One of the most stunning music videos ever. The lighting effects on the singer's face as his incredible interpretation of the lyrics are spine chilling, absolute perfection. The live version can never match the epic emotion of this video.

This version with David’s interpretation of the lyrics just grabs hold of my soul.

David Draiman...amazing range and control...a powerful yet soulful voice that can go from warm baritone to angelic tenor, from clear as a crystal to rasp/distortion/vocal fry and back on a dime, which is incredibly difficult to do . He has a timbre in his voice that I've never heard before.....just hauntingly beautiful and pure tonal properties to it! ...one of the best male vocalists on the planet imho. Loved your reaction Shawka!

I first heard this about a year ago in the Museum of Pop Art in Seattle, big screen, huge sound system. I legit ugly cried at the power of this version. The original S/G version is like a warning, this is "you were warned, you didn't listen" anger. The most profoundly moving musical piece I've ever heard.

I have been listening to SOS since it first came out in 1964 and have never understood it. After hearing Disturbed's version last year, I finally do understand the song. I would like to have a DVD of the video of the studio version, this one, plus the audio from the Conan O'Brien Show of 3/28/2016 which had a 20-piece orchestra behind him. That performance was something else as people from the audience said the applause and standing ovation was over 10 minutes, the backstage people came out to see who was singing, and this segment got over 100 million views. I can't think of a single person who has listened to and watched either video that has had a bad thing to say and usually something along the line of "WOW". I am 76. Disturbed's "Hold on to Memories" is similarly done--straight.

Simon and Garfunkle's version was the warning, and Draiman's version is the anger because people didn't listen to the warning. Draiman was trained to be a Cantor, which gives him a unique way of changing how he sounds.

Thanks for the song reaction and accurate analysis! Congratulations! :)

S & G version was a warning of what was to come. Disturbed's version is the anger that it is here.

David D's voice coach supposedly is well trained in how to sing with rasp/gravel without hurting the cords. Also, he was origially trained as a Yeshiva Cantor, and I have always wondered how Cantor training might have affected his skills.

Simon refers to darkness as being his "old friend" that he came to talk with because he was awoken in the middle of the night, of a nightmare that still lingers in his head, that gives his a considerable amount of distress. So bad that the awful visions were still flashing before his eyes as he is awake. Second stanza begins setting the scene in which the dream took place: at night, him walking along the cobblestone road where he stops below the light of a streetlight. The cold chill runs up his back, so he lifts his collar to the "cold and damp." Just then, a blight neon sign lit up, showing that he, in fact, was not alone. But there were "ten thousand maybe more" all gathered in the cold night. The people who are talking, not speaking, are politicians, who are using false words to sway the population to vote for them, never revealing true intentions. The people therefore are hearing are not listening. They are taking these words that are spoken to them in plain value, not examining or putting into depth anything that is said. Because of this, as referred to later, these politicians have formed a government that the people in fact voted for and supported until it began to act as a dictatorship. This seems that Simon is making an inditement to a large government that has taken away the freedoms of its people. A future for America it seemed with the rise of government in world affairs as in entered Vietnam. This "future America" has given Americans everything, and has the power the take it all away, hence the people "bow and pray to the neon god they made." The Silence that is referred to is the silence of the people, afraid to say anything against the government for fear of death or worse. Simon, or whoever has had this dream, tries to bring people to speak out. Saying "Fools, you do not know, Silence like a cancer grows" that as more are afraid to speak, the more control the government takes and the less anyone will stand up to the new government. As all hope is about to be given up, someone steps up and says to the crowd that the future they will hold has been written on the walls of subways and tenement halls. This is because this form of protest can be done anonymously, therefore no one can get in trouble for it. This begins the whispering in the silence of the people, and starts the beginning of a revolt.

One of your earlier comments reminded me of something my music teacher said, back when I was 11 or 12. So, around 50 years ago! You can tell when a composer knows what they are doing when they do something you don't expect.

You really need to do the live version, a whole different level !

so epic. best vocal. thanks for reaction!

Great reaction!! ❤

It amazing me that almost every reaction video is focusing on the vocals rather than how he is portraying the actual words of the song.....he is interpreting the words as they should be.. there is too much reliance on the digital world......

This is the best version.

