Tag Archives: Art Garfunkel

Parsons Playlists: The Perfect Fall (Gilmore Girls Vibe) Playlist

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Rocio (class of 2027) and features some fall vibes, Gilmore Girls style!

The Perfect Fall (Gilmore Girls Vibe) Playlist

The La’s – “There She Goes”
○ Genre: Jangle Pop, Britpop
○ Why: This is the ultimate Stars Hollow anthem. It’s upbeat, nostalgic, and perfectly captures that feeling of magical, small-town charm.

Fleetwood Mac – “Landslide”
○ Genre: Folk Rock, Soft Rock
○ Why: A classic for a reason. It’s pure, heartfelt emotion—perfect for a Rory-and-Lorelai moment or a reflective walk through falling leaves. Or it might even be a vibe you might catch on as you walk to class during our fall Richmond weather.

Carole King – “Where You Lead (I Will Follow)”
○ Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Pop
○ Why: Well, it’s the theme song! No Gilmore playlist is complete without it.

Simon & Garfunkel – “The Only Living Boy In New York”
○ Genre: Folk Rock
○ Why: That melancholic, autumnal harmony is pure East Coast fall. It sounds like a rainy day in Hartford or a thoughtful moment on the Richmond campus.

The Bangles – “Eternal Flame”
○ Genre: Pop Rock, Power Ballad
○ Why: For the Lane Kim vibe. This is a perfect 80s power ballad that would have her and her bandmates air-drumming in Mrs. Kim’s garage.

Patti Smith – “Because the Night”
○ Genre: Punk Rock, Rock
○ Why: A little edge for Lorelai’s rebellious side. It’s passionate, powerful, and perfect for a late-night drive in her Jeep with the top down.

Sam Phillips – “Reflecting Light”
○ Genre: Baroque pop, Folk
○ Why: This is the song that played during Liz and TJ’s wedding and the iconic Luke-and-Lorelai dance. It’s soft, magical, and utterly Stars Hollow.

The Pogues (ft. Kirsty MacColl) – “Fairytale of New York”
○ Genre: Celtic Punk, Folk Punk
○ Why: While a Christmas song, its folk-punk energy and bittersweet feel are so Gilmore. It makes you think of a festive fall festival in the town square.

Joni Mitchell – “River”
○ Genre: Folk, Singer-Songwriter
○ Why: Melancholy and beautiful, this song is for those introspective fall day It’s the soundtrack to Rory studying at her window with a cup of coffee.

The Beatles – “Here Comes The Sun”
○ Genre: Folk Rock, Pop
○ Why: A hopeful, cozy tune for a sunny autumn morning. It’s the musical equivalent of the first cup of coffee at Luke’s.

Norah Jones – “Come Away With Me”
○ Genre: Jazz Pop, Soft Jazz
○ Why: Smooth, cozy, and intimate. This song feels like a warm blanket and perfectly fits the show’s softer, more romantic moments.

The Shins – “New Slang”
○ Genre: Indie Pop, Indie Folk
○ Why: An early-2000s indie gem that would definitely be on Rory’s college playlist. It’s a little quirky, poetic, and perfect for a new season.

Billy Joel – “Vienna”
○ Genre: Piano Rock, Soft Rock
○ Why: A wise, piano-driven ballad that feels like advice from a wiser character (maybe even Richard Gilmore). It’s about slowing down, which is a perfect fall message.

Alexi Murdoch – “Orange Sky”
○ Genre: Indie Folk, Acoustic
○ Why: This song is the sound of peaceful contentment. It’s acoustic, warm and feels like the credits rolling on a perfect autumn day in Stars Hollow.

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

Parsons Playlists: Nature Metaphor

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Georgia (class of 2025) which features some songs featuring songs that use nature as a metaphor.

Nature Metaphor

Trees

Don McLean – “Winter Has Me In Its Grip”

Brian Eno – “Golden Hours”

Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 – “Noble Experiment”

Nick Drake – “River Man”

Labi Siffre – “Cannock Chase”

Radiohead – “Bloom”

Stereolab – “Come and Play in the Milky Night (Demo)”

Mount Eerie – “Through the Trees Pt. 2”

800 cherries – “honeydew blue”

You’ll Never Get to Heaven – “Setting Sun”

Rufus Wainwright – “Poses”

Windsor For The Derby – “The Melody of a Fallen Tree”

Dave Bixby – “Morning Sun”

Linda Perhaps – “Morning Colors”

Animal Collective – “Winters Love”

Vashti Bunyan – “Diamond Day”

Novos Baianos – “Acabou Chorare”

Meat Puppets – “Up on the Sun”

of Montreal – “Sleeping in the Beetle Bug”

Midlake – “We Gathered in Spring”

Mitski – “The Frost”

Art Garfunkel – “Waters of March”

Angel Olsen – “Spring”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyAnA1CU_3oNnKxFq7NvBoy&si=6WeT7enIBOXllTtA

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Simon & Garfunkel “Bookends”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about items in the Parsons Music Library‘s collection. All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by Music Library student worker, Aly (class of 2018) and features Simon & Garfunkel’s fourth studio album released in 1968, Bookends. Thanks, Aly!

