Wikipedia

Blue Eyes Blue

"Blue Eyes Blue" is a pop song written by American songwriter Diane Warren. The tune was written for the 1999 soundtrack of Runaway Bride.[1] The British rock musician Eric Clapton recorded the song for the soundtrack and released his performance of the song as a single on July 20, 1999, for Reprise Records.

"Blue Eyes Blue"
Single by Eric Clapton
from the album Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton
ReleasedJuly 20, 1999 (1999-07-20)
GenreAcoustic · pop · pop rock
Length4:43
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Diane Warren
Producer(s)Rob Cavallo
Eric Clapton singles chronology
"Pilgrim"
(1998) 		"Blue Eyes Blue"
(1999) 		"(I) Get Lost"
(1999)
Music video
"Blue Eyes Blue" on YouTube

Background

edit

The pop track was written by Diane Warren, especially for the 1999 romantic comedy film Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.[2] The song was published under Realsongs, a division of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers organization.[3] Clapton recorded the song in Los Angeles, at Ocean Way/Record One Studios in the summer of 1999. The track was recorded at Los Angeles facility's Studio B, featuring an 80-input Solid State Logic SL 9000J console. When it came time for Clapton to record on the Diane Warren song, Allen Sides, owner of Ocean Way Studios worked on the release as the leading recording engineer.[4] The recording was produced by Rob Cavallo.[5] Greg Curtis and Blumpy were in charge of the recording's music programming and Chris Lord-Alge mixed "Blue Eyes Blue". The recording featured Eric Clapton singing and playing the guitar, Greg Curtis on keyboards and background vocals, Tim Pierce and Darryl Crooks on rhythm guitar, Nathan East as the bassist, Steve Ferrone on drums, Jamie Muhoberac on keyboards, Luis Conte and Mike Fasano on the percussion instrument. Orchestral composer David Campbell arranged the strings for the release.[3] The song was released on July 27, 1999, as part of the Runaway Bride soundtrack on compact disc and music cassette, seven days after the single had been released.[6] On October 12, 1999, the song appeared on the compilation album Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton.[7] On September 11, 2001, "Blue Eyes Blue" was released as part of the double album Unplugged/Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton.[8] On November 25, 2002, the pop title was released on the compilation album Songs of Love, by various artists.[9]

Composition

edit

Billboard magazine's Paul Verna thinks, the track belongs to the genre of pop music.[10] Clapton himself called his take on the song "girls-like" and "soft".[11]

Personnel

edit


Music video

edit

To help promote both the single and soundtrack's sales figures, Clapton filmed a music video to accompany the single release.[12] In the beginning, the music video shows Clapton, who dressed in a men's wedding outfit, sitting in front of a white church with a Martin Triple-O acoustic guitar, followed by a scene from the movie, in which Julia Roberts is riding a horse. Afterwards, Clapton is shown singing and playing the song inside the church, while several snippets of the horse-scene re-appear. Several scenes from the movie appear with Clapton being shown in between the movie sequences. Two minutes and twenty seconds into the music video, Clapton is shown, not wearing his entire suit anymore, playing and singing the song outside the church in a garden, where the wedding ceremony of Runaway Bride was held. Afterward, the video shows Clapton playing his solo on the acoustic guitar. The video ends with Clapton sitting in front of the white church, as he did in the beginning of the shoot.[13] The music video was produced by Luke Scott and directed by Richard Goldstein for Warner Music Entertainment, which released the video in high-definition picture on both the VHS and DVD of Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton.[14] The music video "Blue Eyes Blue" reached number nineteen on VH1's most-played music video chart in the United States.[15]

Track listing

edit
CD Maxi single[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Blue Eyes Blue" (Album Version)Diane WarrenRob Cavallo4:43
2."Circus" (Album Version, from Pilgrim)Eric ClaptonEric Clapton · Simon Climie4:10
3."Wonderful Tonight" (Live, from 24 Nights)Eric ClaptonRuss Titelman5:25
4."Blue Eyes Blue" (Edit)Diane WarrenRob Cavallo4:19
Total length:18:37

Reception

edit

Billboard magazine's music critic Catherine Applefeld Olson calles the release a hot adult contemporary song. Another critic for the magazine, Paul Verna, reviews: "Clapton turns in a silky performance – reminiscent of his Babyface collaboration 'Change the World' of the Diane Warren tune".[10] AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine thinks, "Blue Eyes Blue" makes the soundtrack to the film Runaway Bride a "crowd-pleaser" and "actually stronger than the average soundtrack of its ilk".[17] The single debuted at number twenty-five on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart,[18] where it stayed a total of twenty-six weeks on chart,[19] even gaining an Airpower recognition while charting in the second week,[20] eventually peaking at number four on the Billboard chart.[19] The single did not reach the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but peaked at number 112 on the magazine's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart,[21] selling a total of 100,837 copies while on the chart.[22] "Blue Eyes Blue" also reached number twenty-nine on Billboard magazine's Adult Top 40 chart, where the release stayed for seven weeks.[23] In Canada, the single reached number thirty on RPM magazine's Top Singles sales chart,[24] selling 1,064 copies in its first week on chart.[22] In addition, the pop single peaked at number two on the magazine's Adult Contemporary track chart,[25] and reached position forty-seven on the chart's 1999 year-end compilation.[26] In Europe, the single was a medium successful release, reaching only number 94 on the British singles chart,[27] where the release stayed one week in the charts, selling just 9,322 copies.[22] In Germany, the release peaked at number 84 on the Media Control singles chart and stayed a total of five weeks on the nation's singles chart.[28] In Portugal, the release reached the Top 10, peaking at number six on its second charting week and was certified with a Gold disc by the Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa, commemorating the sale of more than 20,000 copies in the country. In total, the single stayed thirteen weeks on the Portuguese Top 40 singles chart.[29] In Finland, the single spent a total of four weeks on the country's singles chart and peaked at number five on its second week on chart.[30] In Spain, "Blue Eyes Blue" reached its highest European position on the singles chart, peaking at number three in August 1999. It was also presented a Platinum certification by the Productores de Música de España for outstanding singles sales of more than 50,000 copies.[31] In Japan, the single peaked at number ten on Oricon's Top Maxi Singles sales chart and reached number five on the Japanese Hot 100 singles chart.[32] "Blue Eyes Blue" also topped the nation's international singles chart for one week and placed itself on number forty-five on the chart's 1999 year-end compilation.[33] In Japan, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for sales exceeding 50,000 copies.[32] In total, the single "Blue Eyes Blue" sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide.[22]

