Simon & GarfunkelCreated by Group 2

Kao-wei Chen, Rebecca Galarowicz, Brittany Kelly, David Oberg, Nikolas Sell

Why Simon & Garfunkel?

They were one of the first folk performers make it big in the music industry and became future role models for the upcoming generation of folk rock singers.

Kao-wei Chen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SimonandGarfunkel.jpg

Background Information• Real Names

• Paul Simon• Art Garfunkel

• Both were born 1941, still alive today• First met each other in elementary school• Realized their potential when singing together

Doo-wop songs found on the radio at an early age

http://www.last.fm/music/Simon+&+Garfunkel/+images/138461

Beginning of Simon & Garfunkel

• At age 16, they recorded their first single composed by Simon titled ‘’Hey Schoolgirl’’• Peaked at the top 50 on the Billboard under Tom & Jerry

• Late 50s/early 60s- both worked together ocassionally but were solo acts during this time

• 1964, release of their debut album ‘’Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.’’• release did poorly

• 1964-1965, Tom Wilson, a folk-rock producer, revised Simon’s & Garfunkel’s track titled ‘’The Sound of Silence’’ and released it in the market• Track rose to #1 in 1965• Song was edited by incorporating electric bass, guitar and drums

The High & End Life of S&G 1966, placed 3 albums and four singles in the top 30 of the Billboard

E.g. ‘’The Sound of Silence’’, ‘’I Am A Rock’’, and ‘’Parsely, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme’’

1966-1969, their career was at a turning point Writing of songs and recording significantly took longer Simon’s & Garfunkel’s relationship started souring

1970, release of their last original album titled ‘’Bridge Over Troubled Water’’ Topped US album charts for over 10 weeks Sold over 13 million copies World Wide Took 2 Years to record

1970 marked the official breakup of Simon & Garfunkel

Post S&G Life• Simon & Garfunkel both pursued solo careers

at the dawn of the new decade (1970s)• Simon wrote and recorded wry and angst-

filled songs sung in different ethnic accents• Garfunkel recorded songs tended towards

adult-oriented pop• 1990, Simon & Garfunkel were inducted into

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame• In the 21st Century the duo reunited to put on

performances around globe• Most recent performance was in 2010 at

the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Importance of S&G• First folk performers to reach new heights in

the music industry with their album ‘’Bridge Over Troubled Water’’, which sold over 3 million copies

• Lyrics & the group have been referenced in television series such as ‘’Friends’’, ‘’The Simpsons’’, and ‘’SNL’’

http://www.last.fm/music/Simon+&+Garfunkel/+images/138461

Musical Style

• Simons and Garfunkel’s style combined elements of folk, rock, and Pop

• Despite their clean sound, they appealed to a wide range of listeners during the tumultuous 60s

• Utilized poetic messages and international musical styles to modernise folk-rock

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/SimonandGarfunkel.jpg/250px-SimonandGarfunkel.jpg

Musical Style (continued)

• The duo, were it not for Simon’s background in Pop music, may have been remembered as simply another folk act

• Similarities are apparent between Simon and Garfunkel’s music and other folk-rock of the time, including the story-telling feel and a much calmer sound than mainstream rock ‘n’ roll

• Important differences are what separates this duo:– ‘’Sound of Silence’’ is an example which clearly stands out from other folk-rock, with its use of

electric guitars, bass, and drums– Their impressive use of poetry set them apart– Ability to fuse popular sound with sophisticated and clean song-writing gained them a wide audience

Musical Style (continued)

• Other defining features of their music include:– Close harmonies reminiscent of the Everly Brothers– Lyrics which commonly featured social commentary (these encouraged peace and projected calm in

a time of great political, social, and military unrest)– In their later years, a wider range of influences from sounds around the world

http://i2.listal.com/image/1672585/600full-simon-%26-garfunkel.jpg

Musical Style (continued)• Their innovative combination of folk and rock

music furthered the popularity of this trend during their time

• However, while their musical style is memorable and unique, the greatest impact of their music was a social one– Song lyrics spoke to the counterculture of the

1960s– Messages of their songs discouraged hate and

embraced love and peace– Even today, the feelings invoked through their

music are still relevant and tangible to listeners

Musical Style (continued)

• The musical differences of Simon and Garfunkel became apparent once they broke up for good

• Paul Simon:– Clearly the driving force behind the duo’s songwriting, this ability shone through in his solo career– Achieved comparable success as a solo artist as when he belonged to Simon and Garfunkel– Incorporated more challenging aspects, such as complex time signatures, into his solo music– His individual style was quite different as well, with influences anywhere from South Africa, to

Andean mountain music, to gospel

• Art Garfunkel:– Went on to a far less successful solo career– Dabbled in acting and some singing

http://greenobles.com/data_images/paul-simon/paul-simon-05.jpg

http://www.nndb.com/people/724/000022658/

garfunkel-sm.jpg

Other Artists of the Period

Although Simon & Garfunkel had one of the most unique folk rock sounds, there are several artists with similarities including the Beatles, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Mama’s & The Papa’s, and Bob Dylan.

