Open Arms (Journey song)

Journey recorded "Open Arms" for their seventh studio album, Escape, which was produced by Kevin Elson and Mike Stone. Jonathan Cain had begun writing the song while he was still a member of The Babys, but Babys vocalist/bassist John Waite turned down the melody as "sentimental rubbish." Cain eventually finished the song with Steve Perry during the writing sessions for Escape, changing the key from A to D and changing the melody slightly,VH1 - Behind the Music - Journey but it was almost left off the album; Journey's guitarist Neal Schon reportedly disliked the song because "it was so far removed from anything [Journey] had ever attempted to record before." Drummer Steve Smith recalls that Schon noted that it "sounds kinda Mary Poppins," added to which the other members of the band were against the idea of performing ballads.[http://steveperry-thejourneybeyond.com/bio.html travel media shopping computers hardware at steveperry-thejourneybeyond.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060314054032/http://steveperry-thejourneybeyond.com/bio.html |date=March 14, 2006 }}

In 2005 Perry commented on the emotions he felt while producing Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour and listening to the band performing the song 24 years previously: "I had to keep my head down on the console when 'Open Arms' was on. There is one line in the song that I always wanted to be a certain way. I have ideals about certain things. The line 'wanting you near' — I just wanted that line to go up and soar. I wanted it to be heartfelt. Every time it would come by I would just have to keep my head down and try to swallow the lump in my throat. I felt so proud of the song."{{Cite web|url=http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060113045139/http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/Interviews05/steveperry05.htm|url-status=dead|title=Classic Rock Revisited your online source for Rock and Metal fans|archive-date=January 13, 2006|website=Classicrockrevisited.com|access-date=April 25, 2021}}

In the Journey episode of VH1's Behind the Music, Perry recalls the recording sessions for the song becoming an ordeal; Schon taunted Perry and Cain in the studio. But when the band performed it in concert for the first time during their Escape Tour in the fall of 1981, the audience was thunderstruck, much to Schon's disbelief. After two encores, the band left the stage and Schon suddenly said, "Man, that song really kicked ass!" Perry recalled being incensed at Schon's hypocrisy. "I looked at him, and I wanted to kill him," he later said.

During an episode of the radio show In the Studio with Redbeard devoted to the album Escape, Jonathan Cain said he was ill with a bad cold when he recorded the piano track to "Open Arms" and wanted to re-do the track. Everybody else disagreed and they used the track Cain recorded while "under the weather".

"Open Arms" was used on the soundtrack to the animated Canadian film Heavy Metal (released to theatres in August 1981), and it was released as the third single from Escape in January 1982 in the United States. It was also featured on two occasions during scenes of the 1982 film The Last American Virgin. It became one of Journey's biggest singles there, and the most successful of the five singles released from Escape (only one other, "Who's Crying Now", reached the top five). It stayed at number 2 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, kept from the number one spot by "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and it was also a top ten hit on Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. The single was less successful on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, only reaching the top forty.

