"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" is a song by folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon and originally released on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.[4] Cash Box called it a "sparkling, spirited lid".[5]
| "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1971 single release, where "The 59th Street Bridge Song" was given the A-side | ||||
| Single by Simon & Garfunkel | ||||
| from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme | ||||
| Recorded | 16 August 1966 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock | |||
| Length | 1:43[1]/1:53 (later fade out)[2][3] | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Paul Simon | |||
| Producer(s) | Bob Johnston | |||
| Simon & Garfunkel singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song is named for the Queensboro Bridge which spans the East River between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Queens, 59th Street Bridge being a popular unofficial alternate name for that landmark whose Manhattan end is located between 59th and 60th Streets.[6] Reportedly the song came to Paul Simon during a daybreak walk across the Queensboro Bridge: the line: "Just kicking down the cobblestones" refers to the paving at the approach to the bridge's Queens end, while "Hello lamppost, what'cha knowing" refers to either of two bronze lampposts which stood at the bridge's Manhattan end; although the northern member of the pair was removed circa 1975, the southern lamppost is still in place.[7] Simon opted to entitle the song after its site of inspiration rather than its prominent hook line "Feelin' Groovy", Simon balking at labeling one of his songs with such a lowbrow turn of phrase: however "The 59th Street Bridge Song" would be tracklisted on the Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album with "Feelin' Groovy" as its parenthetical subtitle.[8]
As recorded for the Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album, "The 59th Street Bridge Song" features Dave Brubeck Quartet members Joe Morello (drums) and Eugene Wright (double bass). Although such a cheerful track might have seemed an obvious choice for single release the track's running time of 1:43 was deemed too brief to garner radio "add-ons". Simon would say of the song's brevity: "Sometimes I make a song purely an impression...When you've made your impression, stop. I don't want the [listener] to think [beyond] its [being] a happy song."[9] (Subsequent remasters, included on later reissues of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and such compilations as Old Friends,[10] Tales from New York: The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel,[11] and The Essential Simon & Garfunkel,[12] have a longer fade-out at 1:53.) The track would serve as B-side for the Simon and Garfunkel 1967 Top 20 hit "At the Zoo". In 1971 "The 59th Street Bridge Song" would have an A-side single release – with "I Am a Rock" as B-side – in several European countries.[13]
Footage of Simon and Garfunkel performing the song at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival is featured in the film Monterey Pop.[citation needed] During his 2018 farewell tour, Simon "penalized" himself for wrongly performing the lyrics to another song by singing this song, which he confesses to hating.[14]
The theme song to the American children's television program H.R. Pufnstuf, originally composed by Sid and Marty Krofft, was found to closely mimic "The 59th Street Bridge Song" after Simon sued for plagiarism; his writing credit was subsequently added to the theme for H.R. Pufnstuf.[15][16]
Covers and performances
edit- A popular cover version was recorded by Harpers Bizarre on their 1967 debut album Feelin' Groovy,[4] reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Easy Listening chart.[17] This version – which at 2:34 expanded on the Simon & Garfunkel original's running time, adding an a cappella choral section – was arranged by Leon Russell, who played piano on the track. The track also featured session musicians Glen Campbell, Carol Kaye and drummer Jim Gordon, and a woodwind quartet with a flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon.
- Simon's former song-writing partner Bruce Woodley recorded a cover with his band The Seekers on their 1967 album Seekers Seen in Green.
- The song was covered by The Free Design on their 1967 debut album Kites Are Fun.
- The song was covered by Italian vocal band Quartetto Cetra on their 1967 single "La Ballata degli Innamorati / Tre Minuti", with Italian lyrics written by Tata Giacobetti.
- The melody was used by Nana Mouskouri in 1967 for her song "C'est Bon la Vie".
- Liberace and the Young Folks Singing Aggregation performed the song on the March 5, 1968 episode of The Red Skelton Hour.[18]
- A version by Brenda Lee appeared on her 1968 album For the First Time (Decca DL 4955).
- Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short performed this song at their 1968 Town Hall performance, documented on the live album At Town Hall.
- The song appears on the 1969 album The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper; during the track's mixing, Simon added harmony vocals to the final chorus.
- Cochise recorded a rock/blues version on their self-titled debut LP (1970)
- Jazz vocalist Johnny Hartman recorded it on his 1973 album I've Been There.
- The song was covered by Berni Flint and Lena Zavaroni on her television series Lena Zavaroni and Music (1979).
- The Coolies covered it on their 1986 album dig..?, along with eight other tongue-in-cheek covers of Simon & Garfunkel classics.
- Pizzicato Five made a Japanese-language version of the song, included on both the single The Audrey Hepburn Complex and the album Pizzicatomania!.
- The song was covered by the Boston band Jim's Big Ego for their album Don't Get Smart.
- Jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond recorded the song on his album Bridge Over Troubled Water, consisting of all Simon and Garfunkel compositions.
- The Grateful Dead based the "Dark Star" jam on 13 February 1970 at the Fillmore East in New York, NY on the Dick's Picks Volume 4 album on the song.[19]
- O.A.R. have been covering this song in concert since 2002; they play their own arrangement which always serves as an intro to fan favorites "That Was a Crazy Game of Poker" or "City on Down".
- The song was parodied by Bob Rivers as "Feelin' Boobies".
- Tori Amos performed the original song at several of her concerts in 2005.[20]
- The song was covered by Rachael MacFarlane on her 2012 debut album Hayley Sings.
- During live performances, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page would often include snippets of "The 59th Street Bridge Song" in the guitar solo of the song "Heartbreaker". While usually edited out of official live releases, the snippet can be heard on numerous Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings.
In popular culture
edit- The cover version of the 1969 album Switched-On Rock by the Electronic group "The Moog Machine" was used as the theme for Dr. Chapatín, a character created by Chespirito.[21]
- In 1991, Harpers Bizarre's cover of the song was featured in an episode of The Wonder Years (season 5, episode 10), "Pfeiffer's Choice".[22]
- The song was used in a 2003 series of Gap commercials featuring R&B/soul singers Angie Stone and Mýa.[23]
- The song was used in the first season of US TV series Desperate Housewives, during a scene where Lynette Scavo hallucinates her own suicide.
- In an episode of The Simpsons (season 6, episode 25) titled "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One)", Mr. Burns alludes to the song, saying, "Hello lamppost, whatcha knowin'? I've come to watch your power flowin'."[24]
- The song was used in the trailer for Hal Ashby's 1975 comedy-drama Shampoo for which Paul Simon composed the original score.
- The song was used in the season 3 premiere of The Leftovers (season 3, episode 1) called "The Book of Kevin". Protagonist Kevin Garvey asphyxiates himself with plastic wrap and duct tape in his room as the song plays.[25]
- A variant of the song was performed by Paul Simon and Stephen Colbert as the opening segment for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 25, 2017.[26]
- In a season 1 episode of Animaniacs entitled "The Warners' 65th Anniversary Special", during an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show the song is parodied as "Make a Gookie", in which Wakko encourages the general public to be humorous and make silly faces.
References
edit- ^ "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme – Simon & Garfunkel | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Tales from New York – the Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel". Spotify. 28 March 2000.
- ^ "The Essential Simon & Garfunkel". Spotify. 14 October 2003.
- ^ a b "Simon & Garfunkel – The 59Th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy): Comentarios de canciones". AlohaCriticón (in European Spanish). 27 October 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 4 March 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) – 59th Street Bridge, New York". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "A proud lamppost guards the Queensboro Bridge". 7 January 2013.
- ^ Leigh, Spencer (2016). Simon & Garfunkel: Together Alone. Carmarthen United Kingdom: McNidder & Grace. ISBN 978-0857161505.
- ^ New Yorker September 2 1967 "On the Road With Simon & Garfunkel: the music duo discusses poetry, popularity, and pain" by James Stevenson
- ^ "Simon & Garfunkel – Old Friends | Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
- ^ "Simon & Garfunkel – The Very Best of Simon & Garfunkel: Tales from New York | Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
- ^ "Simon & Garfunkel – The Essential Simon & Garfunkel | Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
- ^ "45cat – Simon And Garfunkel – The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) / I Am A Rock – CBS – Germany – 7169". 45cat.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Paul Simon wraps up farewell tour back home". CBC News. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ "NameBright – Coming Soon". Kiddiematinee.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "H.R. Pufnstuf (1969–1970): Trivia", IMDB.com. Accessed Sept. 16, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 111.
- ^ "Television Scout: King Gable Comes to Video; Best Bets". The Pittsburgh Press. March 5, 1968. p. 51. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
- ^ Malvinni, David (28 February 2013). Grateful Dead and the Art of Rock Improvisation. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-8348-2.
- ^ "Tori Amos Setlist Database". Toriset.org. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ Rojas, Anita (20 June 2017). "La música de Chespirito". La Rata (in Spanish). p. larata.cl. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "S5E10: Pfeiffer's Choice – The Wonder Years Soundtrack". Tunefind.com. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ Mack, Ann M. (28 February 2003). "Laird's Gap Is 'Groovy' for Spring". AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- ^ Mark Pentleton (2 May 2015). "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)". Markpentleton.com. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ Cook-Wilson, Winston (17 April 2017). "In season 3 of the Leftovers, everyone is waiting around to die". Spin. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
- ^ "Paul Simon And Stephen Colbert Are 'Feelin' Groovy'". YouTube. 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2017.