Fact #93056
When:
Short story:
Simon And Garfunkel record The Sound Of Silence, an acoustic folk song, for Columbia Records in New York City, USA. When released as a single, the song will be a flop and Simon and Garfunkel will go their separate ways. Then, more than a year later, producer Tom Wilson, in a break during a Bob Dylan recording session, has a moment of inspiration. He uses Dylan's electric sidemen to add a folk-rocking backing to the song. This new version of The Sound Of Silence will become a No1 hit.
Full article:
Art Garfunkel : The Sound Of Silence is a major work. We were looking for a song on a larger scale, but this was more than either of us expected. Paul had the theme and the melody set in November, but three months of frustrating attempts were necessary before the song "burst forth". On February 19, 1964, the song practically wrote itself.
Its theme is man's inability to communicate with man. The author sees the extent of communication as it is on only its most superficial and"commercial" level (of which the "neon sign" is representative). There is no serious understanding because there is no serious communication - "people talking without speaking - hearing without listening". No one dares take the risk of reaching out ("take my arms that I might reach you") to disturb the Sound Of Silence.
The poet's attempts are equally futile ("...but my words like silent raindrops fell within the wells of silence"). The ending is an enigma. I find my own meaning in it, but like most good works, it is best interpreted by each person individually. The words tell us that when meaningful communication fails, the only sound is silence.
I confess that Bleecker Street (finished in October 1963), was too much for me at first. The song is highly intellectual, the symbolism extremely challenging. The opening line in which the fog comes like a "shroud" over the city introduces the theme of "creative sterility". But it is the second verse which I find particularly significant :
Voices leaking from a sad cafe,?Smiling faces try to understand;?I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand?On Bleecker Street.
The first line is purely poetic image. The second line touches poignantly on human conditions of our time. To me, it shows the same perceptive psychological characterization as Sparrow - the "golden wheat" ("I would if I could,but I cannot, I know"). The third line marks the first appearance of a theme that is to occupy great attention in later work - "lack of communication".
The author says that the poets have "sold out" ("the poet writes his crooked rhyme"). The line "Thirty dollars pays your rent" reminds one of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Admittedly, the song is difficult to understand but worth the effort.
(Source : unknown)
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Its theme is man's inability to communicate with man. The author sees the extent of communication as it is on only its most superficial and"commercial" level (of which the "neon sign" is representative). There is no serious understanding because there is no serious communication - "people talking without speaking - hearing without listening". No one dares take the risk of reaching out ("take my arms that I might reach you") to disturb the Sound Of Silence.
The poet's attempts are equally futile ("...but my words like silent raindrops fell within the wells of silence"). The ending is an enigma. I find my own meaning in it, but like most good works, it is best interpreted by each person individually. The words tell us that when meaningful communication fails, the only sound is silence.
I confess that Bleecker Street (finished in October 1963), was too much for me at first. The song is highly intellectual, the symbolism extremely challenging. The opening line in which the fog comes like a "shroud" over the city introduces the theme of "creative sterility". But it is the second verse which I find particularly significant :
Voices leaking from a sad cafe,?Smiling faces try to understand;?I saw a shadow touch a shadow's hand?On Bleecker Street.
The first line is purely poetic image. The second line touches poignantly on human conditions of our time. To me, it shows the same perceptive psychological characterization as Sparrow - the "golden wheat" ("I would if I could,but I cannot, I know"). The third line marks the first appearance of a theme that is to occupy great attention in later work - "lack of communication".
The author says that the poets have "sold out" ("the poet writes his crooked rhyme"). The line "Thirty dollars pays your rent" reminds one of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Admittedly, the song is difficult to understand but worth the effort.
(Source : unknown)