Art Garfunkel Was The Magic - Tumblr Posts
"Art Garfunkel was the magic."
"Their relationship was pure magic, and it reflects in their discography—and in their solo discographies, when all their magic was gone."
Louder for the people in the back.
I can't even begin to describe how much I agree on this. I find Artie's solo works more soothing for, therefore listen to his songs more often than Paul's, the point remains: as beautiful as their solo efforts can be, they lack that special magic they managed to create together.
my guitar teacher was complaining about art garfunkel not contributing anything. he doesnt even know he was the muse
Well, he had Artie to create that magic with.
Anyway yes, listen to Bookends.
listening to Bookends cover to cover is an excellent way to spend an early Sunday evening. it’s essentially a masterpiece. I have been talking about and enjoying s&g since I was a young child and honestly I’m going to spend the rest of my life talking about how good this shit is clearly. It’s just that their music and words are deeply embedded into my own personal life experience. Bookends is a concept album as well as a masterpiece which is double the delight. my fav tracks are as follows in this order:
1. America 2. Punky’s Dilemma 3. At The Zoo 4. Mrs. Robinson 5. Bookends Theme 6. Fakin’ It 7. Overs
The rest are good and part of the cohesive flow, but these tracks specifically facilitate in growing little wings around my heart in order to let it soar upon listen. How did Paul Simon do it? I know he’s famous as fuck but idk feel like s&g is underrated.
Listen to Bookends.
Precisely.
Removing Artie from the equation leaves you with what, the PS Songbook? Great material in there, but really? Even comparing it to Wednesday Morning, which was as unplugged and unsuccessful in terms of (immediate) sales, I dare to say that those songs sound better together. There's just something more to them. Some are the same songs, but they seem like something completely different. When sung together, those songs take you through the universe and back. As solo numbers they're interesting stuff alright, but lack the... magic, there, I said it.
A creative partnership allows you to bring the best out of each other, and I'm sorry so many people these days just don't see that's exactly what they did when they worked together.
So yeah, of course, thank you Paul for conceiving the songs, but thank you Artie for giving them life. And thank you both for the marvelous gifts you gave us, by joining your talents, the both of you.
"We do not refer to Beatles songs as early Paul McCartney songs or early George Harrison songs. They are Beatles songs. (...) Rolling Stones songs are not referred to as Jagger's or Richards’s songs. Ray Davies wrote most of the Kinks’ songs but we do not call them early Ray Davies songs. The songs of Simon & Garfunkel were a collaborative effort, and are distinctly different from Paul Simon’s successful solo career. The works of Simon & Garfunkel have won many awards in the name of Simon & Garfunkel. They are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the name of Simon & Garfunkel." "Art Garfunkel was Paul Simon’s missing ingredient. Without him you’ve got smoke but not the explosion that was Simon & Garfunkel."
Thanks fuck somebody said this. Bravo.
YES!
YES!
YES!
Reblogging for the add because it really is the perfect example. And if I recall correctly, Paul himself admitted that he wrote American Tune with Artie's voice/their harmonies in mind, sooooo...
"We do not refer to Beatles songs as early Paul McCartney songs or early George Harrison songs. They are Beatles songs. (...) Rolling Stones songs are not referred to as Jagger's or Richards’s songs. Ray Davies wrote most of the Kinks’ songs but we do not call them early Ray Davies songs. The songs of Simon & Garfunkel were a collaborative effort, and are distinctly different from Paul Simon’s successful solo career. The works of Simon & Garfunkel have won many awards in the name of Simon & Garfunkel. They are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the name of Simon & Garfunkel." "Art Garfunkel was Paul Simon’s missing ingredient. Without him you’ve got smoke but not the explosion that was Simon & Garfunkel."
Thanks fuck somebody said this. Bravo.
Yup.
Plus, he was very much involved in the creative process behind the songs, which not only need to be written but also to be given a certain shape. And that, my friends, they did together.
He also did write the instrumental interlude for The Boxer, the last chorus of Baby Driver ("not talking about your pigtails..."), and if I recall correctly the English muffin stuff from Punky's Dilemma. And it's totally possible other instrumental or even lyrical parts came from him, though not credited but only mentioned in interviews and such, like these ones.
So. That's how a partnership works.
I'll never accept people trying to erase Artie's contribution to S&G. In case you wondered.
justice for art garfunkel people say he did nothing but he had a lovely singing voice and was paul simon's bisexual muse that was literally not nothing