulate he was honoring and adding their flavor

Ohhh waaahh ahhh ahhh ah

I want this played on my deathbed

They DID NOT. They placed up the video but they did not "give him the song" Trent Reznor did that for Johnny Cash. Quit spewing crap you don't know anything about - it's disinformation.

Saw Disturbed in Syracuse NY last month and you could hear a pin drop while they did this song. Just an amazing performer. My first introduction to Disturbed was trying to sing Down with the sickness in Rock Band. My daughters thought they were being slick, bragging how they can easily play guitar on hard mode. And they could, until they tried the guitar solo in Free Bird. Don’t mess with mama kids.

Oh wow, I really want to see them perform this live.

@@Yaskoland you won’t be disappointed

Gives me chills and makes me tear up every time I hear it.

Agree 100%

I want to marry him and serve him! OMG he is amazing. Paul Simon is proud of David. My son sounds like Johnny Cash. I know he could this rendition.

adding that gruff at the end also puts Disturbed's iconic iimprint on the song making it theirs, just a little bit.

He can easily turn it off and on, as he showed. It's their take on it.

He is a heavy metal singer

agree

I think the comparison is counterproductive, but this cover certainly adds meaningfully to a song which already carried an enormous amount of meaning.

I agree with the previous guy - if the song itself is great, then so much credit must be given to the original artist that even the best covers are in a different category. For me, if you can take something from the music, go for it, whoever it is doing it.

I feel this. Thanks for sharing.

Steve lucero: great observation. By the way Draiman was classical trained and it shows. James C.

i love to sing this song. and it is a warning... "bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made" > subway walls and tenement halls. and now we look around and what do we see.... air ports, subways, buses, bill boards, cell phones..... millions praying to neon gods..... and dieing morals.... creativity is also decaying. when you look at music threw the ages. (rap is not music any more)

That comment is spot on, it's the best cover ever of any song for me.

@@davidcoombes3146 I agree totally. It is rare for me to like any cover over the original, but this one is perfect. I could have this on loop for hours on end and it never gets old.

Hearing without listening... your comment just gave me chills, Mr. Dunbar.

@@danceswithmules where I come from, Delores is traditionally a female name. So, she’s probably not a sir.

@@guslulou8428 Lol. Right you are, but I don't mind. Could be a typo error.

Yes not quite as long as you have been listening but I had listened to it a lot, I have a very wide varied taste in music and had already heard a lot of disturbed stuff and enjoy it, same with Simon and Garfunkel I never really knew the song or the lyrics as clearly as I do now

Same with me, Delores. I am 69.

Agree that gruff adds to the anguish and anger that nearly 60 years after the song was written people are still not listening are we are moving further apart and not coming together

Totally got goosebumps

You said it like i wanted to, but you did it in a more polite way 😂🤘🤘🤘🤘

Spot on.

Exactly! 👍

THIS

first time i've seen a bot on yt, let alone two 😂

says a lot for the quality of the song

I’ve never heard a cover messed up by Disturbed.

Paul Simon is a douche...

People sure love being angry these days. Only drives us further apart. Being reasonable is not easy.

@@Psycorde it's not driving people apart, but a response to the fact that we did not listen to the implicit warning contained in the original.

Virginia Jayne..excellent reply...thx !!

@@Psycorde there is nothing wrong with valid emotions...anger being one of them. Look at the social and economic disparities and injustices in the United States alone let alone a vast number of nations. Anger can lead to much needed change when channeled properly.

I much prefer the original version. This sounds like a show off of the singers vocal ability but doesn’t really reach any great heights.

Hell Yeah ❤

I totally agree The vocal fry is absolutely necessary to convey the anger and frustration.

Yeah. It's not just about vocal ability and technique, it's about the emotion and how he's portraying it.

For different folks…

Absolutely. If he hadn't added that, I wouldn't have liked this version even near as much as I do.

Sorry for your loss. We lost our son at the end of March this year. The darkness of this video speaks to me.

Sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing this memory. Peace to you.

Blessings and prayers! May your brother memory live strong within you 🙏❤️🕯🕊

@@annsmith6209 oh sweet mama, heartbreaking, from one parent to another I have no words only love and hugs, God bless you and bring you peace

awesome memory to share with your brother, a song that is spectacular that you would not think would be so! A space you can always go back to when you need to connect to him, cuz he will be there with the same intensity of this song. There was a reason for him to share this song with you before he was gone. Embrace it!

I’m glad someone recognizes this

Yes…he’s with his band at that moment.

Spectacular

Nice!

It's amazing but dig draper Paul was depicting the future we live in... We communicate on silence, the neon god is Hollywood. Family now don't talk but. Email, Snapchat. TikTok, Instagram... Its. All silent.. We live in a lonely world.. And a singer I. The 1960saw this...

