Double Vision (Foreigner song)

In an interview, vocalist Lou Gramm explained the origin behind the song: "'Double Vision' was a song that was written in about late 1977 just before the Double Vision album came out. ...A lot of people think it's about being intoxicated or being high. When we were recording that song before we had the title, the New York Rangers hockey team was playing the Philadelphia Flyers and one of the big Flyers guys bumped into the Rangers' all-star goalie [John Davidson] and knocked him down and they had to take him out of the game because he was experiencing double vision."{{cite web|last1=Parker|first1=Melissa|title=Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm sets the record straight|website=Our Prattville|date=May 14, 2009}}{{cite web|title=How Foreigner Maintained Their Early Momentum on 'Double Vision'|author=Giles, Jeff|date=June 20, 2013|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/foreigner-double-vision/|access-date=2020-06-27|publisher=Ultimate Classic Rock}} Gramm similarly stated:{{cite web|title=Interview: Lou Gramm discusses Foreigner reunion at Sturgis to celebrate 40th anniversary of 'Double Vision'|author=Woods, James|publisher=AXS|date=July 16, 2018|url=https://www.axs.com/interview-lou-gramm-discusses-foreigner-reunion-at-sturgis-to-celebrat-131804|access-date=2020-06-27}}

I was a season ticket holder for the New York Rangers and they were playing the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals. While we were recording, I had an eight-inch TV taped inside my vocal booth with the volume turned all the way down. While I was singing and recording, I’d keep my eye on the screen. Then, whenever we stopped, I’d turn the volume up a little bit. On one occasion, the play had stopped when Dave Schultz from the Flyers skated in front of John Davidson, the Ranger’s goalie, gave him an elbow and knocked him out cold. The trainers helped Davidson off the ice and the Rangers wound up putting in the second-string goalie. Every so often, the announcers would come on and say they were waiting for word on the condition of Davidson. Finally, the announcer said, “The trainers said they don’t think Davidson will be back tonight. He doesn’t have a concussion, but he is experiencing… double vision." That’s when I said — “That’s it!”

According to the New York Rangers website, the incident actually took place in April 1978 during a hockey game between the Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres. The game announcers repeatedly used the phrase "double vision" which then inspired Foreigner to use it as the song's title.{{cite web|last=Halligan|first=John|title=‘JD’ INSPIRES A ROCK SONG|url=http://rangers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=55250|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NYRangers.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104201641/http://rangers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=55250|archive-date=January 4, 2015|access-date=January 7, 2025|url-status=dead}}

The single is certified RIAA gold, selling one million copies, prior to the reduction of gold certification standards that occurred in the late 1980s.

Rolling Stone critic Ken Tucker suggested that the title phrase seems to suggest that "all the pent-up frustration and rage felt by the narrator [due to his romantic agony] has found its pernicious outlet in a sort of ocular apoplexy."{{cite news|title=Double Vision|newspaper=Rolling Stone|author=Tucker, Ken|accessdate=2022-06-21|date=September 7, 1978|url=https://www.superseventies.com/spforeigner2.html}}

Billboard felt that "Double Vision" was a stronger single than the previous release "Hot Blooded" due to its "driving but less monotonous hard rock rhythm" and "more infectious melody."{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|date=September 23, 1978|access-date=2020-06-12|page=94|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-09-23.pdf}} Cash Box said it has "slashing guitars and a mean, ticking beat" that gives way "to an appealing, lighter chorus which is underlined by gently swirling keyboard work" and also praised the vocal performance.{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=September 23, 1978|page=22|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-09-23.pdf}} Record World said that "The guitar work is formidable and Lou Gramm's vocals are always rock perfect."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=September 23, 1978|accessdate=2023-02-13|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/Record-World-1978-09-23.pdf}}

Tucker criticized the song's "self-pity" and said that "Gramm's histrionic head tones threaten to capsize his sinuses as he moans about the suffering he must bear at the hands of wretched women." The Daily News Journal critic Gary Balser regarded "Double Vision" as the best song on the album, stating that it is "an example of Foreigner's individual sound with a keyboard interlude and a constant bass and guitar drive."{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily News Journal|access-date=2020-06-26|via=newspapers.com|author=Balser, Gary|date=October 22, 1978|page=54|title=Foreigner's second album a success|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54202473/the-daily-news-journal/}} San Pedro News-Pilot critic Joseph Bensoua said it has "just the right hooks, phrasing and simple lyrics needed for controlled rock 'n' roll.{{cite news|title=Thin Lizzy is on top at last|author=Bensoua, Joseph|date=August 4, 1978|access-date=2020-06-26|via=newspapers.com|page=E9|newspaper=San Pedro News-Pilot|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54206575/news-pilot/}} St. Joseph News-Press critic Conrad Bibens described "Double Vision" as "competent but a little too bombastic."{{cite news|title=Foreigner's second not quite as good|author=Bibens, Conrad|access-date=2020-06-26|via=newspapers.com|newspaper=St. Joseph News-Press|date=July 8, 1978|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54203694/st-joseph-news-press/}}

Music critic Maury Dean stated that it "sparks double-whammy of...Jones's steamy guitar salvos and Lou Gramm's White Soul volcanic vocalics."{{cite book|page=350|title=Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush|author=Dean, Maury|year=2003|publisher=Algora|isbn=0875862071}} Detroit Free Press critic Kim McAuliffe described the melody as being "one of those ditties, like a television commercial jingle, that imprints itself on your brain whether you want it to or not."{{cite news|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=McAuliffe, Kim|accessdate=2022-06-18|via=newspapers.com|title=Recording big-buck rock in Foreigner territory|date=August 26, 1979|page=5C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104011540/detroit-free-press/}} Billboard reviewer Gary Graff rated "Double Vision" to be Foreigner's 10th greatest song.{{cite web|title=Foreigner's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks|author=Graff, Gary|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=2022-06-17|date=October 11, 2017|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/foreigner-songs-best-hits-list-7997542/}} Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Foreigner's 5th best song, particularly praising the opening guitar riff.{{cite web|title=Top 10 Foreigner Songs|author=Kachejian, Brian|date=6 August 2022 |publisher=Classic Rock History|accessdate=2023-01-20|url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-10-foreigner-songs/}}

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Category:1978 singles

Category:Foreigner (band) songs

Category:Songs written by Mick Jones (Foreigner)

Category:Songs written by Lou Gramm

Category:Song recordings produced by Keith Olsen

Category:1978 songs

Category:Atlantic Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Mick Jones (Foreigner)

Category:Song recordings produced by Ian McDonald (musician)

Category:New York Rangers