Eyes Wide Open

Album: Making Mirrors (2010)
Charted: 96
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The bassline that underpins this ecologically themed song is made up of samples of Gotye playing The Winton Musical Fence, which is a musical instrument installation consisting of five huge metal strings attached to fence posts, and connected to a wooden resonant chamber. The fence is located in Winton, Queensland and Gotye took the opportunity to record sounds from the unusual instrument on his portable stereo recorder while on tour in the Australian outback with his rock'n'roll band The Basics. The singer recalled on his website: "I was on the outskirts of Winton in near pitch-darkness beside a vast, flat expanse with only blurry truck stop lights sleeping in the distance, marvelling at the musical instrument described above. A piece of plastic pipe conveniently left nearby was all I needed before I was bashing away on various strings, wooden beams and fixings, capturing samples."
  • Gotye used the fence samples as the foundation for the song. He added his own keyboards and percussion, whilst Michael Hubbard (pedal steel guitar), Gareth Skinner (whale-like harmonic sound effects on cello) and Lucas Taranto (bass guitar) added additional instrumentation. Gotye produced the track with the help of Francois Tetaz.
  • The song was the first single from Gotye's third album Making Mirrors. Released on November 5, 2010, it peaked at #55 on the Australian Singles Chart.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.