Two voices and a guitar and half a million people are enchanted!

I love it when a newbie falls into the S&G rabbit-hole. Old-school fans are like a family. We got it while music was fresh.

I was at this concert in Central Park, half a million people totally transfixed listening to this timeless classic!!

Good Choice Harri ! 500,000 FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE were there, my friend :)

“The Boxer” is another great one to cover !

I loved growing up in the 60's. We had great music artist. The baby boomer music. This song still makes me cry..... I also loved the 70's music.

The words of the Prophets are written on the subway walls, tenement halls. Powerful

One of my favourite songs of all time…

Simon and Garfunkel were master poets. Lyrics that just mattered. Their body of work is just astounding to hear. It’s withstood the test of time. So 50 years later it’s still just as powerful as when it was new

This song will never get old because unfortunately things don’t change and a sad and beautiful song like this will always be pertinent.

You can tell just how incredible a performance that was. Just two guys singing, and one guitar playing, and the crowd was silent practically the entire time. When you can basically mesmerize an entire crowd of people that way, you know these guys are good!

They sounded so good it's hard to believe that this was a onetime reunion concert done years after they split up.

The fact that these guys could perfectly replicate the studio recording was genius. Paul's ability as a poet was stunning. And they kept it so simple, so genuinely beautiful!

We were blessed to live in the music of the 60's. It was our education. Peace, awareness, love. If only we could go back to living the teachings... It is wonderful to find people like you having these reactions. Thank you. You are the hope of the future for a better humanity. Be well, safe and loved.

I was in the 11th grade in 1970. In advanced English pre college class. This was the only song we ever covered. We had to dissect and write essay projects on this song. And at the end what we got out of it. To this day. It remains as meaningful memory. And oh how we need it today.❤😊

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a wonderful song by them. My dad loved S & G and introduced them to me and my brothers. We had this song played at his funeral because it was one of his favorites. 🙏🏻❤️

Lyrics at the time this sing was originally written were important. They were contemporaries of Bob Dylan in the Greenwich village folk scene in the 1960s. It was a time of unrest and outrage, a time when young people were letting there voices be heard for the first time, so the words were crutial. It was the beginning of a revolution and by the end of the decade that movement would errupt in flames, nightsticks and tear gas.

yes, I understand your envy of our generation's brilliant output of great music, but fortunately you still can have access to all that music here on KZfaq. Keep exploring, my friend. You are expanding the wealth of past generations.

You turn our golden oldies into "new" songs. Magic.

This was when they were older. Performing the Concert at Central Park and over 500k were there and it was a free concert. You have to hear the original version.

We are so fortunate to be alive in the years of Simon and Garfunkel. For lyrics and harmonies, listen to another song from this concert named "American Tune" not to be confused with "America", also performed at the concert. I was there. It seemed as if half of New York just stood up, walked out their doors, and headed to Central Park. It was magical.

This concert was 1983 and magical!

You must listen to the studio version for the most exquisite Harmony you'll ever hear. Paul Simon is among the most elite of the baby boom generation of writers. Check out Scarborough Fair, arguably even more beautiful.

Oh gosh! There are so many awesome S&G songs! I Am A Rock, America, Bookends, Kathy's Song, The Boxer, El Condor Pasa, Hazy Shade of Winter, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Scarborough Fair, Mrs Robinson...

Hari..Are we not fortunate to have these great performers and all the great musicians of those years 60's,70's.

I actually was there! In Central Park. That night. I'm in the crowd somewhere. It was magic! ...Peace - Jazz

Looking at them in this video I want to day they were still just babies back then! I think Sounds of Silence was first released. A massive hit, and definitely a conversation piece. I was glad to see how quiet the crowd went for this song; I have to say how refreshing it was not to see 10,000 phone lights flashing on and off and being waved. Sound system was awesome for them, you could hear each of them as a single and as part of a duo. I do highly recommend listening to this as a studio made. The loneliness really penetrates that silence. It was their first major hit, and the rest is history as it is said. Simon's lyrics and Garfunkel's voice were - and still are- the voices of our generation. The good ones are forever. Enjoy your work and comments.!

