First listen to The Sound of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel (REACTION) 

Paul Simon is truly one of the greatest lyricists of our time.

I am a Rock...... is another song of theirs that has meaningful lyrics, worth a listen...

Simon and Garfunkel had the best harmonizing ever

Yes, Paul Simon was the originator of the line "Hello darkness my old friend". As for Shakespeare, you're probably thinking of, "Bop bopa-a-lu a whop bam boo!" which was a lyric he wrote, only to have it stolen by Little Richard as the opening line to his hit, Tutti Frutti

Paul Simon wrote this as a teenager sitting on the floor in his bathroom. He wrote it shortly after the assassination of John Kennedy....Paul’s lyrics are really poems set to music...my personal favorite by him is “The Dangling Conversation”....Sound Of Silence was originally an acoustic song which was not a hit. The producer added electric guitar and drums, without permission....it was a hit.

Simon and Garfunkel were one of the most successful folk performers of all time. Their songs stand up so well 50+ years later. So much so that they are regularly covered by other bands to this day

Who remembers "Cecilia" by S&G? It was removed from radio play because it was to sexual.....lol! What a more innocent time it was.

Oh, DS9, you're goin' WAY back. A rich field of S & G work awaits you. As I said before, "The Boxer" would give you a lot to think about. In addition "America" would change your perspective, and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" would move a kind-hearted person like you very deeply.

All of their songs are evocative so beautifully written.

The brilliance of Paul’s writing and the balance of their harmony!As good as it gets!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤️☮️

Love Simon & Garfunkel! Bright Eyes, El Condor Pasa, The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Water ❤

Daniel, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel a beautiful song.

Hard to listen to something as beautiful as this, and realize the turmoil between them over time.

Although the song is called: ‘The Sound of Silence’, the album was named: ‘The Sounds of Silence’ (Pluriforme). Although you can’t hear anything Neon lights are shouting their messages ‘buy me’ and prophets you: ‘you need to have me to became happy’, but you’ll be not. Also: while thousands US soldiers are dying in an oversea war, the Americans at home live their life in luxury ignoring the other world reality. These homecoming veterans no longer fit in their homecountry. The USA’s way of living isn’t theirs anymore, cause they experienced the real struggles of live.

Paul Simons lyrics and Art Garfunkels voice, a match made in heaven! Dive into their catalogue of hits, you won't be disappointed

So many amazing S&G songs but I think you'd really like Hazy Shade of Winter, Wednesday Morning 3 AM and Mrs Robinson.

Every time I see people at work looking down at their phones I hear this verse in my head ( and the people bowed and prayed to the neon gods they made) ✌️♥️

Rhymin' Paul Simon is one of the great poets of our time (along with Bob Dylan, Neil Young and others). I remember seeing an interview in the 80s where they questioned his success post Simon and Garfunkel. His response was something along the lines of "I wrote Sound of Silence - if I never did anything else, I have accomplished a lot" It is worth checking out a live version with just the two of them with Simon on acoustic guitar. To me, that is the way it is meant to be. Other S&G songs? I am a Rock, Homewark Bound, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Scarborough Fair (all best live with just them)

The covers of this great tune will be hard-pressed to equal the original. You be the judge!

Silence is deafening What a powerful song

These guys have a ton of great songs, then Paul Simon went solo and had a whole new career with that. I recommend "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)," "Cecilia," "The Only Living Boy in New York," and "I Am a Rock" for S&G.

Paul titled the song "The Sounds of Silence" originally but later changed it. You need to keep in mind the massive impact the movie "The Graduate" had on the popularity of the duo and there music.

Possibly their most iconic song, and that's from a list of MANY iconic songs that they can boast, although BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER may edge this one out. I'm not speaking personal preference here, just commenting from the standpoint of what may be universal acknowledgement.

The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, American Tune, America. You could literally do hour after hour on Paul Simon and/or Garfunkel songs.