Totally agree... We need to wake up... Paul depicted life as we know life... Wake up world Jesus Christ is waiting in the wibgs

“Does he have the notes?”......wait for it "smile"

Same!

I just went Oh Yeah

I was thinking that when this guy first started started saying he could tell David's voice had a lot that was holding back. . I was thinking, you're in for a treat! Great cover!

@@robertgardner1561 Same here. Though, in a way I wish he'd done the live version that he sang while battling a cold/flu... It's a little better version, and a bit more like what we go through in the whole 'the show must go on' attitude! We aren't always at our best, and *never get a second take live! *not entirely true...I have done ONE show where the band wanted a do-over!*

The smirk that was on my face when he said that...........

ROTFL that was me and my boy just saying that and laughing!

exactly

Draiman has so much range! One of the greatest voices of our time for sure!

BIG FACTS!!!!!

Yeah, I think that Doug missed that it was an artistic choice to show the anger towards the situation

I believe the gruff is just the anger for the lack of humanity in today's world.

Yes, the gruff really added to this amazing rendition. I can’t stop listening to it.

It's called distortion, incidentally:)

​@@DanKascheldistortion is anything not normal. "gruff" is more specific. Besides, no one came here for lessons.

hmmmm...prove that.

Saw an interview with David about this song not only is he professionally trained hea classically trained

He doesn't just have 5 octaves. He has something like 12 voices across those 5 octaves. lol

his voice makes so much more sense now, it a stunning voice it kind of echo's through you

Very interesting information.

Yep. He was trained to be a Cantor, then he was trained by an opera singer on how to do the gruff without hurting his voice.

His voice is extraordinary in this song, as well as so many others. His vocal talents elevate this song to the next incredible level.

he is amazing

Yes yes yes

He adds the fry to his voice at the end to convey the anger at the loss of communication.

Sooo true !!

Yup. And I believe it adds huge value to this song. It just grabs you and hits you with the message

only 14k subs and he doesnt seem to read or respond to anyone from what i've seen. so i doubt he will ever understand

This gave me goose bumps to read your reply after I posted a comment. I t shows me that I don't need to "know" the ins and outs of music I need to FEEL IT.

@@dutchgram3799 i agree

I think that performance is even better than this video.

Now that's connection as pure as it gets.

I actually love the love the live performance on Conan. It's my absolute favorite version. I love love love love it. I love this one too don't get me wrong. Oh and I'm pretty sure this guy doesn't get David and/ or his voice and doesn't pay attention to what the original singer has to say either. Just my opinion tho

I agree.

word..

What warning

I am torn between this and Johnny Cash's version of Hurt.

this, all along the watchtower by hendrix, or johnny cash's hurt. three best covers i've ever heard.

💯🎯

There is no such thing as a "soul".

@@oscarwilde6649 i feel sorry for you if you really think that there's nothing other than physical matter. your life literally has no value, because if that's true nothing has any value. you can't just decide it does, because a thing can't decide it has value itself. not true value.

I've said Simon and Garfunkel gave us the message, but Disturbed gave us (it) soul.

Simon and Garfunkel laid the nail, Disturbed smacked it away and used a screw.

Well put! They certainly did deliver/

The Gruff added power to the song at the end imo

My eyes always water up to this version.

Hey Bernice, I quite agree with you. I bought this when it first came out and it’s on at least one compilations of Simon & Garfunkel. When Disturbed’s version came out I was blown away. I’s great that Paul Simon loves it so much. Doug, I’m glad you finally heard this. I get a kick out of watching you discover my music, late 60s, the ever present “my” ‘70s and some 80s. All of the best. I’m still a Prog mainly listener but if it’s good, no matter what, I like it.

It stops my breath. I just can’t listen to it enough.

I play this song on continuous repeat when I go to bed. The power in his voice is so emotional, it definitely resonates so beautifully

@@seagertblack every single listening.

He's not operatic trained

@@absolut025 Technically accurate, he did train in chorale music in Jewish academy.

Dan Vasc is similarly trained. It adds such richness to a piece.

I whole-heartedly agree. This song definitely has ‘lasting power’. Each generation of young people are going to re-discover it. It’s a timeless masterpiece. If I ever performed such an iconic sing this well, I’ll sell my instruments, close my studio and find a new line of work. I could never top this. It would be my magnum opus. 😀👍

Up there with "Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?"

Yeah, written and sung by a GENIUS, THENNNN, song punk gargles with gravel, takes the soul of a song, grinds it up in a garbage disposal and records it. Too bad Kids are used to hearing crap. This version is crap.

@@kentnottingham9635 I’m sure your version is so much better.

@@michaelfagan9620 Floyd much!

