The Madonna Song That Pays Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel

When viewed from the surface, Madonna and Simon & Garfunkel seem to have little in common. Although, as fans of music, we know that influence and inspiration can come from quite literally anywhere. So even though Madonna is known for her ornate and decadent pop numbers, and Simon & Garfunkel the opposite, the 80s pop star still had a deep affinity for the folk duo.

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Simon & Garfunkel is just one of those groups that is a pillar of modern-day songwriting. They’re up there with the other greats such as Bob Dylan, McCartney and Lennon, Bob Marley, and a select few others. That being said, their influence was limitless and boundless, and they touched every corner of the music industry. This is why Madonna had to pay credit where credit was due, and she did so in her song “Oh Father”.

Behind Madonna’s 1989 Homage to Simon & Garfunkel

Madonna has had quite a few albums dominate the charts. One of those albums is her 1989 no. 1 hit album, Like A Prayer. That album peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. It isn’t surprising that this Madonna album peaked at no. 1, but the influence behind the album is rather surprising. She divulged that influence in a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone.

Regarding the inspiration for her album, Madonna surprisingly stated that “this album is more about past musical influences.” In addition to the tribute she pays to Simon & Garfunkel on the album, she also does so with Sly And The Family Stone.

“The songs ‘Keep It Together’ and ‘Express Yourself’, for instance, are sort of my tributes to Sly And The Family Stone,” she told the publication.

This statement becomes particularly eye-opening when you listen to the songs Madonna mentioned. But, back to the matter at hand, which is Madonna’a affinity and tribute tune to Simon & Garfunkel. Concerning her homage, Madonna said that “Oh Father” was her tribute to Simon & Garfunkel, “whom I loved.”

Madonna didn’t divulge any specifics. But given that “Oh Father” is a clean-cut ballad, it seems she paid tribute to the duo by recycling one of their most prototypical songwriting formats. “Oh Father” is certainly still a quintessential Madonna pop song. However, there is something about the lyrics and the story articulated that does loosely mimic one of Simon & Garfunkel’s sentimental ballads. This slight style change worked very well for Madonna. “Oh Father” peaked at no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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