"Open Arms"
Single by Journey
from the album Escape and Heavy Metal: Original Film Soundtrack
B-side"Little Girl"
ReleasedJanuary 8, 1982 (US)[1]
Recorded1981
GenreSoft rock[2]
Length3:18
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Journey singles chronology
"Don't Stop Believin'"
(1981)		 "Open Arms"
(1982)		 "Still They Ride"
(1982)

"Open Arms" is a song by American rock band Journey. It was released as a single from the Heavy Metal soundtrack and their 1981 album, Escape. Co-written by band members Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain, the song is a power ballad whose lyrics attempt to renew a drifting relationship. It is one of the band's most recognizable radio hits and their biggest US Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching number two in February 1982 and holding that position for six weeks (behind "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts).[3]

"Open Arms" has been covered by various recording artists. American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey enjoyed an international hit with the song in 1996; hers is arguably the best-known version of the song in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has also been covered by such artists as American singer and songwriter Barry Manilow, R&B group Boyz II Men, American country music legend Dolly Parton, and Canadian singer Celine Dion. It is a favorite on reality television singing competitions as well, being performed by contestants on US shows The Voice and American Idol, and on the UK's The X Factor.

Journey's recording of "Open Arms" has been described as one of the greatest love songs ever written;[4][5] VH1 named the song as the greatest power ballad of all time.[6] Mike DeGagne of AllMusic described it as "one of rock's most beautiful ballads", which "gleams with an honesty and feel only Steve Perry could muster."[7]

Journey version

Journey recorded "Open Arms" for their seventh studio album, Escape, which was produced by Kevin Elson and Mike Stone. Jonathan Cain had begun writing the song while he was still a member of The Babys, but Babys vocalist/bassist John Waite turned down the melody as "sentimental rubbish". Cain eventually finished the song with Steve Perry during the writing sessions for Escape, changing the key from A to D and changing the melody slightly,[8] but it was almost left off the album; Journey's guitarist Neal Schon reportedly disliked the song because "it was so far removed from anything [Journey] had ever attempted to record before".[8] Drummer Steve Smith recalls that Schon noted that it "sounds kinda Mary Poppins",[8] added to which the other members of the band were against the idea of performing ballads.[9]

In 2005 Perry commented on the emotions he felt while producing Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour and listening to the band performing the song 24 years previously: "I had to keep my head down on the console when "Open Arms" was on. There is one line in the song that I always wanted to be a certain way. I have ideals about certain things. The line "wanting you near" — I just wanted that line to go up and soar. I wanted it to be heartfelt. Every time it would come by I would just have to keep my head down and try to swallow the lump in my throat. I felt so proud of the song."[10]

In the Journey episode of VH1's Behind the Music, Perry recalls the recording sessions for the song becoming an ordeal; Schon taunted Perry and Cain in the studio. But when the band performed it in concert for the first time during their Escape Tour in the fall of 1981, the audience was thunderstruck, much to Schon's disbelief. After two encores, the band left the stage and Schon suddenly said, "Man, that song really kicked ass!" Perry recalled being incensed at Schon's hypocrisy. "I looked at him, and I wanted to kill him," he later said.[8]

During an episode of the radio show In the Studio with Redbeard devoted to the album Escape, Jonathan Cain said he was ill with a bad cold when he recorded the piano track to "Open Arms" and wanted to re-do the track. Everybody else disagreed and they used the track Cain recorded while "under the weather".

"Open Arms" was used on the soundtrack to the animated Canadian film Heavy Metal (released to theatres in August 1981), and it was released as the third single from Escape in January 1982 in the United States. It was also featured on two occasions during scenes of the 1982 film The Last American Virgin. It became one of Journey's biggest singles there, and the most successful of the five singles released from Escape (only one other, "Who's Crying Now", reached the top five). It stayed at number 2 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, kept from the number one spot by "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band and "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and it was also a top ten hit on Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. The single was less successful on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, only reaching the top forty.

The song and its status as a power ballad has been remembered years following its original release. One critic praised "Open Arms" as "a lyrical rock ballad and one of the band's best-written songs",[11] while the Associated Press wrote that the song was "fueled by Perry's operatic, high-flying vocal style."[12] It has also been referred to as a "wedding anthem" (in a December 2005 Lumino article[13]), and VH1 placed the song at number 1 on their "25 Greatest Power Ballads" list.[14] AllMusic said "One of rock's most beautiful ballads, "Open Arms" gleams with an honesty and feel only Steve Perry could muster,"[15] and a review of a Journey concert in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution characterized the song as a "classic ballad".[16] Steve Perry told the Boston Globe, "I can't tell you how many times I get a tap on the shoulder and somebody says...'This was my prom song'."[17] Billboard called it a "sentimental ballad featuring some delicate keyboard work and Steve Perry's seductive vocal."[18] The song was later included on Journey's box set Time3 (1992) and the compilation album The Essential Journey (2001).

