A Hazy Shade of Winter Shade of Winter" video, due to complications with the licensing of the movie rights of the "Less Than Zero" scenes that appear on the video clip. A Hazy Shade of Winter "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 was subsequently included on the duo's fourth studio album, "Bookends" (1968). It peaked at number 13 on the "Billboard" Hot 100. In 1987, for the "Less Than Zero" soundtrack, the Bangles recorded a cover version which peaked at number two on the "Billboard"
A Hazy Shade of Winter on an album until 1968's "Bookends". "A Hazy Shade of Winter" follows a more rock-tinged sound, with a fairly straightforward verse-refrain structure. The song dates back to Simon's days in England in 1965; it follows a hopeless poet, with "manuscripts of unpublished rhyme", unsure of his achievements in life. The lyrics recall the transition from fall to winter, as suggested by the repetition of the final chorus of the song: Author and disc jockey Pete Fornatale considered the lyrics evocative of, and standing in contrast with, those of John Phillips' "California Dreamin'". Decades later, Allmusic critic Richie Unterberger described the