I read a comment on RU-vid somewhere about this song (can't find it now) that said that Simon & Garfunkel's original song was a prophetic warning whereas Disturbed's version was anger at what has happened, that the warning was ignored. Sums it up for me 💯
it's like what i saw someone say in the comments of another reactor, "Simon & Garfunkel was trying to warn people, David Draiman was angry that the warning was ignored."
My number ONE song in every category. The original was written and sung by Simon & Garfunkle. They heard this version and told him this song was waiting for him. They were in awe. Great deep meaning to this song. People turning away from people and praising their man made Idols. It touches the soul and has been relevant to whatever year it was listened in. Some say now the neon God is technology. More attention given to their hand held devices, telephones, I-pads, etc.. speaking without talking- texting. Hearing without listening- not caring about anyone else's views, therefore, an end to human society...etc. DEEP. Love it!
The first record I ever bought was Simon and Garfunkel’Sounds of Silence’. There have been multitudes of cover versions, but to a S&G fan like me, this is the only one that cuts it! Best cover ever.
Yep I absolutely agree Pentatonix did a decent job but I'll tell you right now this is the best cover of this song I've ever heard I love Simon and Garfunkel's version but for the time that we are in now this version is appropriate for this song
Watch the Conan live version. He had the flu and was afraid he couldn't sing but gave his best version of the Sound of Silence that night. Brought the whole Orchastra with him on Conan. Please do a reaction to that version. Love your reactions.
dude, they autotuned that shit, that's why it "sounded his best", he even rolled his eyes when they did it cause he could hear it, Conan did David dirty.
@@UltimateGamerCC isn't it awesome that we can have different opinions and still love each other. This man has a great voice, love him and love music. Peace Brother..
It’s a Simon and Garfunkel song originally from the 60s but Disturbed totally changed the arrangement of the song and made it their own. Paul Simon said it was the best cover he had ever heard of the song. High praise from such a legend. The original was like a warning of government wars and excess, and the disturbed version was angrier that the original warning wasn’t heeded.
Paul Simon also said that he and Art Garfunkel had written a song for a Generation , but Disturbed had taken it and made it an Anthem for a New Generation
David Draiman's voice just enters your soul - it's so beautiful ❤ I saw the comment somewhere about God asking him whether he wanted the voice of an angel or a devil and he said 'both' - this is exactly what he has ❤
Disturbed is a heavy metal band, and David's version of this song is the best by far. I have listened to this so many many times, and still get goosebumps everytime I hear it. I'm glad someone recommended this to you. I loved your reaction.
His voice is so powerful in part because he was classically trained as a youth to be a Cantor in the Synagogue. Fortunately for us he rebelled and went his own way.
David’s version of The Sound Of Silence was what started my journey watching music reactors. It is powerful, moving & other-worldly. As you said; “a masterpiece”.
After years of singing this song at home by Simon and Garfunkel, I accidentally came across David's version recently. I had no idea who he was, and first listened to the live on Conan. It was intensely better than the original. Watching the studio video version without the transparency is something you must do. The video version contains the most powerful and symbolic message Ive seen and matches his dire message. Im so glad you reaccted to this.
The live version is just as incredible. Disturbed are an amazing band, the lead singers range is phenomenal, truely an amazing vocalist. They have a song called “darkness” I think you might also enjoy
There is a sad lonely reflection in the original Simon and Garfunkel song. There is an angry and powerful call to Disturbed's version. I always loved the original but this version quickly became my favourite. So good!! Try Land of Confusion by them.
I got to experience this song sung live at a Disturbed concert and it was unbelievable. His voice isnt filtered, just as amazing as in this video and the huge crowd was quiet. Beautiful beyond words.
I grew up listening to this song by Simon & Garfunkel back in the 60's & have always loved it. I had a lot of their records. Many people have covered this song. Disturbed's version is a much darker take on this song. Peter Hollens & Tim Foust (from Home Free) do a great version of this song. I think you already checked out their cover a few weeks ago.
This version is perfect and as someone who was used to Disturbed's traditional catalog I was skeptical, but when I first heard this (the live version from Conan) I think my mouth was agape the whole time. Another great live version is the one featuring Myles Kennedy from a concert in Houston I believe.
Thank you for your comments, I loved your reaction to this cover, I am a child of the 60's when Simon & Garfunkel released the original in 1964 I was in high school, back then I considered it kind of country-ish, I liked it but the message didn't pierce the soul (okay so I'm 74). This cover by Disturbed along with the video is the BEST it touches your soul and really gets S&G message to the core of my being and many others too, goosebumps and tears every time. "Neon God" in the 60's TV the advancement of technology NOW there is so many more especially cell phones. Suggestion = The official video by Disturbed “Hold On To Memories” was released Jan 23rd 2020. “Hold on to Memories" is about not only honoring those we’ve lost, but also making the most of our time with those we still have. We are always touched by the stories you share regarding what this song means to you
I first heard this song as a five year old in the late '60s. It was played on the radio so many times I learned the lyrics in no time. The Sounds of Silence was written and played by Simon & Garfunkel. Simon & Garfunkel approved of Disturbed's version.
