Bright Eyes (Art Garfunkel song)
Encyclopedia
"Bright Eyes" is a song written by Mike Batt
, and performed by Art Garfunkel
. It was used in the soundtrack of the 1978 film Watership Down
and as such is considered the theme song of the film and the later television series
adaptations. The track also appears on Garfunkel's fourth studio album, Fate for Breakfast
from 1979. It was the biggest selling single of 1979 in the UK.
close shave when he is shot by a farmer, and then years later when Hazel (then Hazel-rah) finally departs his body and enters the world of spirit.
The song was immensely successful in the United Kingdom
, staying at number one in the British charts for six weeks in 1979, selling over one million copies, becoming the biggest selling single of that year in the UK. However, it did poorly in the United States, failing to reach the Billboard Hot 100
, mostly due to the fact that the US release of Fate for Breakfast did not feature the track. It was however featured on the US release of Garfunkel's 1981 album Scissors Cut
.
did an instrumental version in 1979 on the album String of Hits
.
The song was re-recorded in 1980 by Matthew Butler, a 6 year old who had featured in the UK Children's Television series Tiswas
, that originally aired 1974-1982. This version was produced by Neil Innes
and the single reached #121 in the UK Charts. The track also appeared on Tiswas Presents the Four Bucketeers
album.
Pop group Brotherhood of Man
recorded the song for their 1980 cover album, Sing 20 Number One Hits
.
Justin Hayward
recorded a version on his 1984 covers album, Classic Blue
.
The Fureys
and Davey Arthur
covered the song in 1985 on their album At the End of the Day.
A live solo electric version by James Dean Bradfield
of The Manic Street Preachers, recorded in 1994 at the last gig played by the original four-piece, was released as a cassette single B side in 1996. This version is included on the rare tracks compilation Lipstick Traces. Philip Hall, the band's first manager, had died from cancer earlier in 1994.
The song was later covered by Stephen Gately
in 2000 and used as the theme song of the Watership Down
animated television series. It was released as a double A-side with his single "New Beginning". While Mike Batt
, who wrote the original song, composed an entire new score
. This new cover went on to earn the TV show a nomination for a Gemini Award
, for best original score. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211882/awards
Cliff Richard
covered the song on the VHS/DVD release of The Countdown Concert in 2000.
Hayley Westenra
also recorded a version on her self-titled 2001 album
.
Remy Zero
recorded a version for the 2002 children's charity CD For the Kids
It was again re-recorded in 2005 by Joseph McManners
whose version debuted at number one in Asian airplay, ahead of James Blunt
and Prince
.
It was released again on Declan Galbraith
's 2006 album, entitled Thank You
.
Swedish saxophonist Johan Stengård recorded an instrumental version on his 2003 album On My Mind.
Tommy Steele
released a version on his Family Album.
Elaine Paige
also recorded the song for her 1984 Cinema
album.
Manchester band Puressence
played the song as their required cover version during a session on BBC Radio 2
on Saturday 29 September 2007. It was very well received and the band have been inundated with requests to release it as a future B-side.
In 1979 Siv-Inger recorded the song with lyrics in Swedish
as Varför, on the Liv och kärlek album. This version was tested for Svensktoppen
, where it stayed for 10 weeks during the period 30 March-1 June 1980, peaking at #4.
In 2008, the final Olivers sang this song as one of their first two performances in the first two shows of I'd Do Anything
.
Mike Batt
Michael Philip "Mike" Batt is a British songwriter, musician, producer and Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry...
, and performed by Art Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel
Arthur Ira "Art" Garfunkel is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and actor, best known as being a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel...
. It was used in the soundtrack of the 1978 film Watership Down
Watership Down (film)
Watership Down is a 1978 English adventure drama animated film written, produced and directed by Martin Rosen and based on the book by Richard Adams. It was financed by a consortium of British financial institutions...
and as such is considered the theme song of the film and the later television series
Watership Down (TV series)
Watership Down is an animated television series, adapted from the novel of the same name by Richard Adams. It was a co-production of Alltime Entertainment of the United Kingdom and Decode Entertainment of Canada, and produced by Martin Rosen, the director of the 1978 feature film...
adaptations. The track also appears on Garfunkel's fourth studio album, Fate for Breakfast
Fate for Breakfast
Fate for Breakfast is the fourth solo album by Art Garfunkel released in March 1979 on Columbia Records. It was his first album to miss the US Billboard Top 40 and his first album containing no US Top 40 singles...
from 1979. It was the biggest selling single of 1979 in the UK.
Background
Written by Mike Batt for the film at the request of director Martin Rosen, the song relates to the transition into death highlighted by Hazel'sWatership Down (film)
Watership Down is a 1978 English adventure drama animated film written, produced and directed by Martin Rosen and based on the book by Richard Adams. It was financed by a consortium of British financial institutions...
close shave when he is shot by a farmer, and then years later when Hazel (then Hazel-rah) finally departs his body and enters the world of spirit.
The song was immensely successful in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, staying at number one in the British charts for six weeks in 1979, selling over one million copies, becoming the biggest selling single of that year in the UK. However, it did poorly in the United States, failing to reach the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, mostly due to the fact that the US release of Fate for Breakfast did not feature the track. It was however featured on the US release of Garfunkel's 1981 album Scissors Cut
Scissors Cut
Scissors Cut is the fifth solo album by Art Garfunkel released in August 1981 on Columbia Records. It was his second album to miss the US Billboard Top 40 and his second album containing no US Top 40 singles...
.
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 1 |
| German Singles Chart | 3 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 2 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 |
Other versions
The ShadowsThe Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
did an instrumental version in 1979 on the album String of Hits
String of Hits
String of Hits is the twelfth rock album by British instrumental group The Shadows, released in 1979 through Columbia .The album was certified Platinum on the 25th of January, 1980.-Track listing:-Personnel:...
.
The song was re-recorded in 1980 by Matthew Butler, a 6 year old who had featured in the UK Children's Television series Tiswas
Tiswas
Tiswas was a Saturday morning children's British television series which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and was produced for the ITV network by ATV Network Limited....
, that originally aired 1974-1982. This version was produced by Neil Innes
Neil Innes
Neil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
and the single reached #121 in the UK Charts. The track also appeared on Tiswas Presents the Four Bucketeers
Four Bucketeers
The Four Bucketeers were an ad-hoc music/water-throwing group from the ITV children's programme Tiswas.Officially, the Four were Chris Tarrant, Sally James, John Gorman and Bob Carolgees; sometimes Lenny Henry contributed as well. Gorman was the musical talent in the group, having been part of The...
album.
Pop group Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s, most notably by winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me"....
recorded the song for their 1980 cover album, Sing 20 Number One Hits
Sing 20 Number One Hits
Sing 20 Number One Hits is the tenth album released by British pop group Brotherhood of Man. Released in 1980, it was the group's second biggest-selling album.- Background :...
.
Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
recorded a version on his 1984 covers album, Classic Blue
Classic Blue
Classic Blue is the fourth solo studio album by The Moody Blues front-man Justin Hayward. Classic Blue was released in 1989 by Trax Records , and features Mike Batt, who also produced the album, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra...
.
The Fureys
The Fureys
The Fureys are an Irish male folk band of four brothers - Eddie, Finbar, Paul and George, from Ballyfermot, Dublin. They have also been credited as The Fureys and Davey Arthur.The group formed in 1978 and consisted initially of four brothers....
and Davey Arthur
Davey Arthur
- Biography :Arthur moved to Scotland at the age of two. He started to play music at the age of eight, and at 18 he returned to Ireland, where he started to compose his own music. He became world famous after he joined The Fureys, when they had their most successful hits...
covered the song in 1985 on their album At the End of the Day.
A live solo electric version by James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield
James Dean Bradfield is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers.- Early life :...
of The Manic Street Preachers, recorded in 1994 at the last gig played by the original four-piece, was released as a cassette single B side in 1996. This version is included on the rare tracks compilation Lipstick Traces. Philip Hall, the band's first manager, had died from cancer earlier in 1994.
The song was later covered by Stephen Gately
Stephen Gately
Stephen Patrick David Gately was an Irish pop singer–songwriter, actor, dancer, musician and author, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. All of Boyzone's studio albums hit number one in the United Kingdom, their third being their most successful...
in 2000 and used as the theme song of the Watership Down
Watership Down (TV series)
Watership Down is an animated television series, adapted from the novel of the same name by Richard Adams. It was a co-production of Alltime Entertainment of the United Kingdom and Decode Entertainment of Canada, and produced by Martin Rosen, the director of the 1978 feature film...
animated television series. It was released as a double A-side with his single "New Beginning". While Mike Batt
Mike Batt
Michael Philip "Mike" Batt is a British songwriter, musician, producer and Deputy Chairman of the British Phonographic Industry...
, who wrote the original song, composed an entire new score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
. This new cover went on to earn the TV show a nomination for a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
, for best original score. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211882/awards
Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
covered the song on the VHS/DVD release of The Countdown Concert in 2000.
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
also recorded a version on her self-titled 2001 album
Hayley Westenra (album)
Hayley Westenra is the second studio album of Hayley Westenra and her first album for a label Universal New Zealand. This album was released only in New Zealand and Australia. The last two tracks were released on special editions of the disk – the other editions do not include these tracks...
.
Remy Zero
Remy Zero
Remy Zero were a Birmingham, Alabama-based alternative rock band made up of Cinjun Tate , Shelby Tate , Cedric LeMoyne , Jeffrey Cain and Gregory Slay prior to his death in January 2010.-History:Before Remy Zero had released any full length albums, Radiohead found their demo tape and invited...
recorded a version for the 2002 children's charity CD For the Kids
For the Kids
For the Kids is an album featuring new renditions of children's songs performed by today's popular artists. In the United States, a portion of the proceeds go to VH1's Save the Music Foundation...
It was again re-recorded in 2005 by Joseph McManners
Joseph McManners
Joseph McManners is an English actor and singer. He lives on a non-working farm in Petham near Canterbury and recently left Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys for Tonbridge School after being awarded a drama and academic scholarship.-Singing career:McManners decided to become a singer after he...
whose version debuted at number one in Asian airplay, ahead of James Blunt
James Blunt
James Hillier Blount , better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and musician, and former army officer, whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases, including "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover", brought him to fame in 2005...
and Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
.
It was released again on Declan Galbraith
Declan Galbraith
Declan John Galbraith is an English singer. He is best known for his 2002 hit single, "Tell Me Why", which peaked at #29 in the UK Singles Chart.-Early influence:...
's 2006 album, entitled Thank You
Thank You (Declan Galbraith album)
Thank You is an album by singer Declan Galbraith, released on 1 December 2006 in Germany.It is Galbraith's second album, a compilation of classic songs assembled and sung by him.-Track listing:# "An Angel" – 3:44# "Love of My Life" – 2:36...
.
Swedish saxophonist Johan Stengård recorded an instrumental version on his 2003 album On My Mind.
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele
Tommy Steele OBE , is an English entertainer. Steele is widely regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star.-Singer:...
released a version on his Family Album.
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
also recorded the song for her 1984 Cinema
Cinema (Elaine Paige album)
Cinema is the forth solo album by Elaine Paige. The album was released in 1984 on Warner Music, peaking at #12 in the UK album charts. This album has been re-issued on CD.It was the second of Paige's recordings to be produced by Tony Visconti...
album.
Manchester band Puressence
Puressence
Puressence are a British rock band from Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England, formed in May 1992.-Band membership:The band currently consists of:*James Mudriczki: Vocals*Lowell Killen: Guitar*Kevin Matthews: Bass guitar...
played the song as their required cover version during a session on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
on Saturday 29 September 2007. It was very well received and the band have been inundated with requests to release it as a future B-side.
In 1979 Siv-Inger recorded the song with lyrics in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
as Varför, on the Liv och kärlek album. This version was tested for Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen
Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...
, where it stayed for 10 weeks during the period 30 March-1 June 1980, peaking at #4.
In 2008, the final Olivers sang this song as one of their first two performances in the first two shows of I'd Do Anything
I'd Do Anything (BBC TV series)
I'd Do Anything is a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. It premièred on 15 March 2008...
.
Popular culture
- In the 2002 TV series The Basil Brush ShowThe Basil Brush Show (2002 TV series)The Basil Brush Show was a 2002 remake of the 1960s comedy show starring Basil Brush, a glove puppet fox. It ran for six series between 2002 and 2007.-Overview:...
episode "Bad Boy Rock" Basil, Stephen and Dave perform Bright Eyes in rock music. - During Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitWallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a 2005 British clay-mation animated comedy horror film, the first feature-length Wallace and Gromit film. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Animations, and released by DreamWorksPictures...
, "Bright Eyes" plays briefly on the radio, before Gromit hastily turns it off, rolling his eyes. - In the BBC black comedy series League of Gentlemen, the character Pop sings "Bright Eyes" shortly after praising Watership Down for featuring "rabbits who talk and act like people."
- In the BBC comedy puppet series MongrelsMongrels (TV series)Mongrels, formerly known under the working titles of We Are Mongrels and The Un-Natural World, is a British puppet-based situation comedy series first broadcast on BBC Three between 22 June and 10 August 2010, with a making-of documentary entitled "Mongrels Uncovered" broadcast on 11 August 2010...
, the character Nelson climbs into a petting zoo cage, commenting that the previous owner must "be on holiday". The camera then pans to a man unceremoniously carrying away a dead rabbit while "Bright Eyes" plays. - It makes an appearance during an episode of BBC television series The GoodiesThe GoodiesThe Goodies are a trio of British comedians who created, wrote, and starred in a surreal British television comedy series called The Goodies during the 1970s and early 1980s combining sketches and situation comedy.-Honours:All three Goodies now have OBEs...
featuring a scene spoofing Watership Down. - In "Prime Minister," a season two episode of the HBO series Flight of the ConchordsFlight of the Conchords (TV series)Flight of the Conchords is an American television comedy series that debuted on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of Flight of the Conchords, a two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the real-life duo, Jemaine Clement...
, a character asks Jemaine to sing "Bright Eyes," during sex, to make him seem more like Art Garfunkel, the character's spurned lover. After listening to him sing the first line, she decides against it.