Paul Simon has been upset about Bridge Over Troubled Waters for 50 years. He wrote this amazing, inspirational universal hymn and gave it to his nursery-school best friend to sing. (They first met as school kids and their first band together was called Tom & Jerry…sho shweet !) Legend has it that Art Garfunkel didn’t think it was right for him to sing it – it was beautiful and it was Paul’s song. But Paul was adamant that Art sing it – it was an Art kind of song. And frankly, he was right – this was a soaring hymn that needed Art’s high notes to bring it to life. And, then of course Art sang the bejezzus out of it and forever became the voice associated with it. That’s the reason Simon & Garfunkel broke up (I’m kind of semi-serious here).

This amazing song played over and over and over again on the radio when we were growing up. And it never fails to touch you – when you’re feeling down, it is hope. When you’re feeling up, it’s an affirmation that there always will be hope. Its the Sistine Chapel of songs – you listen to it in reverence and in joy and knowing you’re in the presence of something otherworldly. Its a song I’ve heard a billion times and it’s comforted me in so many ways and through some tough times.

This was the first S&G song I had ever heard and to be honest for a very long time I didn’t realise that Paul Simon was actually the superstar singer and songwriter of the duo. S&G have an amazing catalogue of songs – The Sound of Silence, The Boxer, Mrs. Robinson, Homeward Bound, I Am A Rock…they were brilliant folk-rock singers. The comperes on A Date With You used to get all gooey talking about these songs …and rightly so. Love their music….I’ll talk about other S&G songs soon and of course, we’ll talk about Paul Simon’s solo music as well

This version brings lump to my throat – two old friends that fell out coming together in their old age and forgiving each other to this song!