This guy is a heavy metal singer one of the best because he is a classically trained singer. Hes even better live. He performs this live on the late show worth checking out!
I read on another comment that he had to learn to sing with a clear baritone voice for this song. If you want to hear a classical trained singer to sing this then watch Henk Poort on Beste Zangers sing this for Floor Jansen. Henk never sang with distortion before that show
Oh gosh I’m so excited about this- I absolutely love this version of this song! It was on my “to request in the future” list 😂 ❤️ oh and I get the I’m so scared thing this seriously gives me the biggest goosebumps ever!
Simon and Garfunkel were the original writers and artists of this song. And to hear how actually different it is you’ve got to listen to their version. Then disturbs version of this song will truly blow your mind 😘
This is a brilliant version of one of the greatest songs ever written. Credit for this masterpiece of song writing goes to Simon and Garfunkel! 💕 I recommend reacting to the original too now that you have herd the best of the covers of this powerful song! Great reaction as always this is my favorite reaction channel by far❤️
Apparently Paul Simon was so moved by David’s cover that he told Disturbed that it was their song now!! What an honor for Disturbed to have the blessing of the original artists!! Only version S&G have endorsed
I always say to peeps, "wait for it"😅. When I first heard this, my mind was blown 🤯! Paul Simon was extremely impressed with this version 💕. I didn't know of Disturbed before this and I'm a metal lover, but now I love them. I love their version of Sting's If I Ever Lose My Faith In You'. They are normally really heavy. David is a classically trained Cantor. ✌🇦🇺
I love this version, especially when it's teamed with a tribute to the military (it's a video here on RU-vid)... it fits it so perfectly because it really does match the depths of what is in a combat soldiers heart... the disparity between the honest horrors of war and the delusional and senseless concepts of every day normal life. You, my friend, understand the true power in this song. Thanks for reviewing it.
In my opinion, one of the few times a remake equals the original, dare I say adds something extra delicious to it? And I adore Simon and Garfunkel. To take a folk song and turn it into this giant...chef's kiss
Original was Simon and Garfunkel, this is David Draiman from Disturbed, excellent cover and his vocal range is insane, listen to "down with the sickness" to see the stuff he usually does, I'm a big fan of Disturbed and especially David Draiman, he's insane.
The only thing more fun to watch than someone who has heard Down with the Sickness and then hearing this... is someone who hears this as their first Disturbed song and then seeing them react to that song.
i used to like the original Simon & Garfunkle but THIS was just so emotive...sent it to my Mum and even she liked it. David Draiman's voice is just amazing and the played this version so well - even Paul Simon thought it was an amazing version!! can't stop listening to it now LOL xo
I wish you had seen an original Disturbed song before this, so you could see the difference between their usual music and this. You should definitely check out another big hit of theirs 😀
A truly iconic song from Simon and Garfunkel (back in 1965) - for them it was a ballad with guitar, the lyrics tell a powerful story - here reimagined with hugh vocal dynamics and passion! A truly magnificent rendition with a great video to set the scene!
This is a complete musical and visual experience. I still get a visceral reaction every time I see this. What an amazing piece of art vocally, musically and graphically. The message of the song is delivered as much by David’s growl and power as the words themselves. I hope you watch this again without stopping it … unbelievable reaction in your gut and your brain explodes with everything that this performance delivers.
David Draiman is an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distorted, operatic, baritone voice and percussive singing style, he is best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Disturbed since 1996. His vocals are insane and blew my mind the first time.
I absolutely LOVED your reaction! His voice is beautiful, but besides that, the story and the way he tells it gives me goosebumps every single time I hear it 🔥🔥🔥
In the US Army, our artillery unit would play this before firing a fire mission over loud speakers. And no, the original is Simon and Garfunkel. And it is live. Just as good
If you love this then you will love the live performance. It is amazing! One of the most moving performances I have ever seen. He isn't the original songwriter or performer. This song is a classic though and it is covered so much because it's just so awesome lyrically. Simon and Garfunkel were the original artists, but I personally love Disturbed and their take on it.
As others have said here, song was originally written in 1963 by Paul Simon, and released as a single by (paul) Simon and (Art) Garfunkel in 1964. Quite a few cover versions have been done since, but Disturbed's is still the best I have ever heard. Paul Simon gave his seal of approval by telling David Draiman (the singer in the video) it was their song now. Considering Disturbed is a heavy metal band, this was quite a departure and a great one too! Thanks for the reaction, I always love seeing how someone reacts to hearing this for the first time and have yet to see a negative reaction. If you haven't seen it already, check out Disturbed's appearance on the Conan O'Brian Show, where David Draiman was performing the song while suffering from a fever, but he still knocks out out of the park, although gawd knows what his throat must have felt like afterwards!
David Draiman has a great voice and years of performance experience. He also started to train as a Hazzan (Jewish Cantor) in his youth and uses this training to this tap into the spiritual aspect of this song. You are correct when you said the you must check out his live performance; the Conan recording is epic.
Simon and Garfunkel were the guys who wrote and performed this song. All others are covers. Paul simon told Disturbed this was the best cover he has ever heard.
