Open Up (Leftfield song)
{{Short description|1993 single by Leftfield}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Open Up
| cover = Leftfield Open Up.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Leftfield featuring John Lydon
| album = Leftism
| released = {{start date|1993|11|1|df=y}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-30.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=30 October 1993|access-date=22 June 2021}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
- Progressive house{{Cite web|url=http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/|title=Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music: Progressive house}}
- alternative dance{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-500-401-1421945|title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time – 500–401|last=Barker|first=Emily|work=NME|date=31 January 2014|access-date=20 August 2020}}
- dance-rock{{cite book|first= Chris|last= Bryans|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2015 |title= 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die|chapter= Leftfield-Lydon - "Open Up|publisher= Universe|location= New York|page= 700}}
- electronica
| length = 3:48
| label = Hard Hands
| writer =
- Leftfield
- John Lydon
| producer = Leftfield
| chronology = Leftfield
| prev_title = Song of Life
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = Original
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|hZj9bi7YNmI|"Open Up"}}}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative Cover
| type = single
| cover = Leftfield Open Up US.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = 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."{{cite news|title=1993 Chronology|url=http://www.fodderstompf.com/CHRONOLOGY/1993.html|website=Fodderstompf|access-date=15 August 2017}} In 2014, the same publication ranked "Open Up" at number 444 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Lindy Heymann.{{cite web|url=http://mvdbase.com/person.php?id=C1014|title=Lindy Heymann|access-date=31 January 2017|website=mvdbase.com}}
"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
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."Sullivan, Caroline (29 October 1993). "Music: Bush becomes lush - Rock/pop". The Guardian. 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."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending November 13th 1993|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1993/week-ending-november-13th-1993|website=Chart Watch UK|date=7 November 1993|accessdate=12 September 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} David Bennun from Melody Maker viewed it as "an incongruous but necessary arc of bile jetted in the face of positivity."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Bennun|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53364467191/|title=Albums|work=Melody Maker|date=21 January 1995|page=34|access-date=2 December 2023|author-link=David Bennun}} 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."{{cite magazine|first= |last= |title= New Grooves |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 11 |issue= 3 |date= 15 January 1994 |page= 11 |access-date= 9 March 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-01-15.pdf}}
Andy Beevers from Music Week gave it a score of 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."{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |title= Market Preview: Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= 30 October 1993 |page= 19 |access-date= 4 April 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-30.pdf}} Sherman at the Controls from NME named it The Club Record the World Needs of the Week,{{cite magazine|author=Sherman at the Controls|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52991913744/|title=Groovecheck|work=NME|date=9 October 1993|page=23|access-date=23 June 2023}} while the magazine's Iestyn George named it Punk Rock Single of the Week, declaring it as Leftfield's "finest moment yet."{{cite magazine|first=Iestyn|last=George|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53004181818/|title=Singles|work=NME|date=23 October 1993|page=24|access-date=5 July 2023|author-link=Iestyn George}} 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."{{cite magazine|first= Brad |last= Beatnik |title= Hot Vinyl: Tune of the Week |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 16 October 1993 |page= 6 |access-date= 4 April 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-16.pdf}} 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".{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= 23 October 1993 |page= 7 |access-date= 4 April 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-10-23-S-OCR.pdf |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}
Impact and legacy
"Open Up" was nominated in the category for Tune of the Year at the International Dance Awards 1995.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-10-01.pdf#page=39|title=International Dance Awards Nominations 95|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=1 October 1994|page=11|access-date=16 June 2025}} In 2014, NME ranked it number 444 in their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". In February 2022, Classic Pop ranked "Open Up" number 38 in their list of the top 40 dance tracks from the 90's.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2022/02/90s-dance-the-essential-playlist/|title=90s Dance – The Essential Playlist|work=Classic Pop|date=21 February 2022|access-date=22 September 2024}}
Track listings
- UK and Australian CD and cassette singleCD formats:
- {{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Hard Hands|id=HAND 009CD}}
- {{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Liberation Records, Hard Hands|id=D11631}}Cassette formats:
- {{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Hard Hands|id=HAND 009MC}}
- {{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=Australian cassette single sleeve|publisher=Liberation Records, Hard Hands|id=C11631}}
- "Open Up" (radio edit)
- "Open Up" (full vocal mix)
- "Open Up" (Dervish Overdrive)
- UK and German 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=UK 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Hard Hands|id=HAND 009T}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=German 12-inch single vinyl disc|publisher=Logic Records, BMG|id=LOC 118}}
:A. "Open Up" (full vocal mix) – 8:46
:B. "Open Up" (Dervish Overdrive) – 6:47
- UK remix 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=UK remix 12-inch single sleeve|publisher=Hard Hands|id=HAND 009R}}
:A1. "Open Up" (I Hate Pink Floyd mix)
:A2. "Open Up" (open dub)
:B1. "Open Up" (The Dust Brothers remix)
- Swedish CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Open Up|others=Leftfield|year=1993|type=Swedish CD single liner notes|publisher=Cheiron Records|id=CHINCD9}}
- "Open Up" (radio edit)
- "Open Up" (full vocal mix)
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Leftfield}}
{{John Lydon}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Up (Song)}}
Category:Alternative dance songs
Category:Black-and-white music videos