Can't Take My Eyes off You
Encyclopedia
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967
single by Frankie Valli
. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
and earning a gold record
. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You
". The song has had a major cultural impact, with hundreds of cover versions, many of which have been on the charts themselves in different countries. The song is a staple of television and film soundtracks, even being featured as part of the plot of some films, such as when the lead characters sing or arrange their own version of the song. The Valli version was also used by NASA
as a wake-up song for a mission of the Space Shuttle, on the anniversary of astronaut Christopher Ferguson
.
and Bob Gaudio
. Arrangement was done by Artie Schroeck
and Gaudio.
(2001), and Coneheads
(1993). Some films incorporate it as a significant part of the plot, such as in The Deer Hunter
(1978), with a famous bar scene where many characters begin to sing along with the jukebox. It is also used in the plot in Son of the Mask
(2005), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), and in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You
, where the performance by Heath Ledger
was nominated for Best Musical Sequence in the 2000 MTV Movie Awards
. In the 1997 film Conspiracy Theory
, Julia Roberts
sings along to the song while she is being watched through binoculars by Mel Gibson
, who is singing the song at the same time.
The song is featured prominently in the Broadway musical Jersey Boys
(2005–). It has also been adopted as the song of Derwent College
, University of York
, in the United Kingdom. In 2008, Valli's version of the song was played by NASA
as the morning wake-up call for astronaut Christopher Ferguson
, in honor of his anniversary while he was on the STS-126
Space Shuttle
mission (WAV MP3).
In the show HBO Entourage
, Vincent Chase (portrayed by Adrian Grenier
) and his brother Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon
) sing the song at a Sweet Sixteen in a season 5 episode.
The song has been adopted by fans of the Welsh national football team
and is regularly sung at games. The supporters band, known as The Barry Horns
, play a brass band arrangement of the song. They have appeared on BBC Radio Wales
playing their version.
1967 in music
The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The summer of 1967 is "The Summer of Love" in San Francisco. It also became an important year for psychedelic rock, with releases from The Beatles The...
single by Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
. The song was among Valli's biggest hits, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and earning a gold record
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. It was Valli's biggest "solo" hit until he hit #1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You
My Eyes Adored You
"My Eyes Adored You" is a popular song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan. It was originally recorded by The Four Seasons in early 1974. After the MoWest label balked at the idea of releasing it, the recording was sold to lead singer Frankie Valli for $4000...
". The song has had a major cultural impact, with hundreds of cover versions, many of which have been on the charts themselves in different countries. The song is a staple of television and film soundtracks, even being featured as part of the plot of some films, such as when the lead characters sing or arrange their own version of the song. The Valli version was also used by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
as a wake-up song for a mission of the Space Shuttle, on the anniversary of astronaut Christopher Ferguson
Christopher Ferguson
Christopher J. Ferguson is a United States Navy captain and a NASA astronaut. He was the pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on his first mission to space, STS-115, which launched on September 9, 2006 and returned to Earth on September 21, 2006...
.
Credits
The song was written by Bob CreweBob Crewe
Bob Crewe is an American songwriter, dancer, singer, manager, record producer and fine artist. He is known for producing, and co-writing with Bob Gaudio, a string of Top 10 singles for The Four Seasons...
and Bob Gaudio
Bob Gaudio
Robert John "Bob" Gaudio is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.-Early career:...
. Arrangement was done by Artie Schroeck
Artie Schroeck
Arthur "Artie" Bruce Schroeck is an American musician, best known for arranging and composing popular songs and jingles. He has won multiple Clio Awards, such as when he composed the music for the 1981 ABC-TV promo "Now is the time, ABC is the place". He also composed the 1982 promo "Come on...
and Gaudio.
Notable cover versions
The song has been covered by some 200 artists over the years, in many countries, being released sometimes under its original title "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and sometimes with an expanded title, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". A few notable examples of cover versions which appeared on the charts:- A version by Gloria GaynorGloria GaynorGloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
. - A version by Jay and the AmericansJay and the AmericansJay and the Americans was a pop music group popular in the 1960s. Their initial lineup consisted of John "Jay" Traynor, Howard Kane , Kenny Vance and Sandy Deanne , though their greatest success on the charts came after Traynor had been replaced as lead singer by Jay Black.-Early years:They were...
