Open Your Eyes

Album: Love in the Future (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was the first non-original ever recorded by John Legend for one of his solo albums (his 2010 set of covers Wake Up was a collaborative project). The tune was originally sung by the '70s Blue-Eyed Soul artist, Bobby Caldwell, then later sampled by Common on his "The Light" cut. Producer Dave Tozer told SonicScoop: "Most people know the Common song more than the original, but this is covering the original Bobby Caldwell song, and the chorus has some of the flavor of the Common version. So this is the third time around, which encompasses some of the original and is also a nod to the Common version."
  • The expressive guitar solo was played by veteran producer Mike Dean, who worked with Love In The Future co-producer Kanye West on his Graduation, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Yeezus albums. Tozer told SonicScoop: "That's one he did on an earlier version of the song, interestingly enough, and we actually recut it a couple of different times. In the end we went back to the early original version, because we felt like it has the magic. That was done in a session in Hawaii, one of the earlier sessions with Kanye."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.