Art Garfunkel Explains the Reason Behind His 300 Takes of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
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Garfunkel opened up about what drives his workaholic nature and his relentless approach to his craft.
The legendary singer, now 84, discussed the iconic 1970 song during a Sept. 4 interview with The Guardian, where he looked back on his early musical journey and recalled the moment he realized singing was what he wanted to pursue.
Garfunkel said his love for singing began when he was young. He recalled singing along with songs on the radio before discovering how much he enjoyed the sound of his own voice while singing in the stairwell of his kindergarten, which had excellent natural acoustics.
That passion eventually led him to perform in a fourth-grade talent show. Paul Simon, who attended the same school, was among those watching. The two boys soon became close friends and began experimenting with music together.
While still children, Garfunkel and Simon recorded vocal harmonies in the Garfunkel family’s basement. They would layer additional vocals over their recordings, unknowingly developing production skills that would later become important to their careers.
The pair initially performed as Tom & Jerry and scored their first hit with “Hey, Schoolgirl” in 1957, when they were both 16. Years later, they adopted the name Simon & Garfunkel and released their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., in 1964.
The album initially failed to make an impact, leading the two musicians to pursue separate paths. Garfunkel returned to college, while Simon spent time performing and working in England.
Their fortunes changed in 1965 when producer Tom Wilson added electric instrumentation to “The Sound of Silence.” The newly arranged version quickly gained momentum on the charts. Garfunkel remembered watching the song rise from No. 91 and eventually reach the Top 5, prompting him to call Simon and urge him to return.
The following week, “The Sound of Silence” reached No. 1.
Simon & Garfunkel went on to produce a string of major hits, including “Homeward Bound,” “I Am a Rock,” “Mrs. Robinson” and “The Boxer.”
Garfunkel also admitted that his pursuit of perfection eventually turned him into someone who practically lived in the recording studio. That intense work ethic became especially apparent while recording “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the title track from the duo’s 1970 album.
According to Garfunkel, he recorded approximately 300 takes of the song. His reasoning was simple: he wanted to give the performance his absolute best effort.
For Garfunkel, putting in that much work was part of the enjoyment of trying to reach the highest possible standard.
The effort clearly paid off. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” topped the U.S. charts and became a worldwide Top 10 hit. Over the years, the song has also been recorded by numerous performers, including Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Clay Aiken and Willie Nelson.
The Bridge Over Troubled Water album ultimately became Simon & Garfunkel’s final studio album, although the pair reunited for their 1975 single “My Little Town.” They later performed together during the celebrated 1981 Concert in Central Park and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Despite their musical success, their friendship and professional relationship experienced several difficult periods over the years.
Garfunkel said his decision to move away from the partnership was also influenced by another passion that he approached with the same intensity: acting.
He made his movie debut in Catch-22 in 1970 and later received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Carnal Knowledge. Garfunkel said he devoted himself to acting with the same level of focus he had brought to music.
Even after decades in the spotlight, Garfunkel has continued making music. In 2024, he released Father and Son with his son, Art Jr.
He is also currently performing on his first major tour in seven years. During a June interview with PEOPLE, Garfunkel acknowledged that he had not originally expected to embark on another large-scale tour at this point in his life. However, he said singing remains an important part of who he is and that he does not want to simply disappear from the public eye.
Although he admitted that performing now makes him more nervous than it once did, he said that feeling quickly gives way to confidence once he steps onto the stage and relies on his voice.
In 2024, Garfunkel also revealed that he and Simon had reconnected after spending years apart, marking a meaningful reunion between the longtime musical partners.