The song and its status as a power ballad has been remembered years following its original release. One critic praised "Open Arms" as "a lyrical rock ballad and one of the band's best-written songs",{{cite web|url=http://www.steveperryfanclub.homestead.com/JourneyHasntLostItsPopularTouch.html |title="Journey Hasn't Lost Its Popular Touch"; December 1986 |publisher=Steveperryfanclub.homestead.com |access-date=October 30, 2011}} while the Associated Press wrote that the song was "fueled by Perry's operatic, high-flying vocal style."{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/14308947 |title=Steve Perry News on Yahoo! Music |publisher=Music.yahoo.com |date=January 22, 2005 |access-date=October 30, 2011}} It has also been referred to as a "wedding anthem" (in a December 2005 Lumino article{{cite web |url=http://www.luminomagazine.com/mw/content/view/916/10/ |title=Journey doesn't stop believin' |publisher=LuminoMagazine.com |date=December 4, 2005 |access-date=October 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928164916/http://www.luminomagazine.com/mw/content/view/916/10/ |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}), and VH1 placed the song at number 1 on their "25 Greatest Power Ballads" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/66390/episode_countdown.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031224224210/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/66390/episode_countdown.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2003 |title=The Greatest | Show Cast, Episodes, Guides, Trailers, Web Exclusives, Previews |publisher=VH1.com |access-date=October 30, 2011}} AllMusic said "One of rock's most beautiful ballads, 'Open Arms' gleams with an honesty and feel only Steve Perry could muster,"[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r10637/review|pure_url=yes}} allmusic ((( Escape – Review )))] and a review of a Journey concert in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution characterized the song as a "classic ballad".{{cite web |last=Douthit |first=Rob |url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/musicmidtown/entries/2004/05/02/journey.html |title=Journey | Music Midtown Live |publisher=AccessAtlanta |date=May 2, 2004 |access-date=October 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928072730/http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/musicmidtown/entries/2004/05/02/journey.html |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }} Steve Perry told the Boston Globe, "I can't tell you how many times I get a tap on the shoulder and somebody says...'This was my prom song'."{{Cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2005/11/05/he_never_stopped_believin/ | work=The Boston Globe | title=He never stopped believin' | date=November 5, 2005}} Billboard called it a "sentimental ballad featuring some delicate keyboard work and Steve Perry's seductive vocal."{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|date=January 16, 1982|accessdate=2023-01-21|page=51|title=Top Single Picks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QCQEAAAAMBAJ}} The song was later included on Journey's box set Time³ (1992) and the compilation album The Essential Journey (2001).

In 2003 American Idol contestant Clay Aiken performed{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2-tkmCT3N0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/z2-tkmCT3N0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Clay Aiken - Season 2 - Group 2 - Open Arms (including Judge's Comments)|access-date=April 25, 2021|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} the song during a key semi-final round of the show, and later in a duet with fellow Idol Kelly Clarkson (the winner from the previous year) on their joint February—April 2004 concert tour. "Open Arms" was included on the set list for Britney Spears' 1999 ...Baby One More Time Tour, and it was also used as the love theme for Japanese director Eiichiro Hasumi's film Umizaru (2004).{{cite web|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/umizaru.shtml |title=Midnight Eye review: Umizaru (2004, Eiichiro HASUMI) |publisher=Midnighteye.com |access-date=October 30, 2011}} Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of the animated television comedy South Park, frequently reference and parody Journey and their music in their work. In Episode 132 of South Park, entitled "Erection Day" (2005), a little girl playing piano in a talent competition begins to sing the opening to "Open Arms" ("Lying beside you, here in the dark...") before the scene ends. In the 2007 film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry the song is played during a gay benefit costume party. "Open Arms" is one of twelve greatest hits re-recorded by Journey featuring current lead vocalist Arnel Pineda on the second disc of their latest 2008 album Revelation. The song also appeared in the 1982 film The Last American Virgin as well as a 1982 episode of the US daytime soap opera General Hospital. The song was used in the Season 3 finale of Cobra Kai.

• Steve Perry – lead vocals
• Neal Schon – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Jonathan Cain – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Ross Valory – bass, backing vocals
• Steve Smith – drums, percussion, backing vocals

• Arnel Pineda – lead vocals
• Neal Schon – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Jonathan Cain – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• Ross Valory – bass, backing vocals
• Deen Castronovo – drums, backing vocals

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|certmonth=4|artist=Journey|title=Open Arms|access-date=May 26, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Journey|title=Open Arms|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=April 26, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Journey|title=Open Arms|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2024|access-date=January 26, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Open Arms

| cover = Open Arms Mariah Carey.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Mariah Carey

| album = Daydream

| B-side = {{plainlist|

• "Slipping Away"
• "El Amor Que Soñé"
• "I Am Free"}}

| released = December 5, 1995

| recorded = 1995

| studio =

• The Hit Factory (New York, NY){{cite AV media notes|title=Daydream (Liner Notes)|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|first=Mariah|last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey|type=Compact Disc|publisher=Columbia Records|location=New York City, New York}}
• Wallyworld (San Rafael, CA){{cite AV media notes|title=Daydream (Liner Notes)|others=Mariah Carey|year=1995|first=Mariah|last=Carey |author-link=Mariah Carey|type=Compact Disc|publisher=Columbia Records|location=New York City, New York}}

