Bridge over Troubled Water (song)#Elvis Presley

"Bridge over Troubled Water" was composed by Paul Simon in early 1969; the song came to him very quickly, so much so that he asked himself: "Where did that come from? It doesn't seem like me."{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=105}}{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/features/3866/|title=Sounds of Simon|work=New York Magazine|date=October 9, 2000|first=Anthony|last=DeCurtis|authorlink=Anthony DeCurtis|access-date=June 2, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200122-the-forgotten-political-roots-of-bridge-over-troubled-water|title=The forgotten political roots of Bridge over Troubled Water|publisher=BBC|first=Dorian|last=Lynskey|date=January 24, 2020|access-date=June 1, 2021}} The title concept was inspired by Claude Jeter's line "I'll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in my name," which Jeter sang with his group, the Swan Silvertones, in the 1959 song "Mary Don't You Weep".Sisario, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/arts/music/11jeter.html "Claude Jeter, Gospel Singer With Wide Influence, Dies at 94 "], The New York Times, January 10, 2009. Accessed January 11, 2009.{{cite web | url=https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/OhMaryDontYouWeep.pdf | title="Oh Mary Don't You Weep"--The Swan Silvertones (1959) | author=Zolten, Jerry | website=Library of Congress | access-date=July 26, 2020}} According to gospel producer and historian Anthony Heilbut, Simon acknowledged his debt to Jeter in person, and handed Jeter a check.{{cite news|last=Hinckley|first=David|title=Legendary singer Claude Jeter dies|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/legendary-singer-claude-jeter-dies-article-1.421227|access-date=August 13, 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=January 8, 2009}} Simon named Johann Sebastian Bach's "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" as inspiration for parts of the melody.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E8HUjxroFA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/4E8HUjxroFA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Songs Inspired By Bach|date=May 10, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Simon wrote the song initially on guitar but transposed it to the piano to reflect the gospel influence and suit Garfunkel's voice.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=104}}

Simon told his partner, Art Garfunkel, that Garfunkel should sing it alone, the "white choirboy way", though Simon adds harmony on the final verse.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=105}} Garfunkel felt it was not right for him;{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=104}} he liked Simon's falsetto on the demo and suggested that Simon sing. At the suggestion of Garfunkel and producer Roy Halee, Simon wrote an extra verse and a "bigger" ending, though he felt it was less cohesive with the earlier verses.Kingston, Victoria, Simon and Garfunkel: the Definitive Biography, Sidgwick & Jackson, UK, 1996 p.101-02 The final verse was written about Simon's then-wife Peggy Harper, who had noticed her first gray hairs ("Sail on, silvergirl").{{cite magazine|last=Dawidoff|first=Nicholas|title=Paul Simon's Restless Journey|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 12, 2011|issue=1130|pages=60–61}}{{cite web|last=Dawidoff|first=Nioclas|title=Paul Simon's Restless Journey|url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/features/paul-simon%E2%80%99s-restless-journey/ |work=Rolling Stone India |publisher=RollingStoneIndia.com |access-date=August 13, 2012|date=August 25, 2011}} It does not refer to a drug abuser's hypodermic needle, as is sometimes claimed.{{sfn|Bennighof|2007|p=43}} The verse was Garfunkel's idea, but Simon reportedly did not like it.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/simon-and-garfunkel-bridge-over-troubled-water-20110525 |title=Simon and Garfunkel, 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' | 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=October 2, 2016}}

"Bridge over Troubled Water" was the final track recorded for the album but the first completed, with an additional two weeks of post-production.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=104}} Simon initially composed the song in G major, but arranger and composer Jimmie Haskell transposed the song to E-flat major to suit Garfunkel's voice.{{sfn|Ebel|2004|pp=58–60}} The song's instrumental parts were recorded in August 1969 in California, to make it easier for Garfunkel to go to Mexico to film Catch-22.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=111}} Simon wanted a gospel piano sound, and hired session musician Larry Knechtel. Joe Osborn played two separate bass tracks, one high and the other low. A string section entering in the third verse completed the arrangement. The drums were played by Hal Blaine in an echo chamber to achieve a hall effect and Los Angeles session percussionist Gary Coleman played the Vibraphone. Haskell misheard the demo's chorus, writing "Like a Pitcher of Water" on the title page of his sheet music: Simon later framed it.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/lives-of-the-great-songs--bridge-over-troubled-water-1448080.html|title=Lives of the great songs / Bridge over troubled water|newspaper=The Independent|first=Giles|last=Smith|date=September 11, 1994|access-date=August 14, 2012}}

