School concerts and talent shows are riddled with poor performances and overdone acts. But every now and then someone steals the show.
16-year-old Ruben Liversage performs a beautiful performance of the Simon and Garfunkel classic “Sound of Silence” at a school concert. Although he’s accompanied by other performers, he undeniably steals the show and the hearts of the audience members.
Things start off with an over-abundance of light beaming at the star performer, sporting a striking, white suit. It’s a pretty surreal introduction – almost heavenly.
The song choice is phenomenal. Simon and Garfunkel’s American classic, “Sound of Silence,” has a rich, interesting history. According to Song Facts, Paul Simon recalls taking six months to write the lyrics. In fact, the original version is actually completely acoustic, from Simon & Garfunkel’s first album Wednesday Morning, 3 AM.
Originally, the album and the song flopped, resulting in Simon and Garfunkel splitting, temporarily. Then, management dubbed the original with an electric guitar, soon turning it into a hit. The group then reunited, hanging on by a thread. They then went on to create some of the greatest folk albums in American history.
Ruben’s cover is more powerful, vocally, than the original. After a soulful introduction among the lights, he is accompanied by a pair of dancers performing fitting choreography to the lyrics of the song.
More layers are added in the form of a backing choir that simultaneously performs choreography via hand gestures in the background. The two original dancers continue a routine in front of the singing star.
The backing members begin to multiply, with increasing choreographic complexity as the second half of the performance continues. One can see fist pumps and different arm motions as the song progresses. Ruben finally steps out of the blinding light.
Just like all great rock stars, Ruben begins to descend into the crowd, one step at a time. His white suit is reminiscent of a ranking seaman or military official.
Eventually, he arrives among the eager, captivated crowd, delivering his bold, beautiful voice with ease. It’s easy to forget that he is merely 16 years old.
The school’s singing star eventually makes his way back onto the center of the main stage. The chorus changes their choreography, performing a fitting finale, arms outstretching towards the vocalist.
Ruben’s vocal range is a little more akin to Art Garfunkel’s than Paul Simon’s. He packs a lot of power and has wonderful range, much like an opera singer. The kid is only 16 years old during this performance, meaning he is likely around 20 now. Even at a young age, he has the vocal range and timbre of a fully grown man. Ruben will likely go on to contribute wonderful things to the musical community in the years to come. He’s got some pipes.
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