SIMON & GARFUNKEL

This page is dedicated to the music of Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel

And I believe in the future, we shall suffer no more, maybe not in my lifetime, but in yours, I feel sure... Song dogs barking at the break of dawn, lightning pushes the edges of the thunderstorm... and these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven, to heaven, for the mother's restless son... who is a witness to, who is a warrior, who denies his urge to break and run, who says: Hard times? I'm used to them, the speeding planet burns, I'm used to that... my life's so common it disappears... and sometimes even music cannot substitute for tears."

Simon and Garfunkel were one of the most influential musical duos of the 1960’s. From their early days in high school to their solo careers now, as well as the odd reunion now and again, their sound has remained dynamic and unique. Because of this sound, as well as Simon’s unique lyrics, Simon and Garfunkel have remained popular for more than three decades. Many factors influenced this sound. Paul Simon especially has remained the most durable pop-music icon of the sixties (Wall of Sound 1)

Both were born into musical homes and knew one another almost “from the cradle” (Walker 1). Really, they met in grade school, but got to know each other in sixth grade, performing Alice in Wonderland, Paul Cast as the white rabbit, and Art as the Cheshire cat. (Art would later dabble in acting, primarily Catch 22, one of the factors that strained their personal relationship and led to their professional breakup.) Paul and Art discovered they shared a love of sports and music, especially Elvis Presley and Bill Haley. Using the pseudonym Tom and Jerry (the cartoon cat and mouse) Simon and Garfunkel had a minor hit, Hey Schoolgirl, in 1958. The two teenagers were even on American Bandstand. The duo split up to attend college, Art getting his degree in architecture (this experience is reflected in the song Frank Lloyd Wright, but may have underlined Paul’s loneness when Art was filming.). Paul went to Law school, disliked it, dropped out, & headed for England. England was full of musical energy at the time, though most of the duo’s musical influences had been gleaned earlier.

The Everly brothers were also almost exclusive influence on their musical sound (Walker 1). Bob Dylan also provided an influence as far as the poetry of Simon’s lyrics went, but Simon took it far beyond Dylan’s poetry. Though influenced by others, Simon and Garfunkel did have their own sound, both lyrically and musically. Almost every song of Simon’s rhymes, (with a few exceptions) earning him the nickname Rhymin’ Simon, both voices are distinctive as well, especially the high tenor of Art Garfunkel. To match pitch and mouth movements, in the recording studio both would sit in front of the other & mimic one another’s mouth movements. The result of this was that even their longtime fans couldn’t tell whether one or the other, or both are singing in unison. This sound has been treasured ever since, even though it didn’t last forever.

Many factors led to the professional breakup. Both singers have talked about it, listing several reasons for the split. Simon has said “This is a friendship that is now 30 years old, and the feeling of understanding and love parallels the feeling of abuse” (Simon Playboy Interview 1). He has also said that Art told him that he felt victimized, because of the comparisons, but inversely that he didn’t feel that he was a failure commercially, even though Simon has enjoyed better success in this aspect of his career. Garfunkel has said that their lives were intertwined, even though there was some hurtful incidents, one in particular that led to the breakup, although he did not specify (Zolo 1). Simon said “We… shook hands and didn’t see each other for years (Playboy Interview 1) Simon has remained more commercially viable, mostly because of his unique, poetic,
lyrics.

Most of Simon’s song lyrics are written from a personal point of view. Some are Humorous (such as Punky’s Dilemma A Simple Desultory Philippic, &At the Zoo (Which was later made into a popular children’s book. Some are thoughtful, Bridge Over Troubled Water, certainly, as well as his later songs, such as The Obvious Child. He has written love lyrics, Hearts & Bones, Nobody, and Tributes, The Late Great Johnny Ace, a song written for John Lennon, as well as John F. Kennedy. As mentioned before, almost all of Simon’s songs rhyme. Apart from this, other than his own brand of unique word play, his songs are very diverse and different from one another, especially when one compares the songs from his earlier partnership with Art Garfunkel to the melodies, beats, and song lyrics he performs now. Simon has taken much of his recent sound from music in international music. He has traveled to Brazil, Jamaica and South Africa looking for new sound to weave into his music.. His most recent project has ties with Hispanic, culture, Although The Capeman was a dismal failure commercially, mostly because of the subject matter. Simon has been a controversial figure in the past particularly around 1986, the time that his Graceland album came out, because of it’s largely African sound. Simon was the first white musician touring in Africa. Closest to his heart, however, is the sound he grew up with in the Fifties, do-wop. He has said that he was more of a Rock and Roll person than a folk singer, even though Simon & Garfunkel’s sound evolved this way.

Art Garfunkel also has had success commercially post-breakup , although not anywhere near the extent that Simon has. His Albums have included a softer sound, not as rock-oriented as Simon’s. His gift for song writing has remained largely undiscovered and unappreciated. As well as acting, he has also written a book of poetry entitled Still Water.

Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Because of their unique sound & tight harmonies, despite their breakup , they remain influential in the world of rock music today.

LINKS:

Orliaguet, Jean-Marc. Acoustic Guitar Song Collection.

SongTalk Interview - Art Garfunkel by Paul Zollo 1990

Playboy Interview : Paul Simon By Tony Schwartz, 1984

The Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel FAQ Version 1.24

Paul Simon & Garfunkel

Wall of Sound: Artists: Paul Simon

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