Simon and Garfunkel returned to New York in November 1969 to record the vocals.{{sfn|Ebel|2004|p=61}}{{sfn|Browne|2012|p=30}}{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=104}} The vocal style in "Bridge over Troubled Water" was inspired by Phil Spector's technique in "Old Man River" by The Righteous Brothers.{{cite web|url=http://www.artgarfunkel.com/articles/talks.html|publisher=Art Garfunkel Official Website|title=Across America Promotional CD Interview With Art|access-date=August 15, 2012|archive-date=July 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716065125/http://www.artgarfunkel.com/articles/talks.html|url-status=dead}} Simon said it sounded like the Beatles' "Let It Be", stating in a Rolling Stone interview: "They are very similar songs, certainly in instrumentation."{{sfn|Browne|2012|p=154}}

As their relations frayed preceding their 1970 breakup, Simon began to experience regret for allowing Garfunkel to sing it solo:

{{blockquote|He felt I should have done it, and many times on a stage, though, when I'd be sitting off to the side and Larry Knechtel would be playing the piano and Artie would be singing "Bridge", people would stomp and cheer when it was over, and I would think, "That's my song, man..."{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=105}}}}

• Art Garfunkel – lead vocals
• Paul Simon – backing vocals
• Larry Knechtel – piano
• Joe Osborn – bass guitar
• Hal Blaine – drums and percussion
• Jimmie Haskell, Ernie Freeman – string arrangements

Billboard called it a "beautiful, almost religious-oriented ballad" whose "performance and arrangement are perfect."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|page=79|title=Spotlight Singles|date=January 31, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1970/Billboard%201970-01-31.pdf|accessdate=2023-04-29}} Cash Box said that "set in parable, this love ballad carries a two-level interpretation" and praised "Garfunkel's magnificent vocal performance and the material."{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|page=36|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=January 31, 1970|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-01-31.pdf|accessdate=2023-04-29}} Record World predicted that the song would "equal [the duo's] 'Boxer' success."{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=January 31, 1970|page=1|accessdate=2023-04-29|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-01-31.pdf}}

The song has also been lauded as one of the greatest by Simon & Garfunkel. In 2017, The Guardian called the song one of the best by the duo, describing it as "heart-stirring".{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Alexandra |date=February 8, 2017 |title=Simon and Garfunkel – 10 of the best |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2017/feb/08/simon-and-garfunkel-10-of-the-best |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=The Guardian}} The Independent similarly lauded the song in 2020, calling it "a transcendent experience" and ranking it as the best song by the group.{{Cite web |last=Ross |first=Graeme |date=February 28, 2020 |title=The 20 greatest Simon & Garfunkel songs ranked, from 'America' to 'Mrs Robinson' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/simon-garfunkel-20-greatest-songs-ranked-bridge-over-troubled-water-a9363141.html |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=The Independent}}

Despite the song's five-minute length, Columbia decided to release "Bridge over Troubled Water" for play on pop radio. AM radio had previously played Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" in 1965, despite its running over the conventional three-minute playtime limit. This figured in Columbia's decision to release the five-minute version of "Bridge over Troubled Water" as a single.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|p=106}} It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. "Bridge over Troubled Water" also topped the adult contemporary chart in the US for six weeks.Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 6th Edition (Billboard Publications) Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song for 1970.Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970

The song was certified Gold for over one million copies in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America, and sold over six million copies worldwide.{{cite book|title= The Book of Golden Discs |url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr |url-access= registration |quote= rudolph. |edition= 2, illustrated |first= Joseph |last= Murrells |publisher= Barrie & Jenkins |isbn= 0-214-20480-4 |year= 1978}}{{cite book|title=The Arts in the 1970s: Cultural Closure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7eWo7eGPx8AC&q=%22list+of+1970s+best-sellers%22|last=Moore-Gilbert|first=Bart|publisher= Routledge|date=March 11, 2002|isbn = 9780415099066|access-date=May 30, 2012}}

The single won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Contemporary Song, and Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals in the Grammy Awards of 1971, with its album also winning Album of the Year.

