Simon & Garfunkel: Difference between revisions

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With the release of "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsX03LOMhI The Sounds of Silence]," Simon & Garfunkel became one of the [[Trope Codifier|Trope Codifiers]] of folk-rock alongside [[The Byrds]]. The song was also their first hit on the pop charts, reaching the number one spot on New Year's Day in 1966. Their later hits included "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQaD2CAi9A Scarborough Fair/Canticle]," which combined the English folk ballad "Scarborough Fair" with an anti-war poem sung in counterpoint, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwQYH-6quEE Homeward Bound]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_a46WJ1viA Bridge Over Troubled Water]." Later, their fame took an ever bigger boost when their music was used in the film ''[[The Graduate]]'', which not only included their older songs (which was rare at that time for film) but also new material like "Mrs. Robinson."

* [[Dying Town]]: "My Little Town"

* [[Driven to Suicide]]: The subjects of the songs "Richard Cory" and "A Most Peculiar Man".

* [[Executive Meddling]]: A positive example of this is responsible for the duo's entire ''career''. Short history: they first released "The Sounds of Silence" in 1964 in a completely acoustic version on their debut album. Said album tanked, then the two split and Simon moved to England. A year later, [[The Byrds]] spearheaded the folk-rock movement with their electrified covers of [[Bob Dylan]] songs. Sensing an opportunity, in June 1965 Dylan's producer Tom Wilson took the original backing track and overdubbed electric guitar, bass and drums, borrowing members of Dylan's backing band. Not bothering to consult either Simon or Garfunkel, the new version of the song was released as a single and slowly climbed up to #1. Simon returned from England, reunited with Garfunkel and the two went on to more success.

** Though they only agreed to if the execs promised they'd never pull a stunt like that without telling them first.

{{quote| I been Ayn Randed, nearly branded <br />

Communist, 'cause I'm left-handed. <br />

* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: This is most notably expressed in "The Only Living Boy in New York" which is basically about Paul missing Art (the "Tom" in the song; in the early days when they performed as "Tom and Jerry," Art was "Tom") when the latter went to Mexico to film ''[[Catch-22]]''.

* [[Hypocritical Humor]]: "A Simple Desultory Phillipic"

* [[I Just Want to Be You]]: ''"Oh, I wish that I could be Richard Cory."''

* [[In the Style Of]]: Their early recordings as Tom and Jerry were a inspired by the [[Everly Brothers]]' sound (whose song "Bye Bye Love" was covered on the ''Bridge over Troubled Water'' album).

* [[Lesser Star]]: Former [[Trope Namer]]. Art Garfunkel has been characterized as the junior partner in the duo, and there is truth in that, as Simon both played guitar and wrote all the music while Garfunkel only sang. However, Garfunkel had the better voice and Simon and Garfunkel's harmonies were the reason for their unique sound, and Art Garfunkel had a big role in the vocal arrangements. (One way to appreciate Garfunkel's role in the group is to listen to Paul Simon's "American Tune" and then listen to the Simon and Garfunkel version recorded during the concert in Central Park).

* [[Live Album]]: ''The Concert in Central Park''

* [[Single-Stanza Song]]: "Bookends"

* [[Soundtrack Dissonance]]: "Seven O'Clock News/Silent Night". ''Big'' time.

** On ''Bookends'', there's "Voices of Old People", which consists of people in a [[New York City]] retirement home making conversation with Art Garfunkel.

* [[The Something Song]]: "The 59th Street Bridge Song" and "Kathy's Song"