Mrs. Robinson

Last updated

Paul had been working on what is now 'Mrs. Robinson', but there was no name in it and we'd just fill in with any three-syllable name. And because of the character in the picture we just began using the name 'Mrs. Robinson' to fit […] and one day we were sitting around with Mike talking about ideas for another song. And I said 'What about Mrs. Robinson.' Mike shot to his feet. 'You have a song called "Mrs. Robinson" and you haven't even shown it to me?' So we explained the working title and sang it for him. And then Mike froze it for the picture as 'Mrs. Robinson'. [6]

The final version of "Mrs. Robinson" was completed on February 2, 1968, at Columbia Studio A in New York City. [7] The recording was released more than three months after the release of The Graduate, but through its numerous radio plays became an important cross-promotion of the film during its initial run in theaters. A louder and punchier bass drum is present on the promo mix, which was done to accommodate for the limited dynamic range produced by AM radio. [8]

Cash Box called the single version a "booming-beat satire with the glittering vocals and unique lyric material that hallmark the duo's material." [9] Billboard called it an "infectious rhythm ballad." [10] Record World called it "a scather." [11]

Composition

Simon's inclusion of the phrase "coo-coo-ca-choo" is an homage to a lyric in the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus". [12]

References in the last verse to Joe DiMaggio are perhaps the most discussed. Simon, a fan of Mickey Mantle, was asked during an intermission on The Dick Cavett Show why Mantle was not mentioned in the song instead of DiMaggio. Simon replied, "It's about syllables, Dick. It's about how many beats there are." [13] Simon happened to meet DiMaggio at a New York City restaurant in the 1970s, and the two immediately discussed the song. DiMaggio said "What I don't understand, is why you ask where I've gone. I just did a Mr. Coffee commercial, I'm a spokesman for the Bowery Savings Bank and I haven't gone anywhere!" Simon replied "that I didn't mean the lines literally, that I thought of him as an American hero and that genuine heroes were in short supply. He accepted the explanation and thanked me. We shook hands and said good night". [14]

In a New York Times op-ed in March 1999, shortly after DiMaggio's death, Simon discussed this meeting and explained that the line was meant as a sincere tribute to DiMaggio's unpretentious and modest heroic stature, in a time when popular culture magnifies and distorts how we perceive our heroes. He further reflected: "In these days of Presidential transgressions and apologies and prime-time interviews about private sexual matters, we grieve for Joe DiMaggio and mourn the loss of his grace and dignity, his fierce sense of privacy, his fidelity to the memory of his wife and the power of his silence". [14] Simon subsequently performed "Mrs. Robinson" at Yankee Stadium in DiMaggio's honor (leaving out the second verse). [15]

Awards and nominations

"Mrs. Robinson" was awarded two Grammy Awards at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards in 1969. It became the first rock song to win Record of the Year (although the previous year's "Up Up and Away" by the 5th Dimension could also be considered a contender) and it also was awarded the Grammy for Best Contemporary-Pop Performance – Vocal Duo or Group. [12] Simon & Garfunkel were asked to perform the song live at the ceremony, but they declined. Instead, they shot a video for the show set to the music that consisted of them "romping around Yankee Stadium", a reference to the song's lyrics concerning DiMaggio. [12]

Since "Mrs. Robinson" was not written specifically for The Graduate, it was deemed ineligible for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. [12]

In 1999 the 1968 recording of the song on Columbia Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [16]

Personnel

Charts

"Mrs. Robinson"
Mrs Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel US vinyl (The Graduate credit).png
One of the side-A labels of the US vinyl single crediting The Graduate as the source of the song. Another pressing credits the song's parent album Bookends as the source.
Single by Simon & Garfunkel
from the album Bookends and The Graduate
B-side
ReleasedApril 5, 1968 (1968-04-05)
RecordedFebruary 2, 1968
Genre Folk rock [1]
Length4:02
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Paul Simon
Producer(s)
Simon & Garfunkel singles chronology
"Scarborough Fair/Canticle"
(1967)
"Mrs. Robinson"
(1968)
"The Boxer"
(1969)
Music video
"Mrs. Robinson" (audio) on YouTube

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [38] Gold45,000
Germany (BVMI) [39] Gold250,000
Italy (FIMI) [40] Platinum100,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [41] Platinum60,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [42] Platinum600,000
United States (RIAA) [43] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Frank Sinatra version

