The groove, riffs, acoustics, arrangements, progressions and patterns make for the perfect ensemble. Paul Simon was an effing genius to come up with such poignant lyrics and is definitely one of the best songwriters ever. And Arty Garfunkel used to nail it with his all ranging vocals. This duo re-defined great American music and the New York style whip in their sound gives the much desired whiff of fresh air.
These guys just killed it back in the day. The lyrics in the compositions are so profound and at times also symbolic. The strum of the guitar couldn't sound more sonorous. This is one pair I certainly connect with on an emotional ground. When in the solivagant mood, S&G just come in so damn handy and is a default go to choice. (Night time walks at Boat club away from the wilderness listening to S&G is quite surreal).
Even the scat wordings are so kickass - Lai la Lai, Koo ka choo etc ensuring they blend so well with the music. And the deeper meanings "Heaven holds a place for those who pray", "A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest", "vision that was planted in my brain still remains" et al are thought provoking and connects densely and spiritually with the soul.
The Beatles and the Beach boys were the dominant force in the 60's but S&G have a magnetic quality in their music which makes them so imperial. Despite the creative differences they churned out many brilliant songs and it's an irony that the most colossal of all their numbers "Like a bridge over troubled waters" led to the eventual split.
The time stamp of the numbers maybe ephemeral but the impact is everlasting. The music of Simon & Garfunkel (erstwhile Tom & Jerry) is ethereal and if ever I could go back on time, I would like to witness the free concert at Central Park in 1981 along with half a million spectators thronging away swaying and swirling to the tone of S&G.
