It was the last recorded song on the duo\u2019s fifth and last album, Bridge Over Troubled Water<\/em>, and it represents the artistic climax of one of the most loved, and critically acclaimed, musical partnerships of all time.<\/p> Paul Simon initially composed the song on guitar. To take it closer to the sound of a gospel hymn (the musical aesthetic he was aiming for), however, Simon adapted it for piano.<\/p>\n The composer also changed its key to better suit Garfunkel’s voice.<\/p> It was with these small changes that the piece began to transform itself from a soft and low-key hymn into the tour de force we know today.<\/p>\n The genius of the song results from its evolution from a single, beautiful and vulnerable voice, accompanied by a bare piano, to an astounding triumph of musical power brought to life by a Grammy Award winning arrangement of orchestral instruments, an unrestrained piano at full flight, and Garfunkel\u2019s supremely emotional vocal performance.<\/p>\n The simplicity of the song\u2019s composition perfectly mirrors its poetic sentiment, which is a humble promise of empathy and devotion in times of hardship.<\/p>\n When you’re down and out<\/p>\n When you’re on the street<\/p>\n When evening falls so hard<\/p>\n I will comfort you<\/p>\n I’ll take your part, oh, when darkness comes<\/p>\n And pain is all around<\/p>\n Like a bridge over troubled water<\/p>\n I will lay me down<\/p>\n Like a bridge over troubled water<\/p>\n I will lay me down<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I don\u2019t think anyone could quite reach the brilliance of the original recording (one of my favourite covers is a gripping and soulful version by Roberta Flack), but this performance by Josh Groban is exceptional.<\/p>\n Some critics believe Groban\u2019s vocal range is too limited, amongst other things, to make him a heavyweight vocalist.<\/p>\n From my own perspective, however, his voice is liquid gold: it\u2019s full bodied, fantastically powerful, commanding and masculine.<\/p>\n He makes extremely difficult vocal passages sound effortless, and surely must be counted as a world class performer.<\/p>\n In this (relatively) recent, much-talked of performance at New York\u2019s Madison Square Garden, a mature and impressive artist uses his undeniable talent to successfully lead a piano, a choir, and a full complement of both modern and orchestral instruments.<\/p>\n Now we turn the question over to you: Does Josh Groban\u2019s version of \u201cBridge Over Troubled Water\u201d do justice to the original?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2017\/01\/s-and-g-1.jpg\")
The power of simplicity<\/h3>\n
Now to Josh…<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/albertonrecord.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2017\/01\/Capture-10.jpg\")
Best use your headphones for this<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n