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:30

| label = Columbia

| writer =

• Stephen Perry
• Jonathan Cain

| producer =

• Walter Afanasieff
• Mariah Carey

| prev_title = Joy to the World

| prev_year = 1995

| next_title = Always Be My Baby

| next_year = 1996

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|htLCo_H6CGs|"Open Arms"}}|type=single}}

}}

Mariah Carey co-produced her cover of the song with Walter Afanasieff for her fifth album, Daydream (1995). Carey's career has crossed paths with Journey's: the band's drummer Steve Smith played drums on many of her earlier singles, and its bassist for a short period in the mid-1980s, Randy Jackson, has worked with her for a long time.

The song was released as the album's third single between late 1995 and early 1996 by Columbia Records in most markets outside the United States. It became a number-four hit in the United Kingdom and was performed live on the BBC's flagship chart television show, Top of the Pops. It also reached the top ten in Ireland and New Zealand; and the top twenty in Iceland and the Netherlands. The single's music video, directed by Larry Jordan, is a live performance of the song by Carey at Madison Square Garden. The video for the Spanish version of the song, "El Amor Que Soñé", was recorded after the MSG show as Mariah performed to the studio track.

While recording for the album, Carey expressed the desire to cover the song, saying: "I've always loved Steve Perry's voice, I think he's really an amazing singer. [...] I have a lot of good memories of growing up listening to that song and I always used to sing it and think that it would be a great singer song, kind of a great performance song.” Together with Walter Afanasieff, they toned down the song's arrangement, making it a bit glossy, especially in comparison to the "raw and powerful 'One Sweet Day.'"{{harvnb|Nickson|1998|pp=147}} Additionally, with the help of her background singers, Carey added a touch of gospel to the song. Lyrically, the song presents Mariah crying out "in humility for a relationship to be restored."{{cite web |last1=Waliszewski |first1=Bob |title=Daydream - Plugged In |url=https://www.pluggedin.com/album-reviews/mariahcarey-daydream/ |publisher=Plugged In |access-date=May 13, 2024}}

Released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom, Australia and Europe in general, "Open Arms" received a CD single release in December 1995,{{cite web |title=Mariah Carey, Open Arms, CD Single Promo, Europe 1995 |url=https://preciousvinyl.com/products/cd-634 |website=Precious Vinyl |access-date=May 13, 2024}} whilst the radio release in the UK occurred in early February 1996.{{cite magazine |last1=Reece |first1=Douglas |title=BBC Radio 1 Hails Britannia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_w4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=mariah+carey+open+arms+single&pg=PA94 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 3, 1996}} A UK CD single for "Open Arms" included the Daydream track "I Am Free" and live versions of "Fantasy" and "Vision of Love" (1990).{{cite web |title=Mariah Carey - Open Arms (CD, Single) |url=https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394053386365 |website=ebay |access-date=May 13, 2024}} Another version of the CD single comprised the album cuts of "Hero" (1993) and "Without You" (1994), and a radio edit of "I'll Be There" (1992).{{cite web |title=Mariah Carey Open Arms (G30) 4 Track CD Single Picture Sleeve COLUMBIA |url=https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126441488279?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20210609144404%26meid%3Dca2b3f278e8a4f3da93835ef5ff01640%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D394053386365%26itm%3D126441488279%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D4429486%26algv%3DCompVIDesktopATF2V4WithDefaultIMAFeature&_trksid=p4429486.c101196.m2219&itmprp=cksum%3A126441488279ca2b3f278e8a4f3da93835ef5ff01640%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABALUK373GZYwoSkhvUXwZwr2SLMQzpCH9tKsUlXR5IUOVFg6%252BDk7Rw1OZXS%252Bb4%252BWbaTgG0JsblRxNw%252BAZIwcPK4AdGrSQj%252B5yPO2YS7%252FnpclFmFCZsJhDMMDvJWeEtFQOT7C%252BpNQF5Be1vdOk5LDzs9YRWuCycj6jy9GA9M6b83FcuWe%252BY6d73l1cfSplmDSCid%252BwBujnC3VzEkojBpYxLpNbM7hkrXlIp8GAHgNWQ7XiDTNpeeBISwiifjIjdQanPLZAHeRj3ordf2jEcjUWsQqslMQE1pQLS5fQXd8pmQX%252B3P9oqcjitlyrJ7hOQVirxmgF0bwqmirKJS51Smpq8CA%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01HXSB9A6YSBWW5NG184T8K3TG |website=ebay |access-date=May 13, 2024}} A Spanish version of the song titled "El Amor Que Soñé" ("The Love I Dreamt Of") was also released on Australian's editions of the single,{{cite web |title=Mariah Carey – Open Arms, CD Single, Australia 1996 |url=https://preciousvinyl.com/products/cd-614?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=d9ba829f5&pr_rec_pid=7555602514166&pr_ref_pid=7557273551094&pr_seq=uniform |website=Precious Vinyl |access-date=May 13, 2024}} as well as Spanish and Latin American re-editions of Daydream.{{cite web |title=Mariah Carey - Daydream (Spanish Bonus Track) |url=https://www.amazon.com/MARIAH-CAREY-DAYDREAM-SPANISH-TRACK/dp/B079HJ6VZ8 |website=Amazon.com |access-date=May 13, 2024}}