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Bridge over Troubled Water|artist=Simon and Garfunkel|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1970|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=December 21, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Bridge over Troubled Water|artist=Simon & Garfunkel|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=1082-1749-1|access-date=September 3, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Bridge over Troubled Water|artist=Simon & Garfunkel|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1970|certyear=1970|access-date=October 18, 2019|refname="riaa"}}

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"Bridge over Troubled Water" entered the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 at no.13 on February 9, 1970. It jumped to no.3 the following week before climbing to no.1.

During a six-week run at the top – the most for any single that year – Simon and Garfunkel held off strong competition from Creedence Clearwater Revival ("Travelin' Band") and The Jaggerz ("The Rapper"). Then, on April 11, the song fell to no.5 – replaced by The Beatles' "Let It Be". "Bridge over Troubled Water" concluded a 13-week run in the US top 40 on 9 May as their follow-up hit "Cecilia" began its rise to no.4.

As in the US, "Bridge over Troubled Water" made its UK top 40 bow at no.13, on February 28, 1970. The song climbed steadily over the next four weeks before claiming no.1 on March 28. During a three-week stay at the top, it held off strong competition from Mary Hopkin with "Knock, Knock Who's There?" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Andy Williams.

Then, on April 18, the song fell to no.2 – replaced by "All Kinds of Everything" by Dana.

In total, "Bridge over Troubled Water" spent seventeen weeks in the UK top 40 (concluding on June 27).

"Bridge over Troubled Water" has been covered by over 50 artists,{{sfn|Charlesworth|1997|p=49}} including Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. Merry Clayton recorded a version in gospel style on her 1970 album Gimme Shelter.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Merry-Clayton-Gimme-Shelter/master/337524|title=Merry Clayton – Gimme Shelter|website=Discogs|year=1970 }} A cover was included on The Supremes 1970 release New Ways But Love Stays with lead vocals by Jean Terrell, Roberta Flack on her 1971 album - "Quiet Fire", Mary Wilson, and Cindy Birdsong. A cover recorded by Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple for Cash's American IV: The Man Comes Around album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals in 2003.{{sfn|Eliot|2010|pp=103, 164}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Bridge over Troubled Water

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Aretha Franklin

| album = Aretha's Greatest Hits

| B-side = Brand New Me

| released = 1971

| recorded = August 13, 1970{{Cite AV media notes |title=Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings |title-link=Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings |others=Aretha Franklin |date=1992|type=booklet |publisher=Rhino Records}}

| studio = Atlantic (New York City)

| venue =

| genre =

• Gospel{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2024/11/how-aretha-franklin-brought-gospel-and-soul-to-pop|title=Say a Little Prayer Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=February 17, 2025}}
• R&B

| length =

• {{Duration|m=5|s=31}} (album version)
• {{Duration|m=3|s=18}} (single version)

| label = Atlantic

| producer =

• Jerry Wexler
• Arif Mardin
• Tom Dowd

| prev_title = You're All I Need to Get By

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Spanish Harlem

| next_year = 1971

}}

Aretha Franklin's gospel-infused cover version was recorded in the summer of 1970, during the sessions for what would become her 1972 album Young, Gifted and Black. Franklin debuted her version on March 5, 1971, during her landmark three-night stint at San Francisco's Fillmore West, which was later released as Aretha Live at Fillmore West. Eleven days later, she performed the song on television for the first time at the 13th Annual Grammy Awards, at which an already-disbanded Simon & Garfunkel picked up five Grammy Awards for the song. Franklin's Grammy performance was released decades later on the 1994 compilation Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III.

