“Disappointment”: Paul Simon recalls performing with Art Garfunkel to a crowd of 500,000 people
During the 1960s, they were inseparable. Well, inseparable in the sense that their two names only had significant meaning when uttered in completion—for nothing captures the era’s folk-rock wave more than the words Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Their beautiful harmonies reverberated spaces in almost every corner, with the sounds of songs like ‘The Sound of Silence’ and ‘Mrs. Robinson’ feeling almost unavoidable.
After meeting in 1953, the pair quickly began writing material, their mutual interests reflecting the Tom & Jerry moniker they had attached to each other. Although they had minor success around this time, the writing was already on the wall for the pair to become one of the most era-defining outfits of all time. It was a celebration… until it wasn’t.
Much of what led the pair to their emotional and professional disintegration was undoubtedly captured in their opus, Bridge Over Troubled Water, the coveted 1970 release that coincided with their ultimate downfall. However, while the split came as a surprise to many, they would reunite several times over the years, proving that despite the hostility that remained, their music reigned supreme.
The most notable example of this was the pair’s 1981 concert in Central Park, where they played to over 500,000 people—one of the largest audience numbers in history. Although rehearsals were largely marked by the pair being “miserable” and arguing a lot, as Simon recalled, something rather strange happened when they actually got on stage.
“We just did what we’d done when we were an act in the 1960s,” Simon told Playboy. “We tried to blend our voices. I attempted to make the tempos work. I talked a little bit, too, but I found it impossible to hold a dialogue with 500,000 people.” Despite the obvious magic felt within the crowd, Simon couldn’t help but notice a strong sense of desensitisation.
“In a certain sense, it was numbing,” he admitted. “It was so big, and it was happening only once. I didn’t have much time for an overview while I was performing.” Noting the feeling of deflation afterwards, he added: “Our first reaction was disappointment. Arthur’s more than mine. He thought he didn’t sing well. I didn’t get what had happened.”
It didn’t take long before it finally dawned on them, however, just how much of their audience had stayed, eagerly awaiting a reunion of such calibre. Realising their lasting impact, they embarked on a tour together, embellishing the fact that their songs still resonated. For the first time in their storied career, they understood that they couldn’t ignore the “overwhelming demand” any longer.