One Guitar. Two voices speaking in perfect harmony. Nothing else needed to create this iconic song.

This song is almost prophetic. Think of all the people that never talk, only text, and never really communicate

Arguably the most perfect song ever written.

This iconic song is prophetic... people texting without speaking, reading text... without listening... headphones in their ears... silence to the rest of us.

"Silence like a cancer grows..." Gotta speak up! ✌️😊

Paul wrote it, Art does it alone and the world was changed.... "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Simon and Garfunkel's music always left you thinking....

Paul Simon's songwriting ranks super high on my personal best loved list👏✨

I’m thinking Simon and Garfunkel have touched millions of souls.

Singing together...YES, they are legendary voices harmonizing in dozens of legendary songs, you will hear someday soon.

It's a song about isolation. They were not speaking telepathically, they were unheard. People talking without speaking. (Meaningless chatter) People hearing without listening. ( People unable to comprehend the words being said) People writing songs that voices never shared. (People afraid to speak or connect with one another)

Another example of the genius songwriting of Paul Simon

This music has been sending shivers down my spine each time I hear it for more than half a century. It's a work of genius and a performance that can never be matched.

I Am A Rock is another deep song, I'll think you will like it, especially the ending.

Paul simon is a genius

One thing to remember of these 2...they were signed to a recording contract at 15 years old...

Paul Simon. One of the greatest singer/songwriter/musicians of all time. The harmonies are top notch. Right up there with CSN&Y. Try Scarborough Fair.

"The words of the prophets are on the subway wall". Such a powerful and true statement. Powerful song ❤❤

All their songs are poetic, and very deep. Cant wait for you to go through their collection.

The more chaotic and materialistic world (noise), the more isolated & unheard you might feel. (silence)

The lads are both New York boys that I understand met when they were boys. They started harmonizing since then.

I first heard this song in 1966, my last year in high school. It still haunts me all these years later. It is magic, it described life as we know it, in any age, any time in history...amazing poetry...

It's so refreshing to listen to someone who appreciates the music I grew up with. Not just liking the sound of the singers, or the melody. But to dissect the words and understand the message or story the writer is giving us.

That was some dream he was having. It sounded like a lot of lost souls whose voices cannot be heard or uttered. And only silence was left to fill the void. Brilliant!

Paul was an absolutely genius writer. Art was an exquisitely pure singer. Together, they were utter magic.

This was the first song most of us heard from Paul Simon's pen, combined with the angelic tones of Art Garfunkel's voice the world discovered a new mega super stars in the making. I am so happy to say i saw Paul Live In Cooperstown N.Y and he was magnificent.

Classic tune, I used to listen that record as a young child in the 80's.

Pure poetry... this song keeps smackin' you in the face with its reality... and it's still apropos for today. I'm kinda s'prised you've never heard this Classic. It was fun watchin' your facial expressions with each verse. Stay cool

Poetry set to music, fantastic imagery created by phenomenal lyrics.

Another where the OG remains the best.

This is the original acoustic version. A remixed version with electric guitar was released about a year later (if I recall correctly) and sold a lot more strongly, but this original one is my personal favorite.

This is actually the first version from their first album called Wednesday Morning 3AM. The starkness of just the voices and Simon’s acoustic guitar sets a perfect mood of the song. It was redone for the album of the same title with electric guitar,bass, drums, etc which became their first commercial hit (Paul was not pleased with the studio’s rework of the song). Simon and Garfunkel was the first concert I ever attended. My sister took me to see them in 1968. Once again, 2 voices and the acoustic guitar. This group reinforced my love of music that is even stronger today than hen I was 15 years old in 1968. It also spurred me on to learn to play guitar. Paul Simon stands as one of the greatest songwriters of the generation and rivals Bob Dylan as a writer and a poet.

Classic! "Silence like a cancer grows" ... This is the original version of the song. It flopped when first released, so a record company producer -- without input from S&G -- added drums, strings, and electric guitar fills to the mix and rereleased it, turning the song into a hit and generating a lot of buzz around S&G that kept their career alive. That's the story more or less. Details may vary. One great S&G tune I've yet to see anybody react to is "Homeward Bound". Check it out when you can.

The lyrics are perfect. The meaning depends on your life experiences. I hear a song about someone with a personal profound understanding of life and no way to tell anyone or anyone who will listen. The best some people can say is something short … like a graffiti message.

