John Legend Lives Up To The Definition Of His Name When We Hear Him Perform 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'

Apr 22, 2020 by apost team

It's always great to hear talented musicians singing their songs, but when one talented musician covers another and brings their own style to a song, it can make for something really unique and special.

That's what happened when John Legend covered Simon & Garfunkel's classic ballad Bridge Over Troubled Water at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam in 2013. Using just his incredible voice and talented piano skills, the song was pared back and very moving.

Sitting at his piano atop a lowly lit stage, John Legend begins the performance by softly playing the keys of his piano. It isn't clear yet what song he's intending to play and perhaps it will be one of his own. But after a few chords, Legend begins to sing the opening words, "When you're weary, and feeling small", and the audience immediately cheers, recognizing the classic Simon & Garfunkel song.

What's most moving about his cover version is that he's playing it solo, just his own voice and a pared back piano melody –– no percussion, no backing band. It's a very different version of Bridge Over Troubled Water than we know, but that's what makes it exciting and different is it's truly John Legend's personal take on the classic.

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He soon comes to the chorus and is able to exercise his talented vocal skills, belting out the lyrics with heartfelt emotion. He's obviously giving it his all and must have already been playing the concert for some time, as he's up on stage sweating under the hot lights, singing his heart out. As he concludes the song with an impressive show of his vocal range, as well as his piano playing abilities, the audience cheers loudly, thanking him for the incredible show he's put on.

Released 50 years ago in January 1970, Bridge Over Troubled Water was written by Paul Simon and recorded by the duo Simon & Garfunkel, and went on to become a smash hit as well as the group's signature song. It won five Grammy Awards in 1971, including the prestigious award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. 

Speaking in a 2011 documentary titled The Harmony Game, Paul Simon explained how he wrote the song, as reported by the BBC: "I have no idea where it came from. It just came, all of a sudden... I remember thinking, this is considerably better than I usually write." The same article states that he went on to tell people he worked with that he'd written "my greatest song" and compared his achievement to a classic track from The Beatles, saying it was "my Yesterday."

Whether you prefer Simon & Garfunkel's original or John Legend's pared back jazz-influenced cover, there's no denying Bridge Over Troubled Water is an incredible song. 

What did you think of John Legend's cover version? And which version of Bridge Over Troubled Water do you prefer? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to your family and friends!