The Sound of Silence is a song that just seems to keep coming back. Part of this is due to the fact that its lyrics are beautifully written and the melody versatile enough to really let new artists make it their own. Originally written by Paul Simon and released by himself and Art Garfunkel in 1964, the song is poetic, somber, and often haunting. They still perform the song when they tour, but they inspire many artists to take their words and apply their own voices. One commenter on their performance reads:
“This song is one that tells a different story by who sings it. Despite the words being the same, the tone of voice, the echo of the instruments and extra elements can tell entirely different stories on who and where this story is surrounded. It’s a beautiful work of art.”- 1975KyleDavid
One notable version is that of heavy metal band Disturbed.
Singer David Draiman covers the song in the key of F#, which gives it an even darker, ominous tone. It’s a departure from Simon and Garfunkel’s version, but again, the fact that this song can transform so much is part of what makes it so magical.
Of course, we’re going to take a nice, close look at another version which capitalizes on the song’s eerie tone.
Holly Henry is an uprising talent, who already, as of 2020 has over 800,000 subscribers.
And her version of The Sound of Silence, is deeply moving,…and a little bit chilling.
Her performance is paired back, just her and a microphone.
She did record vocal harmonies in addition to her main vocal recording which really showcases her incredible talent as a singer. She sings the song with a high pitched voice, which lends an almost siren like quality. You know the mythological creatures who linger in the ocean and lure men to their deaths with their beautiful voices? Yeah, many commenters on the video draw this same comparison.
Part of what makes Holly’s rendition so brilliant is how she, like Disturbed’s Draiman embraced the song into their own style and put their own stamp on it.
One commenter on this video beautifully sums up why Holly’s version is so wonderful:
Well that’s how you get so many subscribers!
Throughout the song she unflinchingly stares down the barrel of the camera which adds to the serious tone of the video. She’s singing from the heart, and her version is even more somber than the others. It’s eerie, and honestly a bit spooky, but it really is a remarkable and unique take on a song which typically is associated with folk music.
Watch the full video below to enjoy this beautifully haunting cover.
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