Paul Simon is the short dark-haired guy, and one of the best songwriters from the early 1960s, when they were primarily part of the folksong protest crowd. By the mid 60s they had added a bit more pop music to their sound to bring it up more. Art Garfunkel, the blond, has a that smooth unique voice. They worked together and apart over the next couple of decades often reunited for concerts. Paul is such a multi talented songsmith, he stands tall ( metaphorically) amongst Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, John Denver and Stevie Wonder. He's done way too much to fit here, I'll just tell you a couple of my favorites. S&G, The 59th Street Bridge Song ( Feeling Groovy), Bridge Over Troubled Water, Scarborough Fair. Paul solo, American Tune ( hauntingly relevant in any decade ), Loves Me Like a Rock, well anything off of There Goes Rhymin' Simon. But there's so many more.

JMBOY TV.....Simon an Garfunkel had numerous hits, but 'Sounds Of Silence' is my favorite. The build up as the song progresses and ESPECIALLY the lyrics make this song what it is.

Yo, Young Buck, it warms the cockles of my heart to see the younger generations plug into my own youth. I was a mere lad of 13 when this song dropped (what is that, 6th/7th grade?) in October of 1964 (yes, I'm 72 now). Watching all you young'uns react to my own youthful tones goes a long way to help explain my affinity for the music of my parents (born late in the 1920s, so they came up in the early 40s). Frankie, Dean, Sammy, the inimitable Andrews Sisters (wow! just can't beat 'em). Keep up the good work, son. Educate yourself, and expose your own generation to the wonderful tunes of yesteryear. Music evolves with every generation - hell, sometimes even twice in a single decade - but all (Western) music is based on, and is an evolution from, the 12-tone scale we have been employing for nigh on 1200 years or so. Those tones, modified by rhythm (oh, man, do I love me some Scott Joplin!), octave, dynamics, instrumentation, vocalization (or not), thematic quality, all these and more adjust with the times, but the foundation remains true to the origin. Keep exploring, young'un. I see all your equipment, so I know you understand me.

This song was beautifully written and performed!

Great reaction! I love how you dive in instead of just dipping your toe. 👍

This song was pure, beautiful poetry written to music.

Disturbed gets a lot of recognition for doing a cover to this. But I really think this Original holds up very well. Think I like it a bit more. Sentiment maybe.

Simon & Garfunkel are my favorites of all time. (I’m 71 years old)

I need to say that Simon and Garfunkel were popular in the early 70's and were absolutely poetic to our generation. We lived daily with friends and relaives being killed each day in Viet Nam, a country we could hardly find on the map. Simon and Garfunkel were our "safe place" at night when we went to our rooms and cried about who had died that week from our community. Just hearing them puts me back there when I was 19 years old.

So beautiful in every way. Thanx so much, Peace

Pure talent!

In 1970 my grade 7 music teacher taught us all this song, imagine a class of 10 year olds belting out this amazing little song.

So, writing songs is writing words for music. He says, people are writing songs that voices never share. We all have a voice , it's what we use to speak or what you would use to sing songs. But, if voices are not sharing something then they're not singing them, they're not communicating them.

Billy Joel is another songwriter who writes poetry as lyrics. So is Jackson Browne.

The words, "hello darkness my old friend, " was from what Paul Simon did when he wanted to "think" about lyrics....he went into the bathroom, shut the door, turned off the lights, and turned on the faucet, then lay on the floor, listening to the silence.....

My version as I get older is “Hello darkness my old friend, I stood up too fast again.” Ha

My favorite duo! I grew up listening to their albums in the 70s. This song hits different today. With people always on their phones and headphones on.. no one listens to each other. The sound of silence.

Paul Simon is a musical and lyrical genius.

You might like "Dangling Conversation" by them (about a relationship breaking up) Also "Only Living Boy in New York" has a dreamlike ending that just sends me to a magic place

This came out before I was a teen. I have appreciated it more and more as my years have gone by. I'm almost 67.

This was so important when it was first released. I believe it it is more important today, where everyone is afraid to speak, in case they offend

Listen to their Mega Hit. Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Beautiful Song

I get visual images in my head that no other singers can generate.

JUST BEAUTIFUL. ❤❤

One of my favorites. Love Simon and Garfunkel, this song, The Boxer, Bridge over trouble waters, and also Homeward Bound.

For playing the all acoustic version of this song I say THANK YOU!!!

You summed it up quite well, again.

My dad took us to see them in concert when this song was new. Hollywood Bowl was cool and had good acoustics. Lovin' Spoonful was the opening act. Everything Simon And Garfunkel nd later, just Paul Simon is a beautiful great work of art!! 🤔😻😹🎉🎉🎶🎶🎶💖💋🌵👵🐺🖖

The song waw a teaching tool in English-as-a second language classes in my French high school in the sixties. We had to write an essay about it. I still remember every word of it.

We sang this in high school chorus. Still love it.

Another great choice.... Thanks.

Thanks for the great reaction! I think you wold also like "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel.

This song was written when Television was the dominating technology of the day. It was the “Neon Light”. Sounds of Silence was Simon and Garfunkel’s gentle way of telling people that they should not be so impressed with the tech that they lose their relationships with people. A few years ago the band “Disturbed” did what most consider the best cover of this song. It’s said while Simon and Garfunkel gave a gentle warning about not to choose technology over people, Disturbed’s version is an angry reprimand for not heeding that warning. You should check it out for comparison.

Gotta listen to " Bridge over Troubled water", by them. Very moving lyrics and BEAUTIFUL!

"And The People Bowed And Prayed, To The Neon God They Made".... Lines like this helped make me an outspoken Atheist for the past 53 years.

Their songs are so beautiful.

Great song, intelligent reaction. Thanks!

Great reaction my friend

Superb.

Musical genius. Love your reaction!

Bridge Over Troubled Water definitely should be next.

Really appreciate your reactions and keen sense. Several lyrics in this song, though I remember it's release, that today, 2024 are hauntingly real. This song could have been a Silicon Valley mission statement and warning notice to societal gentility.

Now, to watch Disturbed's live cover of it. Simon called Dave Draimon afterwards, and told him that the song belongs to him now.

Wow! What an interesting analysis. I've listened to this song for decades and have never drawn out what you did. Nice work, man, and thanks for sharing : )

I believe this was their very first hit.

❤ LOVE LOVE your reactions, commentary and smile😊

I really enjoy your reactions to the music I grew up with, keep up the good work. As for S and G, they are probably (with the Righteous Brothers) the best duo ever. Try my favourite "Kathy's Song". According to Art Garfunkel it is Paul Simon's best love song.

I love your reactions! Their voices compliment each other soooo beautifully!!!!

Perfection!!

Very Powerfull Thanks I enjoy the way you listen

thx for the music! Your reaction is unusually sound. Yes, it's a complicated song with a deliciously moody theme.

Song=Perfection

Thank you for this wonderful post! I grew up listening to them singing beautiful originals!

How pretty is that 🙏🎶

Great reaction and in depth analysis ! Really enjoying your channel, I'm here for every video ✌ peace

They gave so much credit to disturbed and never gave any credit to Simon and Garfunkel thank you

Just discovered your channel, first listened to Big Iron now The Sound of Silence. What is great about hour channel is you listen to the songs without interrupting then comment, I think that's great. You have gained another subscriber.

You have to remember that this song was written in the 60s when the Vietnam war was raging, the civil rights and the free speech movements were afoot. On the one hand people were silently complicit about these issues. On the other hand there was a deep divide where people couldn’t hear or listen to each other.

Beautiful, right? I taught an interpersonal communication course at community college for awhile and I would open the first day of class with this song and a deep dive into its meaning.

Great reaction, young man... I'll be back for many more if you keep 'em coming. Well done.

Check out the Live version of Disturbed version on the conan show. Its amazing. Paul Simon loved it.

Great song, beautiful harmonizing duet! Check out the same song by heavy metal band Disturbed! ✌️

As a comparison to appreciate how Governments and Corporations have interfered with, and stifled the peace efforts that we have painfully struggled for through generations, also listen to Sound of Silence by Disturbed. The newer version by them (2014 and forward) provides the DISTINCT sense of frustration of "WHY haven't we overcome the Sound of Silence in life, after all this time!?' Please listen to this video's version and Disturb's version one right after the other, in this order. I swear you will 'Get It' (the message), and hopefully you can open the minds of youth and adversaries to come around to our way of peace and harmony; and the benefits of such a life and culture. Please SPREAD IT this year! We The People!

I love 2 Songs - this and Wish Your where here ......

The references to the words written on the subway walls and tenement halls, were to the trumps, and how they were discriminating against black/brown people renting the apartment units, that the government had paid the trumps to build, for black/brown tenants.

Thank you!