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{{Infobox song|
'''7 O'Clock News/Silent Night''' is a song written by [[Paul Simon]] (although "Silent Night" was written by [[Franz Gruber]] and [[Joseph Mohr]] in the early nineteenth century). It appears as the twelfth (and final, excluding the bonus demos) track on the album [[Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme]] by [[Simon and Garfunkel]]. The song consists of a performance of the famous [[Christmas carol]] [[Silent Night]], while famous (negative) historical events are reported in the background on the "7 O'Clock News".
| name = 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = [[Simon & Garfunkel]]
| album = [[Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme]]
| released = October 10, 1966
| format =
| recorded = August 22, 1966
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flat list|
*[[Folk music|Folk]]
*[[sound collage]]}}
| length = 2:01
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer = {{flat list|
*[[Josef Mohr]], [[Franz Xaver Gruber|Franz Gruber]]}}
| producer = [[Bob Johnston]]
}}
"'''7 O'Clock News/Silent Night'''" is a song by American music duo [[Simon & Garfunkel]] from their third [[studio album]], ''[[Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme]]'' (1966). The track is a [[sound collage]] juxtaposing a rendition of the [[Christmas carol]] "[[Silent Night]]" with a simulated "[[News program|7 O'Clock News]]" bulletin consisting of actual events from the summer of 1966.


==Composition==
==The Events Reported in the News==
The track is a [[sound collage]] and simply constructed: it consists of the duo singing "[[Silent Night]]" in two-part [[harmony]] over an [[arpeggio|arpeggiated]] [[piano]] section.{{sfn|Bennighof|2007|p=32}} The voice of the newscaster is that of [[Charlie O'Donnell]], who was then a radio disc jockey. As the track progresses, the news report assumes a greater presence through an increase in volume. "The result rather bluntly makes an ironic commentary on various social ills by juxtaposing them with tenderly expressed Christmas sentiments."{{sfn|Bennighof|2007|p=32}} The mix on the track purposefully clashes with the piano accompaniment mixed solely to the left channel and the news solely to the right channel while vocals remain in the middle.


The following events are reported in the order given:<ref name="linernotes">{{cite AV media notes | title=[[Collected Works (Simon and Garfunkel album)|Collected Works]] | year=1990 | others=[[Simon & Garfunkel]] | type=liner notes | publisher=[[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | location=[[United States|US]] | id=C3K 45322}}</ref>
The famous events mentioned in the news are (in order, as they are mentioned):


* A fight over a non-racially-discriminatory housing section in "the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964|civil rights bill]]". It is mentioned that [[Lyndon B. Johnson|President Johnson]] had originally proposed a full ban on discrimination for any type of housing, but this is quickly dismissed as "having no chance". This is concluded with a statement that "a compromise was painfully worked out in the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]]."
* A dispute in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] over "[[Civil Rights Act of 1968|the civil rights bill]]". It is stated that [[Lyndon B. Johnson|President Johnson]] had originally proposed a full ban on discrimination for any type of housing — dismissed as "having no chance" — and that "a compromise was painfully worked out in the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]]."
* The death of comedian [[Lenny Bruce]] from an overdose of [[narcotics]]. It is incorrectly stated that Bruce died at the age of 42 (he actually died when he was 40).
* The death of comedian [[Lenny Bruce]] from an [[drug overdose|overdose of narcotics]] at the age of 42 [actually 40].
* [[Martin Luther King Jr.|Dr. Martin Luther King]] announcing that plans for a march into [[Cicero, Illinois|Cicero]] (a suburb of Chicago) for open housing are not to be canceled. "Sherriff Richard Ogleby" is mentioned as having asked King to cancel the march. The police in Cicero announce plans to ask the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] to be called if the march is held.
* [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] reaffirming plans for an [[Chicago Freedom Movement|open housing march]] into [[Cicero, Illinois]], a suburb of [[Chicago]]. It is stated that [[Cook County, Illinois|Cook County]] sheriff [[Richard Ogilvie]] urged its cancellation, and that Cicero police plan to ask the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] to be called in.
* The stabbings and stranglings of eight student nurses by [[Richard Speck]].
* The [[grand jury]] indictment of [[Richard Speck]] for the murder of nine [actually eight] student nurses.
* Disruption by protesters at [[House Committee on Un-American Activities]] hearings into [[Opposition to the Vietnam War|anti-Vietnam War protests]].
* Federal regulations on anti-[[Vietnam war]] protests. Demonstrators are reported as having been forcibly evicted when they began chanting anti-war slogans. "Former Vice-President [[Richard Nixon]]" is reported as announcing that unless there is an increase in the war effort, the United States will be facing five more years of war. He is also reported as saying that opposition to the war is the "single greatest weapon working against the United States".
* A speech by "former Vice-President [[Richard Nixon]]" to the [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] [actually to the [[American Legion]]] urging an increase in the war effort in Vietnam, and calling opposition to the war the "greatest single weapon working against the US".