@@kentnottingham9635 Wow - can you give a link to your rendition of music - oh sorry can you give us a heads in the direction of humanity....

Heart stairway to heaven at kennedy center, pink floyd stood and applauded heart. Moving video check it.out.

@@rt2255 Pink Floyd ?? or Led Zeppelin - who actually wrote and played the song and we’re being inducted into The Hall of Fame that night ?

The only other cover I can think of that was better than the original is Johnny Cash's 'Hurt' .. after hearing Cash's version, Trent Reznor said "That song isn't mine anymore."

That's ridiculous, Paul Simon never said anything of the sort. Simon praised David's performance on Conan via Facebook the following day but he did *not* cry and say "the song was now theirs". You're confusing what Nine Inch Nails lead singer Trent Reznor said about Johnny Cash's version of his song Hurt. When Reznor first watched the music video Cash did for Hurt Reznor was quoted as saying the following: "I pop the video in, and... wow. Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps... Wow. I just lost my girlfriend, because that song isn't mine any more." Paul Simon on the other hand is known to be extremely proprietary with his music. So while he did publicly state that he enjoyed Disturbed's cover of his song he didn't weep over it and he certainly didn't give it away either, metaphorically or otherwise.

Absolutely!!

Yes yes yes

Exactly!

Dude. I don't care if he was trained a hazzan. His vocals are auto tuned to fuck on certain places. It's like getting a medal for riding a gocart on a marathon.

@@spiderprint as far as him being autotune it was only on the the conan show and he was pissed about it

Nope, he shouldn't have tried to do it since his voice is too weak.

@@jamesmitchell6878 I think you are confused.

@@politereminder6284 not confused just honest.

@@politereminder6284 I'm not even a singer, and I could have done a better job.

@@jamesmitchell6878 Good for you.

For me, Johnny Cash doing "Hurt" just beats this.

If you want to hear a great cover, listen to John Farnham singing “HELP”

David is the grandson of the Cantor of the Synagogue of Jerusalem. He was also in training/trained to be a Cantor. However, Disturbed is a Heavy Metal band. The growl is indicative of this style of music.

@Judy Thompson - me too! I never really cared for this tune back in the 60s. S&G were just too mellow for me. I like good rock, so I was stunned the first time I heard this. I couldn’t believe it was the same song because it has a whole different feel to it, a whole different meaning - the words to describe what David has done with this tune do not exist. To say it’s awesome or great, just isn’t good enough! I cried the second time I listened to it with ear buds turned all the way up 🎻🪘🎸. It was a true experience. I got chills.

I loved Simon and Garfunkel’s song and rendition and I live this one too. Different times different generation

...yes - and it's as relevant as ever ... sadly :-/

ABSOLUTELY ON POINT!!! 🙌

Yes!

Spleen ey. ;)

Agreed! I live for the gruff.

Absolutely. You totally nailed it!

He brought a deep sense to the music with his raw singing and intensity! Great job. This can rip your heart out.

Oh my yes his voice is amazing

@Advanced Solutions beto is the shit.

YES!!!!

Perfectly put. Thank you

Paul Simon wrote the songs Art Garfunkel sang fantastically on the songs.

Yes thank u Simon and Garfunkel for the many many wonderful songs you've given the world!!!

@zenobiapalmyra5670 Love your description. You are an amazing writer!

@@CaraHillVoiceoverArtist Thank you so much, that's very kind of you. Cheers from down under Australia 🇦🇺 and have a fabulous Christmas day 🎄 🍸🍸

I agree with you 100%, in fact over 5 years later, it still does.

Still does.

Same!

Yeah, and I can feel the autotune

@@bstar777777 the f? You can check his live show performance in Conan.

@@bstar777777 bullshit

100%! that

Yes yes yes....Disturbed version is so 'appropriate' for this time ....and Paul Simon looved it !!!

The best part of this song is the ORIGINAL!

I agree.

Yes!!

@@Smido83 Paul Simon wrote it and he said that this is exactly what he wanted to do with the song, instead of making the lyrics seem as if they are upbeat. He put it on his playlist. I love both versions, even though it's the same song, it has a completely different meaning.

More or less exactly what Elizabeth Zharoff says in her review of this version of this song.

I would call it "barely-restrained rage" that the warning wasn't heeded.

@@BAAWAKnight Point.

Sigh

I agreed with that criticism the first time I heard it. I thought that the last verse was a little over the top. A perfect last verse would have been a mix between it and the second to last. It needed to be ramped up, but not to that extent, it seemed a little contrived. Still, an amazing performance.

Me too dear.❤😊

I do cry every time I hear this version

The first time I heard this amazing version, I told a friend they would start to get chills halfway through the song!

Never too late

True.