World in My Eyes

Last updated

"World in My Eyes"
DepecheModeWorldInMyEyes.jpg
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Violator
B-side
  • "Happiest Girl"
  • "Sea of Sin"
Released17 September 1990 (1990-09-17)
Studio
Genre Synth-pop [2]
Length
  • 4:26 (album version)
  • 4:00 (edit)
Label Mute
Songwriter Martin Gore
Producers
Depeche Mode singles chronology
"Policy of Truth"
(1990)		"World in My Eyes"
(1990)		"I Feel You"
(1993)
Music video
"World in My Eyes" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]

"World in My Eyes" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released on 17 September 1990 as the fourth and final single from their seventh studio album, Violator (1990). The song peaked at number two in Denmark and Spain, number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

Background

Depeche Mode met in 1989 to record new material. [4] [5] [6] The band invited Mark Ellis, known professionally as Flood, to be co-producer of the new album. [7] Early recording sessions in Milan resulted in the song "Personal Jesus", which was released as a single in August 1989 before the rest of the album was completed. [8] Following the Milan sessions, the band moved to Puk Recording Studios in Denmark to record the rest of their new material. [8]

Recording

At the request of the rest of the band, Martin Gore brought in simpler, less-complete demos of the new songs for the band to work from. [9] "World in My Eyes" was the first song the band worked on at Puk, [10] and the third song overall that they recorded after "Personal Jesus" and its B-side "Dangerous". [11] [4] [12]

Flood later recalled how he wasn't happy with how he and band member Alan Wilder had originally recorded the song, and had mentioned that fact to both Wilder and lead singer Dave Gahan. [10] The next morning, Gore and Andy Fletcher came in to the studio and said the same thing, and at that point they realised they had to start over, so Wilder and Flood spent half a day "just jamming out ideas". [10] The track's bass line and melody came out of those sessions, and by the time the rest of the band returned, the track had completely changed. [10] Flood said that after he and Wilder played the band the new version, the rest of the band looked a bit shocked. [10] Said Fletcher, "I don't remember [World in My Eyes] standing out when we heard it then [as a demo]. But somehow, in the studio, it all came together brilliantly... Whenever I'm asked which of our tracks is my favourite, I always say 'World in My Eyes'." [13] Gore explained the stages it went through in terms of the original demo version:

I remember the original demo of "World in My Eyes" being slightly faster and maybe slightly more obvious. While we were recording it in Milan, [a] Dave [Gahan] was going away for a couple of days, so we worked on it and turned it into this really moody piece. I can remember Dave arriving back in the studio, slightly jet-lagged and being totally shocked, thinking that we just ruined the song, but half a day later he came back and said 'That's really good, the way it's turned out'. It always takes a while to get used to things. [14]

Gore called the track a very positive song, saying "It's saying that love and sex and pleasure are positive things." [9]

Release and promotion

"World in My Eyes" was released as a single on 17 September 1990 by Mute Records in the UK. [15] It was released on a variety of formats, including 7" vinyl designated with catalogue number 7BONG20, 12" vinyl (12BONG20) and a limited-edition 12" vinyl single designated L12BONG20. [16] Promotionally, Mute released a 7" promotional single (BONG20R) and a CD single (CDBONG20R). [15] Intercord released the single in Germany, and Sire Records released the single in the US. [17] Remixes of the song and its B-sides "Happiest Girl" and "Sea of Sin" were made by François Kevorkian, Jon Marsh and Kris Weston. [15]

On the album, "World in My Eyes" was slotted as the opening track of the album, the first song on side one. [18]

Music video

The music video for "World in My Eyes" was directed by Anton Corbijn. [19] There are two versions of the video; the original music video features more footage from the World Violation Tour and the second features the band in the car instead, more live footage, and the silent ending with Gahan is longer. [19]

Versions of the video appear on the compilations Strange Too (1990), The Videos 86–98 (1998) and Video Singles Collection (2006).

