Open Up (Leftfield song)

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"Open Up"
Single by Leftfield featuring John Lydon
from the album Leftism
Released1 November 1993 (1993-11-01)[1]
Genre
Length3:48
LabelHard Hands
Songwriter(s)
  • Leftfield
  • John Lydon
Producer(s)Leftfield
Leftfield singles chronology
"Song of Life"
(1993) 		"Open Up"
(1993) 		"Original"
(1995)
Music video
"Open Up" on YouTube
Alternative Cover
Alternative cover for South African release

"Open Up" is a song by British electronic duo Leftfield featuring John Lydon (of Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd.). It was released as a single on 1 November 1993 by Hard Hands label. The single reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, number one on the Music Week Dance Singles chart and number 39 in both Australia and New Zealand. NME reported in their 18 September 1993 issue, "This is the record that people have always wanted Lydon to do."[5] In 2014, the same publication ranked "Open Up" at number 444 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[3] A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Lindy Heymann.[6]

"The Dust Brothers Remix" is an early remix by the Chemical Brothers, before they were forced to change to their current name. On later compilations, the remix appears as "The Chemical Brothers Remix" and is over nine minutes in duration (compared to eight minutes as first released). The longer version adds more than a minute of extra material around the 6–7-minute mark. The "I Hate Pink Floyd Mix" and the "Open Dub" were remixed by The Sabres of Paradise. The other 1993 versions are by Leftfield themselves.

Critical reception

[edit]

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian wrote that Leftfield and Lydon "have produced a surprisingly excellent one-off single. Lydon is in finest misanthropic form, the subject of his ire his adopted home, Hollywood. He has discovered a lower register to offset his nasal bark; this, and LeftField's clattering technomatic beat make him sound positively sinister."[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described it as "a rather brilliant piece of dance with Lydon's customary snarling vocals adding to the effect quite brilliantly and giving him a bigger hit than PIL have managed since "Rise" made No.11 in 1986."[8] David Bennun from Melody Maker viewed it as "an incongruous but necessary arc of bile jetted in the face of positivity."[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "It's surprising to hear what Johnny Rotten can do to a '90s dance track, and impressive too. His classic voice works a thread of hysteria through a basically pumped track from Leftfield. A dark piece, well worth checking."[10]

Andy Beevers from Music Week rated it four out of five, adding, "The end result actually lives up to the hype, with Lydon's revitalised ranting carried along by a thumping trance production. It is certain to be a big specialist seller, and it could cross over if the tiny Hard Hands label plays its cards right."[11] Sherman at the Controls from NME named it The Club Record the World Needs of the Week,[12] while the magazine's Iestyn George named it Punk Rock Single of the Week, declaring it as Leftfield's "finest moment yet."[13] Brad Beatnik from the Record Mirror Dance Update wrote, "This really is a remarkable record. The combination of Leftfield's deep, dubby rhythms and John Lydon's unique, crazed vocals is awesome. Imagine the pummelling insistency of 'Rez' combined with a near psychotic frenzied vocal and you'll be somewhere near the majesty of this track."[14] Another Record Mirror editor, James Hamilton, noted, "Sex Pistol John Lydon quaveringly wails "burn, Hollywood, burn" (among other lyrics) through an actual quite Frankie Goes To Hollywood-like surging chugger".[15]

Impact and legacy

[edit]

In 2014, NME ranked "Open Up" number 444 in their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[3] In February 2022, Classic Pop ranked it number 38 in their list of the top 40 dance tracks from the 90's.[16]

Track listings

[edit]
  • UK and Australian CD and cassette single[17][18]
  1. "Open Up" (radio edit)
  2. "Open Up" (full vocal mix)
  3. "Open Up" (Dervish Overdrive)
A. "Open Up" (full vocal mix) – 8:46
B. "Open Up" (Dervish Overdrive) – 6:47
  • UK remix 12-inch single[21]
A1. "Open Up" (I Hate Pink Floyd mix)
A2. "Open Up" (open dub)
B1. "Open Up" (The Dust Brothers remix)
  • Swedish CD single[22]
  1. "Open Up" (radio edit)
  2. "Open Up" (full vocal mix)

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1993–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[23] 39
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[24] 32
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 39
UK Singles (OCC)[27] 13
UK Airplay (Music Week)[28] 25
UK Dance (Music Week)[29] 1
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[30] 10

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 30 October 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music: Progressive house".
  3. ^ a b c Barker, Emily (31 January 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time – 500–401". NME. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b Bryans, Chris (2015). "Leftfield-Lydon - "Open Up". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. New York: Universe. p. 700.
  5. ^ "1993 Chronology". Fodderstompf. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Lindy Heymann". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (29 October 1993). "Music: Bush becomes lush - Rock/pop". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Masterton, James (7 November 1993). "Week Ending November 13th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  9. ^ Bennun, David (21 January 1995). "Albums". Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ^ "New Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 3. 15 January 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  11. ^ Beevers, Andy (30 October 1993). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  12. ^ Sherman at the Controls (9 October 1993). "Groovecheck". NME. p. 23. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  13. ^ George, Iestyn (23 October 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 24. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  14. ^ Beatnik, Brad (16 October 1993). "Hot Vinyl: Tune of the Week" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  15. ^ Hamilton, James (23 October 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  16. ^ "90s Dance – The Essential Playlist". Classic Pop. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  17. ^ CD formats:
    • Open Up (UK CD single liner notes). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    • Open Up (Australian CD single liner notes). Leftfield. Liberation Records, Hard Hands. 1993. D11631.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Cassette formats:
    • Open Up (UK cassette single sleeve). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009MC.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    • Open Up (Australian cassette single sleeve). Leftfield. Liberation Records, Hard Hands. 1993. C11631.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Open Up (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009T.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Open Up (German 12-inch single vinyl disc). Leftfield. Logic Records, BMG. 1993. LOC 118.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Open Up (UK remix 12-inch single sleeve). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009R.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Open Up (Swedish CD single liner notes). Leftfield. Cheiron Records. 1993. CHINCD9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ "Leftfield / Lydon – Open Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 47. 20 November 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  25. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 10. 5 March 1994. p. 13. Retrieved 13 July 2021. See LW column.
  26. ^ "Leftfield / Lydon – Open Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  28. ^ "The Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. 27 November 1993. p. 32. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 November 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  30. ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 30 October 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
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