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Eyes Open (song)

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"Eyes Open"
Cover artwork of "Eyes Open" featuring Swift in a grassland
Promotional singlebyTaylor Swift
from the albumThe Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond
ReleasedMarch 27, 2012(2012-03-27)
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:04
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Taylor Swiftchronology
"Ours"
(2011)
"Eyes Open"
(2012)
"Both of Us"
(2012)
The Hunger Gamessingles chronology
"Eyes Open"
(2012)
"Atlas"
(2013)
Lyric video
"Eyes Open"onYouTube

"Eyes Open"is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swiftfor thesoundtrackto the 2012 filmThe Hunger Games.Produced by Swift andNathan Chapman,"Eyes Open" is analternative rocksong with chiming guitars. Its lyrics are about staying strong during hardships, told from the perspective of the film's protagonist,Katniss Everdeen.The track was released as a promotional single from the soundtrack.

Music critics commented that the song's rock sound showcased Swift's expanding artistry beyond her previouscountry popsongs. The track won aTeen Choice Awardfor Choice Single by a Female Artist in2012."Eyes Open" charted in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and it receivedcertificationsin the first three countries. Are-recordingtitled "Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)",was released on March 17, 2023, as part of Swift's re-recordings of her back catalog, followingthe 2019 dispute over the ownership of the masters of her first six albums.

Background and composition

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Taylor Swiftwrote two songs for thesoundtrackto the 2012 filmThe Hunger Games:"Safe & Sound"and "Eyes Open". She wrote the former withthe Civil Warsand the latter by herself.[1]According to Swift, she wrote the song about theHunger GamesprotagonistKatniss Everdeen's "relationship" with theCapitol.She described 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".[2]

"Eyes Open" is four minutes and four seconds in length. Critics described the song's genre asalternative rock.[3][4]Billboardsaid that it "[exists] more in themodern rockvein than [Swift's] usual country-pop oeuvre ".[5]

Critical reception

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The song garnered general critical acclaim from contemporary critics - most of whom favorably noted the song's morerock-oriented tone as compared to her previous releases. While reviewingThe Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond,Matt Bjorke named "Eyes Open" as one of the "standouts" on the record.[6]Jason Lipshutz ofBillboardalso found the same description of the song - stating that it "[exists] more in the modern rock vein than her usual country-pop oeuvre."[7]In June 2022,Insiderranked "Eyes Open" as Swift's third best soundtrack song, only behind "Safe & Sound"and"I Don't Wanna Live Forever".[8]

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Award/work Result Ref.
2012 Teen Choice Awards Choice Single by a Female Artist Won

Release and commercial performance

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Swift first premiered the song during a performance inAucklandfor herSpeak Now World Tour.[10]The song was leaked before its official release date of March 20, 2012.[11][12]

Upon the soundtrack's release, "Eyes Open" entered the USBillboardHot 100at number 19 with 176,000 digital copies as the week's highest debut.[13]After it was sent to mainstream radio, the song debuted onBillboard'sMainstream Top 40airplay chart at number 28 and was Swift's highest debut to date; it would reach number 20 on the chart.[14][15]On December 2012, "Eyes Open" received a platinumcertificationfrom theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA);[16]it became Swift's sixteenth million-seller and her second from the soundtrack after "Safe & Sound".[17]By November 2017, the song had sold 1.4 million units in the United States.[18]

Elsewhere, "Eyes Open" peaked on the charts in various Anglophone territories, at number 17 in Canada,[19]number 47 in Australia,[20]number 65 in Ireland,[21]and number 70 in the United Kingdom.[22]In New Zealand, the song debuted and peaked at number six on theRMNZ'sTop 40 Singleschart and was certified gold by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[23][24]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Eyes Open"
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 47
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 17
CanadaCHR/Top 40(Billboard)[25] 34
CanadaHot AC(Billboard)[26] 23
Ireland (IRMA)[21] 65
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 6
UK Singles(OCC)[22] 70
USBillboardHot 100[27] 19
USPop Airplay(Billboard)[15] 20
USHot Country Songs(Billboard)[28] 50
USAdult Pop Airplay(Billboard)[29] 11
USAdult Contemporary(Billboard)[30] 21

Certifications

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Certifications for "Eyes Open"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[24] Gold 7,500*
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000*

*Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)"

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"Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)"
SongbyTaylor Swift
ReleasedMarch 17, 2023(2023-03-17)
Length4:03
Label
Songwriter(s)Taylor Swift
Producer(s)
Audio
"Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)"onYouTube

On March 17, 2023, Swift released "Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)",are-recordedversion of "Eyes Open", viaRepublic Records.[32][33]The song is part of Swift's re-recording plan followingthe 2019 dispute over the ownership of the masters of her older discography,after the talent managerScooter Braunacquired Big Machine Records, including themastersof Swift's albums which the label had released.[34][35]By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs forcommercial useand therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.[36]

"Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)" was released forstreamingand download as an independent track without appearing on any album.[37]It was included on a streaming-only compilation titledThe More Red (Taylor's Version) Chapter.[38]

Personnel

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Credits are adapted fromTidal.[39]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[40] 9
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[41] 15
UK Singles Downloads(OCC)[42] 18
UK Singles Sales(OCC)[43] 18
USBubbling Under Hot 100 Singles(Billboard)[44] 9
USDigital Song Sales(Billboard)[45] 6
USHot Country Songs(Billboard)[46] 48