I always say that Simon and Garfunkel's version is more someone tapping you on the shoulder going 'hey, could you please listen to this' When Disturbed version is more being yoinked into a chair with David pointing and shouting at you 'shut up and listen, because you WILL hear what i have to say!' :p Loved the vid and if i can give you a suggestion, you should respond to Nightwish - Ghost Love Score live at wacken 2013 Just make sure you're good and ready to get Floored...and don't mind our Army, we're big, but we don't bite...much ;)

Vocal Fry... There's apparently a technique that produces the 'gravel' effect without damaging the vocal chords. David D has been singing like this since the 90s. (Opera and Cantor trained, btw)

Hey nice job! I loved your analysis! Subbed

A good, technical reaction. I very much enjoyed it :)

Thank you a fantastic analysis... I seek out reactions to this

I wish everyone who hears this would pay attention to what the lyric is saying, and not just how he's delivering it... (which is insanely brilliant btw). If I know anything at all about David Draiman... he's put so much into the delivery, that obviously he cares about the message.

I really appreciate your analysis. Haven’t heard one with more of the instrumental break down

You first see the piano in the ashes, then hear the piano. You then see the guitar coming out of the ashes, then you hear the guitar. Then the drum in the dead tree and then hear the beat. The people carry the words that needs their instruments. There is only silence between them. They keep looking for each other. Crossing the water of silence to then blend and fill the silence with words. 👄

An excellent Reaction, Shawka. You dissected the many parts of Disturbed's interpretation of Paul Simon's creation very accurately and very passionately. I might ad, David Draiman is a professional musician and I think it fair to say everything he does in this song is well thought out and intentional.

He's a classically trained canter

Disturbed Sound of Silence, Struggle Jennings & Caitlynne Curtis // "God We Need You Now" , Struggle Jennings: Cry for Help. Stained: Something to remind you, Aaron Tippen: You gotta stand for something

Best joke I have heard: When God was making David Draiman, he asked him if he wanted the singing voice of an angel or a demon. David said "Yes please!" Great reaction.

Wow! I guess I’m subscriber 151!!!!! You showed up in my feed nk doubt to The Sound of Silence! Please don’t miss the opportunity to also react to their LIVE performance on Consn O’Brian! The lead (David Draiman) had a very bad case of the flu, but did the “live“ anyway! (from what I understand he also had quite a high fever at the time as well!) I believe he and his brother are trained Cantors and it is a family “tradition“ for lsck of a better word! Tfuly, truly gifted singer for sure!!!!❤

You are really good at this.

Great breakdown and reaction. Now you really need to react to their live performance on the Conan O'Brien show. Many say they like it better than the studio recorded version. The best live cover I've ever heard.

Wow you know your stuff 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

What I never see mentioned visually is the part of the video when the drummer walks through the triangle shaped sky opening in the 2nd part of the song. I don't know if it is intentional, but walking through the triangle opening is akin to walking through the gates of hell, which is similar to walking under a ladder. Not a positive thing to do for good luck. For your info if you do walk under a ladder, just walk back under it to reverse the bad luck, hopefully💀

You should listen to Sound of Silence by Dan Vasc. Same song, but a very different feel to it.

Check out the 2016 Conan O’Brian show performance, l love it better! David Draiman is classically trained. He was once studying to be a Rabi, but the music bug caught him

Every reaction vid I've watched of this version always has the presenter confused at the beginning. I see them trying to turn it up. Hello...the song is 'Sound Of Silence' lol. It was a great touch. This being the internet let me say that I wasn't trying to be rude.

Please react to Tommy Johansson The leadguitarist in Sabaton and his cower of The sound of silence He have his own youtubechannel with a lot of amacing cowers His voice is amacing and the range is cracy He is an multiinstrumentalist and play all the instrument himself He drop a new cower ewery friday so the rabbitwhole is wery deep His last cower Empty rooms of Gary Moore is epic

David Draiman. had Cantor training.

GOSTARIA DE SABER SE TEM TRADUÇÃO PARA OS COMENTÁRIOS.

Have you reacted to the live Conan version?

If you wish to react to something you might not have heard of, I would say Aesthetic Perfection with Mourning Doves

Be sure to go back and review the live version from the Conan O'Brien show, to me at least it actually hits harder.

Just subscribed! Loved your analysis! I have a special request to you. Would you please comment Dimash, e.g. his S.O.S? I wonder what you would say then about range. 😮

Would you react to the group Home Free

Great reaction. I was however disappointed as they used autotune on this song, ruins it a little bit for me as I think it wasn't necessary at all given the singers capacity.