I've been listening to, and loving, Simon and Garfunkel since their beginning. I still play their CDs in my car. They were incredible together. Please listen to more of their music.

Bridge Over Troubled Water always takes me to church. ❤❤❤

The complex imagery in this has to be linked to the advanced poetic lyrics of Bob Dylan. He really raised the bar in the mid-60s; or to use a better metaphor - when other divers were doing swan dives and jacknifes, Dylan came along and did a double flip with a full twist. Those Greenwich Village cafes were making people stretch their minds to stay on the cutting edge of creativity and Paul proved he also could deliver the goods. Before this one, he already had years of songwriting under his belt, starting in high school , when he collaborated with another amazing songwriter, Carole King.

As a thirteen year old I was there with my parents in Central Park, the concert to this day I think is still said to be the most peoples in attendance for a free concert. It was a surreal experience for me, one I'll never forget not only because I still have the original concert recording on vinyl but also it came with a full lyric sheet and so was my first artists to learn my guitar skills from learning and covering each track. Thanks for this!

The 60's were a time of huge social awareness and change. Simon and Garfunkel were just one of many song writers that influenced that change.

I think your interpretation is right on, and from the vantage point of 2021, they were prophetic.

Paul Simon wrote this when he was 17 in 1964 to me that's amazing.

Paul Simon also had a great solo career after they broke up. A great song is "Homeless" or "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes" from an album (Graceland) he did in South Africa with local singers.

My parents had this album Live From Central Park on vinyl. I use to sit and listen to it often. Even as a child their music touched the soul.

Brother, they were playing to an audience of half a million people. Yep, 500,000.

Back then, I saw them. Not in Central Park, but they've done some shows after that with the same programm. It was in Offenbach, Germany on 17th of June 1982, I think It Was my first big Show. I was 16 years old and couldn't belive beeing so lucky. Not only they were reunited for only These shows, but they came to me and played literally at my doorsteps. I became a hughe fan of Paul Simon since. I think I was the only person in the world listening to the Hearts and Bones Album my age in awe.

Music is also extremely prophetic. This was done in the 60s/70s. When you watch Paul Simon do this again at the Twin Towers Tribute 10 years after 9/11, it'll bring you to tears. These things are placed inside us and we don't know why ..... but they surely can tell the story later.

This is live folks. Listen to that vocal quality. Live!!!!

Many songs on this record used for The Graduate movie soundtrack

This concert was 19 September 1981. To raise money for the restoration of Central Park

Really beautiful song , never tire of it .

One of my favorite groups of my times......gorgeous song writers and performers. As a choral singer, I’ve always been attracted by beautiful harmonies.....so naturally I was attracted to them...and then by CSNY. This was a one-off performance......They had split up years before. For a comp,et ely different take on this song, listen to Disturbed’s version. Very different, but incredibly powerful.

I've listened to this song and loved it since it first came out in 1963-64. I've always believed it is about censorship, government tyranny, estrangement among and between the citizens, rampant commercialism, and in essence, the growing influence of Orwell's "Big Brother" in our lives.

After all these years this song still brings tears to my eyes.

I was fortunate to be 18 years than;;;we had so many great songwriters/ music…I so feel blessed to be young than.

I cry every time I hear this song. Perfection.

There are very few songs that can compete with this description of what it is to be a human

S&G had released one album, _Wednesday Morning 3AM,_ late in 1964, which contained their original acoustic version of this song, and which was not a commercial success, after which they basically split up and pursued separate careers (while remaining friends), until in fall 1965 the song's producer took the song, added a driving rhythm track, released it as a single, and it became a smash #1 hit - and their successful career of fame as a duo was born. The world came _this close_ [finger & thumb held close together] to never having heard of Simon & Garfunkel! Kind of makes you wonder what other wonderful acts the world HASN'T ever heard of because "chance events" didn't play out in their favor...

They were the best duo of the sixties and yes they have many many great songs for you to discover. Cheers.

I can't even begin to describe what a halting experience it was when this song first came on the radio in 1965. It was the end of the year, around Christmastime, as I recall, the weather was cold, and as if you needed anything else to make you feel any colder, this song just gave you the chills. It still does. But when it was new, no one had heard of Simon and Garfunkel before; this song was our first exposure to their amazing harmonies and cut-to-the-bone lyrics. There was nothing quite like them on the radio at the time. It's too bad they had a hard time getting along, because they made some incredible music together. Of course, they continued to make some incredible music as solo artists as well. Perhaps Paul was more prolific, but Art's beautiful voice gave us some amazing songs as well. Check out his amazing rendition of "All I Know" and "I Only Have Eyes for You." Both were #1 hits in America. Some of Paul's biggest hits included "Kodachrome," "Me and Julio Down By the School Yard," "Late In the Evening," and "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." But I still think their best work was when they collaborated. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was the biggest Simon and Garfunkel hit. But "Mrs. Robinson" (from the movie "The Graduate"), "I Am A Rock," "Scarborough Fair," and "The Boxer" are just phenomenal songs. On one amazing night in the mid '70s, Paul Simon hosted NBC's Saturday Night Live and his musical guest was George Harrison of The Beatles. They sang two songs as duets that night: The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Homeward Bound," two of the most beautiful songs ever written, and their duet performances that night stand as two of the best performances -- maybe *THE* TWO BEST performances ever on that long-running NBC-TV show. Someone has posted the two songs on KZfaq, and I hope they don't get taken down. For those of us who were watching that night, we'll never forget those two performances.

I love the deep meanings of this song.

One of my all time favorites! Love this! Thank you Harri! Love & Light friend! ❤️🙏😇

Another great reaction Harri. My fave of theirs is Kathy's Song..... but who am I kidding, I love so their stuff--grew up listening to them. Stay blessed 💕

More S+G please. Bridge over troubled water is my favourite song of all time. Also, thank you for playing the live version and not the original - I hope you do that with all of their songs. Others I reccommend - "America" and "The Boxer" - live versions :) Thank you for a great reaction. Oh, and another one you will LOVE from Paul Simon's solo career is "American Tune". The guy is literally a poet.

Simon and Garfunkle reunion. Broke up ( like most in the 60s ) Thanks for this!

This was the first time they performed together since breaking up in 1970! Really, Really big event. The DVD of the whole concert is incredible!

Thank you for your reaction to this classic song, Harri! This is one iconic duo at the height of their harmonizing powers in a great location. Oh to be there that night!

Brings back memories..... was there,...

Music and food do bring people together!

You are right the 60's were a wonderful time for music, even into the early 70's, the civil rights protests, the women's rights protests, the Viet Nam war (and protests against all war), the first Earth Day, all contributed things to write and sing about. This particular song is even more relevant now, with people on their phones constantly, texting not talking.

Paul Simon is a fantastic song writer.

It was truly a time to be alive!

Yes...the 60's were a great time for music! I'm old, but I got to hear all the great bands! Paul Simon is a genius songwriter. If this song knocked you out, listen to the Acapella group PENTATONIX for their version of this classic! SERIOUSLY!

I love your reactions ...... they always point out something of substance in every song you review.. So smart! Thank you.

One of my absolute favorites!

Hi Harri, enjoyed the angle, heard the studio stuff first 👍, remember the child I was then😊👌

We are all members of the the same family HUMANS of this earth. Yet we devide ourselves by race creed colour religion borders and boundaries. That sound of silence to unite is sadly deafening

Like the Beatles, S&G impacted music and culture hugely. Mrs. Robinson....pray for her.

Have you heard "The Boxer"? Great song!!

“That was a fantastic song.” That WAS a fantastic song. I hope people will go out and buy the record and support these guys.

Harri, every time I tune into your channel you're so totally on the ball with your comments, just always feel the openness of that heart of yours, you'd of definitely fitted into the '60s. The great thing is, what was remarkable about that time I am able to see in your soul. So I can see you covering this timeless song ! This was, I think, around the 2nd time I caught Paul, I'd missed them in the 60s so having Garfunkel back with him for this tour was a dream come true.

Paul Simon is one of the great song writers in the modern era, 1960s to today. You could react to a different Paul Simon song each hour for a week and not find a bad song.

