Many singers have tried to cover the classic song “The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel, but none have done it quite like Henk Poort. The Dutch opera singer proved that he could rock just as hard as anyone with his unique version. Instead of following the soft, folky style of the original, he took inspiration from the powerful version by the metal band Disturbed.
Poort performed this unforgettable cover on the Dutch TV show Beste Zangers. He started off gently, singing with a rich and elegant voice, accompanied by a stunning string arrangement. But as the song continued, he unleashed his full vocal power. First, his voice shifted into a strong rock tone, and then he went even further, delivering a raw and intense heavy metal roar. The hosts and audience were completely blown away, hanging on to every note. His performance became one of the most popular versions of the song on YouTube, racking up an incredible 10 million views!
Fans flooded the comments section with debates about which version of the song was the best—the original by Simon and Garfunkel, the hit cover by Disturbed, or Poort’s jaw-dropping rendition. Many people declared Poort the winner, leaving comments like:
“Unpopular Opinion: This is far better than the original… I think Henk just has that haunting strength behind his voice.”
And another fan wrote:
“Best version of this song I’ve heard.”
Poort is no stranger to show-stopping performances. Another standout moment from Beste Zangers was his fiery duet of “The Phantom of the Opera” with Floor Jansen, the lead singer of the symphonic metal band Nightwish. From the moment Jansen sang the opening verse, she commanded attention with her powerful voice. But Poort was right there with her, matching her note-for-note with his incredible operatic strength. The house band gave the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic a dramatic, power-metal arrangement, making the performance even more electrifying. It was a battle of vocal titans, and fans couldn’t get enough of it.
Poort is a legendary performer in the Netherlands. At 68 years old, the Amsterdam-born actor and singer has built a career in both opera and musical theater. He has played some of the biggest roles in musical history, including the Phantom in the Dutch production of The Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean in the first Dutch version of Les Misérables, and even the voice of Gaston in the Dutch dub of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
His duet of The Phantom of the Opera with Floor Jansen became an even bigger hit than The Sound of Silence, amassing an incredible 24 million views on YouTube. Fans loved it so much that in 2022, Nightwish decided to bring the song back into their live performances for the first time in 17 years. And they had a special surprise—Poort himself joined them as a guest vocalist! The band recorded their powerful duet at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam and released the video the following year.
If you’re looking for a mind-blowing version of The Sound of Silence, Henk Poort’s cover is a must-watch. His voice has captivated millions on YouTube, and his performances leave audiences speechless. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with his incredible musical journey. Get ready to experience music in a way you never have before!