I love the PTX cover of this, but when I heard him sing this LIVE on SNL...His cover easily is the best one ever made. The original artist is Simon and Garfunkel, and their version from the 70s is much calmer.
Yes a masterpiece of songwriting from Art Garfunkel from Simon and Garfunkel as well as all their back catalogue. This is my favourite version of it too....it is a very moving version and HEAVY. I love this song and always have especially because it reminds me of my Mum singing it as it played on the radio as a kid.....Great song 🙏
I've heard say that the Simon and Garfunkle version was the warning of the breakdown of interpersonal communication. Disturbs version is the outrage that it's now here.
Disturbed's version of Simon & Garfunkel's original is the best. Anyone who ever tries to come up behind Disturbed should consider waiting a couple of centuries. Glad you found this version.
The first stanza 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.
Thank you , Thank you, Thank you. Ive been waiting for your reaction to this song and have to admit was the same as mine every time I hear it. Love it.
i love this song sill today even if number of ppl have covered it theres a bloke in Melbourne australia was on the voice named WOLF he did this and damn his voice is one of a kind and ive been around for 41 years lol
Paul Simon wrote this in 1964 as a young man and he and Art Garfunkel made it a hit. Paul appreciated this cover so much that he commented that he added this to his playlist. Where S&G did this in a folk style and it was a "warning", this version is raging that the warning wasn't heeded. As mentioned below, you should check out the live version from the Conan show from March of 2016. David Draiman (lead singer), who was trained as a cantor as a young man, was sick during the Conan show but you wouldn't have realized it. As the studio version here is "good", the live version was "great"!
The original version of the song was done by Simon and Garfunkel. It was written by Paul Simon 1963 - 1964. The original acoustic version was recorded in March 1964 and released in October 1964. With all of the different cover versions of the song out there, disturbed version is most definitely my favourite. They did an amazing job!!!!
The original band Simon and Garfunkel released this in the 60's. Paul Simon wrote it and him and Art Garfunkel performed and recorded it. I've always adored thus song. But I'm a metalhead and when Disturbed released this cover I fell in love with it all over again. Paul Simon saw them perform this on the Conan show and contacted David Draiman after. He was so impressed with their cover he told them that it's their song now. Coming from a genius writer and artist like Paul, that says a LOT!
I heard that David Draiman was sick when they did Conan live. He still did amazing! Paul Simon loved Disturbed's version and said that it was very powerful! He loved Draiman's voice and thanked him for covering it. The video is epic! Beautiful imagery and symbolism. Draiman's voice is beautiful
I still sit back and listen to this and cry sometimes. I'm so proud of them and what they did with this song. Made it so powerful and poignant, and proud of David. I knew he was an insane metal singer, but I didn't know this side of him. The whole thing is beautiful, but unfortunately still relevant. It is a masterpiece.
i’m so happy you reacted!!! Disturbed is a heavy metal band but they usually do a cover of a song on each album. Previously they’ve change the song to be more in a heavy metal style but for this one, though it is much darker than the original, was more orchestral and I loved it!!! it made the times when he chose to incorporate the scream that much more impactful. Another cover they did that I love is Shout 2000. If you could react to that I think you’d like it! Also a little tidbit I love every time I listen to this is the line when he says “and in the naked light I saw 10,000 people maybe more” because Disturbed has a song called 10,000 Fists in the Air that you should react to!!! it’s a fantastic song about not letting evil rise and uniting underprivileged communities against oppressors. one of my favs from disturbed!! Love your reactions! I hope you can get to either one of these songs 😌
I have listened to this hundreds of times, I have the CD and I get chills every time. It's the best version and the original artist agrees. David's voice is controlled and beautiful. The orchestration is amazing and his build up is brilliant! I am no metal fan at all but they have put out some astonishing ballads.
This song was written in the 1960's by Simon & Garfunkle long before we had computers & other devices . I believe it was referring to all the social upheaval of the times with the Vietnam war being the main driver. Disturbed's version is the best by far, it brings a whole new meaning to the song & classically trained in his younger years, David Draiman's voice is beyond compare. You need to see the live version he did on Conan, as others have noted he was ill that night which is why he was sitting & not standing. They were afraid he might not make it through the performance but he insisted on going on & man did he nail it. I have nothing but admiration for him, he is not only a great singer but a wonderful human being.
Simon and Garfunkel(original) version was the warning, Disturbed is the war. Yes Disturbed is a metal band and this is left field from their other music. His vocal range is insane. He was classicly trained and also trained in Cantor(I think that's what it's called)
Every time you stopped this and loved all over it, I just kept thinking “Okay, okay, just you wait…” I was so excited to watch your mind being blown 😂 Such an incredible version of this song. It blows me away every. single. time I hear it!
Written by Paul Simon in 1963 and released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1964. Paul Simon heard this version on the Conan show and gave great props to Disturbed front man David Draiman for it.
Disturbed is a heavy metal band. I've heard this song about every way done possible since Simon and Garfunkle's original of it but this was a-freaking-mazing! I don't know what caused them to completely change direction and do this song but WOW!!!!!! It gets its meaning across with a bang where the original was meant to make people think.
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