DUTC#16 April 30, 2023

Featured Song

“The Sounds of Silence”

Simon & Garfunkel was an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits, including the eclectic remix of “The Sounds of Silence” (1965), “Mrs. Robinson” (1968), “The Boxer” (1969), and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970), reached the number one position on singles charts worldwide!

Like many artists that combine their respective talents to form a group, theirs was a troubled relationship, which culminated in them breaking up as a group in 1970 after the release of their final studio album Bridge Over Troubled Water, perhaps a fitting title given their artistic disagreements. Simon, of course, went on the have a very successful solo career, releasing several well-received albums. Garfunkel also had a brief solo career as well as getting into acting, with lead roles in Catch-22, Carnal Knowledge, and Bad Timing.

There have been several reunion tours over the years, including their 1981concert in Central Park, which is rumored to have been attended by over 500,000 people, one of the largest concert attendances in history. The performance of “The Sounds of Silence” I’ve chosen is the one they performed at the 25^th anniversary of “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” in 2009 at Madison Square Garden.

Simon & Garfunkel “The Sounds of Silence.” 25^th anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert, live from Madison Square Garden, NYC. Oct.29/30, 2009.

Tim and Cameron

As one can imagine, there have been countless covers of this song over the years by a rather eclectic mix of performers, so in keeping with that trend I have chosen five covers that I feel represent that diversity. First up are a guitar duo from Brisbane, Australia who have been covering songs and posting them on YouTube since 2013. They also play with the band Carvel. I chose this cover because of their harmonies and guitar playing that really appear to be channeling the original. Close your eyes part way through and you will hear what I mean!

Tim and Cameron Playing Guitar “The Sounds of Silence” Dec.2014

HM Royal Marine Bands

The Royal Marines Band Service is the musical wing of the Royal Navy and an independent element of the Royal Marines. It currently consists of five bands plus a training wing – the Royal Marines School of Music at HMS Nelson. Their headquarters are at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth. They have a very long and storied history dating back to the late 1600s. The bands now participate in annual events across the country. Their performance of “The Sounds of Silence” is quite something and is a joint collaboration of all five bands and a guest musician.

The Bands of HM Royal Marines “The Sounds of Silence.” Live from the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring band Lance Corporal Sam McIndoe and musician George Gissing on vocal. Nov. 2020.

Disturbed

Disturbed is an American heavy metal band from Chicago formed in 1994. The band includes vocalist David Draiman, guitarist/keyboardist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer, and drummer Mike Wengren. Donegan and Wengren have been involved in the band since its inception, with Moyer and Draiman replacing the original bassist and vocalist.

I chose this cover for several reasons. Firstly, it is not too often you get to hear a heavy metal band perform a song that is so far removed from that genre that it is laughable. Secondly, and most importantly, Draiman’s voice is so hauntingly beautiful that I found it difficult not to stare at him throughout the entire song. Lastly, I chose “The Conan O’Brien Show’s performance because they are backed by an entire orchestra.

Disturbed “The Sounds of Silence” Live, Conan O’Brien Show. Mar. 2016

Stephanie Jones

Stephanie Jones is a classically trained guitarist and an active soloist and chamber musician who is currently based in Germany. Stephanie performs extensively around the world in multiple tours and festivals and has also released three solo albums: Bach, the Fly, and the Microphone (2009), Colours of Spain (2015), and Open Sky (2020). She has also won numerous awards in prestigious competitions. Even though this is an instrumental version of this song, her musical phrasing is simply magical!

Stephanie Jones “The Sounds of Silence.” Acoustic guitar cover. Jun. 2020.

NiNi & Joy are two Taiwanese musicians who play several different Chinese traditional instruments. There is not a great deal of information on them, although they do have a presence on YouTube individually, as well as performing together. Much like the previous Jones acoustic guitar version, I could not pass this up because of its uniqueness and amazing sound. Enjoy!

NiNi Music & Joy “The Sounds of Silence” (Asian Folk Cover) Feb. 2023

Los Angeles 2023