"Open Your Eyes" is a song by the

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. In ...

band Yes, from their 1997 album of the same name. It was a rock radio hit for the band, reaching number 33 on the '' Billboard'' Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It would also be the only song from the ''Open Your Eyes'' album that would be performed live regularly during the subsequent tour.Setlist.fm
/ref>

Details

The song was written by singer-songwriter Billy Sherwood and Yes bassist

Chris Squire Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4March 1948 – 27June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and backing vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having r ...

prior to Sherwood joining the band. Originally titled "Wish I Knew", the song was intended for inclusion on a solo album of Squire's. Following the 1997 departure of keyboardist Rick Wakeman from the band, Sherwood was invited to join as the band's second guitarist (primary guitarist

Steve Howe Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to le ...

having rejoined the group in 1996.) Guitar work by Howe and vocals by Yes lead singer Jon Anderson were added to the song, which was renamed "Open Your Eyes", and writing credits were given to all five Yes members (Sherwood, Squire, Howe, Anderson and drummer Alan White). Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro performs keyboards on the song, which was the band's first single without a full-time keyboardist in the band. Porcaro had previously played keys with Squire's solo project, The Chris Squire Experiment and also provided keyboards on Yes' album ''

Union Union commonly refers to: * Trade union, an organization of workers * Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets Union may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * Union (band), an American rock group ** ''Un ...

''.

Release, reception and re-release

The song was released as the lead single from the ''Open Your Eyes'' album in 1997, and reached number 33 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. As of 2021, "Open Your Eyes" is the band's last charting single.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

reviewer Gary Hill describes the song as a "merge fthe '70s and '80s Yes styles", noting a similarity in sound to Squire's 1975 solo album ''

Fish Out of Water Fish out of water is an idiom used to refer to a person who is in unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable, surroundings. Fish out of water may also refer to: Film and television * ''Fish Out of Water'' (1993 film), a Danish film * ''Fish Out of ...

''. In 2000, Sherwood left the band; that same year he and Squire released an alternate version of "Open Your Eyes" as a hidden track on the Squire/Sherwood album ''

Conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agre ...

''. Yes has also included their version of "Open Your Eyes" in their 2003 greatest hits compilation '' The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection'', their 2002 boxed set '' In a Word: Yes (1969–)'', and several other anthologies.

Personnel

Yes

* Jon Anderson – vocals *

– guitar * Billy Sherwood – guitar, keyboards, vocals *

– bass, vocals * Alan White – drums, percussion, vocals

Guest musicians

* Steve Porcaro – keyboards

Chart position

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Your Eyes (Yes Song) 1997 singles Yes (band) songs Songs written by Chris Squire Songs written by Steve Howe (musician) Songs written by Jon Anderson