Simon & Garfunkel

Bookends

Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends

I was re-shelving CDs recently while working a slow evening shift at the music library when I came across a Simon and Garfunkel CD. It immediately brought me back to a few years ago, when I went through a “phase” of folk rock, listening to the iconic duo, as well as a few other legends such as Cat Stevens. I then browsed our collection of Simon and Garfunkel selections, and soon discovered that the library offers almost their entire discography.

My all-time favorite album of theirs is Bookends. In my opinion, the 1968 album was released right in the “sweet spot” of Simon and Garfunkel’s musical career. It featured the quirky, iconic single we all know love, “Mrs. Robinson“, from the 1967 movie The Graduate. Some more of the duo’s greatest hits would come later, such as “Bridge Over Troubled Water“, arguably their best-known song. (Fun fact: “The Boxer” would also come in their following album, and Mumford and Sons has a great modern cover of this piece.)

The Graduate soundtrack

My personal favorite off the album is “Old Friends“, which sounds the best when listened to immediately before the closing theme of the album, “Bookends“, since the two songs seamlessly flow into each other. Appropriately, the album starts and ends with this theme, featuring simple harmonies and rich major-7 acoustic runs that could lull you into a peaceful relaxation.

Arachnophonia: Simon & Garfunkel “The Columbia Studio Recordings, 1964-1970”

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Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about items in the Parsons Music Library‘s collection. All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by Music Library student library worker Emma (class of 2021). Her selection is part of a multi-disc CD set of works by American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Thanks, Emma!

Simon and Garfunkel

The Columbia Studio Recordings, 1964-1970

My CD of choice (from this set): Simon and Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence

I love modern music and radio pop just as much as the next person, but sometimes its nice to listen to things that don’t have auto tuning or heavy bass constantly blaring in the background. Simon and Garfunkel have special place in my heart because I can remember as a little girl hearing my dad play their songs in the car, and my sister singing along. Of course, I wanted to be “cool” like my older sister, so I would dance and act as if I knew exactly what the lyrics were saying. However, as I grew up and develop a better appreciation for good music, I realized just how good these songs are.

Some of my favorite songs off the set are “Cecilia” (I’m a little biased considering Cecilia is my middle name), “Mrs. Robinson,” and “The Boxer.” They are each so different, but so powerful. Their music has a way of making you want to dance around your room and sing like no one is listening, but a lot of songs also evoke a certain poetry and emotion that show just how talented these men were/are at writing and producing music. Although some of the songs deal with serious topics, the way they are written is beautiful, but they’re easy to listen to and they’re very catchy.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop listening to this album, because it’s timeless. Songs on the radio today come and go, but the music of past generations will never get old.

Spider Sounds: Simon & Garfunkel “Live 1969”

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Editor’s Note:“Spider Sounds” invites members of the University of Richmond community to share their thoughts about CDs (or other items in the Parsons Music Library’s collection). The links included will take you to the library catalog record for the item in question, or to additional relevant information. Today’s post is by Cate, one of Parsons Music Library’s student workers and features a classic live album by Simon & Garfunkel. Thanks, Cate!

Simon & Garfunkel

Live 1969

Simon & Garfunkel - Live 1969

I have a special liking for Simon and Garfunkel. They were one of the few artists my parents could agree on, so they made up much of the soundtrack for long car trips, and I remember falling asleep to the music thinking of flower crowns and the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo.

As always with Simon and Garfunkel, the melodies are lovely, woven with simple but really poetic lyrics.

I don’t usually go for live recordings, but listening to the audience was a lot fun. Art does most of the talking, understated and clear, introducing the band politely and quietly prefacing their new song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (a hit with the crowd, unsurprisingly). The album, like one of their songs, starts softly and builds in intensity before letting us go with a gently wit an echo of the melody, and (except for the end) the crowd responds in kind, quiet so that they can listen but becoming more and more excited as the concert goes on.

Hearing the concert performance itself is a real treat. They sound freer; the harmonies swoop higher and swing lower, the guitar is more fevered, the words, still soft, are exposed and bittersweet. A band accompanies them for a few songs, giving “Mrs. Robinson” a more energetic vibe, closer to that of the Lemonheads‘ cover than one would expect from Simon and Garfunkel’s traditional sound. But my personal favorite track, “The Sound of Silence” is just the two of them — more ragged here, and beautiful as ever.

Like awesome music from a couple of guys with a guitar? Stop by the Parsons Music Library and check Simon & Garfunkel — Live 1969 out. Don’t like awesome music from a couple of guys with a guitar? Stop by anyways. We’ve got awesome music in every variety ready to be listened to.