Rock Feuds: Simon vs. Garfunkel

Together, Simon & Garfunkel were one of the most successful singer-songwriter duos in history. However behind the scenes, the men, whose friendship stretched back to their childhood days, were constantly at each other's throats.
Considering the beautiful harmonies they made together, it's hard for many fans to comprehend just how disharmonious Simon & Garfunkel's relationship really was.
The duo originally found success under the name Tom and Jerry, scoring a minor hit with their 1957 single "Hey Schoolgirl.” Around this time, Paul Simon was offered the chance to record some solo material -- an offer he accepted without discussing it with his musical partner, Art Garfunkel, who later said that Simon’s decision left their friendship “shattered for life.”
Looking at the tumultuous Simon & Garfunkel relationship, jealously is a common theme. Associates observed that Simon was jealous that his counterpart garnered much of the attention and spotlight as the duo’s main singer. Garfunkel, meanwhile, was reportedly envious of his partner’s songwriting.
The result has been an on-again, off-again relationship that has left both men stubbornly frustrated for years. The duo's history is filled with reunions, breakups, arguments, cheap shots and even an uncomfortable exchange onstage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Learn more about the feud between Simon & Garfunkel in the video below.
0:00 Introduction
0:24 How Simon & Garfunkel first met
0:42 Tom & Jerry
0:57 When Simon & Garfunkel began to pick up steam
1:18 Simon & Garfunkel hit the top...but also, cracks are starting to show
1:50 Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
2:05 The roots of some of their issues
3:10 Simon & Garfunkel go their own way
3:26 The duo come back together for a major reunion
3:42 They hit the road again
3:49 The good feelings didn't last
3:59 There's a pattern developing here
4:12 Additional reasons why they don't get along
5:08 What makes this Rock Feud unique
5:26 The last time
5:58 There's a lot to unravel here
6:02 Conclusion
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#PaulSimon #ArtGarfunkel #RockFeuds #ClassicRock #RockHistory

[@nolavout3025]

If paul was jealous about art being in catch 22, he shouldnt have been, just watched it, what a weird film!!!!

[@cappuccino5992]

Simon and Garfunkel made the music of my youth. They were great as a duo but it was obvious that some day they would go separate ways. Paul was the songwriting genius and creative force of the two. He had a great solo career and is still writing songs. I'm lucky to have seen them both, Paul and Art, on their reunion tour.

[@mirammckay4827]

Wow, to see them in person must have been amazing!😊

[@cappuccino5992]

@@mirammckay4827 Yes, it definitely was. It is still the best concert that I ever attended.

[@sheverleyclacken3676]

I love these two men. They both have incredible talent. It’s so sad that they couldn’t get on. I don’t think anybody else really knows what went wrong between them except Paul and Art. I’m so happy that they got together in the first place because now we have all that incredible music to listen to forever and nothing can take that away.

[@jasminevalentine8717]

Simon and Garfunkel each needed each other. Their vocals were just as good as each others. They were a great team and both did well on their own. Long may thsir music live well after they are gone. They had great longevity... No negative messages please....

[@myrianvalenzuela9199]

So sad, i like them together.

[@DeplorableJaredBrodersen]

Amen. They were better together.

[@Lorena-tz1lf]

Por lo que he visto, ambos contribuyeron a la ruptura, también creo que Art tuvo mucha paciencia con Simon, quien parecía humilde, pero no lo era, él quería que Art permaneciera solo como cantante sin permitirle intervenir en arreglos o temas de estudio lo cual hacía muy bien. Art tuvo temas hermosos de otros compositores, Simon siguió haciendo música genial, pero nunca volvió a sonar igual. Como le dijo su antiguo mánager, " nunca serás tan grande como con Simon y Garfunkel" y creo que esto se aplica a ambos. También Art tenía su carácter y su ego, por supuesto, pero recuerden que en la época de crisis existencial de Simon, tenía muchas inseguridades y no estaba conforme con su propio ser, quería ser más alto, más guapo y tener una mejor voz... ¿A quién estaba describiendo...? Pero hoy, son un par de viejos cascarrabias que siguen siendo amigos mientras sus fans se pelean por algo que ocurrió hace más de 50 años por dios!! siempre se amaron, pero también se envidiaron mutuamente, solo que uno lo admitía más que el otro. Por qué mejor no quedarnos con lo que fueron y serán siempre: SIMON & GARFUNKEL. Eso es todo.

[@curly_wyn]

One of Robert Christgau’s most infamous opinions was: He loves Paul Simon and almost creamed in his jeans when he put out his debut self-titled solo album, but he hated Garfunkel and thought he was a total hack and a stifling impediment to Simon’s true potential and genius. I’m inclined to agree with him.

[@nolavout3025]

You might, i dont!!!!

[@garylillich]

Any chance you could rephrase that. Confusing on which HE is he.

[@matcoffidis1135]

That's a shame about their relationship, but it happens. Just look at Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham... I really dig their songs. Sound of Silence really resonated with me. Also love America. That last record was really good too....

[@DeplorableJaredBrodersen]

So lame that they couldn't get along. Yeah that was not cool that Simon went ahead and agreed to do a solo project during the Tom and Jerry days without telling Art, but Art needed to forgive him for that.

[@katharina8101]

They became famous as as duo but their talents were not equally distributed. Art had a nice voice but could not write songs or play an instrument in public. Simon is a great singer, songwriter and guitarist. This imbalance always led to tensions between the two.

[@DanielFolsom]

Maybeee a little bit of a stretch to call Simon a "great singer." There's a reason he was jealous that Art's voice got the lion's share of the attention. Fortunately, Simon's songwriting more than made up for the technical defects in his voice, and his best work was in his solo career!

[@pamconnelly8798]

true

[@rocksinger45]

I find that although their reunion tours seemed great to fans on the outside ~ Inside they find you can't reheat a Soufflé ~ I still listen to their music from time to time but as of today July 2023 Paul claims he is losing his hearing in his left ear also from the videos Artie has posted of himself singing it would be hard for him to sing though a whole 2+ hour show ~ Sadly ~

[@timothyjones3410]

Donny Osmond, Andy Williams were both in groups with their brothers, Kenny Rogers was in the First Edition. Sinatra sang with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. The going solo thing is often tried and is often successful, so its not an unusual showbiz move. As it turned out, Paul Simon's going solo was NOT successful.(also David Clayton Thomas, Susanna Hoffs) But he should have informed Garfunkel. And he did come back.

[@jasminevalentine8717]

Eeeeeeeeeks, I didnt realise they were both so bitter a out each other. I am not fan as I ha e my own issues with my sister and daughter. Vood luck to them both. Love theur music though...

[@kakonis]

Garfunkel has the rangier physique, which makes me think that in a six-round bout, he would probably KO Simon in the middle stanzas. Paul's a quite coordinated musician, though, as anyone who's seen him play clarinet in "Call Me Al" can attest, which makes me think he might have good footwork, too, in the ring. Still, my prediction is Garfunkel by third round KO. Does anyone know when the fight is scheduled?

[@mso4433]

Too much time together, like a lot of great musical acts. It brings out the beast in some people. Even the Beach Boys and The Beatles eventually got on each other's nerves. The Everly Brothers were another example. What a shame but it's part of being human, I suppose. Divorce happens.

[@Yourmomgoestocolledge]

If i ever meet Paul Simon, im gonna call him shrimp.

[@robertbishop5357]

Don't care.

[@lindacatton2549]

Artie was by a giddy mile the better singer and Artie can play increments including guitar

[@tarasbulba3190]

Simon is NOTHING without Garfunkel.

[@suehaden6103]

Paul is a genius who has had an amazing career without Art. Art was a singer. End of.

[@doncarlos2883]

Mhm, my impression always was that it is exactly the other way round. The only time Garfunkel was successful was when he was together with Simon.

[@JAGUITARPLAYER]

Simon solo Carrer has been incredible succesfull without Art, and developed another musical styles

[@jonathanbean7097]

@@suehaden6103 No, I'm sorry, you're wrong. Not "end of". Art was the primary arranger and producer of all the S&G records. He also composed most if not all the harmonies and lead melodies for various songs. He was an asset to S&G, resulting in their signature sound, and I can go on.

[@DeplorableJaredBrodersen]

It's kinda true. I have heard Simon's solo material. Nothing really grabbed my attention after their breakup. Me And Julio and Call Me Al are such dumb songs! No offense Simon fans.

[@karlozols816]

Unrelated topic but speaking of 2 other great Jewish Rock Stars?? Corey Irwin published on December 18, 2022: 35 Jewish Rock Stars. I'd like to make a correction. He wrote that Paul Kantner the guitarist of Jefferson Airplane was Jewish. I'd like to point out that this is incorrect. His Father was German and his Mother was French and German, no Jewish descent or ancestry in him at all. However having said that Corey may have been thinking of bassist Jack Casady. His Father was of half Polish Jewish ancestry. So please correct this. Thank-you. Other than that great post. Thank-you. :)