Open Up (Leftfield song)

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"Open Up"
Leftfield Open Up.jpg
Single by Leftfield featuring John Lydon
from the album Leftism
Released1 November 1993 (1993-11-01)[1]
Genre
Length3:48
LabelHard Hands
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Leftfield
Leftfield singles chronology
"Song of Life"
(1993) 		"Open Up"
(1993) 		"Original"
(1995)
Alternative Cover
Alternative cover for South African release
Alternative cover for South African release

"Open Up" is a song recorded by Leftfield and featuring John Lydon (of Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd.). It was released as a single on 1 November 1993. The single reached number 13 on the UK 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."[4] In 2014, the same publication ranked "Open Up" at number 444 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[3]

"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.

The song made an appearance on the soundtracks to Hackers and Rogue Trader, and it is also the title track to the Acclaim baseball video game All-Star Baseball 2000.

Critical reception[]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "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."[5] Andy Beevers from Music Week gave it four out of five. He commented, "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."[6] Brad Beatnik from the magazine's RM Dance Update stated that "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."[7] Another 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".[8]

Music video[]

The music video of "Open Up" was directed by Lindy Heymann.[9]

Track listings[]

Charts[]

Chart (1993–1994) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 39
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 32
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 39
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 13
UK Dance Singles (Music Week)[23] 1

References[]

  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 30 October 1993. p. 27. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music: Progressive house".
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Barker, Emily (31 January 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time – 500–401". NME. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ^ "1993 Chronology". Fodderstompf. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  5. ^ "New Grooves" (PDF). Music & Media. 15 January 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  6. ^ Beevers, Andy (30 October 1993). "Market Preview: Dance" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ Beatnik, Brad (16 October 1993). "Hot Vinyl: Tune of the Week" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  8. ^ Hamilton, James (23 October 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 7. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Lindy Heymann". mvdbase.com. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  10. ^ Open Up (UK CD single liner notes). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009CD.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Open Up (Australian CD single liner notes). Leftfield. Liberation Records, Hard Hands. 1993. D11631.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Open Up (UK cassette single sleeve). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009MC.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Open Up (Australian cassette single sleeve). Leftfield. Liberation Records, Hard Hands. 1993. C11631.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Open Up (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009T.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ Open Up (German 12-inch single vinyl disc). Leftfield. Logic Records, BMG. 1993. LOC 118.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ Open Up (UK remix 12-inch single sleeve). Leftfield. Hard Hands. 1993. HAND 009R.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Open Up (Swedish CD single liner notes). Leftfield. Cheiron Records. 1993. CHINCD9.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Leftfield / Lydon – Open Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  19. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10 no. 47. 20 November 1993. p. 19. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 10. 5 March 1994. p. 13. Retrieved 13 July 2021. See LW column.
  21. ^ "Charts.nz – Leftfield / Lydon – Open Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  23. ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 13 November 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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