. - A version by Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
made it to #5 on the UK singles chartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 19681968 in music-Events:*January 4 – Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding.*January 6 – Gibson Guitar Corporation patents its Gibson Flying V electric guitar design....
. This version is included in the soundtrack of the 2001 film Bridget Jones's DiaryBridget Jones's DiaryBridget Jones's Diary is a 1996 novel by Helen Fielding. Written in the form of a personal diary, the novel chronicles a year in the life of Bridget Jones, a thirty-something single working woman living in London. She writes about her career, self-image, vices, family, friends, and romantic...
. In 2002 he recorded a new version of the song, as a duet with British actress and singer Denise van OutenDenise van OutenDenise van Outen is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.- Early life :Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the...
, which reached #23 in the UK singles charts. - In 1968, Engelbert HumperdinckEngelbert Humperdinck (singer)Engelbert Humperdinck is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me " and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" .-Early life:...
recorded the song in his album A Man Without Love. - In 1975, Julio IglesiasJulio IglesiasJulio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
sings the song on his TV show. - In 19821982 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music from 1982. 1982 was a big year in music with Madonna making her debut as well as the year that Michael Jackson released Thriller which became the world's best selling album and it still holds that title today....
, San Francisco based disco band Boys Town GangBoys Town GangThe Boys Town Gang were a San Francisco based disco and hi-NRG band. Their popularity peaked in the 1980s, when the group reached number 5 on Billboards Hot Dance Club Play chart with the single "Cruisin' the Streets", and number 4 in the UK Singles chart and number 1 in the Netherlands with their...
performed a disco version of the song which reached #1 in Holland. This version was also successful in Japan, receiving a gold digital certification by the RIAJ in 2011. - In 19911991 in British musicThis is a summary of 1991 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.-Summary:Like 1990, this year saw 17 songs at number 1. February saw The Simpsons reach #1 with "Do the Bartman", from the album The Simpsons Sing the Blues which reached #6...
, the Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
used part of the song on their double A-side single "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)/How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?"How Can You Expect to Be Taken Seriously?" is, together with double A-side "Where the Streets Have No Name ", the third single from Pet Shop Boys' album Behaviour. It was released in the UK as a double A-side by Parlophone Records on 11 March 1991. It was subsequently released as a single in its...
", which reached #4 in the U.K. (In the U.S., both sides of the single were released as separate singles and both charted, with "How Can You Expect to be Taken Seriously?" at #93 and the "Where The Streets Have No Name/I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" medley at #72.) - In 1993, the song was recorded by a-haA-haA-ha were a Norwegian pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band was founded by Morten Harket , Magne Furuholmen , and Pål Waaktaar...
singer Morten HarketMorten HarketMorten Harket is a Norwegian musician, best known as the lead singer of the Norwegian synthpop/rock band A-ha, which released nine studio albums and topped the charts in several countries after their breakthrough hit "Take on Me" in 1985. A-ha disbanded in 2010. Harket has also released four solo...
for the soundtrack of the movie ConeheadsConeheads (film)Coneheads is a 1993 film based on the Saturday Night Live sketches about the Coneheads. The film was directed by Steve Barron and produced by Lorne Michaels... - In 1998, Lauryn HillLauryn HillLauryn Noelle Hill is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress.Early in her career, she established her reputation as a member of the Fugees. In 1998, she launched her solo career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album, The Miseducation of...
(#35 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart in 1998). This version was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance is the latest in a series of awards recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. The award goes to the artist...
in 1999. - In 1999, Jatin-Lalit included a Hindi version, "Haan Haan Yeh Pyar Hai," in the film DillagiDillagiDillagi is a 1999 Bollywood film directed by Sunny Deol and also starring Sunny Deol alongside his real-life brother Bobby Deol and Urmila Matondkar. The film was a box office flop but Deol's first attempt at directing was appreciated....
