Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence - 1965

Input

The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel (1965)

"The Sound of Silence," originally titled "The Sounds of Silence," is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. Written in February 1964 by Paul Simon in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the song propelled Simon & Garfunkel to fame and has since been covered by many artists. This course will explore the song's background, its lyrics, and its impact on music and culture.

Background

Paul Simon: Learn about Paul Simon's inspiration for writing "The Sound of Silence."
Art Garfunkel: Discover the role of Art Garfunkel in the duo and in the song's success.
1960s Music: Understand the musical landscape of the 1960s and how this song fit into it.
Folk Rock: Explore the folk rock genre and Simon & Garfunkel's influence on it.
Assassination of JFK: Examine the historical context in which the song was written.

Lyrics and Interpretation

Lyric Analysis: Dive deep into the lyrics of "The Sound of Silence" and their meaning.
Poetry in Music: Understand how the song bridges poetry and music.
Social Commentary in Music: Explore the themes of communication and alienation in the song as a reflection of society.

Impact and Legacy

Music Covers: Investigate various covers of the song and how they differ from the original.
Music Awards: Learn about the awards and recognition "The Sound of Silence" received.
Influence on Music: Understand the song's influence on later musicians and genres.

Interactive Tasks

Quiz: Questions on the song

What year was "The Sound of Silence" originally released? (1965) (!1972) (!1960) (!1968)

Which event influenced Paul Simon to write "The Sound of Silence"? (Assassination of President John F. Kennedy) (!Moon Landing) (!Vietnam War) (!Civil Rights Movement)

How was the song originally titled? ("The Sounds of Silence") (!"The Silence of Sound") (!"Echoes of Silence") (!"Whispers in the Dark")

What genre does "The Sound of Silence" primarily belong to? (Folk Rock) (!Pop) (!Blues) (!Jazz)

Who was the other half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel? (Art Garfunkel) (!Bob Dylan) (!James Taylor) (!Neil Young)

Quiz: Questions on the Performer

Where are Simon & Garfunkel from? (Queens, New York) (!London, England) (!Los Angeles, California) (!Nashville, Tennessee)

Which album features "The Sound of Silence"? (Sounds of Silence) (!Bridge over Troubled Water) (!Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme) (!Bookends)

Before teaming up, what was the duo originally known as? (Tom & Jerry) (!Al & Joe) (!Mike & Dave) (!Steve & Mark)

What was unique about the duo's style in folk rock? (Their harmonizing vocals) (!Their use of electric guitars) (!Their incorporation of jazz elements) (!Their political lyrics)

Which one of these songs is also by Simon & Garfunkel? ("Bridge over Troubled Water") (!"Hotel California") (!"Stairway to Heaven") (!"Like a Rolling Stone")

Quiz: Questions on the lyrics

What does the "sound of silence" in the song symbolize? (Communication breakdown and alienation) (!The peace after a storm) (!The power of music) (!The beauty of nature)

What does the line "People talking without speaking" suggest? (Lack of meaningful communication) (!A secret language) (!A noisy environment) (!Telepathy)

"And the sign said, 'The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls'." What might this line imply? (The ubiquity of important messages in unexpected places) (!Specific religious prophecies) (!Vandalism) (!Advertising)

How does the song refer to light and darkness? (As metaphors for knowledge and ignorance) (!Day and night) (!Good and evil) (!Life and death)

What feeling does the song's melody primarily evoke? (Melancholy and introspection) (!Joy and happiness) (!Anger and frustration) (!Excitement and energy)

Memory

Paul Simon	Wrote "The Sound of Silence"
1964	Year the song was written
Folk Rock	Genre of "The Sound of Silence"
Communication Breakdown	Central theme of the song
Art Garfunkel	Paul Simon's musical partner

Open Tasks

Easy

Music Analysis: Listen to "The Sound of Silence" and write a paragraph about how the song makes you feel.
1960s Culture: Research the culture of the 1960s and create a collage representing the era.

Standard

Song Cover: Record your own cover of "The Sound of Silence" and share it online.
Lyric Interpretation: Write a short essay interpreting the lyrics of the song.

Difficult

Musical Influence: Research and present a report on how "The Sound of Silence" influenced other musicians.
Historical Context: Write an in-depth essay on how the assassination of JFK influenced the music of the 1960s.

Oral Exam

Music and Emotion: Discuss how "The Sound of Silence" evokes emotion and which musical elements contribute to this.
Cultural Impact: Analyze the cultural impact of "The Sound of Silence" in the 1960s versus today.
Lyric Analysis: Explain the symbolism in the song's lyrics and how they relate to the theme of communication.
Musical Evolution: Discuss the evolution of folk rock and Simon & Garfunkel's role in it.
Songwriting Process: Explore the songwriting process and how historical events can influence musical composition.