The cover received mixed reviews from critics. Bill Lamb felt it was "simply an uninspired song selection."{{cite web |last=Lamb |first=Bill |url=http://top40.about.com/od/reviews/gr/mcdaydream.htm |title=Review Of Mariah Carey's 'Daydream' |website=Top40.about.com |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605001655/http://top40.about.com/od/reviews/gr/mcdaydream.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2011 }} Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic also criticized the cover, calling it "second rate".{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/daydream-mw0000179794 |title=Daydream - Mariah Carey | Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=AllMusic |date=October 3, 1995 |access-date=January 17, 2016}} "Open Arms" received a negative review from Stephen Holden as well, who called it a "sobbing remake".{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/08/arts/pop-music-mariah-carey-glides-into-new-territory.html | work=The New York Times | first=Stephen | last=Holden | title=POP MUSIC; Mariah Carey Glides Into New Territory | date=October 8, 1995}} Rolling Stone called it an "ill-advised" cover.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.ew.com/article/1995/10/13/daydream | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | title=Music Review: Daydream, by Mariah Carey | date=October 13, 1995 | access-date=August 2, 2013 | archive-date=October 31, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031195513/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C299059%2C00.html | url-status=live }} A Billboard reviewer was more favorable, labelling it a "reverent rendition".{{cite magazine |title=Mariah Carey's new album represents a change of direction for the {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|ninties}}' best-selling female artist. |url=https://central.kaserver5.org/Kasoft/Typeset/ArcRev/CGTD.html |access-date=May 13, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=The Archer Review |date=September 26, 1995}} Mike Wass of Idolator ranked it at number 4 on his list of Carey's best covers.{{cite news |last1=Wass |first1=Mike |title=Mariah Carey's 10 Best Cover Versions |url=https://www.idolator.com/7917422/mariah-careys-10-best-cover-versions |access-date=May 13, 2024 |work=Idolator |date=January 3, 2021}}

UK sales for the song stand at 105,000 units.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110606035449/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/mtv-official-countdowns/episode/mariah-carey-official-top-20 Mariah Carey official top 20 biggest-selling songs in the UK] MTV. retrieved: May 3, 2010.

