Paul Simon: Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live) - SNL 

Wow!!! Not sure how I never saw or heard this absolutely beautiful rendition. I had heard that Paul regretted not singing the lead when first released by S&G. I’m glad he let Garfunkel take lead back then thus giving us that masterpiece. But I must say I really love this version as well.

That was not what I was expecting. I was expecting 'not bad' instead I got 'absolutely beautiful'. The man is a musical genius.

I felt so privileged to be in the studio listening to this, and two other songs, a number of times. This is a great mix but hearing it live from 20 feet away was just incredible.

This arrangement(sp?) Is everything. I'm obsessed. His voice and the arrangement are so nuanced and layered and seem to reflect his whole career and possibly life in just one song. Did he have assistance in this? It's just wonderful craftsmanship, genius and lovingly moving. Perfect. Paul Simon is a treasure.

Paul Simon is a National Treasure.

Thanks for all the years of beautiful songs. Keep being creative, Paul. Love ya.

How have I missed this? A new shine on perhaps the greatest song ever written. Utterly mesmerizing.

Paul Simon retiring is so sad.He was, is, and will always be a genius, a master, an artist, and a really fine human being. Paul, your music has been a bridge over many troubled waters. Thank you.

I quit watching SNL regularly about 20 years ago. I happened to watch this night. When I realized what this was, my jaw dropped. This is a stunning version of this iconic song. The man is truly a genius.

Paul was the best song writer at that period in time. Maybe one of the top 5 ever.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful

Wow, this is an amazing arrangement. What a pleasure it is to listen to real musicians

Hearing and seeing this band perform brought me to tears. tears. So subtle, everyone playing their part and nothing more. Paul Simon has a gravitational pull for for the greatest musicians. He is the bridge!

Love the arrangement. Also love the audience reaction: "Oh, this is an interesting tune that I haven't heard before...huh, that's the opening line to Bridge Over Troubled Water...HOLY SHIT, THAT'S BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER!"

It's funny, how on the original, Art Garfunkel sang it. Paul interprets it great.

Don't know why people are hating. This is a beautifully re-imagined version of the original. Open your minds and just hear it in a new way. Its still amazing!!

The arrangement, the voice, and the message are all sheer perfection.

I like it when the musical guest performs a classic for their second performance; not to mention how the audience freaks out when they suddenly realize what song it IS.

I think this is the greatest SNL music moment of all time. He mangles the words a time or two, but this is epic. My mouth literally dropped when I realized what it was.

A stunning arrangement and performance. There`s simply nothing can be better than a live performance and these musicians are amazing. Paul Simon is amazing.

Happy 80th Birthday Paul Simon. 🎂🎈🎁🎉🎊🎈🎈

He's always evolving - so beautiful his art

Love you Paul . ❤

Paul is a musical genius. Putting a new spin on a classic.

I wish there was a studio recording of this arrangement!

Incredible rendition of this terrific song.

Paul Simon, like Miles Davis, never ceases to reinvent his music. Where Simon’s voice is a bit faulty (a voice that has been on record for upwards of 6 decades now), the instruments fill in for him nicely here. I particularly like the following: 1. The rhythm track and plucked electric guitar to go along with the vocal. 2. The muted trumpet that gives way to the opened horn at the finale. And 3. The piano interlude with the double time break before the full band comes in. I could pick more, but those were the three main things that stood out to me. The point is, if you want to hear the original, it’s still out there, but if I were Paul Simon, I’d want to perform something I’d performed hundreds of thousands of times before in a new way, too. Always reinventing, that’s what an artist does.

That's a genuine musician.

He is so talented and awesome

a staggering arrangement and performance, sheer genius

Some history for my younger friends. "The Sound of Silence", originally "The Sounds of Silence", was written by Paul Simon over a period of several months in 1963 and 1964. A studio audition led to the duo signing a record deal with Columbia Records, and the song was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia Studios in New York City for inclusion on their debut album, "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.". Released in October 1964, the album was a commercial failure and led to the duo breaking apart, with Paul Simon returning to England and Art Garfunkel to his studies at Columbia University. In the spring of 1965, the song began to attract airplay at radio stations in Boston, Massachusetts, and throughout Florida. The growing airplay led Tom Wilson, the song's producer, to remix the track, overdubbing electric instruments and drums. Simon & Garfunkel were not informed of the song's remix until after its release. The single was released in September 1965. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending January 1, 1966, leading the duo to reunite and hastily record their second album, which Columbia titled Sounds of Silence in an attempt to capitalize on the song's success. The song was a top-ten hit in multiple countries worldwide, among them Australia, Austria, West Germany, Japan and the Netherlands. Generally considered a classic folk rock song, the song was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important" in 2012 along with the rest of the Sounds of Silence album.