Concurrent Music- The Beatles

•The Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album set the precedent for concept albums like Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends album. • “Old Friends” has a large orchestra accompaniment that builds a wall of sound, similar to “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles

http://www.pollsb.com/photos/o/320202-sgt_pepper_s_lonely_hearts_club_band.jpg

Concurrent Music- The Lovin’ Spoonful

•The Lovin’ Spoonful were a folk rock group with a similar sound to Simon & Garfunkel•Their song “Daydream”, has a similar sound and instrumentation to Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson”

http://image.lyricspond.com/image/t/artist-the-lovin-spoonful/album-the-lovin-spoonful-greatest-hits/cd-cover.jpg

Concurrent Music- The Mamas & The Papas

• The Mamas and the Papas’ folk rock music was similar to Simon & Garfunkel’s in its sound and form.

• Their song “California Dreamin’” has a similar form to Simon & Garfunkel’s “America”.

http://www.jasondunn.com/albumart/images/the_mamas_and_the_papas_california_dreamin__1994.jpg

Concurrent Music- Bob Dylan• Bob Dylan was one of the major

influences of the folk music movement, and is even considered one of the creators of folk rock

• His lyrics influenced many of the artists of the time including Simon and Garfunkel, who did covers of Dylan’s songs in their early career.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Zde-OxOYou4/TINiSHncTJI/AAAAAAAAA78/nBCP-n3nurI/s1600/bob_dylan6.jpg

Concurrent Music: Everly Brothers

• The Everly Brothers melded country with the emerging rock and roll of the fifties and greatly influenced Simon and Garfunkel through their style

• Cover songs• Toured with Simon and Garfunkel

(in support) on their Old Friends Tour

• “Hey Schoolgirl”, “Bye, Bye Love”, “Wake Up Little Susie”

http://progbeat-vvche.blogspot.com/2010/08/everly-brothers-two-yanks-in-england.html

Concurrent Music: Peter, Paul and Mary

• A folk singer, a comedian, and a Broadway actress created one of the most popular folk group that created contemporary folk music

• Helped launch many songwriter’s careers

• Influenced Simon and Garfunkel’s folk roots and musical style

http://greenobles.com/photos/peter,paul-and-mary/01/

Popular Music of that Time Period

• Other popular artists during the time period of Simon and Garfunkel include:– Rolling Stones– Bob Dylan– Beach Boys– Beatles– Jimi Hendrix– Led Zeppelin– The Who– Jackson Five

http://emol.org/music/tina/peterpaulmary.html

http://whitgunn.freeservers.com/Davemusic/L/led-zeppelin/led-

zeppelin-iv.html

http://www.clashmusic.com/artists/the-beach-boys

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles

Political & Social Influences

• Simon and Garfunkel were known for their strong political views in their music. In the time period when they became a group, there was a change in music. People started writing what they called ‘Protest Songs’. A Protest Song is a song that is associated with a movement of social change.

http://blog.interexchange.org/career-training-usa/2012/05/10/u-s-involvement-in-the-vietnam-war/

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/01/2-the-vietnam-war-top-10-mistakes-by-us-presidents/

Political & Social Influences (continued)• Some of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Protest

Songs” would include:– Seven O Clock News/Silent Night

• Was for the general condemnation of the war

– Sound of Silence• This song was not intended to be an anti-war song but

people of that time interpreted it that way

– Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream• At the end of the song it says “I dreamed the world had

all agreed to put an end to war”

Political & Social Influences (continued)

• Some political and social events of that time period that had an affect on some of their music include:– The war in Vietnam– The Cold War– Civil Rights Act of 1964– John F. Kennedy’s Presidency– National Voting Rights Act of 1965

Musical Analysis: Sound of Silence

• Instrumentation: acoustic version “over-dubbed” with electric bass, electric guitar and drums to transform it into the revised rock-folk version

• Meter and Beat Subdivision: Quadruple meter with duple subdivision– Strongest beats are on 2 and 4 (backbeat)– Two equal notes

revised rock-folk version

Musical Analysis: Sound of Silence

• Texture: homophony, with melody and accompaniment– Paul and Art harmonized, creating

chords• Form

– macrostructure: ABAAB– Microstructure: aabbcde and

aabbccd

revised rock-folk version

(a) Hello darkness, my old friend(a) I’ve come to talk to you again(b) Because a vision softly creeping(b) Left its seed while I was sleeping(c) And the vision that was planted in my brain(d) Still remains(e) Within the sound of silence

(a) In restless dreams I walked alone(a) Narrow streets of cobblestone(b) “Neath the halo of a street lamp(b) I turned my collar to the cold and damp(c) When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of the neon light(c) That split the night(d) And touched the sound of silence

(a) And in the naked light I saw(a) Ten thousand people, maybe more(b) People talking without speaking(b) People hearing without listening(c) People writing songs that voices never share(d) And no one dared(e) Disturb the sound of silence

Musical Analysis: Sound of Silence revised rock-folk version

(a) “Fools,” said I, “You do not know(a) Silence like a cancer grows (b) Hear my words that I might teach you(b) Take my arms that I might reach you”(c) But my words like silent raindrops fell(d) And Echoed(e) In the wells of silence

(a) And the people bowed and prayed(a) To the neon god they made(be) and the sign flashed out its warning(b) In the words that it was forming(c) And the sign said, “the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls(d) And tenement halls”(e) And whispered in the sounds of silence.

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Long Live Simon & Garfunkel