David Draiman amazes all with the haunting rendition of the 1964 Simon & Garfunkle iconic song.
If you choose to remake a song, you will undoubtedly face comparison to the original. Such is exceedingly the case when you remake a legendary song from the soundtrack of the 1960s counterculture movement. Disturbed does just that with the Simon & Garfunkle hit, The Sound of Silence, and does it brilliantly.
The original acoustic version of The Sound of Silence (Wednesday Morning, 3 AM – Simon & Garfunkle 1964) made its appearance during the rise of folk rock. The gentle harmonies and acoustic guitar easily captured the attention of a nation during a time of growing social tension. The song’s deep emotion draws in the listener taking them on a journey of deep contemplation.
The Disturbed remake offers everything the original did and more. The remake is haunting, slower, and darker. Disturbed vocalist David Draiman, typically known for his raspy, power metal voice, sings beautifully; his voice is crisp and clear.
The first verse opens with light piano and gentle vocals. Draiman sings softly almost to the point of being a whisper, his vocals floating over the simple piano notes. Strings join in, almost hesitantly, towards the end. As the track progresses, it builds upon itself.
The second and third verses raise the profile of the song. The strings increase in both volume and depth. Light percussion eases into the background. The acoustic guitar and piano feature more prominently. Draiman maintains clean vocals, easily striking the familiar notes as the power of his voice begins to make itself known.
The fourth verse builds the track’s energy further. The music is more complex, more orchestrated, offering a sense of a building epic. It is here that Draiman’s vocal power becomes evident, the raspy edge creeping in; he builds tension adding a sense of urgency as if restrained only by the pace of the song.
The Sound of Silence closes with a crescendo of instrument and voice. The listener stirred by the somber anthem is left hanging on wistful yearning.
The visual canvas of the music video matches the feel of the song. Dark, grayscale images of a bleak landscape are punctuated by closeups of Draiman’s face as he sings. The imagery is surreal suggesting a return of music to a forlorn society. While it may seem over the top to some, it is a fitting backdrop for this moving hymn.
The Sound of Silence video was released on December 08, 2015. The track can be found on Disturbed’s fifth No. 1 album on The Billboard 200, titled Immortalized.