UK CD (Part 1) / Australian CD/Cassette (Part 1)

1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
2. "I Am Free" - 3:09
3. "Fantasy" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 4:32
4. "Vision of Love" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 3:50

UK CD (Part 2)

1. "Open Arms"
2. "Hero"
3. "Without You"
4. "I'll Be There"

Australian CD/Cassette (Part 2)

1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
2. "Slipping Away" - 4:32
3. "El Amor Que Soñé" - 3:29

UK Cassette Single

1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
2. "I Am Free" - 3:09

European CD Single

1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
2. "Vision of Love" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 3:49

European CD Maxi-Single / European 12" Single

1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
2. "Fantasy" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 4:31
3. "Vision of Love" (live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 3:49
4. "Make It Happen" (live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 4:43

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• The Taiwanese boy band 5566 released a cover of "Open Arms" in 2005.
• Country music singer Collin Raye released a cover of "Open Arms" on his compilation album The Best of Collin Raye: Direct Hits in 1997. His version charted at number 70 on the Hot Country Songs charts that year based on unsolicited airplay.
• In 2016, South Korean singer and musical actress, Jung Yoo-ji sang Mariah Carey's rendition of the song during her special appearance at the Chinese version of the show "I Am The Singer".

• Solid Gold (season 2) Host Andy Gibb performed the song on January 30, 1982
• Korean-American singer Lena Park performed the song on MBC's 'Wednesday Arts Stage' in 2002.
• American Idol contestant Clay Aiken performed the song during a key semi-final round of the show in 2003, and later in a duet with fellow Idol Kelly Clarkson (the winner from the previous year) on their joint February—April 2004 concert tour.
• Australian Idol season 3 finalist Anne Robertson performed this song on the show in 2005 for the 1980s theme night.
• American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin performed the song in 2006 on season 5.
• 2008 The X Factor finalist, Daniel Evans recorded a version of the song which was released as his debut single on January 25, 2010, as a digital download.
• The X Factor contestant Joe McElderry performed his version of "Open Arms" as his second song on Semi-Final night, on December 5, 2009. All 4 judges hailed the performance on the night, with Louis Walsh saying that if Joe released that song tomorrow, he would have a Number 1 single the very next day. This performance saw Joe through to the Grand Final of the X Factor.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/TheXFactorUK#p/u/5/KCT-qK2Pvy0 |title=X Factor Performance |publisher=Youtube.com |date=August 3, 2007 |access-date=October 30, 2011}}
• 2011 to 2015, Celine Dion performs "Open Arms" at the start of her Las Vegas show Celine.Sutherland, Anne. [https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Review+Celine+Dion+magnificent+Vegas+show/4614908/story.html "Celine Dion magnificent in new Vegas show"]. Montreal Gazette. April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
• Mexican band Tobby covered the song, as "Quiero Amar" (English: "I Want to Love"), whose translation was made by Menny Carrasco, a member of the group.{{cite web |url=http://www.am.com.mx/Nota.aspx?ID=435435 |title=Quiero Amar |publisher=am.com.mx |date=October 29, 2010 |access-date=December 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716094555/http://www.am.com.mx/Nota.aspx?ID=435435 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}
• The Voice contestant Jermaine Paul performed the song in 2012 on Season 2 of The Voice.
• The song has also been covered live by Korean singer Younha and Taiwanese boy band 5566.
• Britney Spears performed the song at her cousin's wedding in 1996 when she was 15; this video eventually led to her getting a record contract. She also performed the song on her ...Baby One More Time Tour.
• The song has been covered live by several SM Entertainment artists including EXO.
• The song has also been covered by Philippine singer Aiza Seguerra.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Citation

| last = Nickson

| first = Chris

| title = Mariah Carey revisited: her story

| year = 1998

| publisher = St. Martin's Press

| isbn = 978-0-312-19512-0

}}

• [https://youtube.com/watch?v=3ByIYof4mqo Official audio]

{{Journey}}

{{Mariah Carey singles}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Arms (Journey Song)}}

Category:1982 singles

Category:1995 singles

Category:1996 singles

Category:Journey (band) songs

Category:Songs written by Steve Perry

Category:Songs written by Jonathan Cain

Category:Mariah Carey songs

Category:Rock ballads

Category:Collin Raye songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Walter Afanasieff

Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Stone (record producer)

Category:1981 songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:1980s ballads

Category:CBS Records singles

Category:Sony Music singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles