Opinions: Simon and Garfunkel are the greatest musical duo ever.

When I was young, I used to hear the song 'El Condor Pasa' A LOT on the stereo. My Mum was a huge fan. For around ten years I went thinkng that the song was named 'I'd rather be a hammer than a nail'. I asked my Mum one day on the way home from school to put it on, and she looked confused before realising what I meant. Not long after that, 'Bridge Under Troubled Water' was introduced to me, and that's when I realised that Simon and Garfunkel were the only musical duo worth talking about (sorry Ant and Dec).

So, here is my compilation of reasons and opinions as to why I think that SIMON AND GARFUNKEL are the greatest musical duo ever.

20 REASONS WHY SIMON AND GARFUNKEL ARE THE GREATEST MUSICAL DUO EVER

1. I like to pronounce it 'Simon and GarFUNKel'... and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

2. Everyone knows at least one S&G song...and If you think you don't, I'll be more than happy to jog your memory.

3. Their music is timeless- It is still as fresh forty years on from when their tracks were first released.

4. Their songs are still commonly used (and loved) in soundtracks for films and other visual media today- one of the most famous instances being in Zach Snyder's film adaption of Alan Moore's Graphic Novel 'Watchmen', a few years ago, when 'The Sound of Silence' was played in a funeral scene.

5. Their work is constantly parodied- and mimicking is the highest form of flattery.

6. Art Garfunkel provided the song 'Bright Eyes' for the film 'Watership Down'- and if that scene doesn't make you cry, frankly, you have no soul.

7. There could never be a more aesthetically misch-matched couple. Even if you don't like their music, they are wonderful to look at (amusingly wonderful).

8. Despite numerous break-ups and disputes, they still remain great friends and have frequently toured together and performed (also by supporting one another) since their final "adieu".

9. Like all great masters, they saved the best til last, with their final group album 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' being their most successful in relation to sales success.

10. The song 'Mrs. Robinson' has given everyone with that name full entitlement to act like a cougar whenever it gets played.

11. Cecilia is probably the most fun song to play on the guitar ever. Scratch that probably, it just is.

12. Everyone knows the name 'Simon & Garfunkel' and if they don't I'll eat my hat.

13. Their music transcends culture, gender, race, religion- it is completely universal.

14. As well as performing with one another, they have both moulded very successful solo careers for themselves.

15. Paul Simon played at this year's Glastonbury festival. What a guy.

16. They frequently wear matching outfits- the Bookends album being a notable case. Too cute.

17. The songs, generally speaking, are very simple- musically. It's the simplicity and beautifully coincided melodies that make their music so memorable.

18. I have video proof of my sister aged six dancing around to 'Cecilia' at a joint birthday party. She's now into heavy metal. Pure gold.

19. Their legacy will always live on- already fifty years strong, their music looks set to be a favourite throughout the world for many years yet.

20. Comedy music and television New Zealand band, Flight of the Conchords, mimicked Simon and Garfunkel as they performed them as a cover band- largely making fun of the "little and large" stature of Garfunkel/Simon to Jermaine Clement/Brett McKenzie (the band members).

20 FACTS ABOUT SIMON AND GARFUNKEL

1. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957.

2. As Tom & Jerry they had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl".

3. Their music was featured in the landmark film The Graduate (1967), propelling them further into the public consciousness.

4. They are well known for their close vocal harmonies and were among the most popular recording artists of the 1960s.

5. They have received several Grammys and were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

6. Their sometimes rocky relationship led to their last album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, being delayed several times due to artistic disagreements and as a result the duo broke up in 1970.

7. In 2004, they were ranked #40 of the 100 greatest artists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

8. Simon and Garfunkel have reunited to perform and sometimes tour together in every decade since the 1970 breakup, most famously for 1981's "The Concert in Central Park," which attracted more than 500,000 people, making it the 7th most attended concert in the history of music.

9. They met in elementary school in 1953, when they both appeared in the school play Alice in Wonderland (Simon as the White Rabbit, Garfunkel as the Cheshire Cat).

10. Simon and Garfunkel's first reunion after their second breakup was at a June 1972 benefit concert at Madison Square Garden for presidential candidate George McGovern.

11. In the early '70s sitcom The Partridge Family, the two youngest Partridge children name their pet goldfish "Simon and Garfunkel".

12. In an episode of Flight of the Conchords, the lead characters form a Simon and Garfunkel tribute band performing "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme". Garfunkel himself later appears in the episode. In the episode "Unnatural Love", the song "Carol Brown" is an homage to the Paul Simon song "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".

13. In the 1993 film Wayne's World 2, the song "Mrs. Robinson" is played when the title character, Wayne Campbell, goes to stop his girlfriend from marrying her new recording producer, a take-off on The Graduate.

14. In the 2000 film Almost Famous, Zooey Deschanel's character Anita Miller and her mother, played by Frances McDormand, argue about the Bookends album. Later, Anita gives the song "America" as her reason for leaving home to become a stewardess.