{{Infobox song

| name = Bridge over Troubled Water

| cover =

| alt =

| type = song

| artist = Elvis Presley

| album = That's the Way It Is

| released = 1970

| recorded = 1970

| genre =

• Country
• soft rock

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=35}}

| label = RCA

| producer = Felton Jarvis

}}

In 1970, Elvis Presley covered the song.{{cite web| url = https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1506019/elvis-presley-paul-simon-bridge-over-troubled-water |publisher=Express.com.uk |access-date=October 18, 2021 |title=Elvis Presley Paul Simon: 'King's cover of my song was unbelievable' |date=October 18, 2021 }}

Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed recorded an instrumental version of the song and released it on their 1970 album Me & Jerry. The song appears as the second song on the album's first side and features both Reed and Atkins playing guitar trading lines back and forth with each other.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFaYzTfbHI4|title=YouTube |date=November 13, 2018 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=September 20, 2022}} The album and their rendition of the song received generally positive reviews with the former going on to win the 1971 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance.{{cite web |first=Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |title= Me & Jerry > Review |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id= mw0000863334 |pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=September 20, 2022}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r385639|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic entry for reissue of Me & Jerry and Me & Chet.]

{{Infobox song

| name = Bridge over Troubled Water

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Linda Clifford

| album = Let Me Be Your Woman

| B-side = Hold Me Close

| released = 1979

| recorded = 1978

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Disco

| length =

• {{Duration|m=10|s=20}} (album version)
• {{Duration|m=4|s=08}} (7-inch version)

| label =

• RSO
• Curtom

| writer = Paul Simon

| producer = Gil Askey

| prev_title = Gypsy Lady

| prev_year = 1978

| next_title = Don't Give It Up

| next_year = 1979

}}

Linda Clifford, Curtis Mayfield's protégée signed on his Curtom label, released an up-tempo disco version of "Bridge over Troubled Water" on her album Let Me Be Your Woman in March 1979. This epic version (10:20 in length) was produced by Gil Askey (jazz trumpet player and musical director for many Motown acts) and mixed by Jimmy Simpson, brother of Valerie Simpson from Ashford and Simpson. The song has two originalities, the first one being a 132 bpm tempo (considered the ideal tempo for disco dancing) when the Simon and Garfunkel original is 82 bpm and Aretha Franklin's cover is 76 bpm. It was the first time that this song was covered with a fast tempo. It also has a highly original "Brazilian cuica on a disco beat" break. It became a US disco number 11, pop number 41, R&B number 49 and UK number 28.{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=60}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Bridge over Troubled Water

| cover =

| alt =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = P.J.B. featuring Hannah and Her Sisters

| album =

| B-side =

| released = 1991

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

• Dance
• house

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=45}}

| label =

• CBS
• Columbia
• Dance Pool

| writer = Paul Simon

| producer = Pete Bellotte

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

In 1991, P.J.B. featuring Hannah and Her Sisters, a UK group assembled by British songwriter, record producer and author Pete Bellotte and fronted by British singer Hannah Jones, released a dance cover of "Bridge over Troubled Water" which reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=A&ChDate=19910928&ChMode=N |title=Ultimate Music Database |publisher=Umdmusic.com |access-date=October 2, 2016}} The group appeared on Top of the Pops as the opening act on the 26 September 1991 episode.

{{See also|This Is the Night (Clay Aiken song)}}

In 2003, American Idol season two runner-up Clay Aiken performed "Bridge over Troubled Water" during the competition. After the final results were announced, RCA Records released the song as a double A-side single with "This Is the Night" in Canada in New Zealand; in the US, "This Is the Night" was credited as a solo release since it received a higher cumulative airplay audience.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/clay-aiken/chart-history/hsi/|title=Clay Aiken Chart History (The Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 19, 2022}}{{cite magazine|title=Feat of Clay: Aiken Proves 'This Is the Night'|last1=Pietroluongo|first1=Silvio|last2=Patel|first2=Minal|last3=Jessen|first3=Wade|magazine=Billboard|volume=115|issue=26|page=71|date=June 28, 2003}} The double A-side charted at number one in both Canada and New Zealand, earning a sextuple-platinum sales certification in the former country and a platinum disc in the latter.{{cite certification|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Clay Aiken|title=Bridge over Troubled Water|award=Platinum|number=6|certyear=2003|access-date=February 19, 2022}}{{cite certification|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Clay Aiken|title=Bridge over Troubled Water|award=Platinum|id=2003-07-18|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=2003}} On New Zealand's year-end chart for 2003, the single was ranked at number 38.{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/2003-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 2003|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=February 19, 2022}}