I loved Simon and Garfunkel as a kid. I love them even more now. This rendition was pretty cool, and his voice is still great.

Thank you Mr.Simon, for such powerful & wonderful song writing

That intro with the trumpet solo is so beautiful. Very rarely have I cried to a song and this is one that made me teary eyed.

ABSOLUTE GENIUS

Seriously, Simon's in a golden-age. Some of the most experimental & emotionally resonant works in his career

This is great, thank you Paul!

When you get to a certain age, everything in your present life is as beautiful and relevant as in the previous versions of yourself. This is why songs get reinterpreted. Real artists grow, change and so does their art. Embrace the change.

Note to Kanye West and everyone else that throws the word Genius around like it's nothing...... This is Paul Simon and he is a real musical Genius!

77 years of water under the bridge....beautiful

My very first concert was Paul McCartney when I was 8. I'm 14 now and I saw Paul Anka in concert two weeks ago! I'd LOVE to see Paul Simon! The three Pauls are my absolute musical inspirations and listening to them as a little girl, they inspired and taught me to write music! I wrote my first song at the age of 6, right after I heard "Bridge Over Troubled Water" for the first time. The song made me, an awestruck 6 year old, feel something I never thought I could feel. I knew then that I wanted to write my own music and make people feel something, just like the Pauls. Even now, when I write I look for inspiration in any Beatles, Paul Anka, or Simon & Garfunkel song! Thank you Paul Simon for teaching me what music REALLY is!

I watched the SNL 40th anniversary special and when Paul came on it was so sad to watch, him being all alone on that huge stage. I was a might fearful when I hit play on this one. Why? It's Paul frickin Simon. Musical genius, innovator, arranger extraordinaire. Would that he were beginning his career right now in these troubled times. This masterful performance gives me so much hope. Thank you Paul. Thank you Lorne.

I literally just teared up watching this. Incredible.

And his child is back home! Beautiful performance and great arrangement.

This rendition is unbelievably sick! Music lovers can indulge in a wilderness of rhythm and time! Thank you Paul!

Absolutely beautiful.

Such a beautiful song and sweet voice. Paul will never retire. He is a poet and creative writer. His music wand voice touches the soul. My appreciation ❤💐⭐️

That was so smooth. Great arrangement for his vocals.

Excellent, but I always knew how fantastic Paul Simon's voice was!! GREAT to see him getting the applause he always desired and deserved for this!!!! After he wrote it, Paul Simon could only see Garfunkel singing this. Art Garfunkel said "This song just doesn't work for my voice" (IMAGINE THAT!!!) Paul has written an incredible number of top and beautiful songs, and although I'd bet this would have been a hit no matter who sang it, in the end, it belongs to Garfunkel's vocals. I understand the writer in Simon and how he would feel hollow as Garfunkel got the loudest and longest ovation after singing this when they would do concerts, without the "Author Author!!" calls and accolades....but I would love to tell him something else. He is a musician's musician. I've heard jazz musicians who love his music, which is not common in pop, tell me how great he is. He's a perfectionist who always sought the perfect sound. When he had a percussion instrument in his mind for a song, he had to not only FIND that perfect instrument, but would then travel the globe if he had to, just to get the best musician on that instrument to record his song, and he always had the tops of studio musicians at hand. (how many people in the US ever heard of a cuica before Me And Julio....not many pop fans OR players!!!) The way he should look at it is more that the voice is another instrument, and it was HE, Paul Simon, who decided Garfunkel's voice was the perfect instrument for this tune!!!! Nothing else would do....not his voice, not anyone else.....for perfection, it does need Garfunkel. And that this song has crossed so many boundaries and has been recorded by so many is testament to that. Still a great song no matter who performs it, but only 1 vocalist could make it what it became. I would also point out all the songs Ray Charles sang that instantly became "Ray Charles Songs".....I wouldn't imagine the writers minding much. Hopefully, at this stage in life, he fully appreciates all that had to happen to make this the song that makes the hair on the back of everyone's neck stand up, brings tears of joy and sorrow to those who hear it, and actually, all the emotions it brings to the surface when people hear it.

I love to see a life long musician/composer take one of his classic songs, originally sung by his partner, and re-shape it into such a poignant rendition that is completely his own. So moving and such a beautiful arrangement! Kudos, Mr. Simon!

My favorite song. The best music and singer the World. Paul made this song for me, but when I asked for help he didn’t keep his promise. 🤩🤣 Good luck my dear and thank you for existing and sharing with is this beautiful song.🎶♥️

this brought tears to my eyes. thank you Paul.

My favorite song!

this is so beautiful. i always skip the musical guest clip when i watch snl trough youtube but I just can't skip this one. I think i like this one more than the original song.