15. "The Sound of Silence" is frequently used as background music in films. For example, it plays in the 2003 Old School as Will Ferrell's character falls into a pool (a reference to The Graduate), in Emilio Estevez's 2006 Bobby, after Robert F. Kennedy is shot, and in The Comedian's burial scene in Watchmen (2009).

16. The soundtrack of the 2004 film Garden State includes "The Only Living Boy in New York" from Simon & Garfunkel's final album Bridge Over Troubled Water.

17. In 1999, the asteroid "91287 Simon-Garfunkel" was named in their honor.

18. The comedy folk duo Garfunkel and Oates, portrayed by Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome, gets their name from "two famous rock-and-roll second bananas", Art Garfunkel and John Oates.

19. In 1971, the Israeli folk group The Parvarim recorded an album of Hebrew cover versions of Simon and Garfunkel songs with some translation changes to better fit into the music, including "cinnamon, jasmine and myrrh" instead of "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme".

20. In 1993, Austrian electronic music duo Kruder & Dorfmeister modeled the cover of their first album, G-Stoned, after the cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends album, using similar black-and-white photo, pose, and typography.

20 WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH SIMON AND GARFUNKEL

1. Cecilia

2. Art

3. The Graduate

4. Silence

5. Acoustic

6. 1960's

7. Watchmen

8. Watership Down

9. Flight of the Conchords

10. Revolution

11. Guitar

12. Songwriting

13. Hammer

14. Nail

15. Sparrow

16. Snail

17. Curls

18. Annie Hall

19. America

20. Afro

20 OPINIONS OF SIMON AND GARFUNKEL

(In response to the question 'Do you think that Simon and Garfunkel are the greatest musical duo ever?' via Yahoo Answers)

1. Yes- Ally C, via Yahoo Answers.

2. Hardly. Not even in the top 1000- Top Cat, via Yahoo Answers. 

3. They're definately good but there is a lot more about, for example, Cher and Sonny- Adolf, via Yahoo Answers.

4. Nothing- lak lee, via Yahoo Answers.

5. The Carpenters and the Pet Shop Boys are better- Rob, via Yahoo Answers.

6. absolutely...- Yashiie, via Yahoo Answers.

7. They were very good as were The Carpenters, but my favourite was Chas and Dave- Ghost of Arlanymor Mountain Man, via Yahoo Answers.

8. No. I like Tack & Patti better- Darumu J, via Yahoo Answers.

9. Well, IMO, they're one of the best. But obviously music taste is subjective, so I'll name a couple of other great ones- Boards of Canada, Steely Dan, Pet Shop Boys, White Stripes, The Carpenters, The Knife, Black Keys...-J.W, via Yahoo Answers.

10. No. They are definately awesome but...I prefer: The Everly Brothers, Hall & Oates, The Blues Brothers, The Judds, Faith & Tim, Wyonna & Clint, Tatu, Brooks & Dunn and tons more...-Missy, via Yahoo Answers.

11. Possibly. I am like currently obsessed with them, but I don't know enough other musical duos to compare them with, so I can't give you a concrete answer. But I know that they're definitely at the top of the list, for me at least- sophie, via Yahoo Answers.

(In response to the previously posted question 'Does anybody like Simon and Garfunkel?' posted by Pinkfloydftw via Yahoo Answers)

12. For sure. One of my fave's is "The Boxer". Listen to Graceland by Simon and check out Garfunkel opposite Nicholson in Carnal Knowledge, it's a classic- Biner, via Yahoo Answers.

13. Yes, I do. Art Garfunkel is one of the great underrated singers in rock music, and Simon's lyrics are just amazing.

Favorite songs: "My Little Town" and "Keep the Customer Satisfied."- DoneWithThisPlace, via Yahoo Answers.

14. They are my favorite singing Duo.Mrs. Robinson is my favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE1dz6_u2…- Larry V, via Yahoo Answers.

15. Are they the ones who sing Cecilia...cause I love that song- Fendi, via Yahoo Answers.

16. My fave S&G song is:

Cecilia- SEAN J, via Yahoo Answers.

17. I love them, I have all their albums

The boxer is my favorite- delete account, via Yahoo Answers.

18. "The Only Living Boy in New York"- promising.hope., via Yahoo Answers.

19. I used to but not so much any more- Crazy Dude Petey Petey Petey, via Yahoo Answers.

(In reponse to the previously posted question 'Do you like Simon & Garfunkel?' by Taaak, via Yahoo Answers)

20. Indeed- SAGE, via Yahoo Answers.

20 IMAGES OF SIMON AND GARFUNKEL

One of my all-time favourite albums, given to me by my first "boyfriend". At least he had good taste (in music...obviously...).

Love this picture- taken after one of their many concert reunions through the years.

Simon and Garfunkel provided the soundtrack to the hit film 'The Graduate', in which their song 'Mrs. Robinson' was debuted- highlighting the central seductress who tempts Dustin Hoffman's character into an affair.

Simon and Garfunkel's 'Sound of Silence' was recently bought back into fame due to it's presence in the hit-film 'Watchmen', which saw Alan Moore's classic vigilante Graphic Novel adapted for screen by director Zack Snyder.