Ahhhh their voices just harmonize so beautifully

My fave is "Homeward Bound." It was in the top 10 when a pro hockey player who taught me to speed skate was murdered (long story). I tear up still every time I hear it. Listened to it over and over as a little kid, thinking of Butch, missing him. Simon & Garfunkel's version is THE best, period. Might as well have been Shakespeare-- Paul Simon is a true poet, and musician, and Art Garfunkel sings like an angel. Thanks for doing this. Please consider doing "Homeward Bound." Another great one is "America." Oh, they're all great.

Do "Scarborough Fair" by them

I was a teenager when this came out. It's one of my all time favorite songs. The Disturbed version is great and different from the original. I love them both. It just depends on your taste. Bridge Over Troubled Water is a masterpiece! Check out the live version in Central Park.

So glad you enjoyed this. Yes, it is an eerie song, but also profound.

So you have to read or watch "The Graduate". I have done both and it's worth of. This is the title song of the famous movie with Dustin Hoffman.

This classic Simon and Garfunkel song is high on the list of every Simon and Garfunkel fan. You did it great justice in your review and analysis. I thank you very much for that.

This is my favorite of their songs. There’s no sound louder then silence when we’re uncomfortable in our own skin. Your doing a wonderful job👍

Great choice.... Check out their "El Condor Pasa" for a great version of a classic folk song.

This has always been the song that moves me the most. Sadly I cannot bear listening to Disturbed's cover. It is like seeing the ghost of your best friend you didn't know had passed. No one can compare to Simon and Garfunkel.

If you review Rush's "The Spirit of Radio", you'll notice a nod to this song in the last section, where he sings about "The words of the profits are written on the studio walls... concert halls." (And based on the context, I think "profits" is probably correct there, as against "prophets" in the Sound of Silence.)

It doesn't get any better than that, folks.

If you like Art Garfunkel's vocals, check ' All I know ' one of his solo hits.

Paul Simon loved Dylan tried to write Dylanesque lyrics, but no one can do that. In any event they made some really beautiful music. Paul wrote lyrics/music but Garfunkel and the producer Roy Halee turned them into the songs they became. Great team. And like others have said this song opens and closes the movie The Graduate and the movie uses a number of other SG songs, it would actually be a good movie for you to react to if you haven't seen it. I think.

To me, the Disturbed version is DISTURBING! They took the soul of a song and wiped it out. Thanks for reacting to this and letting the younger set, that this is where it came from!

S&G had hit song while in high school. Try dissecting “Baby Driver”. It is not folk. Paul Simon solo has great catalogue. Kodachrome, Graceland, African Skies, etc. Disturbed performed with strings on TV and it was as good as studio version.

Paul Simon is up there with Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, Springsteen. Darkness is his bathroom where he wrote it in dark and the acoustics. It was folk song and flopped. They sort of broke up and Columbia added electric instruments and released it surprising S&G and it climbed charts. Disturbed covers this with orchestra. Paul Simon does a few versions

Great music, grew up listening to Simon and Garfunkel through the walls of my sister next door. Like your style, you would have fit in to the sixties and seventies. Wish you well.

Strange but the album title is “Sounds of Silence” and the song is “The Sound of Silence”. I always took that to mean the collection of songs on the album added up to the “Sounds” all different but all of the same collection!

Paul Simon is a master of melancholy. My favourite songwriter of all time. His best composition? Imho, it’s ‘Overs’

Yes, it was folk rock......Their first album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme got worn out from playing over and over my freshman year at college.....and that title song is still one of my favorite songs of all time because of it’s sheer beauty and that amazing canticle..... Yes, lack of communication....racial unrest.....establishment not listening to what young people and persons of color and the poor were saying.....We;re right back in the same spot again right now. I think people of my generation are upset about young people not knowing that Disturbed is a cover is not that it isn’t powerful or good, but rather that they want young people to know that these thoughts were common among young people over fifty years ago. Their grandparents today. Like me.

Paul Simon is more than just a great lyricist, he's a true poet. His lyrics are taught as poetry in almost every English speaking university. He was taught in my 3rd year of English composition right along with Yeats and wordsmiths of that ilk.

I love the “jangling” guitar. Reminds my a lot of the Byrds (and Beatles). Recommend I Am a Rock for a similar evocative song.

