First Aid Kit - America (Live at Polar Music Prize)

We performed our favorite Simon & Garfunkel song, "America", for Paul Simon at the Polar Music Prize Award Ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Concert Hall in Stockholm on August 28th 2012. This is the full, uninterrupted, performance. Thank you OTW for letting us use this material.

Follow First Aid Kit:

[morgan]

When you get a one-man standing ovation from the only guy that really counts.

[frankatack]

Paul Simon giving a standing ovation was so cool. These girls are tremendous.

[CatieCass]

When you make Paul Simon himself tear up when he's listening to his own song, you know you did well. These ladies sounded gorgeous singing such a gorgeous song.

[aevea]

There might have been a breach of etiquette when Mr. Simon stood up while His Majesty remained seated, but in my view it was the true King in the room who stood up to aplaud this wonderful performance.

[johnkennedy]

This isn't watching a video.... this is a spiritual experience.

[meghaninthehouse]

I cried. Pretty much the best cover ever. They're doing it right.

[johnboyle]

When you get a standing ovation from the songs composer it doesn't get any better than that.

A moving rendition of one of my all time favourite songs

[philbateman]

"...'I'm lost' I said, though I knew she was sleeping. 'I'm empty and aching and I don't know why.'" I've been there a hell of a lot of times, and I still haven't found out why. That remains one of my favourite lines in any song. It just perfectly sums up every fear I have in such a concise way.

[aircanuck]

The guy behind Paul Simon at the end: "Fabulous, Fabulous". Agreed.

[melody]

I was able to go to one of First Aid Kit's VIP events on their tour last year and they played this. They said Paul Simon told them after this performance that it made him want to play the song again. So gorgeous!!

[tangobango]

Prime example of Paul Simon genius..."Kathy I'm lost I said though I knew she was sleeping. I'm empty and aching and I don't know why?" Wonderful lyric!

[antioccidents]

What's really struck me about this video (one of many things) is how both of them have grown their own distinctive voices, and yet they both still blend so well. This is simply beautiful.

[tantraman]

Watching this, watching Paul, watching the soundtrack of my high school, blending into college days, watching these two young women keeping the great poetry, the great melody for my heart....tears here... grateful to have lived when this music was new...and now...when it goes

[ChipMatthews]

That last "all come" at 3:22 just absolutely melts me. I must have listed to this cover a hundred times now, and I'm sure I will a hundred more. Such an incredibly beautiful rendition of one of my all time favorite songs. I get choked up when Mr. Simon gives his standing O at the end every time.

[josephineheap]

This brought me to tears. Their voices are so amazing. It's hard to get Simon & Garfunkel down, but I believe they did their song amazing justice. Much love to Klara and Johanna. 

[meganzubovnik]

Haunting, striking vocals. Goosebump inducing with Paul in the audience too. <3

[thefishfin-atic]

I can't believe Mr. Simon was the only one to give a standing ovation....I get tears every time I hear this version of their voices this song.

[cousinphil]

Holy Mackerel!  I'm in tears.  They absolutely killed it.  The best cover of America since S&G did it in 1968.

[TheKutar]

This is just bloody, bloody brilliant.

[jankarlsson]

When I see this, I think that these sisters are unreal. It's hard to fathom that they really exist, Two young women from remote Sweden, hardly 20 years old, and able to produce this cheer magic. If I was a religous man I'd say they are the Second Coming. Simply stunning, and hard to believe.