Open Your Eyes (Yes song)
Encyclopedia
"Open Your Eyes" is a song by the progressive rock
band Yes
, from their 1997 album of the same name
. It was a rock radio hit for the band, reaching number 33 on Billboard
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
and Yes bassist Chris Squire
prior to Sherwood joining the band. Originally titled "Wish I Knew", the song was intended for inclusion on a solo album of Squire's. Following the 1997 departure of keyboardist Rick Wakeman
from the band, Sherwood was invited to join as the band's second guitarist (primary guitarist Steve Howe
having rejoined the group in 1996.)
Guitar work by Howe and vocals by Yes lead singer Jon Anderson
were added to the song, which was renamed "Open Your Eyes", and writing credits were given to all five Yes members (Sherwood, Squire, Howe, Anderson and drummer Alan White
). Toto
keyboardist Steve Porcaro
performs keyboards on the song, which was the band's first single without a full-time keyboardist in the band. Porcaro had previously played keys with Squire's solo project, The Chris Squire Experiment
.
Allmusic reviewer Gary Hill describes the song as a "merge [of] the '70s and '80s Yes styles", noting a similarity in sound to Squire's 1975 solo album Fish Out of Water.
In 2000, Sherwood left the band; that same year he and Squire released an alternate version of "Open Your Eyes" as a hidden track
on the Squire/Sherwood album Conspiracy.
Yes has also included their version of "Open Your Eyes" in their 2003 greatest hits compilation The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection
, their 2002 boxed set In a Word: Yes (1969–), and several other anthologies.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, from their 1997 album of the same name
Open Your Eyes (Yes album)
Open Your Eyes is the seventeenth studio album by progressive rock band Yes, released in 1997. The follow-up to the twin projects Keys to Ascension and Keys to Ascension 2, Open Your Eyes marked Billy Sherwood becoming an official member of Yes, following Rick Wakeman's departure.-History:Sherwood...
. It was a rock radio hit for the band, reaching number 33 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Details
The song was written by singer/songwriter Billy SherwoodBilly Sherwood
William "Billy" Wyman Sherwood is a musician, record producer, and engineer.-Family:Sherwood comes from a musical family which includes his father Bobby Sherwood, who was an actor, musician, and big band leader, his mother Phyllis, a singer and drummer, and brother Michael, a keyboardist and...
and Yes bassist Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
prior to Sherwood joining the band. Originally titled "Wish I Knew", the song was intended for inclusion on a solo album of Squire's. Following the 1997 departure of keyboardist Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
from the band, Sherwood was invited to join as the band's second guitarist (primary guitarist Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
having rejoined the group in 1996.)
Guitar work by Howe and vocals by Yes lead singer Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
were added to the song, which was renamed "Open Your Eyes", and writing credits were given to all five Yes members (Sherwood, Squire, Howe, Anderson and drummer Alan White
Alan White (Yes drummer)
Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
). Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
keyboardist Steve Porcaro
Steve Porcaro
Steven Maxwell "Steve" Porcaro is an American keyboardist and composer, who was an original member of the rock/pop band Toto....
performs keyboards on the song, which was the band's first single without a full-time keyboardist in the band. Porcaro had previously played keys with Squire's solo project, The Chris Squire Experiment
Conspiracy (band)
Conspiracy was a progressive rock band founded by Billy Sherwood and Chris Squire . The band released two albums: Conspiracy and The Unknown , and a live DVD...
.
Release, reception and re-release
The song was released as the lead single from the Open Your Eyes album in 1997, and reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. As of 2011, "Open Your Eyes" is the band's last charting single.Allmusic reviewer Gary Hill describes the song as a "merge [of] the '70s and '80s Yes styles", noting a similarity in sound to Squire's 1975 solo album Fish Out of Water.
In 2000, Sherwood left the band; that same year he and Squire released an alternate version of "Open Your Eyes" as a hidden track
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
on the Squire/Sherwood album Conspiracy.
Yes has also included their version of "Open Your Eyes" in their 2003 greatest hits compilation The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection
The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection
The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection is a triple compilation album by progressive rock band Yes, was released in 2003 in the United Kingdom and in early 2004 in the United States, and covers the length and breadth of the band's thirty-five-year career.Released on Warner Music in the UK as...
, their 2002 boxed set In a Word: Yes (1969–), and several other anthologies.
Yes
- Jon AndersonJon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
– vocals - Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
– guitar - Billy SherwoodBilly SherwoodWilliam "Billy" Wyman Sherwood is a musician, record producer, and engineer.-Family:Sherwood comes from a musical family which includes his father Bobby Sherwood, who was an actor, musician, and big band leader, his mother Phyllis, a singer and drummer, and brother Michael, a keyboardist and...
– guitar, keyboards, vocals - Chris SquireChris SquireChristopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
– bass, vocals - Alan WhiteAlan White (Yes drummer)Alan White is an English rock drummer known for his work with the progressive rock band Yes. White was also a member of the Plastic Ono Band, playing live in 1969 at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, which was recorded and released three months later as Live Peace in Toronto 1969...
– drums, percussion, vocals
Chart position
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 33 |