This is definitely considered folk rock. These two originally recorded an acoustic folk version of this song, produced by Tom Wilson, who was the most important producer in the development of folk rock. He worked on the Bob Dylan albums The Times They Are a-Changin', Another Side of Bob Dylan, and Bringing It All Back Home, along with the 1965 single, "Like a Rolling Stone." Wilson also produced the final four tracks Dylan recorded for The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, after he replaced John Hammond as Dylan's producer in 1963. After the original acoustic version of this song initially flopped, then eventually started picking up some radio play, Wilson remixed the song as a folk rock song in 1965 after Dylan had had his massive success with a back-up rock band. Simon & Garfunkel had no idea about the remixed version until after it was released. The rest, as they say, is history.

I gotta mention America by Simon and Garfunkel again. I'm sure you've heard it. Bernie Sanders used it in 2016 in an ad and Garfunkel was very happy that he did. America is 3:23 long. YES's cover of it is over 10 minutes. You will thoroughly enjoy both versions, I assure you : )

Pert near the perfect song. Next cover comparison? Simon and Garfunkel's "America" and Yes' cover of it. (Yes had a single cut and an album cut, use the album cut. Even better, use the live performance off "Keys to Ascension".)

You reacted to Dylan’s Hard Rain Gonna Fall, which had the line “ I heard a thousand people talking with nobody listening”.

Daniel, so fun to watch you experience the joy some of us have experienced!

Song writing and singing at the highest level, so many beautiful songs. Like America, The Boxer, Mrs. Robinson, and possibly their greatest achievement, Bridge Over Troubled Water 👌

I never thought of the opening guitar as rain drops. Very good. I have been listening to this song for 55 years too.

you should watch "The Graduate". A really good 1960"s movie. It uses a lot of S&G music in the soundtrack. First major appearance for Dustin Hoffman. Also went a long way in promoting S&G.

To me this might be the best song ever. And like most people that changes with my mood. But this is a really great song. A teacher in high school played this for us and I'm sure gave her explanation of the words andmeaning. I wish I could remember.

Promise me, I beg you, PLEASE watch “The Graduate”! I have just GOT to see your face while you are watching it! I first saw it in a college class called “Introduction to Motion Pictures”.

Oh yeaahhh, one of their best tunes ever! This song makes me think of being alone, as many people are, but yet knowing so much truth about life. Being one of the few people who see the bigger picture that no one else seems to notice. The deafening silence of obliviousness...despite the many many messages that can be 'seen' daily yet no one notices, except the few. Important life messages falling on deaf ears...people listening without actually hearing as the song states. Bowing to the neon lights...worshiping technology yet forgetting the most basic aspects of humanity which is treating each other with respect, helping others to overcome the adversities of life. Now I am bawling my head off, need to take a break for a minute.... Such a sad state of affairs our global society has turned into, the indifference is sickening. The gradual conditioning that has created our situation is even worse. Sometimes the most basic of words, graffiti, speaks the loudest...yet no one listens. I won't be commenting on the Disturbed version. I do not like it...there are something that should never be repeated because the original is perfection as it is. But this is, of course, subjective and for me this song stands alone as it is. Great reaction Daniel, thank you! A couple other great tunes by S&G are Hazy Shade of Winter and At The Zoo.

I am a rock is they’re best song in my opinion but this is great too of course . They have so many hits

Paul Simon would go into the dark bathroom at night to sing and work on his music. He liked the acoustics in there. So Hello darkness my old friend he said is a reference to resuming this work in the darkened bathroom.

This was the best song ever written. The symbolism, connotation, personification, all of the devices that are used to get the message across are amazing. It makes you feel so much with words so well. And it's beautiful. So beautiful. "His eyes were stabbed..."

Two of my favorite Artists and one of my favorite songs, very precious this is to me as my Dad played it to me when I was 7yo. Amazing artists and song writers. Yes they were the first to sing "Hello darkness my old friend"

You should play more of their songs I love I am a Rock and Homeword Bound

You could also review Pentatonix's version of this song, as well...

Daniel, it is so rewarding to see you, the next generation, appreciate the music we listened to while growing up and living our best years.

