Night Café
by OMD

Album: English Electric (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • OMD vocalist Andy McCluskey is a keen art collector, and this song references seven of American realist painter Edward Hopper's paintings. They include his 1942 oil work "Nighthawks," which is a bleak portrayal of people sitting in a downtown diner late at night. "I was in New York for the first time in 20 years," recalled McCluskey. "I was feeling melancholy. It was -9 degrees, it was dark and I was on a street corner looking into an almost empty restaurant. How could I not be reminded of Edward Hopper's paintings?"
  • Green Day's hit single, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" takes its title from a painting by Gottfried Helnwein that is a parody of "Nighthawks."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.