Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 108 - Musical Roots: Simon ＆ Garfunkel

American Folk Rock Duo Simon & Garfunkel Part I

Simon & Garfunkel are an American folk-rock duo. The combination of Paul Simon's literary and sensitive songs and Art Garfunkel's high toned voice took the world by storm and produced many hit songs.

My Musical Roots Simon & Garfunkel

I was 12 years old in the sixth grade of elementary school when I was first introduced to the music of Simon & Garfunkel.
I went to a friend's house and listened to “The Boxer” there. The scat melody of the outro part of the song, “Lie la lie lie la lie,” stuck in my head after I heard it once.
Later, I begged my father for a stereo and bought Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The musical impressions and influences I received as a child continue to this day, and when I listen to “The Boxer,” I can vividly recall scenes from those days. It is truly the power of music.
The sensitivity of a child, which is soft and absorbs everything, is equally possessed by all people, but it will disappear before you know it. I wish I still had the same sensibility I had back then....
The fact that their music has retained elements that remain in the hearts and minds of children and is supported by the masses is nothing more than the fact that their music has a certain universality.
In Part I, I would like to discuss the music of Simon & Garfunkel, including where this universality lies.

History of Simon & Garfunkel

Paul Simon (vo, g) and Art Garfunkel (vo) were a folk-rock duo that formed in New York City in 1964. The group originated from the earlier Tom & Jerry group.
They made their debut with “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” in 1967, during the “New Cinema” era. In 1970, they won four Grammy Awards for “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”. In 1990, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Their amazing career is forever etched into the history of American music.

Paul Simon's World as Seen through “Sounds of Silence”

Everyone knows the famous song “Sounds of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel. I would like to consider Paul Simon's music using this song as a starting point.

■ Recommended Album: Simon & Garfunfunkel/ Wednesday Morning, 3 a.m. (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel's first album. Because it didn’t receive much in the way of commercial success, a disappointed Paul Simon headed for England. However, the seeds of his success were in this album. This is the famous “Sounds of Silence”. This song would be the beginning of Simon & Garfunkel's worldwide success.

Recommended Song: “Sounds of Silence”

Hello Darkness My Old Friend... From the opening lyrics, this song seems to symbolize Paul Simon's inner life. In fact, it is well known that Paul suffered from mental illness and had a psychiatrist. The lyrics of a vulnerable and sensitive young man are reflected in many aspects of Paul Simon's music. The world spun out of Paul's multi-layered folds of his mind is what makes Simon & Garfunkel's music so appealing. “Sounds of Silence” is a part of Paul's worldview, but it is also a symbol of Paul himself. On the other hand, there are many songs, such as “I am a rock,” that keep me going, but I think that if you think about his heart when you listen to Paul's music, you can get a glimpse into even further depths of his music.

I prefer “Sounds of Silence” from the first album. It is more acoustic, the harmonies between the two are more pronounced, and I think the original arrangement more accurately expresses the lyrics of “Sounds of Silence”.

■ Recommended album: Simon & Garfunkel, Sounds of Silence (1966)

The single “Sounds of Silence” is an overdub of electric instruments and drums over the orchestra of “Sound of Silence”. This track from the first album became a big hit, reaching No. 1 in the United States. It was an electronic adaptation of the first album Sounds of Silence. This was followed by a second album produced in just three weeks.
In 1965, a debate was raging between electric (rock) and acoustic (folk). It was the time when Bob Dylan took his electric guitar to a folk concert and sang “Like a Rolling Stone” with Paul Butterfield's electrified band, and was booed off by the audience.
It seems rather silly in hindsight, but it can be said that Simon & Garfunkel's music was also exposed to such a trend. Should the producers be praised for their shrewdness in converting folk into rock? It doesn't matter now...
Simon & Garfunkel's electrification made them a household name throughout the United States. The album stayed on the charts for 143 weeks. It was a kind of unexpected album for the duo, who had almost given up on their activities.

Recommended Song: “Sounds of Silence”

When a New York radio station played “Sounds of Silence” off of Simon & Garfunkel's first album, a record producer, hearing how well it was received, took the liberty of dubbing in drums, bass, electric guitar, etc. onto the bass track without asking the two artists. This made the song an explosive hit.

The world of this poem is a sight to behold. Paul lives in New York City, a city with a strong sense of stagnation. It is astonishing to think that Paul Simon wrote this poem, which depicts the darkness of his heart when he was just under 20 years old. Many listeners must have empathized with this young man, and he won the nation. The beautiful, catchy music really added to the mix.... The minor-key guitar arpeggio may have hidden a magic sequence of notes that lead to hit songs.

Musicians, albums, and recommendations featured in this issue

• Artist：Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel
• Albums：Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. and Sounds of Silence
• Song Title: “Sounds of Silence”

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