I'm really getting into the story of the great recording sessions behind the great records of pop music. Glad that this information is now available in a few keystrokes on sites like Wikipedia Glen Campbell's iconic guitar and Hal Blaine's drumming on so many Hits Paul Simon - lead vocals, guitar Art Garfunkel - lead vocals Fred Carter Jr., Glen Campbell, Joe South - guitar Larry Knechtel - keyboards Joe Osborn - bass guitar Hal Blaine - drums Bob Johnston - producer Sounds of Silence was recorded in April, June and December 1965 at CBS Studios in New York City, New York and Los Angeles, California. "The Sound of Silence" (electric overdubs) personnel: Al Gorgoni, Vinnie Bell - guitar Joe Mack - bass guitar Bobby Gregg - drums "The Sound of Silence" overdubs were recorded at Columbia's "Studio A" at 799 Seventh Avenue near 52nd Street by Columbia Records staff producer Tom Wilson on June 15, 1965.

Up next is Bridge Over Troubled Water from the Concert In Central Park. As always nice analysis

We sang this in chorus class when I was in the 7th grade in the 70’s. I was in the group that had sing the harmony part. Not easy! Kept wanting to sing the main melody!

Not to be creepy in any way, but i think there are too few compliments given these days, so i would like you to know that i think your hair (cut)? Looks great and shows more of your face. That's a really great thing, in my opinion. Keep up the great reactions - you have an old soul!

Love this song - have a listen to The Boxer and Cecilia also by them

Paul Simon wrote this, along with many others, whilst in London, England. He’d a shared wall with Al Stewart for a bit, whilst in the same block of flats. Simon played some of the same small clubs as Martin Carthy, when they were both up & coming. Simon got the traditional folk song “Scarborough Fair,” from hearing Carthy’s performance of it. It is the featured song on Simon & Garfunkel’s “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, & Time” album. Simon’s song, “Homeward Bound” also written in the UK, was his longing to return to the US.

From S&G's Concert in Central Park, audition "American Tune". It is as weighty as "Sound of Silence" and the harmonies are astounding. It was originally a Paul Simon solo song. Here, with Garfunkel adding his voice, I find it just wonderful.

The best of Folk Rock. The real genre with this group: MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

I vote for S&G's Scarborough Fair for dissection.

Loved the "Yes" shirt, looks great

Paul's a New Yorker, I believe the neon God is probably the lights advertising in Times Square (imo) Most of the neon has been replaced by giant flat screens these days.

Another great song you’d like is “ Darkness, Darkness” by the Youngblood’s. And their classic hit “ Get Together”- the peace anthem. You can never go wrong with Simon and Garfunkel. This song still is relevant in this time as “ Silence is Violence ” when it comes to systemic racial justice.

America, the Simon and Garfunkle version followed by the Yes version, you will love it.

My #1 Simon & Garfunkel tune for as long as I can remember! It's such a poignant, beautiful piece - and as relevant now as it was in the early 60's when Paul Simon wrote it.

This song was on their first somewhat unsuccessful album called Wednesday Morning 3 am. A stripped down version with just a guitar. Some enterprising producer decided to take the track and add instrumentation and release it and it became a huge hit.

The one and *only* version. Sublime.

I love your thoughtful analysis reflections and comments.. really enjoy listening to you! What a beautiful song.

I saw them in concert in '64. Fabulous! I still play their album regularly. It was so sad when they broke up

In order to fully appreciate Spirit of the Radio, by Rush, you have to hear Sounds of Silence, first. If you've heard Sounds of Silence, then Rush's lyrics: "For the words of the profits Were written on the studio wall Concert hall And echoes with the sound of salesmen Of salesmen, of salesmen" will make more sense.

It starts with acoustic guitar, then the electric guitar joins in. Perfect.

I really appreciate your reactions, you are articulate, intelligent and have an open mind. I would be proud to have a son like you. xx

love your reaction.the beauty of this song is very powerful.

