Looking Through Patient Eyes

"Looking Through Patient Eyes"
Single by P.M. Dawn
from the album The Bliss Album...? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence)
B-side	"Plastic"
Released	March 1, 1993 (1993-03-01) [1]
Genre	Pop hip hop
Length	4:09
Label	Gee Street
Songwriter(s)	Attrell Cordes George Michael
Producer(s)	P.M. Dawn
P.M. Dawn singles chronology
"I'd Die Without You" (1992) "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (1993) "Plastic" (1993)
Licensed audio
"Looking Through Patient Eyes" on YouTube

"Looking Through Patient Eyes" is a song by American hip hop and R&B group P.M. Dawn. It was released on March 1, 1993, by the record label Gee Street as the second single from their second studio album, The Bliss Album...? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence) (1993). The song, written by P.M. Dawn's Attrell Cordes, features backing vocals by Cathy Dennis and samples "Father Figure" by George Michael. The line "Joni help me, I think I'm falling" is a reference to Canadian singer Joni Mitchell's song "Help Me"; she is also referenced in the group's previous single "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss".

Upon its release, "Looking Through Patient Eyes" became P.M. Dawn's third and final top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six for two nonconsecutive weeks. On Canada's RPM Top Singles chart, the song reached number one on the issue dated May 29, 1993, becoming the group's only number-one single in Canada. The song also found success in Australia and several European countries, reaching the top 10 in Denmark, Iceland, and Portugal and charting within the top 20 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Critical reception

Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Rap duo is positioned to sail up the charts with a silky pop/hip-hop ditty that derives inspiration from samples of George Michael's 'Father Figure'. A warmly sung chorus cushions the deep-voiced and romantic rhymes that have made the act famous. A fitting way to usher in The Bliss Album." ^[2] Alan Jones from Music Week described it as "a gently mournful rap", underscored by the instrumental from Michael's song. He also stated that "the sawing violins and some attractive female vocal support all help create a sweet and stylish single." ^[3]

Sam Steele from NME felt "Looking Through Patient Eyes" could easily be renamed "Listening Through Patient Ears", "as it's only ever going to excite Michael Jackson fans and Radio 4 listeners." ^[4] People Magazine noted that Prince Be "hooks up his celestial pony" to Michael's song. ^[5] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update named it a "lushly swirled pop swayer" in his weekly dance column. ^[6] Charles Aaron from Spin wrote, "'I'd Die Without You' was a sop to the mainstream, i.e. it kind of made sense, but this is the "real" shit—George Michael bite and Prince Be's comforting gibberish." ^[7]

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was shot in a church, and features various Christian images interspersed throughout it.

Track listings

US 7-inch single [8] A. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio edit) – 4:06 B. "The Ways of the Wind" (radio edit) – 3:55 US 12-inch single [9] A1. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (extended mix) – 6:15 B1. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio mix) – 4:06 B2. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (instrumental) – 4:18 US CD single [10] "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio mix) – 4:06 "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (extended mix) – 6:15 "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (instrumental) – 4:18 "Plastic" (radio mix) – 3:50 US and Canadian cassette single [11] "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio mix) – 4:06 "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (album version) – 4:25

UK 7-inch and cassette single [12] [13] A. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio mix) B. "Plastic" (radio mix) UK 12-inch single [14] A1. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (extended mix) A2. "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio mix) B1. "Plastic" (12-inch mix) B2. "Plastic" (Funk U Tomorrow mix) UK and Australian CD single [15] "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (radio mix) "Looking Through Patient Eyes" (extended mix) "Plastic" (extended mix) "Plastic" (radio mix)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [16] 20 Canada Retail Singles ( The Record ) [17] 2 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [18] 1 Canada Dance/Urban ( RPM ) [19] 5 Denmark (IFPI) [20] 7 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) [21] 34 Europe (European Hit Radio) [22] 9 Germany (GfK) [23] 63 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [24] 6 Ireland (IRMA) [25] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade) [26] 17 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [27] 11 Portugal (AFP) [20] 7 UK Singles (OCC) [28] 11 UK Airplay ( Music Week ) [29] 6 UK Dance ( Music Week ) [30] 25 US Billboard Hot 100 [31] 6 US Hot R&B Singles ( Billboard ) [32] 62 US Top 40/Mainstream ( Billboard ) [33] 2 US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover ( Billboard ) [34] 6 US Cash Box Top 100 [35] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1993) Position Australia (ARIA) [36] 99 Canada Top Singles (RPM) [37] 38 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM) [38] 48 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40) [39] 58 US Billboard Hot 100 [40] 38 US Cash Box Top 100 [41] 26

References

1. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . February 27, 1993. p. 19. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
2. Flick, Larry (March 20, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 82. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
3. Jones, Alan (February 27, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 6. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
4. Steele, Sam (March 6, 1993). "Singles". NME . p. 23. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
5. "Picks and Pans Review: The Bliss Album...(vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence)". People . June 7, 1993. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
6. Hamilton, James (March 6, 1993). "Djdirectory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
7. Aaron, Charles (July 1993). "Singles". Spin . p. 84. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
8. Looking Through Patient Eyes (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Gee Street. 1993. 422-862 024-7.
9. Looking Through Patient Eyes (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Gee Street. 1993. 422-862 025-1.
10. Looking Through Patient Eyes (US CD single liner notes). Gee Street. 1993. 422-862 025-2.
11. Looking Through Patient Eyes (US & Canadian cassette single sleeve). Gee Street. 1993. 422-862 024-4.
12. Looking Through Patient Eyes (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Gee Street. 1993. GEE 47, 864 974-1.
13. Looking Through Patient Eyes (UK cassette single sleeve). Gee Street. 1993. GEEC 47, 864 974-4.
14. Looking Through Patient Eyes (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Gee Street. 1993. GEET 47, 864 975-1.
15. Looking Through Patient Eyes (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Gee Street. 1993. GESCD 47, 864 975-2.
16. "P.M. Dawn – Looking Through Patient Eyes". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
17. "Hits of the World: Canada" (PDF). Billboard . June 5, 1993. p. 60. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0965." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
19. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 0967." RPM . Library and Archives Canada.
20. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 16. April 17, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
21. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 13. March 27, 1993. p. 27. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
22. "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 10, no. 16. April 17, 1993. p. 30. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
23. "P.M. Dawn – Looking Through Patient Eyes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
24. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (29. apríl – 5. maí)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 29, 1993. p. 29. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Looking Through Patient Eyes". Irish Singles Chart.
26. "P.M. Dawn – Looking Through Patient Eyes" (in Dutch). MegaCharts . Retrieved July 16, 2021.
27. "P.M. Dawn – Looking Through Patient Eyes". Top 40 Singles.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
29. "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week . April 3, 1993. p. 12. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
30. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . March 13, 1993. p. 18. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
31. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard . May 29, 1993. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
32. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" . Billboard . April 24, 1993. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
33. "Pop Airplay" . Billboard . May 29, 1993. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
34. "Rhythmic Airplay" . Billboard . April 10, 1993. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
35. "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. LVI, no. 34. May 1, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
36. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
37. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM . Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved April 19, 2018.
38. "The RPM Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
39. "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. p. 17. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
40. "Billboard Top 100 – 1993". Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
41. "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box . Vol. LVII, no. 19. December 31, 1993. p. 14. Retrieved June 4, 2025.