World in My Eyes

"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.

"World in My Eyes"
Single by Depeche Mode
from the album Violator
B-side	"Happiest Girl" "Sea of Sin"
Released	17 September 1990 (1990-09-17)
Studio	Puk (Gjerlev) Logic (Milan)[1]
Genre	Synth-pop[2]
Length	4:26 (album version) 4:00 (edit)
Label	Mute
Songwriter(s)	Martin Gore
Producer(s)	Depeche Mode Flood
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

Background

"Martin [Gore] did the demo on his own," recalled Andy Fletcher. "I don't remember it standing out when we heard it then. 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'."^[3] Gore also stated that the song is a very positive song. "It's saying that love and sex and pleasure are positive things."^[4]

Additionally, 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, 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."^[5]

Release

The "World in My Eyes" single release includes two exclusive B-sides, "Happiest Girl" and "Sea of Sin", which were mixed by François Kevorkian and feature additional production by Alan Friedman. The "Jack" mix and "Tonal" mix are the main 7-inch versions respectively, while the 12-inch versions are "Kiss-A-Mix" and "Sensoria". No "original" versions of either tracks were released, or rather, both mixes serve as the finished versions of the tracks.^{[citation needed]} The cover art for "World in My Eyes" has a photo of one of the band members making a shape similar to that of glasses with their hands.

The 12-inch mix of "World in My Eyes" is the "Oil Tank" mix, which was also mixed by Kevorkian, although it features a large amount of added synth overdubs by Friedman and does not include the chorus or third verse. The 2004 re-release of the European single includes a longer intro for this mix. On the limited 12-inch single, there are pictures of all four members on the back of the sleeve. This includes two remixes of "World in My Eyes" and one of "Happiest Girl".

Music video

The music video for "World in My Eyes" was directed by Anton Corbijn. There are two versions; the original version was not originally released to the public until The Videos 86>98. The original music video features some footage from the World Violation Tour, while Dave Gahan and a girl he's with watch it from a drive-in cinema. The alternate version on Strange Too features the band in the car instead, more live footage, and the silent ending with Gahan is longer.

Notable cover versions

The song was covered by the Cure for the 1998 tribute album For the Masses.

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin Gore.

UK 7-inch and cassette single[6][7] "World in My Eyes" – 3:58 "Happiest Girl" (Jack mix) – 4:57 "Sea of Sin" (Tonal mix) – 4:43 UK 12-inch single[8] A1. "World in My Eyes" (Oil Tank mix) – 7:29 B1. "Happiest Girl" (Kiss-A-Mix) – 6:15 B2. "Sea of Sin" (Sensoria) – 6:06 UK limited-edition 12-inch single[9] A1. "World in My Eyes" (Dub in My Eyes) – 6:55 B1. "World in My Eyes" (Mode to Joy) – 6:32 B2. "Happiest Girl" (The Pulsating Orbital mix) – 6:28 UK CD single[10] "World in My Eyes" (7-inch version) – 4:00 "World in My Eyes" (Oil Tank mix) – 6:53 "Happiest Girl" (Kiss-A-Mix) – 5:24 "Sea of Sin" (Tonal mix) – 3:37 UK limited-edition CD single[11] "World in My Eyes" (Dub in My Eyes) – 6:57 "World in My Eyes" (Mode to Joy) – 6:31 "Happiest Girl" (The Pulsating Orbital vocal mix) – 8:01 "Sea of Sin" (Sensoria) – 6:07 "World in My Eyes" (Mayhem Mode) – 4:58 "Happiest Girl" (Jack mix) – 4:57

US 12-inch and maxi-cassette single[12][13] "World in My Eyes" (Oil Tank mix) – 7:29 "World in My Eyes" (Dub in My Eyes mix) – 6:54 "Sea of Sin" (Sensoria mix) – 6:07 "World in My Eyes" (Mode to Joy mix) – 6:32 "Happiest Girl" (Jack mix) – 4:58 US maxi-CD single[14] "World in My Eyes" (single version) – 3:59 "World in My Eyes" (Oil Tank mix) – 7:29 "Happiest Girl" (Pulsating Orbital mix) – 6:28 "Sea of Sin" (Tonal mix) – 4:44 "World in My Eyes" (Mode to Joy mix) – 6:32 "Happiest Girl" (Jack mix) – 4:58 "Sea of Sin" (Sensoria mix) – 6:07 Japanese CD EP[15] "World in My Eyes" (7-inch version) "Happiest Girl" (Jack mix) "Sea of Sin" (Tonal mix) "World in My Eyes" (Oil Tank mix) "Happiest Girl" (Kiss-A-Mix) "Sea of Sin" (Sensoria) "World in My Eyes" (Dub in My Eyes) "World in My Eyes" (Mode to Joy) "Happiest Girl" (the Pulsating Orbital mix) "World in My Eyes" (Mayhem Mode)

Personnel

• Dave Gahan – lead vocals
• Martin Gore – guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
• Alan Wilder – keyboard, drum machine, backing vocals
• Andy Fletcher – keyboard, backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[16]	153
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17]	46
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18]	74
Denmark (IFPI)[19]	2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[20]	15
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21]	4
France (SNEP)[22]	30
Germany (GfK)[23]	7
Hungary (Single Top 40)[24]	30
Ireland (IRMA)[25]	7
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[26]	15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27]	49
Spain (AFYVE)[28]	2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[29]	5
UK Singles (OCC)[30]	17
US Billboard Hot 100[31]	52
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[32]	17
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[33]	6
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[34]	3

Release history

Region	Date	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	17 September 1990	Mute	[35]
Japan	28 November 1990		[36]

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. Q, May 2001
4. "World In My Eyes - Depeche Mode Live Wiki". dmlive.wiki. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
5. "BONG 37 - Depeche Mode Live Wiki". dmlive.wiki. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
6. World in My Eyes (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. Bong 20.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. World in My Eyes (UK cassette single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. C Bong 20.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. World in My Eyes (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. 12 Bong 20.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. World in My Eyes (UK limited 12-inch single sleeve). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. L12 Bong 20.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. World in My Eyes (UK CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. CD Bong 20.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. World in My Eyes (UK limited CD single liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. LCD Bong 20.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. World in My Eyes (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1990. 0-21735.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. World in My Eyes (US maxi-cassette single cassette notes). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1990. 4-21735.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. World in My Eyes (US maxi-CD single disc notes). Depeche Mode. Sire Records, Reprise Records, Mute Records. 1990. 9 21735-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. World in My Eyes (Japanese CD EP liner notes). Depeche Mode. Mute Records. 1990. ALCB-159.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 9 November 2015". Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015 – via Imgur.
17. "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
18. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9136." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
19. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. 17. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
20. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 45. 10 November 1990. p. 16. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
21. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
22. "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
23. "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – World in My Eyes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
26. "Tipparade-lijst van week 44, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
27. "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
28. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2.
29. "Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
31. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
32. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
33. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
34. "Depeche Mode Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
35. Smith, Robin (8 September 1990). "This Week: The Next Seven Days in View - Releases". Record Mirror. p. 32. ISSN 0144-5804.
36. "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.

External links

• Single information from the official Depeche Mode web site
• Allmusic review