Very good reaction and an insightful lyric dissection, as we've come to expect here. For many of us, hearing it at the time, it was a song against consumerism, and what we saw as people "talking past each other," especially in government. Had to laugh when you read the comment about "....Mom and me liking the same music," as both of my parents quite liked S&G...way more than the heavy metal thunder that usually blasted through my closed door! Oh, and, by the way...I usually won't do this, but, it's often hard to get pronunciations from reading...Greenwich Village, as with Greenwich in the UK, is pronounced "GREN-itch;" all through New York and New England, you'll run into dozens of towns and cities whose names echo those from Jolly Old England...and, yes, I'm looking at you, Worcester, Massachusetts! (wuh-STAHH)

These guys grew up in Queens,NYC, NY! So, "...words of a prophet, written on subway walls & tenement halls..." tell us, they were far from wooded areas or a nature preserve. Simon would write about dreary landscapes, cold December days or nites...that was his environment growing up. But, they were beautiful songs.

Paul went on to a solo career. Here's one of my favorites: " Kodachrome " ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N4ltLp30KVs.html . Back in the day when pictures were taken on a film encased in a tube. Each could hold 12 , 24 or 36 pictures. You could not see the pictures as soon as you took them. You took the tube to a place where they developed the " film " before you can see your photos. And you had to wait a week after you dropped it off

So many legendary songs.Try reacting to The Dangling Conversation, Bookends, The 59th street Bridge song(Feeling Groovy).

Loved this song. i listened to it a lot back in the day. Not sure if you're into sweet love songs but..if you are....Recommendation for a very sweet Simon and Garfunkel song: "For Emily wherever I may find her." A very haunting song. Also "April Come she will" -- another lovely song. Not as famous as Anne Murray's "Songbird" (which i also loved.) Heck, do all three if you can. Very sweet, very corny, very beautiful sixties love songs.

Simon & Garfunkle are, truly, my favourite. First, they're Jewish and that, alone, makes me love them, as part Jewish myself. Also, second, their music is so Celtic. As a Scot who holds close to his heritage, the Celtic harmony they have is so touching. They speak to my Celtic soul. Their music was primal and spoke to the very roots of our human souls.

Classic #1 song written by songwriting GENIUS Paul Simon. ☺🎼🎶🎶♥️

He singing about the self imposed isolation of people from each other. The failure to engage in any meaningful way with others. This especially makes sense for those in large cities, like New York, where you are surrounded by so many people, all trying their best to ignore each other. But it applies to all of us in a real sense. Just look at people today, walking around oblivious to others, with their noses buried in their cell phones. It's a warning to wake up, and re engage with humanity.

I was a sophomore in HS when this came out. Kennedy had been assassinated 2 years before, the Vietnam War was becoming a horror show on the nightly news, the civil rights movement was gaining public attention from the whole country-especially the Selma March earlier that year, etc. This song captured the alienation beginning to percolate through my generation. It certainly grabbed my adolescent attention.

Maybe it is just me, but I just noticed a peculiarity about some of their songs. They have weird pauses in the lyrics. In this one it is the pause right after "but my words like silent raindrops fell". It feels like there should be another stanza, but it never comes. In this song it is very apt, underscoring his hopelessness when trying to split the sound of silence. Like he is almost giving up hope. Another example of those kinds of "dropped stanzas" is in The Boxer after the line: "I took some comfort there lalala..." And after "Bleeding me, going home". Btw Paul Simon once said in an interview that he usually uses a piano when he composes and then "tranfers" the songs to guitar when he has to perform or record them. He said it kept the songs fresh and at the same time the guitar usually gave him a new and different perspective on the lyrics.

Great sound, right??...yes pls react to "the Boxer" you will love it!! Paul Simon is one of the best for putting pictures in our minds to his words!! Great reaction D9!!💖

As I was graduating from High school 1967, I thought the neon light was television, but now in 2021 it changes to our neon screens everyone stares at.

It's wonderful to experience your first listening to these songs I grew up with. Daniel you do a great job with your research and analysis. In the 60's the majority of people had a shared experience, listening to the radio and therefore the same songs. Sadly those days are gone and finding great new music is very difficult. BTW I like you YES t-shirt, very cool......as I commented before they played music for the gods.