1994 single by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry
"
7 Seconds
" is a song composed by Senegalese and Swedish singer-songwriters
Youssou N'Dour
and
Neneh Cherry
with
Cameron McVey
and
Jonathan Sharp
. It was released in June 1994 by
Columbia
as a single performed by N'Dour and Cherry, and achieved success, reaching the number-one position in numerous countries; in France, it stayed at number one for 16 weeks, a record at the time. N'Dour featured the song on his seventh album,
The Guide (Wommat)
(1994), while Cherry included it on her 1996 album
Man
. "7 Seconds" also won the
MTV Europe Music Award
in the category for Best Song of 1994.
[2]
Its music video was directed by French director
Stephane Sednaoui
.
NME
magazine ranked the song number 40 in their list of the 50 best songs of 1994.
[3]
Recording
[
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]
All instruments on the single were produced and arranged by Swedish music producer
Christian Falk
, who also played bass on the track.
[1]
It was included on Neneh Cherry's album
Man
(1996). The song is trilingual as N'Dour sings in three languages:
French
,
English
and the West African language
Wolof
. Cherry sings only in English.
[4]
The English chorus was actually recorded by another singer as Youssou was ill during the production of the song. It also appeared on N'Dour's 1994 album
The Guide (Wommat)
, released shortly after the single.
The title and refrain of the song refers to the first moments of a child's life; as Cherry put it, "not knowing about the problems and violence in our world".
[4]
Shocked by the single's enormous commercial success, she told
The Independent
in an interview, "We did it as an experiment. The tune grew on its own, completely out of proportion. It was out there doing its own thing. But that is a dream when you write a song."
[5]
Chart performance
[
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]
"7 Seconds" was a worldwide hit, peaking within the top 10 of the charts in several countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands (number two), Sweden, Paraguay and the United Kingdom. It climbed to the top position in Finland, France, Iceland, Italy and Switzerland. It stayed at number one for 16 consecutive weeks on the
French Singles Chart
,
[6]
which was the record for the most weeks at the top position at the time. On the
Eurochart Hot 100
, the song reached number two. It was awarded with a
gold record
in Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Critical reception
[
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]
A reviewer from Swedish
Aftonbladet
complimented the song as a "floating airy and heavenly beautiful synth
ballad
".
[7]
Peter Stepek from
AllMusic
called it a "vaguely menacing duet".
[8]
Larry Flick
from
Billboard
felt that it is "unique and thoroughly pleasing", noting that the "haunting tune is padded with cushiony synths and a richly soulful bass line.
Cherry
offers a sweet and charming contrast to
N'Dour
's gritty vocal."
[9]
Troy J. Augusto from
Cashbox
wrote that the "compelling duet nicely swirls N'Dour’s husky vocals and Cherry's sweet, angelic voice into a nifty,
down-tempo
stroll that has broad radio potential." He added further that it is "powered by a rolling bass line and layers of passive synthesizer strains".
[10]
Dave Sholin from the
Gavin Report
viewed the song as "music to stir the senses combined with lyrics that make a powerful case for our common humanity." He remarked that it "is especially powerful in light of recent events in South Africa and it's made that much more riveting by the melding of these two voices. Its worth spending some time with this amazing track."
[11]
In his weekly UK chart commentary,
James Masterton
praised it as a "gorgeous ballad".
[12]
Pan-European magazine
Music & Media
complimented Cherry as "again brilliant", and also complimented the song as "melodic, synthy, sexy and with a slow beat."
[13]
Wendi Cermak from
The Network Forty
described it as "haunting".
[14]
Dele Fadele
from
NME
named "7 Seconds" Single of the Week, noting that N'Dour duets with Cherry "to quite surprising results". He added that the voices "are pearls at 300 feet below sea level" and the arrangements "work wonders".
[15]
In a separate review, Fadele opined that the song "makes like a future African sci-fi rumination on colour prejudice, with Yossou N'Dour's beguiling tones on show."
[16]
David Sinclair from
The Times
wrote, "Built around a gentle boombox beat overlaid by drifting synthesizer chords, the song achieves the same seductive combination of rhythm and rumination that informed
Bruce Springsteen
's recent hit "
Streets of Philadelphia
"."
[17]
Music video
[
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]
The accompanying black-and-white music video for "7 Seconds" was directed by French director, photographer, film producer and actor
Stephane Sednaoui
.
