Simon and Garfunkel build new bridges
06/18/2009 04:47 ПП | ArticlesTWO old friends relived their brief but glorious musical partnership in Brisbane last night and showed that the songs they made famous have not withered after 40 years.
When Simon and Garfunkel walked on to the Brisbane Entertainment Centre stage it was the first time the legendary duo had performed in Australia for 26 years. No one really expected them to play here again, so it was an eager and responsive crowd that greeted them for the first date on their Australian tour.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, both 67, may not have voices as powerful as they once were, but they still harmonise like no other duo in pop history. Last night was all about celebrating the best moments from their partnership as well as some of the solo successes that came for each of them afterwards.
Playing with a seven-piece band, the two New Yorkers paraded their large catalogue of classic hits, including The Sounds of Silence, Mrs Robinson and of course, the jewel in their crown, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Simon and Garfunkel, who have know each other since they were 11 years old, broke up in 1970 at the peak of their career, shortly after the release of their most successful album, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Bad blood between them suggested they would never work together again, but there have been several reunions before this one, the most recent a tour of the US and Europe in 2004.
Whatever pushed them apart appears to be long forgotten. They opened the set with Old Friends, which is also the title of the tour and there was plenty of friendly banter between them as the show, lasting more than two hours, progressed.
All five of their albums, released between 1965 and 1970, were represented, but the accent was on hits. The Only Living Boy in New York, El Condor Pasa, Homeward Bound and the epic America were all included.
The audience was primed for the performance by a short film documenting the men’s 50-year careers including a snatch of their early years with the performance of their first American hit, Hey Schoolgirl, recorded as Tom and Jerry in 1957.
Taking a break from the Simon and Garfunkel repertoire, Garfunkel performed his biggest solo hit Bright Eyes, while Simon played several key songs from his solo career, including two from his landmark album Graceland.
The duo play in Brisbane again tonight before moving on to Sydney on Saturday, then Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.