Watch Simon & Garfunkel - Songs of America / The Harmony Game

Simon & Garfunkel - Songs of America / The Harmony Game is a documentary film from 2013. Directed by Jennifer Lebeau, the film takes a deep dive into the lives and music of the iconic singer-songwriter duo of the 60s and 70s, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. The film explores the story of the duo's music career and the impact they had on the American music industry. It is a tale of their friendship and how their different personalities came together to create some of the world's most famous and beloved songs.

The documentary is divided into different chapters, each of which focuses on a different aspect of their career. The opening chapter explores their early days in Queens, NY, where they started off as childhood friends and began making music together in their teenage years.

As they progressed in their careers, they began exploring their musical identities, experimenting with various styles and genres, including folk music, rock and roll, and the blues. The film covers some of their most well-known hit songs, such as "Mrs. Robinson", "The Sound of Silence", and "Bridge Over Troubled Water", among many others.

The film also highlights some of the lesser-known songs that the duo created throughout their career, and how their artistic choices often reflected the political and social climate of the times they lived in. For example, they delve into the song "A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)", which commented on the Vietnam War and the draft, and how it was a reflection of their political awareness and the turmoil of the era.

The documentary also features some of the duo's collaborations with other artists, such as their work with the composer Dave Grusin, and how their music has influenced other artists such as Bob Dylan and James Taylor.

In addition to their music, the documentary offers an intimate portrait of the friendship and artistic relationship between Simon and Garfunkel. Though they were friends from a young age, they had very different personalities, and the film explores how they navigated their differences to create such beautiful harmony.

Throughout the documentary, we see interviews with other musicians who have been influenced by Simon and Garfunkel, as well as commentary from the duo themselves. They look back on their career with pride, sharing insights into their creative process, the struggles of life on the road, and the joys of making music that has touched so many people.

Soundtracked by the duo's music, the documentary is a warm and nostalgic journey through their lives, an homage to their exceptional music that has stood the test of time. It is a celebration of their creative legacy and the impact they had on the American cultural landscape.

In conclusion, Simon & Garfunkel - Songs of America / The Harmony Game is a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of their music, and for anyone who is interested in the history and politics of the time. The documentary is packed with insights into their lives and career, and is an emotional reminder of the power of music to connect us to our past and to each other.