Video proof that Simon & Garfunkel hated each other

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Simon & Garfunkel’s legendary 1981 concert in New York’s Central Park was their first live album and was attended by over 500,000 people. Leading up to the concert tensions rose between the two, especially in regards to the role of Paul’s solo material in the show. A few years ago I had the pleasure of seeing artist Cory Arcangel do a hilarious presentation at the old Knitting Factory in Manhattan about the tensions between Simon & Garfunkel during the show. He put the timecodes for his observations on his website and I updated them to match up with this Youtube video of the show. Follow along by clicking the links below:

Simon and Garfunkel “Live @ Central Park” DVD time-code for all the places where a
liberal reading could indicate tension between Simon and Garfunkel.

00:01:12
Simon forces a smile for the audience after shaking Garfunkel’s hand.

00:13:50
00:14:13
Garfunkel sings while Simon’s back is turned to him, a gesture which can be seen as oddly aggressive.

00:14:28
Garfunkel points somewhere offstage, and Simon gives him that “what the f#ck r u doing” look.

00:25:43
Garfunkel spaces out on the side of the stage with nothing to do while Simon sings his solo material.

00:26:51
Garfunkel pretends he knows the words to Paul’s solo material.

00:37:48
Simon and Garfunkel bicker.

00:38:07
The bickering continues, Garfunkel tries to get in the last word, Simon laughingly sneers off Garfunkel’s request (whatever it was)…

01:00:21
Garfunkel attempts interest in Simon’s solo material, but can’t even seem to raise enough enthusiasm to clap on time to the beat….

01:01:43
Garfunkel spaces out on the side of the stage…again….

01:02:31
Garfunkel puttering about on stage with nothing to do during Simon’s solo material….again….

01:04:13
Garfunkel messes up on the first verse of “The Boxer”, Simon with a quick double take and roll of his eyes lets him know he f$%ked up.

01:10:12
Simon and Garfunkel, a cold embrace with no eye contact. Possible interpretation: “Lets just get through this”.

01:17:21
For the curtain call, Simon motions to hug Garfunkel, Garfunkel resists, replies with “pat on back”.

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