In 2003 American Idol contestant Clay Aiken performed[19] the song during a key semi-final round of the show, and later in a duet with fellow Idol Kelly Clarkson (the winner from the previous year) on their joint February—April 2004 concert tour. "Open Arms" was included on the set list for Britney Spears' 1999 ...Baby One More Time Tour, and it was also used as the love theme for Japanese director Eiichiro Hasumi's film Umizaru (2004).[20] Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of the animated television comedy South Park, frequently reference and parody Journey and their music in their work. In Episode 132 of South Park, entitled "Erection Day" (2005), a little girl playing piano in a talent competition begins to sing the opening to "Open Arms" ("Lying beside you, here in the dark...") before the scene ends. In the 2007 film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry the song is played during a gay benefit costume party. "Open Arms" is one of twelve greatest hits re-recorded by Journey featuring current lead vocalist Arnel Pineda on the second disc of their latest 2008 album Revelation. The song also appeared in the 1982 film The Last American Virgin as well as a 1982 episode of the US daytime soap opera General Hospital. The song was used in the Season 3 finale of Cobra Kai.

Personnel

Escape version

Revelation version

  • Arnel Pineda – lead vocals
  • Neal Schon – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jonathan Cain – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Ross Valory – bass, backing vocals
  • Deen Castronovo – drums, backing vocals

Charts

Mariah Carey version

"Open Arms"
Single by Mariah Carey
from the album Daydream
B-side
  • "Slipping Away"
  • "El Amor Que Soñé"
  • "I Am Free"
ReleasedDecember 5, 1995
Recorded1995
Length3:30
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"One Sweet Day"
(1995)		 "Open Arms"
(1995)		 "Always Be My Baby"
(1996)
Audio
"Open Arms" on YouTube

Mariah Carey co-produced her cover of the song with Walter Afanasieff for her fifth album, Daydream (1995). Carey's career has crossed paths with Journey's: the band's drummer Steve Smith played drums on many of her earlier singles, and its bassist for a short period in the mid-1980s, Randy Jackson, has worked with her for a long time.

The single was released as the album's third single between late 1995 and early 1996 in most markets outside the United States. It became a number 4 hit in the United Kingdom and was performed live on the BBC's flagship chart television show, Top of the Pops. It also reached the top-ten in Ireland, Poland and New Zealand; and the top-twenty in Iceland and the Netherlands. The single's music video, directed by Larry Jordan, is a live performance of the song by Carey at Madison Square Garden. The video for the Spanish version of the song, "El Amor Que Soñé", was recorded after the MSG show as Mariah performed to the studio track.

A UK CD single for "Open Arms" included the Daydream track "I Am Free" and live versions of "Fantasy" and "Vision of Love" (1990). Another version of the CD single comprised the album cuts of "Hero" (1993) and "Without You" (1994), and a radio edit of "I'll Be There" (1992).

UK sales for the song stand at 105,000 units.[35]

Critical reception

The cover was universally panned by critics. Bill Lamb felt it was "simply an uninspired song selection."[36] Stephen Thomas Erlewine also criticized the cover, calling it "second rate".[37] "Open Arms" received a negative review from Stephen Holden as well, who called it a "sobbing remake".[38] Rolling Stone called it an "ill-advised" cover.[39]

Formats and track listings

UK CD (Part 1) / Australian CD/Cassette (Part 1)

  1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
  2. "I Am Free" - 3:09
  3. "Fantasy" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 4:32
  4. "Vision of Love" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 3:50

UK CD (Part 2)

  1. "Open Arms"
  2. "Hero"
  3. "Without You"
  4. "I'll Be There"

Australian CD/Cassette (Part 2)

  1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
  2. "Slipping Away" - 4:32
  3. "El Amor Que Soñé" - 3:29

UK Cassette Single

  1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
  2. "I Am Free" - 3:09

European CD Single

  1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
  2. "Vision of Love" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 3:49

European CD Maxi-Single / European 12" Single

  1. "Open Arms" - 3:30
  2. "Fantasy" (Live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 4:31
  3. "Vision of Love" (live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 3:49
  4. "Make It Happen" (live from Fantasy: Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden) - 4:43

Charts

Other cover versions

Live cover performances

  • Solid Gold (season 2) Host Andy Gibb performed the song on January 30th 1982
  • Korean-American singer Lena Park performed the song on MBC's 'Wednesday Arts Stage' in 2002.
  • American Idol contestant Clay Aiken performed the song during a key semi-final round of the show in 2003, and later in a duet with fellow Idol Kelly Clarkson (the winner from the previous year) on their joint February—April 2004 concert tour.
  • Australian Idol season 3 finalist Anne Robertson performed this song on the show in 2005 for the 1980s theme night.
  • American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin performed the song in 2006 on season 5.
  • 2008 The X Factor finalist, Daniel Evans recorded a version of the song which was released as his debut single on January 25, 2010 as a digital download.
  • The X Factor contestant Joe McElderry performed his version of "Open Arms" as his second song on Semi-Final night, on December 5, 2009. All 4 judges hailed the performance on the night, with Louis Walsh saying that if Joe released that song tomorrow, he would have a Number 1 single the very next day. This performance saw Joe through to the Grand Final of the X Factor.[65]
  • 2011 to 2015, Celine Dion performs "Open Arms" at the start of her Las Vegas show Celine.[66]
  • Mexican band Tobby covered the song, as "Quiero Amar" (English: "I Want to Love"), whose translation was made by Menny Carrasco, a member of the group.[67]
  • The Voice contestant Jermaine Paul performed the song in 2012 on Season 2 of The Voice.
  • The song has also been covered live by Korean singer Younha and Taiwanese boy band 5566.
  • Britney Spears performed the song at her cousin's wedding in 1996 when she was 15; this video eventually led to her getting a record contract. She also performed the song on her ...Baby One More Time Tour.
  • The song has been covered live by several SM Entertainment artists including EXO.
  • The song has also been covered by Philippine singer Aiza Seguerra.

References

  1. ↑ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. ↑ "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  3. ↑ Open Arms at AllMusic
  4. ↑ "100 Greatest Love Songs". VH1. 2003. #4.
  5. ↑ "112 Greatest love songs, ever!". Blender. #5.
  6. ↑ "25 Greatest Power Ballads". Ep. 073. VH1. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  7. ↑ Journey: Escape. AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 VH1 - Behind the Music - Journey
  9. ↑ travel media shopping computers hardware at steveperry-thejourneybeyond.com Archived March 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "Classic Rock Revisited your online source for Rock and Metal fans". Classicrockrevisited.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2006. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  11. ↑ ""Journey Hasn't Lost Its Popular Touch"; December 1986". Steveperryfanclub.homestead.com. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Steve Perry News on Yahoo! Music". Music.yahoo.com. January 22, 2005. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Journey doesn't stop believin'". LuminoMagazine.com. December 4, 2005. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  14. ↑ "The Greatest | Show Cast, Episodes, Guides, Trailers, Web Exclusives, Previews". VH1.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2003. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  15. ↑ allmusic ((( Escape – Review )))
  16. ↑ Douthit, Rob (May 2, 2004). "Journey | Music Midtown Live". AccessAtlanta. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  17. ↑ "He never stopped believin'". The Boston Globe. November 5, 2005.
  18. ↑ "Top Single Picks". Billboard. January 16, 1982. p. 51. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Clay Aiken - Season 2 - Group 2 - Open Arms (including Judge's Comments)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Midnight Eye review: Umizaru (2004, Eiichiro HASUMI)". Midnighteye.com. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  21. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  24. ↑ "JOURNEY – OPEN ARMS". Top 40 Singles.
  25. ↑ "Journey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  26. ↑ "Journey Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  27. ↑ "Journey Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  28. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 3/13/82". Cashboxmagazine.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  29. ↑ Chart Log UK - 1994–2010 - Jessie J – JX Zobbel.de
  30. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Talent in Action : Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 51. December 25, 1982. p. TIA-20.
  32. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1982". Cashboxmagazine.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Journey – Open Arms". Music Canada. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  34. ↑ "American single certifications – Journey – Open Arms". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  35. ↑ Mariah Carey official top 20 biggest-selling songs in the UK MTV. retrieved: May 3, 2010.
  36. ↑ Lamb, Bill. "Review Of Mariah Carey's 'Daydream'". Top40.about.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  37. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (October 3, 1995). "Daydream - Mariah Carey | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  38. ↑ Holden, Stephen (October 8, 1995). "POP MUSIC; Mariah Carey Glides Into New Territory". The New York Times.
  39. ↑ "Music Review: Daydream, by Mariah Carey". Entertainment Weekly. October 13, 1995. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  42. ↑ "The Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. February 24, 1996. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe - ACE Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. March 30, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. April 20, 1996. p. 31.
  46. ↑ "Mariah Carey - Open Arms" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 161: Vikuna 16.3. - 22.3. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. March 16, 1996. p. 26. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  48. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Open Arms". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  49. ↑ "M-1 TOP 40". M-1.fm. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 11, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. March 2, 1996. p. 27.
  54. ↑ "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. April 13, 1996. p. 35.
  55. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  56. ↑ "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. April 27, 1996. p. 23.
  57. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Mariah Carey – Open Arms". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Mariah Carey: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Major Market Airplay". Music & Media. March 16, 1996. p. 31.
  61. ↑ "CHR/Rhythmic Top 50". Radio & Records. February 23, 1996. p. 41. ProQuest 1017280782.
  62. ↑ "Discos más populares de Latinoamérica". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish): 38. May 18, 1996. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  64. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1996" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  65. ↑ "X Factor Performance". Youtube.com. August 3, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  66. ↑ Sutherland, Anne. "Celine Dion magnificent in new Vegas show". Montreal Gazette. April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  67. ↑ "Quiero Amar". am.com.mx. October 29, 2010. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
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