| "Behind Blue Eyes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Who | ||||
| from the album Who's Next | ||||
| B-side | "Going Mobile" | |||
| Released | 6 November 1971 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | 8 July 1971[1] at Olympic Studios in London, England | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:42 | |||
| Label | Decca, MCA, Track, Polydor | |||
| Writer(s) | Pete Townshend | |||
| Producer | The Who, Glyn Johns | |||
| The Who singles chronology | ||||
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"Behind Blue Eyes" is the title of a song by English rock band The Who. It was released in November 1971 as the second single from their fifth album Who's Next and was written by Pete Townshend originally for his Lifehouse project.[2][3] The song is one of The Who's most well known recordings and has been covered by many artists.
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Contents
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Overview
The song starts off with a solo voice singing over an arpeggiated acoustic guitar. A bass guitar and ethereal harmonies are added in later. Eventually, the song breaks out into a full-scale rock anthem when a second theme is introduced near the end - but it ultimately wraps up with a brief reprise of the quieter first theme. Songs written in alternating sections were something of a trademark of Townshend's writing of the period, going back at least to Tommy, where it was used in "Christmas" and "Go to the Mirror!" The guitar riff at the end of the rock anthem section is also used after the bridge during the song "Won't Get Fooled Again", perhaps serving as a link between the two songs when Behind Blue Eyes was intended to be a rock opera. (Some musical themes from Tommy and Quadrophenia also appear in multiple places.)
The version of "Behind Blue Eyes" on the original Behind Blue Eyes album was the second version the band recorded; the first version was recorded at the Record Plant in New York on 18 March 1971 and features Al Kooper on Hammond Organ.[4] Pete Townshend has also recorded two solo versions of the song. One, the original demo of the song, was featured on the Scoop album. The demo along with a newer recording of the song featuring an orchestral backing was featured in The Lifehouse Chronicles.
Lifehouse story
"Behind Blue Eyes" is sung from the point of view of the main villain of Lifehouse, Jumbo. The lyrics are a first-person lament from Jumbo, who is always angry and full of angst because of all the pressure and temptation that surrounds him, and the song was intended to be his "theme song" had the project been successful.
Personnel
- Roger Daltrey - vocals
- Pete Townshend - acoustic guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals
- John Entwistle - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Keith Moon - drums
In the media
- This was the song selected for CSI: NY's opening, but the CBS director, Leslie Moonves, chose "Baba O'Riley" instead.
- During season two of Californication, Sheryl Crow's cover plays whilst Lew Ashby overdoses and ultimately dies.
Covers
Limp Bizkit cover
| "Behind Blue Eyes" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Limp Bizkit | ||||
| from the album Results May Vary | ||||
| Released | 28 November 2003 | |||
| Recorded | 2002 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 6:05 | |||
| Label | Flip, Interscope | |||
| Writer(s) | Pete Townshend | |||
| Producer | Rick Rubin | |||
| Limp Bizkit singles chronology | ||||
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"Behind Blue Eyes" was covered by Limp Bizkit and was released as a single from their album Results May Vary. Limp Bizkit's arrangement is notable for featuring a Speak & Spell during the bridge.[5]
Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine panned the cover, calling it "boneheaded".[5]
Chart performance
| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | 4 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[7] | 3 |
| Germany (Media Control AG)[8] | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] | 13 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[10] | 16 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten)[11] | 2 |
| France (SNEP)[12] | 17 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[13] | 5 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[14] | 5 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[15] | 2 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 1 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 5 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[18] | 18 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[19] | 71 |
| US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[20] | 18 |
Year-end
| End of year chart (2004) | Position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart [21] | 15 |
Other covers
"Behind Blue Eyes" has also been covered by numerous artists, including Bryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, Elf, Testudo, Ian Stuart Donaldson, Jon English, Suzanne Vega, Silvertide, The Chieftains (some live and recorded versions featuring Roger Daltrey), Skrewdriver, Unknown Hinson and Lights.
- In Buffy the Vampire Slayer the song had been performed by character Rupert Giles (played by Anthony Stewart Head) in the episode "Where the Wild Things Are".
- Austrian rapper Chakuza and German rapper Bizzy Montana, sampled the song on their free track "Behind Blue Eyes".[22] It's not known if they had sampled The Who's original version or Limp Bizkit's version.
References
- ^ 20th Century Masters-The Best of The Who: The Millennium Collection Liner Notes
- ^ "Behind Blue Eyes : The Who". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/196775/review/6067884?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ "The Streets lead Ivor nominations". BBC News. 2005-04-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4433223.stm. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ Who's Next - 1995 Remastered Edition CD Booklet Page 23
- ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/album/results-may-vary-r657916/review
- ^ "Australian-charts.com – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche – musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Danishcharts.com – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes". Tracklisten. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes" (in French). Les classement single. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Charts.org.nz – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes". Top 40 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Limp Bizkit. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Alternative Songs for Limp Bizkit. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
- ^ http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2004
- ^ http://www.megajoin.com/search.php?q=Behind+Blue+Eyes+remix+Chakuza&type=video
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Behind Blue Eyes.