"Bridge Over Troubled Water" — like you've never heard it before | MAS Vocal

0:00Thank you.

0:30idea shared through song. What you're about to hear is a performance of the Simon and Garfunkel classic Bridge Over Troubled Water, reimagined in a new arrangement by the musician, composer, and TED guest curator Jacob Collier. It's performed by the Miami-based youth choir Moss Vogel. And stick around after the performance. Jacob Collier comes back to share more about what it was like the first time he heard this choir sing, and a detail about how these high schoolers pulled off his arrangement that genuinely surprised us. That's coming up right after a short break.

1:28Yep. Even on weekends, it's pretty much all he talks about. In a good way. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com slash bank. Capital One N.A. Member FDIC.

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3:38And now our TED performance of the day. Are you ready for some magic? Some real magic? Now music has the power to completely transform a life in an instant. And over the course of my life I've been lucky enough to hear some pretty extraordinary music. But every now and then a moment comes along that alters the trajectory of your life forever. And one such moment for me was the first time I heard this extraordinary choir that is standing here before you. They are unlike anything you've ever heard in your whole life. They are high schoolers. High schoolers. and I can say yes and I can say with absolute certainty that from this moment forth your life will be divided into two sections that before which you heard this choir sing and that after and so without further ado singing my arrangement of Bridge Over Shove of Water by Simon Garfunkel conducted by Cindy Ellis please give a very, very warm welcome to the Mass Vocal Choir

4:52When you're weary

5:02Feeling small

5:09And tears are in your eyes I will dry them all I am by your side When times get tough And friends just can't be found Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge Over troubled water I will lay me down

6:39When you're down When you're down When you're on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you I'll take your heart Yes, when darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down like a bridge over troubled water. I will lay me down.

8:15Thank you.

8:53That's disappointing

9:04Weaffomp che-star Your time has come to shine While your dreams are on their way See how they shine

9:40Oh,

9:45if you need a breath

9:52I'm standing right behind

10:07Oh, like a bridge Over troubled waters I blame Let me, let me, let me down Thank you.

11:10Let me die

11:24Let me die

11:42That was Moss Vocal and Jacob Collier at TED 2026. And now TED guest curator Jacob Collier will share a bit more about why this choir changed his life forever. Hi, everybody. I'm Jacob Collier, your TED music curator. How did you enjoy that performance? Wasn't it spectacular? The first time I heard that choir sing, I knew that my life would never quite be the same again. Instant goosebumps covered my body. They are high school students. You have to understand high school students. And a fun fact you may not have realized is that they learned that arrangement, which was my arrangement of bridge over trouble and water, entirely by ear.

12:14So no notation was used. They learned by ear, which makes all those complex chords even more extraordinary. So I hope you enjoy the Mass Vocal Choir, and I'll see you all there very soon. Cheerio. Bye.

12:28If you're curious about TED's curation, visit ted.com slash curationguidelines. And that's it for today. TED Talks Daily is a podcast from TED. This episode was produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Lucy Little, Emma Taubner, and Tansika Sungmarnivong. Additional support from Daniela Ballarezzo, Christopher Faze-Bogan, Valentina Bohanini, Banban Chang, Brian Green, and Lainey Lott. Learn more at podcasts.ted.com. I am Elise Hu. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feet. Thanks for listening.

13:34Thank you. in a good way. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com slash bank. Capital One N.A. Member FDIC. As she publishes her 20th book, Anne Lamott still finds writing just hard. I mean, the American way is that you should always know what you're doing. You've made a decision and you should stick with it. No writer that I've ever met or read knows what they're doing until they've done it. Best-selling author Anne Lamott. That's next time on the TED Radio Hour from NPR. Subscribe or listen to the TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts.