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. 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.

Background

Depeche Mode met in 1989 to record new material. The band invited Mark Ellis, known professionally as Flood, to be co-producer of the new album. 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. Following the Milan sessions, the band moved to Puk Recording Studios in Denmark to record the rest of their new material.

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. "World in My Eyes" was the first song the band worked on at Puk, although recording started during their sessions at Logic Studios in Milan. Parts of the song, including the inclusion of its third verse and vocal doubles, were completed at sessions at The Church Studios in London in late 1989.
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. 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". 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. Flood said that after he and Wilder played the band the new version, the rest of the band looked a bit shocked. Said Fletcher, "I don't remember 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'." In 1998, Gore explained the stages it went through in terms of the original demo version:
Gore called the track a very positive song, saying "It's saying that love and sex and pleasure are positive things."

Release and promotion

"World in My Eyes" was released as a single on 17 September 1990 by Mute Records in the UK. It was released on a variety of formats, including 7" vinyl designated with catalogue number 7BONG20, 12" vinyl and a limited-edition 12" vinyl single designated L12BONG20. The limited-edition 12" vinyl single came sealed in a blue translucent plastic sleeve, which had to be cut open to play the record. Promotionally, Mute released a 7" promotional single and a CD single. Intercord released the single in Germany, and Sire Records released the single in the US. Remixes of the song and its B-sides "Happiest Girl" and "Sea of Sin" were made by François Kevorkian, Jon Marsh and Kris Weston.
On the album, "World in My Eyes" was slotted as the opening track of the album, the first song on side one.

Music video

The music video for "World in My Eyes" was directed by Anton Corbijn.
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.
Versions of the video appear on the compilations Strange Too, The Videos 86–98 and Video Singles Collection.

Live perforamnces

"World in My Eyes" has been performed on every one of Depeche Mode's tours since 1990, including the World Violation Tour, Devotional Tour, Touring the Angel, Tour of [the Universe (tour)|Tour of the Universe], The [Delta Machine Tour], Global Spirit Tour, and Memento Mori World Tour.

Track listings

All songs were written by Martin Gore.
UK 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "World in My Eyes" – 3:58
  2. "Happiest Girl" – 4:57
  3. "Sea of Sin" – 4:43
UK 12-inch single
UK limited-edition 12-inch single
UK CD single
  1. "World in My Eyes" – 4:00
  2. "World in My Eyes" – 6:53
  3. "Happiest Girl" – 5:24
  4. "Sea of Sin" – 3:37
UK limited-edition CD single
  1. "World in My Eyes" – 6:57
  2. "World in My Eyes" – 6:31
  3. "Happiest Girl" – 8:01
  4. "Sea of Sin" – 6:07
  5. "World in My Eyes" – 4:58
  6. "Happiest Girl" – 4:57
US 12-inch and maxi-cassette single
  1. "World in My Eyes" – 7:29
  2. "World in My Eyes" – 6:54
  3. "Sea of Sin" – 6:07
  4. "World in My Eyes" – 6:32
  5. "Happiest Girl" – 4:58
US maxi-CD single
  1. "World in My Eyes" – 3:59
  2. "World in My Eyes" – 7:29
  3. "Happiest Girl" – 6:28
  4. "Sea of Sin" – 4:44
  5. "World in My Eyes" – 6:32
  6. "Happiest Girl" – 4:58
  7. "Sea of Sin" – 6:07
Japanese CD EP
  1. "World in My Eyes"
  2. "Happiest Girl"
  3. "Sea of Sin"
  4. "World in My Eyes"
  5. "Happiest Girl"
  6. "Sea of Sin"
  7. "World in My Eyes"
  8. "World in My Eyes"
  9. "Happiest Girl"
  10. "World in My Eyes"

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
US 12-inch Singles Sales 41

Release history