MovieChat Forums > Simon & Garfunkel Discussion > Music to put people to sleep.

Music to put people to sleep.


Along with The Grateful Dead, they released some boring stuff.

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Yeah, one doesn't disagree.

Most of it (S and G) - yeah, good to throw on while jumping into bed.

I've got three of their tracks I sincerely like, to this day......

First, two classics....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1BCAgu2I8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jj4s9I-53g

And the lesser known.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbNHNAkAgyQ

The rest of it, yeah, good for nappie time.

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My dad is a fan of theirs and I don't get it. He calls me crazy for not liking them.

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Perhaps he's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Eoax6I-O4

Let me ask you though - in all seriousness.....

Do you like anything by S and G?

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Not really. They're way too boring for me to have any real interest.

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I'm with your dad here. Your "boring" is "beautiful" to me and I just love their music. Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters (and musicians...he's a very underrated guitar player) to ever walk on Planet Earth. And Art Garfunkel's voice is just incredible...I marvel at the "purity" in his singing voice.

Was your dad a musician by chance? I think S & G is probably one of those musical artists that appeals to musicians more than non-musicians (or maybe more of an "acquired taste"). But hard to say... I will say that I've known people who are "Metal Heads," "Deadheads," "Talking Heads," et.al., that also love S & G's music. They sold a lot of records in their heyday. Sometimes, you just need that quiet, beautiful music...like when you're trying to go to sleep (or doing homework...I used to play their music when I was studying in my dorm room during my college years)! πŸ˜€

They may just not be your "cup of tea" and that's fine. But I think you need to listen to your dad on this one! πŸ˜€

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Bridge Over Troubled Water is beautiful.

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Yes...and my favorite song from them is as well: "Scarborough Fair/Canticle." So many beautiful and great songs.

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I have all their albums, including solo releases and had the pleasure of seeing Paul Simon live a few years ago; he was sat within touching distance of me and I was mesmerised.

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How awesome! ❀️ Paul Simon is one of those celebrities that I would have loved to have met (I've read and heard stories about people meeting him on the streets of NYC over the years...and that he's not always the nicest person about it). He's a real legend... what a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for you! You sure have seen so many great acts in concert over the years! πŸ‘πŸ‘

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Unfortunately, all my heroes are starting to pass away.

I made a pact with myself that I would go to any gig by any artist that I had even the slightest bit of interest in, because you never know.

In 10 years time, they’ll all be gone. I don’t want to have any regrets.

Over a thousand gigs later and here we are 🀘🎸

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Again, that is just awesome! ❀️ And, yes, you are right, unfortunately. It's sad how many great artists we've lost in recent years... but there are going to definitely be some huge losses in the upcoming years.

Despite my love of music, I've never been a big "concert -goer." But there's something about seeing an artist live that you just can't put a price tag on. A lot of times, the artist(s) put a different spin on their songs that make it better than the studio version (e.g., I love Fleetwood Mac's version of "Go Your Own Way" that they do live better than the studio version... not that the studio version is bad, but I just love the way they do it live).

Again, I think that's awesome what you're doing! ❀️

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My dad has the same musicianship as I do, which is the equivalent of musicianship the band KISS had -- none at all!

S and G are talented and the music isn't awful, but the final product just puts me to sleep.

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And that's totally fine... just not your cup of tea, "different strokes for different folks," etc.

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I have all their albums, including solo releases and had the pleasure of seeing Paul Simon live a few years ago; he was sat within touching distance of me and I was mesmerised.

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Thoughts on Grateful Dead? Personally I find them similar in terms of putting me to sleep, but I actually think Grateful Dead made mediocre music on top of it.

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They are one of the huge gaps in both my record collection and my knowledge of them. I’m embarrassed to say that I know very little about them.

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Listen to one song. Congrats, you've now you've heard their entire discography.

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I will let Spotify meander through their greatest bits when I have a moment.

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I know this was addressed to Andy and not me, but I'd like to answer this as well if it's OK. I definitely find The Grateful Dead's music to be an "acquired taste" and that, yes, some of their songs (and especially live performances) were really good and other songs ("live performances") were...well, not so good. πŸ˜€ They're definitely a "hit and miss" band for me.

I will say, though, that... despite the drugs, the "not great performances," etc., the musicians were talented. Jerry Garcia was a really "quirky" guitar player, IMO. His playing is really hard to replicate, IMO. It's almost like a "country-style" of playing, but it was all his own. I love his version of "Amazing Grace" that appeared on his recording, "The Pizza Tapes," which came out not long before he died. He also played on some of Jefferson Airplane's and Crosby, Stills, and Nash's recordings. He was a talented guy.

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I'm sure Jerry missing a finger makes it hard for people to replicate his sound.

I tried to get into them maybe a decade ago and I couldn't believe the lack of punch their songs had. It was so bland and lifeless and they all sounded the same.

I hope nyctc doesn't read any of this. He's our resident Deadhead.

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Yes and I don't want to upset nyctc7 either... besides The Dead, he's also a Hot Tuna fan and I love him for it! ❀️ πŸŽΈπŸ˜€ He's one of the many great posters here...and seems pretty even-keeled, so I think we'll be OK! πŸ˜€

Anyway, I definitely get your point. On some of the "live music" I've heard from them, the music just kind of meanders without any real climax/conclusion. They were definitely better on some nights more than others. It's amazing that they had the following they did with their lack of chart success. I think their only Top Ten hit was "A Touch Of Grey," which occurred well after the band's heyday. They're one of the most fascinating stories in music to me, though... their hard-core fans really love their music.

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their hard-core fans really love their music.

This is 90% of their fans:
https://i.etsystatic.com/5453867/r/il/bcfd4b/3429839043/il_570xN.3429839043_pcqw.jpg

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I used to like them a lot more. Now they sound kinda pretentious.

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