[18]
[19]
It features people of different ethnicities walking by while the two are singing. When they sing the chorus, different kinds of people's faces appear. The video received
heavy rotation
on
MTV Europe
[20]
and was A-listed on Germany's
VIVA
in August 1994.
[21]
Impact and legacy
[
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]
NME
magazine ranked "7 Seconds" number 40 in their list of the 50 best songs of 1994.
[22]
It was included in the 2010 book
1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die
. Eloise Parker remarked that "the soul of '7 seconds' is N'Dour's heartfelt vocals, sung in
Wolof
and French, enhanced by Cherry's haunting English-language chorus."
[23]
Formats and track listings
[
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]
- "7 Seconds" (radio edit)
- "7 Seconds" (LP version)
- "7 Seconds" (new old mix)
- "7 Seconds" (dub mix)
- "7 Seconds" (hip hop mix)
- US CD single
(Chaos/Columbia 42K 77482)
- "7 Seconds" (album version) ? 5:07
- "7 Seconds" (new old mix) ? 5:44
- "7 Seconds" (hip hop mix) ? 6:24
- "7 Seconds" (dub mix) ? 6:08
- "Mame Bamba"
by
Youssou N'Dour
? 5:00
- "7 Seconds" ? 4:10
- "Mame Bamba"
by
Youssou N'Dour
? 4:57
- "7 Seconds" (R & B to the hip hop drop mix) ? 6:24
- "7 Seconds" (dub mix) ? 6:07
|
- "7 Seconds" ? 4:10
- "Life (Adouna)"
by
Youssou N'Dour
? 4:57
- "7 Seconds" (R & B to the hip hop drop mix) ? 6:24
- "7 Seconds" ? 6:07
- "7 Seconds" (radio edit) ? 4:06
- "Life (Adouna)"
by
Youssou N'Dour
? 4:02
- "7 Seconds" (R & B to the hip hop drop mix) ? 6:23
- "7 Seconds" (dub mix) ? 6:07
|
Charts
[
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]
Weekly charts
[
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]
|
Year-end charts
[
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]
|
Certifications
[
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]
Release history
[
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]
See also
[
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]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Christian Falk
. "
Christian Falk
",
Sommar & Vinter i P1
, 26 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^
Pride, Dominic (5 November 1994), "Brandenburg Gate Setting For First MTV Euro Awards",
Billboard
, vol. 106, no. 45, p. 10
.
- ^
"Albums and Tracks of the Year"
.
NME
. Retrieved
4 May
2021
.
- ^
a
b
"Bio"
(unofficial website). Neneh Cherry Online (NCO). Archived from
the original
on 25 October 2005
. Retrieved
17 April
2019
.
- ^
Dimery, Robert, ed. (2011) [2010]. "10,001 Songs You Must Hear…".
1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die
.
Octopus Publishing Group
.
ISBN
978-1-84403-684-4
.
- ^
a
b
c
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
(in French).
Les classement single
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
Aftonbladet
. 21 May 1994.
- ^
Stepek, Peter.
"Youssou N'Dour ?
Guide (Wommat)
"
.
AllMusic
. Retrieved
8 November
2020
.
- ^
Flick, Larry
(25 June 1994).
"Single Reviews"
(PDF)
.
Billboard
. p. 89
. Retrieved
19 March
2021
.
- ^
Augusto, Troy J. (2 July 1994).
"Pop Singles: Reviews"
(PDF)
.
Cashbox
. p. 7
. Retrieved
23 January
2020
.
- ^
Sholin, Dave (17 June 1994).
"Gavin Picks: Singles"
(PDF)
.
Gavin Report
. p. 62
. Retrieved
18 October
2020
.
- ^
Masterton, James
(7 August 1994).
"Week Ending August 13th 1994"
.
Chart Watch UK
. Retrieved
6 September
2021
.
- ^
"New Releases: Singles"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. 14 May 1994. p. 10
. Retrieved
12 March
2021
.
- ^
Cermak, Wendi (25 March 1994).
"Crossover: Music Meeting"
(PDF)
.
The Network Forty
. p. 34
. Retrieved
28 March
2020
.
- ^
Fadele, Dele
(25 June 1994).
"Singles"
.
NME
. p. 43
. Retrieved
1 October
2023
.
- ^
Fadele, Dele
.
"NENEH CHERRY ? Man"
.
NME
. Archived from
the original
on 17 August 2000
. Retrieved
24 November
2020
.
