"57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" is a song written and performed by American musician

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...

, appearing on his album '' Human Touch'', released in 1992. The song was released as a single, charting in the top 100 in various countries. A video for the song was also released. The title may be a reference to cable television, which carries more channels than terrestrial television.

Music video

The accompanying music video illustrates the song's narrative, culminating in a recreation of

Ant Farm A formicarium or ant farm is a vivarium which is designed primarily for the study of ant colonies and how ants behave. Those who study ant behavior are known as myrmecologists. History The formicarium was invented by Charles Janet, a French ...

's infamous 1975 "Media Burn" stunt, wherein a speeding car crashes through a pyramid of television sets. The same art collective was also responsible for Cadillac Ranch, immortalized in the

song of the same name (from ''The River''). Springsteen also plays a

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

, which he also played in the recording. In a September 2014 post on Facebook discussing the video, Springsteen wrote, "Shot back in the quaint days of only 57 channels and no flat screen TVs, I have no idea what we were aiming for in this one outside of some vague sense of 'hipness' and an attempt at irony. Never my strong suit, it reads now to me as a break from our usual approach and kind of a playful misfire."

Personnel

According to authors Philippe Margotin and Jean-Michel Guesdon: *

– vocals, bass * Jeff Porcaro – drums, percussion * Roy Bittan – keyboards

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control 1992 singles 1992 songs Bruce Springsteen songs Columbia Records singles Song recordings produced by Chuck Plotkin Song recordings produced by Jon Landau Songs about television Songs written by Bruce Springsteen