==Analysis and Themes==
== Cover ==
[[Phoebe Bridgers]] released a cover version of this song in 2019. The song featured Bridgers and [[Fiona Apple]] singing over a different news report read by [[Matt Berninger]]. The news featured the announcement of a settlement that would not force the [[Sackler family]], owners of [[Purdue Pharma]], to admit wrongdoing in the deaths of hundreds of thousands related to their opioid products, the first all female spacewalk, the [[murder of Botham Jean]], the Supreme Court hearing [[June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo|the case of a restrictive abortion law from Louisiana]], and the testimony of [[Mick Mulvaney]] in the [[first impeachment trial of Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=December 12, 2019|title=Phoebe Bridgers Covers '7 O'Clock News/Silent Night' With Fiona Apple, Matt Berninger|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/phoebe-bridgers-7-oclock-news-silent-night-fiona-apple-matt-berninger-925711/|access-date=November 14, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>


== References ==
The song can be interpreted in several ways. All of the events reported are of a definitively negative nature, either containing deaths and murders or curbs on liberties. As such, the song can be seen as a cynical comment on a joyous outlook on life (as represented by [[Silent Night]]). More pragmatically, this interpretation is a protest against what can be seen as joyous, pointless patriotism. Alternatively, Silent Night can be seen as a representation of timeless, universal values which stand regardless of tragic occurrences (as represented by the "7 O'Clock News").
{{Reflist}}


==References==
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|last=Bennighof|first=James|title=The Words and Music of Paul Simon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShBhKL-9SLIC|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99163-0}}
[http://www.lyricsfreak.com/s/simon+and+garfunkel/7+oclock+newssilent+night_20124620.html Song lyrics]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.paulsimon.com/song/7-oclock-newssilent-night/ |title=Songs + Lyrics: ''7 O'Clock News/Silent Night'' |work=Paul Simon official website |access-date=April 19, 2017}}


{{Simon & Garfunkel}}
⚫
[[Category:Paul Simon songs]]
{{Simon & Garfunkel singles}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:7 O'Clock News Silent Night}}
[[Category:Simon & Garfunkel songs]]
⚫
[[Category:1966 songs]]
[[Category:American Christmas songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Johnston]]
[[Category:Songs about the United States]]
[[Category:Songs based on actual events]]
[[Category:Songs of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Political songs]]
[[Category:Sound collages]]

Latest revision as of 22:45, 16 October 2024

"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night"
Song by Simon & Garfunkel
from the album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
ReleasedOctober 10, 1966
RecordedAugust 22, 1966
Genre
Length2:01
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bob Johnston

"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their third studio album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966). The track is a sound collage juxtaposing a rendition of the Christmas carol "Silent Night" with a simulated "7 O'Clock News" bulletin consisting of actual events from the summer of 1966.

Composition

[edit]

The track is a sound collage and simply constructed: it consists of the duo singing "Silent Night" in two-part harmony over an arpeggiated piano section.[1] The voice of the newscaster is that of Charlie O'Donnell, who was then a radio disc jockey. As the track progresses, the news report assumes a greater presence through an increase in volume. "The result rather bluntly makes an ironic commentary on various social ills by juxtaposing them with tenderly expressed Christmas sentiments."[1] The mix on the track purposefully clashes with the piano accompaniment mixed solely to the left channel and the news solely to the right channel while vocals remain in the middle.

The following events are reported in the order given:[2]

Cover

[edit]

Phoebe Bridgers released a cover version of this song in 2019. The song featured Bridgers and Fiona Apple singing over a different news report read by Matt Berninger. The news featured the announcement of a settlement that would not force the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, to admit wrongdoing in the deaths of hundreds of thousands related to their opioid products, the first all female spacewalk, the murder of Botham Jean, the Supreme Court hearing the case of a restrictive abortion law from Louisiana, and the testimony of Mick Mulvaney in the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Bennighof 2007, p. 32.
  2. ^ Collected Works (liner notes). Simon & Garfunkel. US: Columbia. 1990. C3K 45322.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Shaffer, Claire (December 12, 2019). "Phoebe Bridgers Covers '7 O'Clock News/Silent Night' With Fiona Apple, Matt Berninger". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

Bibliography

[edit]
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