"Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by Englishrock bandthe Who. It is the second single from the band's fifth album,Who's Next (1971), and was originally written byPete Townshend for hisLifehouse project.[3][4] The song is one of the Who's best-known recordings and has been covered by many artists, includingLimp Bizkit. The single entered the USBillboard Charts on 6 November 1971, reaching No. 34.[5]
"Behind Blue Eyes" originated after aTommy Tour concert inDenver, on 9 June 1970.[6] Following the performance, Townshend became tempted by a femalegroupie, but he instead went back to his room alone, possibly as a result of the teachings of his spiritual leader,Meher Baba.[7] Upon reaching his room, he began writing a prayer, the first words being "When my fist clenches, crack it open..." These words later appeared as lyrics in the "climactic rocking section" of "Behind Blue Eyes."[7]
When "Behind Blue Eyes" was to be released as part of the abortedLifehouse project, the song was sung from the point of view of the main villain, Jumbo. The lyrics are a first-person lament from Jumbo, who is always angry and full of angst because of all the pressure and temptation that surrounds him, and the song was intended to be his "theme song" had the project been successful. Pete Townshend said of the song's lyrics:
"Behind Blue Eyes" really is off the wall because that was a song sung by the villain of the piece [Jumbo], the fact that he felt in the original story that he was forced into a position of being a villain whereas he felt he was a good guy.[7]
The version of "Behind Blue Eyes" released onWho's Next in 1971 was the second version the band recorded; the first was recorded at the Record Plant in New York on 18 March 1971 and featuresAl Kooper onHammond organ.[8] The original version was released as a bonus track on the 1995 CD reissue of the album.
"Behind Blue Eyes" was initially considered for a UK single release, but Townshend claimed that the song was "too much out of character" for the British singles market.[7] However, the song did eventually see a single release in France, Belgium, the United States and the Netherlands. Backed with "My Wife" in the US and "Going Mobile" in Europe, the song reached #34 on theBillboard Hot 100 and #24 onCashbox,[6] with the latter calling it "another Townshend masterpiece in traditional Who fashion."[9]
Pete Townshend has also recorded two solo versions of the song. The originaldemo of the song was featured on theScoop album. The demo along with a newer recording of the song featuring an orchestral backing was featured inThe Lifehouse Chronicles.[citation needed]
The song starts with a solo voice singing over anarpeggiated acoustic guitar in the key ofE minor, and a bass guitar and ethereal harmonies are added. Eventually, the song breaks out into a full-scalerock anthem, with a second theme being introduced near the end, before a brief reprise of the quieter first theme. Songs written in alternating sections were a feature of Townshend's writing of the period, going back at least toTommy, where the technique was used in "Christmas" and "Go to the Mirror!" The guitar riff at the end of the rock anthem section is also used after thebridge during the song "Won't Get Fooled Again", perhaps serving as a link between the two songs when both were intended to be parts of a single rock opera.
Record World said that the band "slows the pace considerably until its break. Then the guys get down to some smashing, crashing British rock & roll."[10]
A cover was used in the FX television series,Legion, in season 2, episode 11. The show's creator,Noah Hawley, sings the track withJeff Russo on backing vocals as well as any instruments used in the song. However, in the context of the show,Dan Stevens andNavid Negahban sing the song in English andPersian.[17][18]
"Behind Blue Eyes" was covered by Americanrap rock groupLimp Bizkit. It was released in 2003 as a single from their albumResults May Vary. Limp Bizkit's arrangement is notable for featuring aSpeak & Spell during thebridge.[21] This, together with a new verse and an extra chorus, replaces the rock theme of the Who's version. The song is followed by a hidden track titled "All That Easy", after a few seconds of silence, making the total length 5:58. However, the hidden track is not featured in the single release.
Although the cover received mainly negative reviews, it reached number 71 on the USBillboardHot 100 and was successful worldwide. It reached number one in the Czech Republic and Sweden and charted within the top three in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Norway. Elsewhere in Europe, it became a top-twenty hit in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland while peaking at number 18 on theUK Singles Chart. InAustralasia, it reached number four in Australia and number five in New Zealand.
The cover was panned byRolling Stone magazine readers, who named it the second-worst cover song of all time.[22] Conversely,Sun-Sentinel praised the cover (and "Build a Bridge"), saying that "Durst can do more than just rap."[23]
The music video featuresAcademy Award-winning actressHalle Berry. It's loosely based on the motion pictureGothika, in which Berry stars, and also contains a shot directly showing the movie's title. It depicts Berry and Limp Bizkit's vocalistFred Durst in a relationship similar to the storyline of the film. The song also appeared during the credits of the film itself and its music video was also featured as a bonus feature on the DVD release of the film.
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^Behind Blue Eyes (European 7-inch single sleeve). Limp Bizkit. Flip Records, Interscope Records. 2003. 06024 9814743 (6).{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Behind Blue Eyes (German mini-CD single liner notes). Limp Bizkit. Flip Records, Interscope Records. 2003. 06024 9814990 (4).{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Behind Blue Eyes (Australasian CD single liner notes). Limp Bizkit. Flip Records, Interscope Records. 2003. 9814745.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
