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My Top 5 Simon and Garfunkel Songs
Growing up in a household consisting of a baby boomer and a silent-era parent, my music tastes can range from a big band with Glen Miller, Frank Sinatra, The Who, Journey, and everything in between. My mom has a massive collection of records and when we were at my old house in PA, she would play them over the surround sound in the living room. What also played constantly was the local radio station 93.3 WMMR with Pierre Robert.
When I was 8 years old, I started to ask my mom to put on her records of Paul Simon or Simon and Garfunkel. I would dance around the dining room table singing to Mrs. Robinson and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. My favorite cassette tape at the time was Negotiations and Love Songs by Paul Simon. I may have mentioned in my podcast that my brother got ahold of that cassette tape and proceeded to pull out the delicate tape. I think it was the only time I was mad at him for going into my room and touching my stuff. Any other time it never really bothered me. It was because he was messing with my music. Don’t ever do that.
As I have said time and time again, music has played an integral part in my life. Paul Simon is my favorite songwriter and Martin Gore a close second. Different types of music, that associate with different feelings. Simon and Garfunkel I think were a perfect storm of excellent harmony and extraordinary songwriting. Saying that here are my top five favorite songs by the duo. I will have an honorable mention because there is a lot that I love.
If you have not listened to this song, please do yourself a favor and listen. If ever you sit and contemplate life, this song is for you. The words are just beautiful and speak volumes about life as we know it. Besides the music, this is my favorite because of the lyrics. They come front and center.
This used to be my number one song. Melodic and fantasy-inducing. It still holds strong, but as I grew and saw how life was, my reasons for liking a song changed. This song is an excellent showcase of both Simon and Garfunkel weaving their harmonies all the while having an anti-war chant going on over the folk song. Great stuff right there.
If you want to see me cry to a song, this is the one. Throughout my life I have thought about the concept of getting old and eventually dying. I had an older generation family on my dad’s side. Unfortunately, I attended a lot of funerals. Perhaps this was the reason for my preoccupation on my own mortality. This song just amplifies those feelings of growing old and what we will have left in the end.
I like the flutes and it reminds me a little of South American music. They also had this song on the Muppet Show when Paul Simon was hosting. They did a very funny rendition of it. Great song and a funny episode.
This song was a favorite of mine even from way back. It was like he is saying he was there to sing when I needed it. The songs were there to help me through some bad times and this song was telling me it will always be there. I know it might not mean the same to others, but this is my list.
Honorable Mentions
Like I said I could probably name every single song that Simon and Garfunkel ever did as my favorite. However, the ones above are the ones that mean something special to me, for whatever reason. Here are the songs that are obvious choices to love, because let’s face it, they are great.
- “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”
Besides the name giving you the means to get away from the troubles that are surrounding you, we also have Art Garfunkel’s voice. There is no one that could have sung this song better. No one.
- “Mrs. Robinson”
Iconic and there is a complete movie about it. If you haven’t already, check out “The Graduate”, Simon and Garfunkel did the complete soundtrack for it.
- “The Sound of Silence”
Whether you are a fan of the original acoustic version or the revamped electric version, there is no denying the impact of this song. Disturbed did a great cover of it as well.
Great songs and great lyrics. I cannot say enough about how much I love Simon and Garfunkel. From the age of 8 until today, they have been a constant. I was lucky enough to see Paul Simon in concert twice. Both times were amazing. I never go to see both together. When they were touring, the price of a ticket was way out of my budget. I am satisfied though to listen to their recordings and enjoy the great music they produced.