References

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  1. ^"Taylor Swift Talks About Her Hunger to Contribute toThe Hunger Games—Exclusive! ".Our Country.March 12, 2012.RetrievedJune 27,2024– viaYahoo!.
  2. ^Cooper, Brittany Joy (March 20, 2012)."Taylor Swift Spills About Writing 'Eyes Open' forThe Hunger GamesSoundtrack ".Taste of Country.Archivedfrom the original on March 22, 2012.RetrievedJune 2,2012.
  3. ^Petridis, Alexis(April 26, 2019)."Taylor Swift's singles – ranked!".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on April 27, 2019.RetrievedDecember 9,2020.
  4. ^Jones, Nate (August 13, 2020)."All 162 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked".Vulture.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2019.RetrievedDecember 8,2020.
  5. ^Lipshutz, Jason (March 15, 2012)."Taylor Swift Keeps 'Eyes Open' on New 'Hunger Games' Tune".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on June 8, 2015.RetrievedMay 27,2015.
  6. ^"Various Artists - The Hunger Games Soundtrack".Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2012.
  7. ^Lipshutz, Jason."Taylor Swift Keeps 'Eyes Open' on New 'Hunger Games' Tune".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2018.RetrievedOctober 1,2018.
  8. ^Ahlgrim, Callie; Larocca, Courteney (June 26, 2022)."All 8 of Taylor Swift's soundtrack songs, ranked".Insider.Archivedfrom the original on February 7, 2023.RetrievedJune 26,2022.
  9. ^"Teen Choice Awards 2012: Complete Winners List".MTV. July 22, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2015.RetrievedJune 21,2015.
  10. ^Josh, Grossman (March 19, 2012)."Taylor Swift Unveils Hunger Games Song" Eyes Open "".E! Online.Archivedfrom the original on March 29, 2012.RetrievedMarch 28,2012.
  11. ^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.Archivedfrom the original on March 27, 2012.RetrievedMarch 28,2012.
  12. ^Archived2012-04-19 at theWayback MachineArchived byWebCitefromthe originalon March 21, 2012.
  13. ^Trust, Gary (March 28, 2012)."Fun. Notch Fourth Week Atop Hot 100".Billboard.Prometheus Global Media.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2013.RetrievedMarch 29,2012.
  14. ^"Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez Storm Pop Songs".Billboard.April 2, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on August 9, 2013.RetrievedMarch 24,2013.
  15. ^ab"Taylor Swift Chart History (Pop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  16. ^ab"American single certifications – Taylor Swift – Eyes Open".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedDecember 17,2012.
  17. ^"Week Ending July 15, 2012. Songs: Blow Me (One More Hit)".yahoo. July 18, 2012.
  18. ^Trust, Gary (November 26, 2017)."Ask Billboard: Taylor Swift's Career Album & Song Sales".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2017.RetrievedNovember 26,2017.
  19. ^ab"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  20. ^ab"Taylor Swift – Eyes Open ".ARIA Top 50 Singles.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  21. ^ab"Irish-charts – Discography Taylor Swift".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  22. ^ab"Taylor Swift: Artist Chart History".Official Charts Company.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  23. ^ab"Taylor Swift – Eyes Open ".Top 40 Singles.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  24. ^ab"New Zealand single certifications – Taylor Swift – Eyes Open".Recorded Music NZ.
  25. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  26. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada Hot AC)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  27. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  28. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  29. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  30. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  31. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedFebruary 14,2024.
  32. ^MacCary, Julia (March 16, 2023)."Taylor Swift Is Dropping Four Unreleased Songs Ahead of Her Eras Tour Start".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on March 30, 2023.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  33. ^Aniftos, Rania (March 17, 2023)."Taylor Swift Drops Four New Songs Ahead of 'The Eras Tour' Launch: Listen".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on March 17, 2023.RetrievedMarch 17,2023.
  34. ^"Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits".BBC News.August 22, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2019.RetrievedAugust 22,2019.
  35. ^Finnis, Alex (November 17, 2020)."Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained".i.Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
  36. ^Shah, Neil (April 9, 2021)."Taylor Swift Releases NewFearlessAlbum, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog ".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on October 8, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 25,2022.
  37. ^Faguy, Ana (March 17, 2023)."Where Are Taylor Swift's 4 New Songs? Fans Struggle To Find New Tracks On Streaming Platforms".Forbes.RetrievedApril 19,2024.
  38. ^"The More Red (Taylor's Version) Chapter".Apple Music.RetrievedApril 19,2024.
  39. ^"'Eyes Open (Taylor's Version)' / Taylor Swift ".Tidal.Archivedfrom the original on May 2, 2023.RetrievedApril 30,2023.
  40. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)".Billboard.RetrievedMarch 28,2023.
  41. ^"NZ Hot Singles Chart".Recorded Music NZ.March 27, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2023.RetrievedMarch 25,2023.
  42. ^"Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  43. ^"Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.RetrievedMarch 24,2023.
  44. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  45. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Digital Song Sales)".Billboard.Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  46. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved March 28, 2023.
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