A rewriting of the song with Cantonese lyrics ("Many hearts prevail" – :zh:滔滔千里心) was collectively sung by many Hong Kong singers for public shows in Hong Kong to raise funds after the Eastern China flood of 1991. In 2009 it was also used in the Artistes 88 Fund Raising Campaign for the victims of Typhoon Morakot.{{Cite news | url=http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2009-08/19/content_18360822.htm |title=Artists raise fund in HK for Taiwan flood victims |publisher=China.org.cn }}

Dami Im covered this song during the Family Heroes-themed sixth live show of the fifth season of Australian X Factor on September 29, 2013.{{cite news|last=Hardie|first=Giles|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/minogue-reduced-to-tears-on-x-factor-20130929-2umn8.html|title=Minogue reduced to tears on X Factor|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=September 29, 2013|access-date=October 5, 2016}} Im's performance of the song debuted at number 15 on the Australian Singles Chart. Im later released a version of the song on her self-titled album,{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dami+Im |title=Discography Dami Im |work=Australian Charts Portal |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=October 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106164242/http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Dami+Im |archive-date=November 6, 2013 }} which debuted at number 1 in Australia, and was certified Platinum.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-albums-2013.htm |title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Albums |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205035615/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-albums-2013.htm |archive-date=February 5, 2014 }}

{{anchor|Artists for Grenfell charity single}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Bridge over Troubled Water

| cover = File:Grenfell_Single.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Artists for Grenfell

| album =

| released = June 21, 2017

| recorded = June 2017

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:53

| label = Syco

| writer = Paul Simon

| producer =

• Graham Stack
• Tokio Myers
• Trevor Horn

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|8O1CcwYf79I|"Bridge over Troubled Water"}}}}

}}

To raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation, Simon Cowell arranged the recording and release of a charity single on June 21, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/20/simon-cowells-grenfell-tower-charity-single-available-from-8am-on-june-21-6723130/|title=Simon Cowell's Grenfell Tower charity single available from 8am on June 21|first=Rebecca Lewis for|last=Metro.co.uk|date=June 20, 2017|access-date=June 21, 2017}} London-born grime artist Stormzy featured prominently, having written a fresh 16-line intro to the song which specifically referenced the tragedy. The recording reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on June 23, 2017 after just two days of availability, and was certified gold by the BPI on January 31, 2020.{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|accessdate=9 January 2022|artist=Artists for Grenfell|title=Bridge Over Troubled Water|id=1082-4434-1}} The artists were awarded with the Power of Music Award at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards.{{Cite web |title=2017 MTV EMA: Shawn Mendes Rules With 4 Awards! Here's The Full Winners List |url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/ikhohz/2017-ema-full-winners-list-shawn-mendes-wins-four |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=MTV UK |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2017-11-13 |title=MTV EMAs 2017: Shawn Mendes scoops three awards |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-41965661 |access-date=2022-05-24}}

The song was performed by the following artists (in order of appearance):

• Brian May (of Queen) – guitar
• Nile Rodgers – guitar
• Tokio Myers – piano
• Pete Townshend (of the Who) – guitar

{{Clear}}

{{div col}}

• Stormzy
• Robbie Williams
• James Blunt
• Rita Ora
• Craig David
• Dan Smith (of Bastille)
• Liam Payne
• Peggy Lee
• Emeli Sandé
• Kelly Jones (of Stereophonics)
• Paloma Faith
• Louis Tomlinson
• Labrinth
• Jacob Collier
• John Legend
• Jorja Smith
• WSTRN
• Leona Lewis
• Jessie J
• James Arthur
• Roger Daltrey (of the Who)
• Ella Eyre
• Anne-Marie
• Ella Henderson
• Louisa Johnson
• 5 After Midnight
• Angel
• Carl Barât (of the Libertines)
• Deno
• Donae'o
• Dua Lipa
• Fleur East
• Gareth Malone and The Choir for Grenfell
• Geri Halliwell (of Spice Girls)
• Gregory Porter
• Jessie Ware
• John Newman
• Jon McClure (of Reverend and the Makers)
• London Community Gospel Choir
• Matt Goss
• Matt Terry
• Mr Eazi
• Nathan Sykes
• Omar
• Pixie Lott
• Ray BLK
• Raye
• Shakka
• Shane Filan (of Westlife)
• Tom Grennan
• Tori Kelly
• Tony Hadley (of Spandau Ballet)
• Tulisa

