Paul Simon says one classic hit could still be around in 100 years

Paul Simon believes one of his most famous songs could continue to live on for generations. 

The 84-year-old legendary singer-songwriter shared the remark while speaking to Anthony Mason on the show Alchemy with Anthony, further revealing The Sound of Silence as the one with the best chance of lasting for the next 100 years.

Simon, who wrote the song when he was just 22 years old, described the track as something that came naturally to him and admitted he still sees it as special decades later.

The Sound of Silence, first released in 1964 by Simon & Garfunkel, was inspired by a simple moment. Simon explained that the idea came from hearing an echo in a bathroom. He called the experience “a gift” and said the song felt more advanced than anything he had written before at that point in his career.

Simon also said that he believes the song’s ability to connect with people across different cultures is one reason it may survive for decades to come. 

He recalled seeing videos online of people performing the song in completely different ways. One featured a rabbi singing it in Hebrew, while another showed a Native American man playing the melody on a flute in the American West.

Seeing those performances made Simon feel the song had moved beyond its original version and become part of a larger cultural connection. He said that if a song is still remembered after 100 years, then it has truly become part of history and culture.

Simon also remembered the exact moment he realised the song was becoming a hit. After seeing it rise to No. 59 on the charts, he said he knew instantly that his life had changed forever.