- ^
Sinclair, David (25 June 1994). "Pop Singles; Recordings".
The Times
.
- ^
"mvdbase.com ? Youssou N'Dour ? '7 seconds [version 1]'
"
. Retrieved
12 July
2009
.
- ^
"Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry: 7 Seconds (1994)"
.
IMDb
.
- ^
"Station Reports > MTV Europe/London"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. 27 August 1994. p. 22
. Retrieved
20 December
2022
.
- ^
"Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. 13 August 1994. p. 14
. Retrieved
20 December
2022
.
- ^
"Albums and Tracks of the Year"
.
NME
. Retrieved
4 May
2021
.
- ^
Dimery, Robert, ed. (2011) [2010]. "10,001 Songs You Must Hear…".
1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die
.
Octopus Publishing Group
.
ISBN
978-1-84403-684-4
.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
.
ARIA Top 50 Singles
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
(in German).
O3 Austria Top 40
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
(in Dutch).
Ultratop 50
.
- ^
"
Top RPM Singles: Issue 2627
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2628
."
RPM
.
Library and Archives Canada
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Top 10 Sales in Europe"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 11, no. 31. 30 July 1994. p. 10
. Retrieved
2 September
2019
.
- ^
"Hits of the World"
.
Billboard
. Nielsen Business Media Inc. 29 October 1994. p. 58.
- ^
"Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. 1 October 1994. p. 18
. Retrieved
28 May
2023
.
- ^
Nyman, Jake (2005).
Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja
(in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi.
ISBN
951-31-2503-3
.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
(in German).
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. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Islenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.07.1994 ? 27.07.1994)"
.
Dagblaðið Visir
(in Icelandic). 21 July 1994. p. 16
. Retrieved
13 March
2018
.
- ^
"
The Irish Charts ? Search Results ? 7 Seconds"
.
Irish Singles Chart
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Top 10 Sales in Europe"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. Vol. 11, no. 38. 17 September 1994. p. 16
. Retrieved
25 November
2019
.
- ^
"
Nederlandse Top 40 ? week 28, 1994
" (in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
(in Dutch).
Single Top 100
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
.
Top 40 Singles
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
.
VG-lista
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Hits of the World"
.
Billboard
. Nielsen Business Media. 7 January 1995. p. 40.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
.
Singles Top 100
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"
Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry ? 7 Seconds"
.
Swiss Singles Chart
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100"
.
Official Charts Company
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"Youssou NDour Chart History (Hot 100)"
.
Billboard
. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^
"ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1994"
.
ARIA
. Retrieved
17 January
2021
.
- ^
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(in German)
. Retrieved
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2019
.
- ^
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(in Dutch).
Ultratop
. Retrieved
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2019
.
- ^
"1994 in Review ? Sales Charts"
(PDF)
.
Music & Media
. 24 December 1994. p. 24
. Retrieved
1 February
2020
.
- ^
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(in French).
SNEP
. Retrieved
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2021
.
- ^
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(in German).
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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.
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(in Icelandic). 2 January 1995. p. 16
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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(in Dutch)
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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(in Dutch).
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. Retrieved
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.
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.
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. Retrieved
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.
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.
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(in German)
. Retrieved
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.
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"Top 100 Singles 1994".
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.
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.
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. Archived from
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Austrian single certifications ? Youssou N´Dour + Neneh Cherry ? Seven Seconds (Single)"
(in German).
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Austria
. Retrieved
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.
- ^
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(in French).
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry;
'
7 Seconds
'
)"
(in German).
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. Retrieved
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.
- ^
"Dutch single certifications ? Youssou n'Dour ? Seven Seconds"
(in Dutch).
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. Retrieved
5 June
2021
.
Enter
Seven Seconds
in the "Artiest of titel" box.
Select
1994
in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen"
.
- ^
Scapolo, Dean (2007).
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. Maurienne House.
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.
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'
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'
)"
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.
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Myers, Justin (5 September 2014).
"Number 1 today in 1994: Wet Wet Wet see off Kylie's comeback"
.
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. Archived from
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.
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.
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.
- ^
"セヴン?セカンズ | ユッス??ンドゥ?ル"
[Seven Seconds | Youssou N'Dour] (in Japanese).
Oricon
. Retrieved
24 March
2024
.
Further reading
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Studio albums
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Collaborations
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Remix albums
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Singles
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Related articles
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Albums
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Singles
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Other songs
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Related articles
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