Live perforamnces

"World in My Eyes" has been performed on every one of Depeche Mode's tours since 1990, including the World Violation Tour (1990), Devotional Tour (1993), Touring the Angel (2005–06), Tour of the Universe (2009–2010), The Delta Machine Tour (2013–14), Global Spirit Tour (2017–18), and Memento Mori World Tour (2023–24).

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin Gore.

Charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United Kingdom17 September 1990N/a Mute [52]
Japan28 November 1990CD [53]
Australia18 February 1991
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
  • Liberation
  • Mute
 [54]

Notes

  1. ↑ Gore's memory of the recording may be faulty, as other sources establish that the song was recorded at Puk Recording Studios in Denmark. [10]

References

  1. ↑ Cranna, Ian (April 1990). "Insidious". Q . p. 77.
  2. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time; Depeche Mode, 'Violator'". Rolling Stone . 31 May 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "World in My Eyes – Depeche Mode". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 Miller 2003, p. 409.
  5. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 183.
  6. ↑ Violator (remaster) (CD booklet). Depeche Mode. Sire Records. 2006. R2 77594.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ Miller 2003, p. 429.
  8. 1 2 Gittins 2018, p. 144.
  9. 1 2 Maconie, Stuart (17 February 1990). "Sin Machine". NME . London. pp. 34–35. ISSN   0028-6362. Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2011– via Sacred DM.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hallard & Lane (2006)
  11. ↑ Gittins 2018, p. 143.
  12. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 186.
  13. ↑ Q , May 2001
  14. ↑ Olexova, Michaela (September 1998). "The Singles 86>98 by Martin Gore". Bong 37. No. 37. pp. 18–19.
  15. 1 2 3 Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 198.
  16. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, pp. 198–199.
  17. ↑ Burmeister & Lange 2017, p. 200.
  18. ↑ Gittins 2018, p. 147.
  19. 1 2 Rowe, Felix (10 April 2025). "Making Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses". ClassicPopMag. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  20. ↑ World in My Eyes (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Mute Records. 1990. Bong 20.
  21. ↑ World in My Eyes (UK cassette single sleeve). Mute Records. 1990. C Bong 20.
  22. ↑ World in My Eyes (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mute Records. 1990. 12 Bong 20.
  23. ↑ World in My Eyes (UK limited 12-inch single sleeve). Mute Records. 1990. L12 Bong 20.
  24. ↑ World in My Eyes (UK CD single liner notes). Mute Records. 1990. CD Bong 20.
  25. ↑ World in My Eyes (UK limited CD single liner notes). Mute Records. 1990. LCD Bong 20.
  26. ↑ World in My Eyes (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1990. 0-21735.
  27. ↑ World in My Eyes (US maxi-cassette single cassette notes). Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1990. 4-21735.
  28. ↑ World in My Eyes (US maxi-CD single disc notes). Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1990. 9 21735-2.
  29. ↑ World in My Eyes (Japanese CD EP liner notes). Mute Records. 1990. ALCB-159.
  30. ↑ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 9 November 2015". Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015– via Imgur.
  31. ↑ "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  32. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9136". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  33. ↑ "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. 17. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  35. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  36. ↑ "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  37. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  38. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  39. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – World in My Eyes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  40. ↑ Radio Luxembourg Singles. 14 October 1990.
  41. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  42. ↑ "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  43. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   978-84-8048-639-2.
  44. ↑ "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  45. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 13/10/1990 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  46. ↑ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  47. ↑ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  48. ↑ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  49. ↑ "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  50. ↑ "Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on 16 February 2001. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  51. ↑ "The Year in Music 1991: Top Dance Sales 12-inch Singles". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. 21 December 1991. p. YE-32.
  52. ↑ Smith, Robin (8 September 1990). "This Week: The Next Seven Days in View - Releases". Record Mirror . p. 32. ISSN   0144-5804.
  53. ↑ "ワールド・イン・マイ・アイズ | デペッシュ・モード" [World in My Eyes | Depeche Mode] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  54. ↑ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 18/02/91: Singles". The ARIA Report . No. 56. 17 February 1991. p. 19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.