In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel song)

"In Your Eyes" is a song by English rock musician Peter Gabriel from his fifth solo album So (1986). It features Youssou N'Dour singing a part at the end of the song translated into his native Wolof. Gabriel's lyrics were inspired by an African tradition of ambiguity in song between romantic love and love of God.[3]

"In Your Eyes"
Artwork for 1986 12-inch maxi-single release
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album So
Released2 September 1986
Recorded1985
Genre
Length5:29 (7" LP version)
6:15 (12" single mix)
7:14 (12" special mix)
4:58 (7" promo special mix)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Peter Gabriel
Producer(s)Peter Gabriel, Bill Laswell and Daniel Lanois
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Don't Give Up"
(1986)		 "In Your Eyes"
(1986)		 "Big Time"
(1986)

"In Your Eyes" was not released as a single in the UK but was pulled as the third single from So in the US, achieving strong radio airplay and regular MTV rotation. It reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks on 13 September 1986,[4] and peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November.[5] Gabriel released two extended versions of the song as a 12" vinyl single in the US. The first (the Single Mix) ran 6:15. The second (the Special Mix) ran 7:14. In Australia, "In Your Eyes" peaked at No. 97 in November 1986.[6]

The track was featured in the teen drama film Say Anything... (1989) starring John Cusack and Ione Skye.[7] The song was the finale of the Secret World Tour and the final track on the 1994 Secret World Live album, where it is over 11 minutes long and includes the extra lyrics from the Special Mix, in addition to solos by the other singers and players. It was included on the US version of his 2003 compilation Hit, but not the European or Japanese versions.

In 2005, the song brought Gabriel his first Gold single, certified in the US by the RIAA.[8]

Background

Inspired by a trip to a cathedral in Barcelona, Spain, Gabriel wrote lyrics for another So era song, "Sagrada." This song was scrapped early on, although some elements, including the vocal melody and chord changes, were transferred over to "In Your Eyes".[9]

The song begins with a sustained keyboard chord from Gabriel. After the chord, Manu Katché enters with some worldbeat percussion rhythms played on instruments such as the African talking drum.[10]

When determining the album's track order, Gabriel wanted to have "In Your Eyes" as the final track, but its prominent bassline meant it had to be placed earlier on the vinyl edition for the phonograph stylus to vibrate. This restriction was no longer an issue for later CD releases, and the track was placed at the end of the album.[11]

Say Anything...

The song was used twice in the 1989 US Cameron Crowe film Say Anything..., as well as its trailer. An iconic scene from the film occurs when broken-hearted Lloyd Dobler serenades his ex-girlfriend, Diane Court, outside her bedroom window by holding a boombox up above his head and playing the song for her. Repopularized by its usage in the film, the song reentered the US charts but narrowly failed to crack the top 40 in its second run, reaching as high as No. 41.[5]

Crowe says that Rosanna Arquette, who is believed to be the inspiration for the song, encouraged Peter Gabriel to consider allowing the film to use the song.[12] Gabriel asked to see Crowe's film and Crowe asked the production company to send Gabriel a rough cut. Gabriel approved the use of his song, but told Crowe that he was uneasy about the overdose of the main character at the end; the studio had erroneously sent Gabriel the film Wired instead.[13]

In a September 2012 interview with Rolling Stone, discussing the 25th anniversary of So, Gabriel commented on the cultural impact of the scene, "It definitely gave [the song] a second life, because now it's so often parodied in comedy shows and it is one of the modern day Romeo and Juliet balcony clichés. I've talked to John Cusack about that. We're sort of trapped together in a minuscule moment of contemporary culture."[14] In October 2012, as Gabriel played the first few bars of the song during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl, Cusack walked onto the stage, handed him a boombox and took a bow, before quickly walking off again. Cameron Crowe was also present at the concert and later tweeted "Peter Gabriel and John Cusack on stage together at the Hollywood Bowl tonight. Won't forget that... ever."[15]

Personnel

Charts
Chart (1986–87) Peak
Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 97
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 29
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 26
US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 1

Performances

On the This Way Up Tour tour (1986–1987), it was performed with an extended vocal duet with Youssou N'Dour, mainly during his North American concerts.[18][19]

In 1993, Gabriel performed the song on Saturday Night Live, during its 18th season.[20]

On 10 April 2014, Gabriel performed the song with an extended vocal duet with N'Dour as Gabriel was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The event, which took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, was filmed and was later televised in late May 2014 on the HBO cable channel.

References
  1. Grant, Steven; Robbins, Ira. "Peter Gabriel". Trouser Press. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. "The 35 Best Albums of the Last 35 Years". Spin. 6 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. John McCullough (20 February 2012). "Peter Gabriel & Africa". Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  4. "Allmusic: Peter Gabriel (Awards)". Allmusic. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 222. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 120. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
  7. "John Cusack relives 'Say Anything' boombox moment with Peter Gabriel". NBC. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  8. Peter Gabriel – "In Your Eyes" Archived 26 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine. RIAA. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  9. Bowman, Durrell (2 September 2016). Experiencing Peter Gabriel: A Listener's Companion. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 136–138. ISBN 978-1-44225-199-1.
  10. Pareles, Jon (15 June 1986). "Peter Gabriel Sings of Lost Ego". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  11. Google; Gabriel, Peter (22 October 2012). Peter Gabriel: "Back to Front", Talks at Google (Interview). Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  12. Adams, Jason (3 November 2009). "'Say Anything' turns 20: Cameron Crowe's crazy story behind 'In Your Eyes' and Lloyd Dobler's boom box". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  13. IMDB.com entry for "Say Anything" | Trivia Retrieved 6 September 2000.
  14. Q&A: Peter Gabriel Reflects On His Landmark 1986 Album So Retrieved 4 September 2012
  15. Gawker.com: Peter Gabriel's Performance of In Your Eyes Interrupted By John Cusack Holding A Boombox Archived 18 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 8 October 2012
  16. "Charts.nz – {{{artist}}} – {{{song}}}". Top 40 Singles.
  17. Billboard.com. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  18. Soundtrack of my life: Youssou N'Dour The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2011
  19. "Peter Gabriel On Tour (5): This Way Up Tour 1986–87: Big Time (Success)". genesis-news.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  20. SNL Archives | Episode. Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 27 August 2007.
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