There are some songs that seem to live on regardless of the age and generation it’s in. One good example is “The sound of silence” by American folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel. Singer-songwriter Paul Simon wrote this timeless classic in 1963 and it became a sort of generational anthem.
It is a song covered by many artists, some popular and some aspiring. A song that is also commonly played among friends with guitars and a few drinks. It is a classic folk-rock song that is written beautifully and yet not that difficult to cover allowing other singers to adjust the range to their liking.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are a highly regarded folk act though the two have had a rocky relationship.
One singer who has captured the internet with her rendition of the classic hit is Holly Henry. With over 800 thousand subscribers on her channel, her version is undeniably chilling. She recorded her own vocal harmonies showcasing her talent as a singer. But it is her style that stands out.
Holly has a high-pitched style but eerily fantastical quality to it. It is a voice that one would imagine be in a work of science fiction or fantasy. A haunting, melodic pitch that stays in the head for quite awhile.
Holly describes herself as a weird voice that plays instruments moderately well.
That’s putting it mildly. Holly could voice a mythological creature in a film. Just Holly and a microphone with a little bit of guitar which adds to that haunting tone she may or may not have known would be present.
Comments in the video allude to her voice as one of those creatures who lure men to the ocean and eventually their death. Her version is so bare and raw. That’s weirdly a compliment it would seem.
It is a brilliant cover because it is Holly’s own style.
This is what separates the real artists. Being able to have a style so unique that people know it’s yours is very hard to do. And for a song like “The sound of silence”, not many singers can boast of having their own rendition stand out.
One band who can is Disturbed. Yes, that heavy metal band. The singer is David Draiman and he sings it in F#. That gives the song a much more ominous tone. It is dark and intense and after all, it is Disturbed.
A testament to how “The sound of silence” can transform in the hands of the right artist.
The viewers and listeners love Holly’s version.
“The best cover artists either copy the original precisely and perfectly, or completely reinvent it and make it their own. The latter is what makes Disturbed’s cover of this song so great, and it’s what makes this one great too. It’s also a testament to the quality of the song that it can be covered twice in such opposite ways, and come out brilliant both times. What a pleasure to listen to.“
Couldn’t agree more.
Her cover has over two and a half million views.
She looks straight at the camera, barely moving as she continues to sing. Eerie and yet somber, she puts her own twist on it and one can imagine it being in a horror or suspense film.
Holly may not realize it but she has helped move the classic song forward for the next generation to enjoy.
Holly’s haunting cover can be heard in the video below.
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Source: Youtube, Holly Henry, Simon and Garfunkel