"Mrs. Robinson"
Single by Frank Sinatra
from the album My Way
Released1969
Length2:56
Label Reprise
Songwriter(s) Paul Simon
Producer(s) Don Costa
Frank Sinatra singles chronology
"If You Go Away"
(1969)
"Mrs. Robinson"
(1969)

One of the earliest well-known cover versions of this song was by Frank Sinatra for his 1969 album My Way . This version changes a number of lines, including replacing "Jesus" with "Jilly" and including a new verse directly referring to Mrs. Robinson's activities in The Graduate. In The Complete Guide to the Music of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel, Chris Charlesworth writes that Sinatra's change was "senseless", motivated by the refusal of some radio stations to play the song because of the name "Jesus". [44]

The Lemonheads version

"Mrs. Robinson"
LemonheadsMrsRobinson.jpg
Single by the Lemonheads
from the album It's a Shame About Ray
B-side "Being Around"
ReleasedNovember 23, 1992 (1992-11-23) [45]
Genre
Length3:43
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s) Paul Simon
Producer(s) Julian Standen
The Lemonheads singles chronology
"It's a Shame About Ray"
(1992)
"Mrs. Robinson"
(1992)
"My Drug Buddy"
(1993)

American alternative rock band the Lemonheads recorded a punk-inflected cover version of this song in 1992 that made it to No. 18 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, No. 8 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, and the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, where the song also reached the top 20, "Mrs. Robinson" was released as a double A-side with "Being Around". Although not originally included on the Lemonheads' album It's a Shame About Ray , the album was re-released with the cover of "Mrs. Robinson" included after the single's chart success. [48]

The band's frontman, Evan Dando, later told American Songwriter that he "hated" the song as well as its author and that its recording was only to promote a 25th anniversary home video release of The Graduate. He noted that Simon greatly disliked the cover, but Garfunkel was more favorable toward it. [49]

Charts

Chart (1992–1993)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [50] 16
Australian Alternative (ARIA) [51] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [52] 67
Ireland (IRMA) [53]
with "Being Around"
7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [54] 9
UK Singles (OCC) [55]
with "Being Around"
19
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [56] 18
US Modern Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) [57] 8

The film Rumor Has It centers on the assumption that The Graduate is based on real events which become uncovered. The song "Mrs. Robinson" is featured in this film as well. [58]

People Ii: The Reckoning from the AJJ (band) album People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World features a short interpolation of Mrs. Robinson.

In early January 2010, after news of Iris Robinson (wife of Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson) having an extramarital affair with the (40 years younger) adult child of a family friend became public, a group was set up on Facebook attempting to get the song "Mrs. Robinson" to No.1 in the Official UK Singles Chart for that week via download sales. It received coverage in The Telegraph and other British media, [59] including coverage in gay-related publications because of the anti-gay principles of the Robinsons. [60]

The song is included in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood . It plays as an homage to The Graduate, in a scene in which Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) spots the much younger Pussycat (Margaret Qualley). It also appears on the film's soundtrack. [61]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon & Garfunkel</span> American folk music duo

Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo comprising the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music acts of the 1960s. Their most famous recordings include three US number ones—"The Sound of Silence" and the two Record of the Year Grammy winners "Mrs. Robinson" and "Bridge over Troubled Water"—and "Homeward Bound", "I Am a Rock", "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", "A Hazy Shade of Winter", "America", "The Boxer" and "Cecilia".

<i>Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme</i> 1966 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is the third studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Produced by Bob Johnston, the album was released on October 24, 1966, in the United States by Columbia Records. Following the success of the re-release of their debut single "The Sound of Silence", Simon & Garfunkel regrouped after a time apart while Columbia issued their second album, a rushed collection titled Sounds of Silence. For their third album, the duo spent almost three months in the studio working on instrumentation and production.

<i>The Graduate</i> (soundtrack) 1968 soundtrack album by Simon & Garfunkel

The Graduate is a 1968 album of songs and music from the soundtrack of Mike Nichols' movie The Graduate. It includes five songs from the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, including "Mrs. Robinson", a work in progress which Simon adapted to fit the movie, along with several instrumental pieces by Dave Grusin. Released January 21 on Columbia Masterworks, the album was produced by Teo Macero. In March of the following year, Simon and Grusin won the 1968 Grammy Award for "Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special". "Mrs Robinson" received the Grammy for "Record of the Year", whilst Simon & Garfunkel collected the "Best Contemporary-pop Performance, Vocal Duo or Group" award.

<i>Bookends</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Bookends is the fourth studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Produced by Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and Roy Halee, the album was released on April 3, 1968, in the United States by Columbia Records. The duo had risen to fame two years prior with the albums Sounds of Silence and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and the soundtrack album for the 1967 film The Graduate.