This is a dazzling blue new rendition Paul also recorded together with yMusic. Finally, after nearly 50 years, this song has been transformed into a pure Paul Simon tune. Today ONLY Paul alone can still sing it in perfect voice, at the age of 77. There is no need to conservere that song at a certain spot in time because it is a timeless piece of music. If you do not agree, listen to the many details and textures by ymusic, wonderful backlaid trumpets, horns and strings... a haunting piano, the background guitar playing by Mark. Excellent. It has finally come the time, that no one needs to look back to old times. This one is thrilling.

I really wish i could have seen him when he came to my home town in September. Love his music

We need this n Spotify! Brilliant rewrite of a classic.

This is one of the best things I've ever seen. Brings tears to my eyes.

Was fortunate enough to see Paul Simon and Sting play together a few years ago. I've never seen a live show with so much talent. Love this remixed version of Bridge; the emotions simply shine through. 🎵

Sing Paul! This is a beautiful song for the ages. Praise God!

Omg! I had tears while watching & listening to this! So beautiful! Paul always sings to my heart.

Amazing...he will always be my favorite,even after getting on the dead bus

Omg much love

Beautiful

Brilliant! It touched my soul! Thank you, to all involved! Sending love to Art Garfunkel, and other great singers, notably Elvis Presley, who have brought their beautiful gifts to this song. The song is in Paul's house, and he can rearrange the furniture, in there, all he wants, or add new stuff. There was a Mr. Mark Stewart, and ymusic involved in this, too. Thank you! Let us have the courage to build bridges, once again!

can i get this version on spotify😂 i love it

This and the earlier song he played, "Can’t Run But", are just fantastic renditions, with truly inspired orchestrations and marvelous musicians joining Paul Simon. I was inspired by these performances to check out "Into the Blue Light", which is a collection of new takes by Simon on some of his old songs. It's a remarkable album.

beautiful

LOVE THIS SONG

Timeless Stunning masterpiece we love you Paul ❤️

One of my favorite songs EVER!!!!

Beautiful officially inspired.

I love him so much. After watching this on Saturday....I spent my entire Sunday listening to my mom's copy of 'The Concert in Central Park ' on vinyl. So...so...sosososososo good.

I don't see why ppl hate. He wrote the song, let him do what he wants with it!

Yes. This was awesome. Loved the way he sang it in a different format. His vocals were great also. Man's still got it. Albeit this was without Art. Sounds great though.

I'ma let you finish, but Art Garfunkel's vocals on "Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water" live in Central Park are the best of all time

Love Paul Simon. I heard him perform this during his Farewell Concert in 2018. All of the fabulous songs this genius has written - the Master.

Disney-esque in the arraignment and with attitude ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🖖

This was a masterpiece

I think this sounded so great!

Need a studio version of this

The song is lovely and Seth’s shirt is too!!

Nearly FIFTY YEARS after the original. Of course he's not going to sing it like it was originally recorded in 1970! He's fifty years older than the young man that recorded it back then. He took his amazing song and adapted it to his current abilities, and did so in a *beautiful* arrangement!! I think he did an amazing job with it! Every bit as poignant as the original. Wonderful performance!

The best arrangement of this masterpiece that I've ever heard. The altered baseline, the opening rhythm, the flute and the muted trumpet, the climactic piano change to bring in the brushed snare, etc. I think it nicely integrated much of the world music influences Paul has brought to bear over the last 4 decades yet still retains all the classic themes of the mid-60's version. Paul Simon is masterful.

Absolutely AMAZING performance. You seldom hear Paul sing this because Art Garfunkel voiced the original.

Wow this is awesome, beautiful strings

The piano and strings at the end were giving me major Okkervil River vibes! But man, what an incredible arrangement of a basically perfect song

This. Is. So. Beautiful. What an incredible performance! Paul and Mark Stewart and all of yMusic!

Who orchestrated this? Bloody brilliant.

Paul still sounds great, but it feels like there’s something missing without Art.

This instrumentation/arrangement really complemented PS's singing. It's not the power ballad of Art Garfunkel's, but still a successful rendition here, imho.

Breathtaking... that’s it,

God, this is beautiful. This is what it looks like when a musician can do whatever they want. This is art. And you know it's good when those musicians look like they're having the time of their lives moving through these compositions.

I come back here a lot 👏🏿

Still here and this is still Knocking.....rest easy to the fallen for the year 2022

Thank you! Loved instrumentation of this classic pc.

This is the best song to ever be made.

Nothing beats seeing Paul sing this song live 😍

Garfunkel might have and a naturally better voice, but Simon was an artist who know how to use his much better.

solo Paul Simon creates the most beautiful version of BOTW! No need for an additional voice.