You mentioned their song “Cecilia”. The song is not about a girlfriend, it is about the patron saint of music and musicians. They’re singing about the muse leaving in the middle of songwriting to favor another musician. 😊

This was the song that made S&G. It was originally on side 2 of their first album and didn't do well. They went their separate ways for a time, the song without Paul's knowledge was released as a single with new arrangements added and it became a hit.

This is right up there with “Day In Life by the Beatles as a commentary on modern life and it’s isolation.

The Sound Of Silence is exactly what the lyrics mean. "Silence." Everyone wants to talk to hear a noise to see lights, to be active. No one wants to listen without speaking. The end result is with all this going on, we really do not care about one another!

I was alive. It was fab.

This is the perfect song.

Hi Harri, glad you've discovered S & G, they're true American treasures. Something you said resonated with me, in regards to feeling discouraged about songwriting, when you hear excellent songwriting. I can relate to that personally, with my piano playing-- I have a handful of friends who can play circles around me, who are hard-core professionals. I wasted time worrying about "never measuring up", until it dawned on me that I could view them as an inspiration to work harder. I'd watch them play, and go home to practice, instead of being discouraged. It paid off in the long run, and some of those musicians I once idolized now call me to fill in for them ... So, I hope you can benefit from that perspective--- and keep writing! You're obviously an intelligent and sensitive soul, I have no doubts that you'll be a great songwriter. ✌🎶

Loved your reaction. You seem like a very deep thinker, who appreciates beautiful words.

The words have meaning even today

Even now that you know this song by this duo, you would be missing out if you did not listen to the studio version. You would hear the version that all of us boomers fell in love with. As good as this concert is, the original will absolutely blow your mind. You will thank me, trust me.

It's funny how this song was written in the 1960's, but with our current technology, we are even more distant from each other now than Paul could have possibly foreseen.

Great review Hsrry I heard Paul Simon sing this solo live at the Liverpool.arens One of my greatest moments listening to live music . It was easily the greatest ever. My comment Iisoutside the boxThy the solo Amercsn tune for Paul Simon.70s solo comment on where we were at

Paul Simon was the BEST American songwriter. He was like Dylan, Lennon and McCartney rolled into one!.

I love listening to you. I’m 71. and refer to this and to Easy to Be Hard from the play Hair. I feel we made zero progress and now we are molding into clones. I speak on this often. You seem to be in touch. It is good. I will continue what my generation tried to do. You are spot on

They have used this song for many charities on TV such as caring for Starving Children etcetera

They had quit recording together (at least, as a regular thing) over a decade earlier, but they got together again for a concert tour (and have done so again since then), so we know their closeness has endured for a lifetime!

Beautiful song...

Geniuses they were.

Harri, Harri, Harri, I've watched about 4 or 5 of your videos today and it seemed that each one brought back a sad memory for me due to something I was going through at that time in my life. Sometimes I think God needs us to go back and remember certain pieces of music that were instrumental to us at those times in our lives so we stay connected to particular feelings. I don't know if this is even making sense, but thank you, Harri, for letting God use you in ways you don't even realize. I apologize for getting all mushy on you these past couple of days and I hope I didn't bring you or anyone down. I, too, write songs and wonder why I can't write good stuff like that, too!!! :-) Who knows? Maybe we do and just don't know it!!! Blessings upon you!!!

Favourite songs from my teens. Thank you.

The Boxer is exceptional. Also, Mrs. Robinson is a song you may have heard but didn’t know it was these guys. Also worth listening to. Cheers!

Man, I love your interpretations of lyrics.

Great reaction Harry. May I suggest another one? Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez. She wrote it about her former lover, Bob Dylan.

I was there! Got in a minor car accident on the way there but that did not deter me! ( i was in High school) Amazing concert.

Paul Simon (the short one) is the songwrighter. Art Garfunkel the tall had (back then) the of an angel. This was in 1981 many years after they recorded it.

Their lyrics are always so deep, touching and current. If you haven't already, you might react to the Disturbed cover of this song. For me the best reinterpretation.