<i>Simon and Garfunkels Greatest Hits</i> 1972 compilation album

Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits is the first compilation album from Simon & Garfunkel, which was released on June 14, 1972, two years after Simon & Garfunkel had parted ways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Simon</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1941)

Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and his school friend Garfunkel, whom he met in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Simon & Garfunkel. Their blend of folk and rock, including hits such as "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "America" and "The Boxer", served as a soundtrack to the counterculture movement. Their final album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), is among the bestselling of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Garfunkel</span> American singer (born 1941)

Arthur Ira Garfunkel is an American singer, actor and poet who is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Garfunkel became acquainted with Simon through an elementary school play, a production of Alice in Wonderland. Their combined presence in music began in the 1950s, and throughout the 1960s the duo of Simon & Garfunkel achieved great chart success with tracks such as "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", "Scarborough Fair", "The Boxer" and "Bridge over Troubled Water". The latter song's title also served as the name of Simon & Garfunkel's final album in 1970. Simon & Garfunkel split for personal reasons, but the pair have occasionally reunited in the years since. Both men experienced success in solo careers in the years following the duo's breakup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sound of Silence</span> Song by Simon & Garfunkel

"The Sound of Silence" is a song by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon. The duo's studio audition of the song led to a record deal with Columbia Records, and the original acoustic version was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia's 7th Avenue Recording Studios in New York City for their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., released that October to disappointing sales. An overdubbed electric remix was released the following year and went to number one on the Billboard singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridge over Troubled Water (song)</span> 1970 song by Simon & Garfunkel

"Bridge over Troubled Water" is a song by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, released in January 1970 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). It was written by Paul Simon and produced by Simon, Art Garfunkel and Roy Halee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">America (Simon & Garfunkel song)</span> 1968 song written and composed by Paul Simon

"America" is a song performed by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel, which they included on their fourth studio album, Bookends, in 1968. It was produced by the duo and Roy Halee. The song was later issued as the B-side of the single "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her " in 1972 to promote the release of the compilation album Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits. After peaking in the charts in July 1972, the song was switched to the A-side of the single and re-entered the charts in November 1972.

<i>Its a Shame About Ray</i> 1992 studio album by the Lemonheads

It's a Shame About Ray is the fifth album by American alternative rock band the Lemonheads, released on June 2, 1992. The album was produced by the Robb Brothers. At the time of principal recording, the band consisted of Evan Dando, Juliana Hatfield and David Ryan (drums). Though not originally on the album, the band's cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" was added to the album in later pressings after it had become a major worldwide radio hit, and it features a later lineup of the band with Nic Dalton on bass.

Roy Decker Halee is an American record producer and engineer, best known for working with Simon & Garfunkel, both as a group and for their solo projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkel song)</span> 1966 single by Simon & Garfunkel

"Homeward Bound" is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel, released as a single on January 19, 1966, by Columbia Records. It was written by Paul Simon and produced by Bob Johnston. Simon wrote the song during his time in England, possibly while waiting for a train at Widnes railway station in the northwest of England. Simon said later he actually composed it at a railway station in Warrington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Hazy Shade of Winter</span> 1966 single by Simon & Garfunkel

"A Hazy Shade of Winter" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on October 22, 1966, initially as a stand-alone single, but subsequently included on the duo's album Bookends (1968). It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fakin' It (Simon & Garfunkel song)</span> 1967 song by Simon & Garfunkel

"Fakin' It" is a song recorded by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel for their fourth studio album, Bookends (1968). The song was initially released only as a single on July 7, 1967 through Columbia Records. It was later compiled into the second half of Bookends.

<i>Bridge over Troubled Water</i> 1970 studio album by Simon & Garfunkel

Bridge over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, released on January 26, 1970, by Columbia Records. Following the duo's soundtrack for The Graduate, Art Garfunkel took an acting role in the film Catch-22, while Paul Simon worked on the songs, writing all tracks except Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's "Bye Bye Love".

<i>The Simon and Garfunkel Collection: 17 of Their All-Time Greatest Recordings</i> 1981 compilation album by Simon & Garfunkel

The Simon and Garfunkel Collection: 17 of Their All-Time Greatest Recordings is the second compilation album of greatest hits by Simon & Garfunkel, first issued in November 1981, 2 months after performing at the landmark The Concert in Central Park.

"Punky's Dilemma" is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fourth studio album, Bookends (1968).