{{div col end}}

Willie Nelson covered the song in the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.{{cite news |title=OLYMPICS: CLOSING CEREMONY; Games End With a Mixture Of Rowdy Relief and Joy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/25/sports/olympics-closing-ceremony-games-end-with-a-mixture-of-rowdy-relief-and-joy.html |first=Mike |last=Wise |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 25, 2002}}

Mary J. Blige, David Foster, and Andrea Bocelli performed the song on January 31, 2010, during the 52nd Grammy Awards ceremony, in the context of raising awareness for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.{{cite news |last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |date=February 1, 2010 |title=Mary J. Blige, Andrea Bocelli Brought 'Heavy Emotion' To Grammy Duet For Haiti |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1630999/mary-j-blige-andrea-bocelli-brought-heavy-emotion-to-grammy-duet-for-haiti/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127123447/http://www.mtv.com/news/1630999/mary-j-blige-andrea-bocelli-brought-heavy-emotion-to-grammy-duet-for-haiti/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |newspaper=MTV }} This version reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

For BBC Children in Need in 2012, over 2,500 children sang the song in unison from 15 towns across the UK.{{cite web|last=Condon|first=Paul|title=Live BBC Outside Broadcasts for Children in Need appeal night|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/childreninneed/posts/Live-BBC-Outside-Broadcasts-for-Children-in-Need-appeal-night|work=BBC Children in Need Blog|publisher=BBC|accessdate=17 November 2012|date=14 November 2012}}{{Cite web |date=2012-11-22 |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, BBC Children in Need Choir: Around the UK |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011l8qv |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} The performance started in the studio before cutting between the choirs as they sang giving each choir around 15 seconds on air, this was all done in real time. However 5 of the choirs weren't included in the link up shown on the night and were instead shown later on the highlights show.

They were led by Aled Jones who conducted the choir in the London studio.

The Choirs sang from: London at BBC Television Centre the studio where the main telethon was held, Aberdeen at The Beach Ballroom,{{Cite web |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2012, Scotland's Best Bits |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nzcd9 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} Northumberland at The Alnwick Garden, Swindon at Steam: Museum of the Great Western Railway,{{cite web | url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/9987913.school-choir-to-take-part-in-children-in-need-event/ | title=School choir to take part in Children in Need Event | date=October 17, 2012 }} Birmingham at The Mailbox, Belfast at The Broadcasting House,{{Cite web |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2012, Northern Ireland's Best Bits |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nz0p3 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} East Sussex at Glyndebourne,{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20208705 | title=BBC South East's Children in Need Party 2012 | work=BBC News | date=November 5, 2012 }} Cardiff at The BBC Hoddinott Hall,{{Cite web |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2012, Wales' Best Bits |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nz9v8 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} Scunthorpe at Baths Hall and Winchester at Intech.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-17 |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, BBC Children in Need Choir: Winchester |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0119xk1 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} The choirs not included were: Cambridge at West Road Concert Hall,{{Cite web |date=2012-11-17 |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, BBC Children in Need Choir: Cambridge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0119yd7 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} Exeter at The Forum Library, Exeter University,{{cite web | url=https://www.theexeterdaily.co.uk/news/charities/event-exeter-part-biggest-bbc-children-need-night-ever | title=Event Exeter part of biggest BBC Children in Need night ever | the Exeter Daily | date=November 22, 2012 }} Leicestershire at Conkers Discovery Centre,{{Cite web |date=2012-11-17 |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, BBC Children in Need Choir: Leicestershire |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011b00g |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} Rotherham at Magna Science Adventure Centre and Salford at The BBC Philharmonic Studio at MediaCityUK{{Cite web |date=2012-11-20 |title=BBC - BBC Children in Need, BBC Children in Need Choir: Salford |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011h4q7 |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