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[32] Gold  
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] Platinum 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Region Year Formats Label Ref.
Australia 1999 CD single Reprise
(Warner) 		[35]
Canada [24]
Finland [30]
Germany [28]
Japan [36]
Malaysia [37]
Portugal [29]
Spain [31]
United Kingdom [38]
United States [39]

Cover versions

edit

In the same year as Clapton's version, Dutch artist René Froger released his version on his 1999 album I Don't Break Easy.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Blue Eyes Blue – Kindle edition by Diane Warren, Eric Clapton. Arts & Photography Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  2. ^ "Diane Warren's Top 10 hits – ABC News". ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Eric Clapton (October 12, 1999). Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton (Compact Disc Liner Notes). United States: Reprise Records. 9362-47564-2. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Daley, Dan (July 24, 1999). "Pro Audio – Studio Monitor". Billboard Magazine. 111 (30). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 50. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  5. ^ "finnishcharts.com – Eric Clapton – Blue Eyes Blue". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Steffen Hung – Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "Eric Clapton Film And Television Soundtrack Discography > Runaway Bride". Where's Eric! The Eric Clapton Fan Club Magazine. Whereseric.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton – Eric Clapton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  8. ^ Bush, John. "Unplugged/Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton – Eric Clapton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  9. ^ "Songs of Love – Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Verna, Paul; Applefeld Olson, Catherine (July 31, 1999). "Reviews & Previews – Pop Albums / Soundtracks and Film Scores News". Billboard Magazine. 111 (31). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 18, 20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  11. ^ "Eric Clapton – Japan Tour Interview 1999". YouTube. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  12. ^ "Film and Television Soundtracks by Eric Clapton". Where's Eric! The Eric Clapton Fan Club Magazine. Whereseric.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  13. ^ "Eric Clapton Blue Eyes Blue Official Video From Runaway Bride". YouTube. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "Eric Clapton – Clapton Chronicles – The Best Of Eric Clapton (DVD) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  15. ^ "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard Magazine. 111 (43). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 94 October 23, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "Eric Clapton – Blue Eyes Blue – austriancharts.at" (in German). Steffen Hung – Hung Medien. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  17. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Runaway Bride – Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard Magazine. 111 (34). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 75 August 21, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  19. ^ a b c "Eric Clapton Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard Magazine. 111 (35). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 92 August 28, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Eric Clapton – Chart history". Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles for Eric Clapton. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ a b c d "The Music of Eric Clapton". Astrid Keil. Directupload. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Eric Clapton Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  24. ^ a b c "RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM Magazine. Vol. 70, no. 4. Library and Archives Canada. November 15, 1999. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  25. ^ a b "RPM Top Singles". RPM Magazine. Vol. 69, no. 25. Library and Archives Canada. October 11, 1999. Archived from the original on May 30, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  26. ^ a b "RPM Top Adult Contemporary Year-End Tracks". RPM Magazine. 70 (8). Library and Archives Canada. December 13, 1999. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  27. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  28. ^ a b c "Eric Clapton – Blue Eyes Blue" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  29. ^ a b c RFM / AFP Top Portuguese Singles > December 5, 1999 > "Blue Eyes Blue" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. 2013. Chart history: 14–6–7–9–10–11–16–13–16–19–21–34–39. Certification history: Gold, 1999.
  30. ^ a b c "Eric Clapton: Blue Eyes Blue" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  31. ^ a b c d Llewellyn, Howell (August 14, 1999). "Northern Spain Boosts Sales". Billboard Magazine. 111 (33). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 11, 107. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  32. ^ a b c d Tatsaku, Ren (2011). The Oricon Sales Report (in Japanese). Tokyo: Oricon Style – Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  33. ^ a b c Hawtin, Steve. "Song Artist – Eric Clapton". Tsort Music. Search for "Blue Eyes Blue". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  34. ^ McClure, Steve (December 4, 1999). "Warner Japan Sees Success with Clapton, Mr. Big Albums". Billboard Magazine. 111 (49). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 109, 114. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  35. ^ "Eric Clapton Blue Eyes Blue Australian CD single (CD5 / 5") (144432)". Eil.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  36. ^ "Eric Clapton Blue Eyes Blue Japanese CD single (CD5 / 5") (141626)". Eil.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  37. ^ "Eric Clapton Blue Eyes Blue Malaysia Promo CD single (CD5 / 5") (164336)". Eil.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  38. ^ "Eric Clapton Blue Eyes Blue UK CD single (CD5 / 5") (146165)". Eil.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  39. ^ "Eric Clapton Blue Eyes Blue US CD single (CD5 / 5") (145115)". Eil.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blue_Eyes_Blue&oldid=1246266262"