"Bookends", also known as "Bookends Theme", is a song by American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fourth studio album, Bookends (1968). It appears twice on the track listing, as the first and last songs on side one of the original vinyl LP. "Old Friends" and “Bookends” were placed on the B-side of the "Mrs. Robinson" single, issued on April 5, 1968 by Columbia Records. A "clean" version of "Bookends" was featured on Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits.

References

  1. Valdez, Steve (2014). "Folk rock". In Henderson, Lol; Stacey, Lee (eds.). Encyclopedia of Music in the 20th Century. London: Routledge. p. 223. ISBN   978-1-135-92946-6 via Google Books.
  2. Eliot 2010, p. 88.
  3. Bart, Peter (May 15, 2005). "The Perfect Pic Alignment". Variety .
  4. 1 2 Eliot 2010, p. 89.
  5. 1 2 3 Eliot 2010, p. 90.
  6. Eliot 2010, p. 91.
  7. Fornatale 2007, p. 80.
  8. Everett, Walter (May 2010). "'If You're Gonna Have a Hit': Intratextual Mixes and Edits of Pop Recordings". Popular Music. 29 (2): 235. doi:10.1017/S026114301000005X. JSTOR   40926920. S2CID   162240986.
  9. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 20, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  10. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. April 20, 1968. p. 73. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  11. "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 20, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Eliot 2010, p. 96.
  13. Kriegel, Mark (November 27, 1998). "The Paul Simon Anthology – Article". NY Daily News. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Simon, Paul (March 9, 1999). "The Silent Superstar". The New York Times . Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  15. Boudreau, Josh (May 15, 2005). "Marilyn Monroe's Life Story". Variety .
  16. "Grammy Hall Of Fame - Hall of Fame Artists". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  17. Enos, Morgan (March 12, 2019). "Hal Blaine: Every No. 1 Hit The Wrecking Crew Drummer Played On". Billboard . Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Bookends". ArtGarfunkel.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  19. "Cash Box - International Best Sellers" (PDF). Cashbox . August 24, 1968. p. 57. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  20. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  21. "Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  22. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5768." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  23. Pennanen, Timo (2021). ""Simon and Garfunkel". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960-30.6.21 (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 234" (PDF). Retrieved July 2, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. "Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  25. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1968" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  26. "Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  27. "Search Listener". Flavour of NZ. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  28. "Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson". VG-lista. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  29. "Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  31. "Simon & Garfunkel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  32. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 219.
  33. "Cash Box Top 100 6/08/68". Tropical glen. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  34. "RPM 1968 YearEnd". Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  35. The 100 Best-Selling Singles of 1968, Sixties city.
  36. "Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968". Music outfitters. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  37. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1968". Tropical glen. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  38. "Danish single certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  39. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Simon & Garfunkel; 'Mrs. Robinson')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  40. "Italian single certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  41. "Spanish single certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  42. "British single certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs Robinson". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  43. "American single certifications – Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson". Recording Industry Association of America.
  44. Charlesworth, Chris (1997). The complete guide to the music of Paul Simon and Simon & Garfunkel. Omnibus Press. p. 42. ISBN   9780711955974.
  45. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . November 21, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  46. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "It's a Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  47. Duffy, Thom (July 8, 1994). "Success looking good on the Lemonheads". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  48. Blackwell, Mark. "Just Like Evan". SPIN (April 1993). SPIN Media LLC.
  49. "Evan Dando of the Lemonheads: On Record". American Songwriter. July 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  50. "The Lemonheads – Mrs. Robinson". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  51. "ARIA Top 20 Alternative Singles – Week Ending: 21st March, 1993 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 163}". ARIA . Retrieved November 23, 2019 via Imgur.
  52. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 3. January 16, 1993. p. 15. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  53. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Mrs. Robinson". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  54. "The Lemonheads – Mrs. Robinson". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  55. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  56. "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard . January 30, 1993. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  57. "Alternative Airplay" . Billboard. December 12, 1992. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  58. Ebert, Roger (December 22, 2005). "Rumor Has It". Chicago Sun-Times .
  59. Hough, Andrew (January 13, 2010). "Iris Robinson: Facebook campaign to get 'Mrs Robinson' song to no 1 on pop charts" . The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022.
  60. Geen, Jessica (January 12, 2010). "Campaign to make Mrs Robinson number one". Pink News. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  61. Gorber, Jason (August 1, 2019). "How the 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Soundtrack Helps Quentin Tarantino Shape His Version of 1969 Los Angeles". /Film . Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2022.

Bibliography