On December 9, 2013, Tessanne Chin covered the song on season 5 of NBC's singing competition The Voice for the semifinal round. The song went to the number one spot on iTunes within 12 hours, with her becoming the first contestant to achieve the top chart position at the end of an applicable voting window that season.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvmediainsights.com/highlights/36288/the-voice-on-itunes-december-9-10-2013/ |title=Archived Document |access-date=December 10, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218115756/http://www.tvmediainsights.com/highlights/36288/the-voice-on-itunes-december-9-10-2013/ |archive-date=December 18, 2013 }}

"A Bridge over You", a charity single recorded and released independently by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, the choir of the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust located in south-east London, was a mashup of "Bridge over Troubled Water" and Coldplay's 2005 single "Fix You", with additional arrangement by the choir's conductor, Peter Mitchell. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart at Christmas 2015.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

In August 2019, Kodi Lee covered the song on America's Got Talent in the quarter-finals of the competition. Simon Cowell revealed that Paul Simon personally signed off to allow him to sing the song within thirty minutes of the show producers asking for permission.{{cite news |last=Keegan|first=Kayla|date=August 14, 2019 |title='AGT' Judge Simon Cowell Told Kodi Lee a Secret About Paul Simon That Floored Fans|url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a28699366/agt-kodi-lee-2019-judge-simon-cowell-secret/|newspaper=Good Housekeeping }}

• Irish musician Hozier performed the song for the RTÉ fundraising special RTÉ Does Comic Relief in Croke Park. The performance was dedicated to those who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-26|title=Hozier wows viewers with 'stunning' Croker performance|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2020/0626/1149944-hozier-wows-viewers-with-stunning-croker-performance/|language=en |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann }}

Matt Bellamy from Muse released a cover on September 8, 2020, stating it is one of his "favorite songs of all time...We should all reach out and be there for our friends right now!"{{Cite magazine |first=Althea |last=Legaspi|date=2020-09-18|title=Hear Matt Bellamy of Muse Cover Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-matt-bellamy-of-muse-cover-simon-garfunkels-bridge-over-troubled-water-1062117 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en}}

In 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the gold medalist pair of pair skating, Sui Wenjing & Han Cong, adapted the mixed cover of this song, by Linda Eder and John Legend, in their free skating programme with a stunning score, 155.47 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/19/sports/olympics/pairs-figure-skating-free-skate-finals.html|title=An Exclamation Point for China, Delivered by the Finest of Margins|first=Juliet|last=Macur|author-link=Juliet Macur|website=The New York Times|date=19 February 2022}}

Jacob Collier (who was featured on the Artists for Grenfell cover) released his own acapella rendition of the song featuring John Legend, Tori Kelly, and uncredited vocals from Yebba as part of his album Djesse Vol. 4 on February 22, 2024, as the last single.{{cite news |title=Yebba, Jacob Collier transform Simon & Garfunkel's 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/yebba-jacob-collier-bridge-over-troubled-water-watch |last=O'Brien |first=Andrew |work=Live for Live |date=2024-02-24 |access-date=2024-02-25 |archive-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005184415/https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/yebba-jacob-collier-bridge-over-troubled-water-watch/ |url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last=Bennighof|first=James|title=The Words and Music of Paul Simon|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2007|isbn=978-0-275-99163-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShBhKL-9SLIC}}
• {{cite book|last=Browne|first=David|title=Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-306-82072-4|url=https://archive.org/details/firerainbeatless00brow|url-access=registration}}
• {{cite book|last=Charlesworth|first=Chris|chapter=Bridge Over Troubled Water|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=1997|isbn=0-7119-5597-2}}
• {{cite book|last=Ebel|first=Roswitha|title=Paul Simon: seine Musik, sein Leben|trans-title=Paul Simon: His Music, His Life|publisher=epubli|year=2004|isbn=978-3-937729-00-8|language=de|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5tGr0Ufh_0EC}}
• {{cite book |first=Marc |last=Eliot | title= Paul Simon: A Life | publisher= John Wiley and Sons | year= 2010 | isbn= 978-0-470-43363-8 | url= https://archive.org/details/paulsimonlife0000elio |url-access=registration }}
• {{cite book|last=Fornatale|first=Pete|title=Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends|year=2007|publisher=Rodale|isbn=978-1-59486-427-8}}

{{refend}}

• {{YouTube|WrcwRt6J32o|"Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water (from The Concert in Central Park)"}}

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