Simon & Garfunkel Created by Group 2 Kao-wei Chen, Rebecca Galarowicz, Bri@any Kelly, David Oberg, Nikolas Sell Kao-wei Chen 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 generaon of folk rock singers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SimonandGarfunkel.jpg Background Informaon • Real Names • Paul Simon • Art Garfunkel • Both were born 1941, sll alive today • First met each other in elementary school • Realized their potenKal when singing together Doo-wop songs found on the radio at an early age h@p://www.last.fm/music/Simon+&+Garfunkel/ +images/138461 Beginning of Simon & Garfunkel • At age 16, they recorded their first single composed by Simon Ktled ‘’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 me • 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 Ktled ‘’The Sound of Silence’’ and released it in the market • Track rose to #1 in 1965 • Song was edited by incorporang electric bass, guitar and drums The High & End Life of S&G v 1966, placed 3 albums and four singles in the top 30 of the Billboard v E.g. ‘’The Sound of Silence’’, ‘’I Am A Rock’’, and ‘’Parsely, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme’’ v 1966-1969, their career was at a turning point v WriKng of songs and recording significantly took longer v Simon’s & Garfunkel’s relaonship started souring v 1970, release of their last original album Ktled ‘’Bridge Over Troubled Water’’ v Topped US album charts for over 10 weeks v Sold over 13 million copies World Wide v Took 2 Years to record v 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 FesKval 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’’ h@p://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 • UKlized poec messages and internaonal musical styles to modernise folk-rock h@p://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/ SimonandGarfunkel.jpg/250px-SimonandGarfunkel.jpg Musical Style (connued) • The duo, were it not for Simon’s background in Pop music, may have been remembered as simply another folk act • SimilariKes are apparent between Simon and Garfunkel’s music and other folk- rock of the Kme, 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 sophisKcated and clean song-wring gained them a wide audience Musical Style (connued) • 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 Kme of great poliKcal, social, and military unrest) – In their later years, a wider range of influences from sounds around the world h@p://i2.listal.com/image/1672585/600full- simon-%26-garfunkel.jpg Musical Style (connued) • Their innovave combinaon of folk and rock music furthered the popularity of this trend during their me • 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 sll relevant and tangible to listeners Musical Style (connued) • 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 songwring, this ability shone through in his solo career – Achieved comparable success as a solo arKst as when he belonged to Simon and Garfunkel – Incorporated more challenging aspects, such as complex Kme 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 acKng and some singing h@p://greenobles.com/data_images/paul- hp://www.nndb.com/people/ simon/paul-simon-05.jpg 724/000022658/garfunkel- sm.jpg Other ArKsts of the Period Although Simon & Garfunkel had one of the most unique folk rock sounds, there are several arKsts with similariKes 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 http://www.pollsb.com/photos/o/320202- “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles 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 instrumentaon 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 arKsts of the Kme 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 fisies 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 Li@le 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 http://greenobles.com/photos/peter,paul-and-mary/01/ musical style Popular Music of that Time Period • Other popular arKsts during the Kme period of Simon and Garfunkel include: – Rolling Stones – Bob Dylan – Beach Boys – Beatles – Jimi Hendrix http://emol.org/music/tina/ http://www.clashmusic.com/artists/ – Led Zeppelin peterpaulmary.html the-beach-boys – The Who – Jackson Five http://whitgunn.freeservers.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Davemusic/L/led-zeppelin/led- The_Beatles zeppelin-iv.html PoliKcal & Social Influences • Simon and Garfunkel were known for their strong poliKcal views in their music. In the Kme period when they became a group, there was a change in music. People started wriKng 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/ http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/01/2-the- 2012/05/10/u-s-involvement-in-the-vietnam-war/ vietnam-war-top-10-mistakes-by-us-presidents/ PoliKcal & Social Influences (conKnued) • Some of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Protest Songs” would include: – Seven O Clock News/Silent Night • Was for the general condemnaon of the war – Sound of Silence • This song was not intended to be an anK-war song but people of that Kme 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” PoliKcal & Social Influences (conKnued) • Some poliKcal and social events of that Kme 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 – Naonal VoKng Rights Act of 1965 Musical Analysis: Sound of Silence revised rock-folk version • Instrumentaon: acousKc version “over- dubbed” with electric bass, electric guitar and drums to transform it into the revised rock- folk version • Meter and Beat Subdivision: