LogFAQs > #953773882

248. Simon and Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
from the album Bridge Over Troubled Water

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G-YQA_bsOU

Key lyrics: If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind

Sometimes, you just need gentle instrumentation so a vocalist can showcase the raw emotion of their voice. This is as tranquil and reassuring as music gets; the fact this was recorded by a duo in the process of falling apart is imperceptible. Without missing a step, the song transitions into an explosive finale, and Art Garfunkel reaches an intensity rarely seen in popular music. Theres no experimentation, no genres being pushed. This is one of those legendary songs that found something simple yet universal; a song millions would sing along with, even if they could never belt it out like Garfunkel.

This is another of those rare songs that can instantly lift my spirits. I never want to be sentimental, but that sort of power deserves to be celebrated. Music is the one medium I can consistently rely on for that feeling, to carry me out from the darkness. Bridge Over Troubled Water is funeral music the type of song you play to remind yourself things get better on the other side. This is not music as escapism but a form of honest coping acknowledging the difficulties in life. There is an endless sea of gentle piano music, but few reach these heights.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/