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Eyes Open (song)

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This article is about the song by Taylor Swift. For the Snow Patrol album, see Eyes Open.
"Eyes Open"
Song

"Eyes Open" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from the soundtrack album The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond, which is not included in the film. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, it was released as the lead single from the album and was sent to mainstream radio on March 27, 2012. A music video consisting of animation with the lyrics of the song was released on Vevo in May 2012.

Background

The song was one of two songs that Swift wrote and recorded for the soundtrack to the film, The Hunger Games, the other song being "Safe & Sound". Swift first premiered the song during a performance in Auckland for her Speak Now World Tour, before launching into the song she told the crowd: "I'm really excited about it...but, I mean, you don't think I'd get in trouble if I played it now? Probably not, right?"[2] The song was leaked before its official release date of March 20, 2012.[3] A music video[4] comprised as a lyric video was released on May 17, 2012 on Swift's Vevo account.[5] The video consist of animation with the lyrics.[6]

Composition

"Eyes Open" is a song of four minutes and four seconds in length. Critics deemed the song reminiscent of alternative rock.[7][8] It is also described as a country rock[9][10] song. According to Swift, she wrote the song about Katniss's "relationship" with the Capitol. Swift describes the song as the opposite of the melancholic "Safe & Sound," stating that "[it is] more frantic and fast-paced, a completely different shade of music."[11]

Critical reception

The song garnered general critical acclaim from contemporary critics - most of whom favorably noted the song's more rock-oriented tone as compared to her previous releases. While reviewing The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond, Matt Bjorke named "Eyes Open" as one of the "standouts" on the record.[12] Scott Shetler of Pop Crush gave the song four stars saying that "Eyes Open" "bridges the gap between Swift’s typical radio-friendly tales about the teenage experience and her most recent release, the mature, haunting ballad "Safe & Sound," but described the production of the song to be "the least country-sounding song Swift has ever recorded." Jason Lipshutz of Billboard also found the same description of the song - stating that it "[exists] more in the modern rock vein than her usual country-pop oeuvre."

Chart performance

The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 as the Hot Shot Debut at number 19 with sales of 176,000 in its first week.[13] "Eyes Open" debuted on Billboard Pop Songs chart at number 28, making it Swift's highest Pop Songs chart debut,[14] later overtaken by "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" which debuted at number 18. The song would later reach number 20 on the said chart on the week ending April 28, 2012.[15] The song also debuted on Billboard Adult Pop Songs at number 24 and later peaked at number 11 on the week ending May 12, 2012.[16] The song became Swift's 16th million-seller and her second million-seller from the soundtrack to The Hunger Games.[17] The song has sold 1.3 million copies in the US as of November 2014.[18]

Outside the U.S., "Eyes Open" achieved moderate success. In Canada, the song entered the Canadian Hot 100 and peaked at number 17 on the week ending April 7, 2012.[19] In Australia, the song peaked at Australian Singles Chart at number 47 on the week ending March 26, 2012.[20] On New Zealand, the song peaked at number six, became Swift's third top ten hit there, following "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me".[21] "Eyes Open" also appeared in Ireland and UK, where it peaked at number 65 and number 70 respectively.[22]

Eyes Open was the highest- charting single from all of The Hunger Games movies, it has since been surpassed by The Hanging Tree by James Newton Howard featuring vocals from American actress Jennifer Lawrence, which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Chart and certifications

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States March 27, 2012[1] Mainstream radio

References

  1. ^ a b "Top 40/M Future Releases". allaccess.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Archived by WebCite from the original on March 21, 2012.
  2. ^ Josh, Grossman (March 19, 2012). "Taylor Swift Unveils Hunger Games Song "Eyes Open"". E! Online. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  3. ^ Bell, Crystal (March 15, 2012). "'Hunger Games': Taylor Swift's 'Eyes Open' And Kid Cudi's 'The Ruler And The Killer' Leak (LISTEN)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Music Videos". Taylor Swift. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  5. ^ "Taylor Swift - Eyes Open (Lyric Version)". TaylorSwiftVevo. YouTube. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
    • Note: In the description of the video it clearly states: Music video by Taylor Swift performing Eyes Open. (C) 2012 Big Machine Records, LLC. making this the official music video.
  6. ^ "Taylor Swift, 'Eyes Open' -- Lyric Video (WATCH)". Erin Duvall. TheBoot.com. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  7. ^ "Taylor Swift Previews Hunger Games Song 'Eyes Open'".
  8. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (15 March 2012). "Taylor Swift Keeps 'Eyes Open' on New 'Hunger Games' Tune". Billboard. Existing more in the modern rock vein than her usual country-pop oeuvre, "Eyes Open" finds Swift living her own Hunger Games, clinging to survival...
  9. ^ Dukes, Billy (14 March 2012). "Taylor Swift's New Song 'Eyes Open' From 'The Hunger Games' Hits the Web in Full". Taste of Country.
  10. ^ Zakarin, Jordan (15 March 2012). "'Hunger Games' Soundtrack: Songs From Taylor Swift, Kid Cudi Leak (Audio)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. ^ Cooper, Brittany Joy (20 March 2012). "Taylor Swift Spills About Writing 'Eyes Open' for 'The Hunger Games' Soundtrack". Taste of Country.
  12. ^ "Various Artists - The Hunger Games Soundtrack".
  13. ^ Trust, Gary (March 28, 2012). "Fun. Notch Fourth Week Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  14. ^ "Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez Storm Pop Songs". Billboard.com. April 2, 2012.
  15. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 for Taylor Swift". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 18, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  16. ^ "Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Taylor Swift". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 18, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
  17. ^ "Week Ending July 15, 2012. Songs: Blow Me (One More Hit)". yahoo.com.
  18. ^ Trust, Gary (November 11, 2014). "Ask Billboard: All-Taylor Swift Edition". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. March 28, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Discography Taylor Swift". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ a b "Discography Taylor Swift". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ "Taylor Swift - Eyes Open - Music Charts". aCharts.us. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  23. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Taylor Swift: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  25. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  26. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  27. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  31. ^ "American singles certifications – Taylor Swift – Eyes Open". Recording Industry Association of America.
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