. - 2001, Pop Icon Sheena Easton recorded her version for her album Fabulous
- 2001, british group MuseMuse (band)Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, for the album "Dead Star/In Your World" - In 2004, Jennifer PeñaJennifer PeñaJennifer Marcella Peña , is an American Latin Pop/Tejano singer and actress who has sold over 3.5 million records internationally. Peña is the third and youngest daughter of Jaime and Mary Peña with other siblings Janet and Jackie...
recorded a Latin version of the song, "No Hay Nadie Igual Como Tu", which reached #33 on the Latin charts. - In 2006, Barry ManilowBarry ManilowBarry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
including this song on his album The Greatest Songs of the SixtiesThe Greatest Songs of the SixtiesThe Greatest Songs of the Sixties is Barry Manilow's sequel album for The Greatest Songs of the Fifties. The album was another major hit for Manilow in the United States, selling nearly 50% more than his previous album in its opening week. As with its predecessor, this album was produced by Clive...
, which reached #2 on the Billboard 200, and #56 in the UK. - The Killers performed this song as an intro to ShadowplayShadowplay (song)"Shadowplay" is a song by the band Joy Division. It appeared on the 1979 album Unknown Pleasures. The song was covered by the Killers in 2007 and Carpathian in 2010.-Lyrics:...
while on their Sam's Town TourSam's Town TourThe Sam's Town Tour was a concert tour by Las Vegas, Nevada rock band The Killers that took place in 2006 and 2007 to support the band's second studio album, Sam's Town, which was released in October 2006, and the bands first compilation album, Sawdust, which was released in November...
. - In 2011, Japanese R&B singer MisiaMISIA (Japanese singer), commonly stylized as MISIA, is a Japanese R&B singer originally from Fukuoka. She debuted in 1998 on BMG Japan, but has since moved to Sony Music Japan's Ariola Japan imprint...
, included a cover of the song as a B-side to her single "KiokuKioku (Misia song)is the twenty-fifth single by Japanese recording artist Misia. It was released on May 25, 2011 as the lead single from Misia's tenth studio album Soul Quest.- Background :...
". The song was later included on her cover album, Misia no Mori: Forest CoversMisia no Mori: Forest Coversis an upcoming cover album by Japanese R&B singer MISIA. It is to include her cover of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile", among covers of songs by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye....
. - Other renditions of the song to have charted in the U.S. included versions by:
- The LettermenThe LettermenThe Lettermen are an American male pop music vocal trio. The Lettermen's trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959...
(#7 in 1967, in a medley with "Goin' Out Of My HeadGoin' Out Of My Head"Goin' Out of My Head" is a song written by Teddy Randazzo and Bobby Weinstein, initially recorded by Little Anthony & the Imperials in 1964. Randazzo, a childhood friend of the group, wrote the song especially for them, having also supplied the group with their previous Top 20 Hit "I'm On The...
") - Nancy WilsonNancy Wilson (singer)Nancy Wilson is an American singer with more than 70 albums, and three Grammy Awards. She has been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a "consummate actress"; and "the complete entertainer." The title she prefers, however, is song stylist...
(#52 in 1969) - Maureen McGovernMaureen McGovernMaureen Therese McGovern is an American singer and Broadway actress, well known for her premier renditions of the Oscar winning songs "The Morning After" from the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno in 1974.-Early life:McGovern was...
(#27 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1979)
- The Lettermen
Cultural influence
The song is a staple of film and television soundtracks, such as being used in the soundtrack of Bridget Jones's DiaryBridget Jones's Diary (film)
Bridget Jones's Diary is a 2001 British romantic comedy film based on Helen Fielding's novel of the same name. The adaptation stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget, Hugh Grant as the caddish Daniel Cleaver, and Colin Firth as Bridget's "true love", Mark Darcy...
(2001), and Coneheads
Coneheads (film)
Coneheads is a 1993 film based on the Saturday Night Live sketches about the Coneheads. The film was directed by Steve Barron and produced by Lorne Michaels...
(1993). Some films incorporate it as a significant part of the plot, such as in The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 drama film co-written and directed by Michael Cimino about a trio of Russian American steel worker friends and their infantry service in the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, John Cazale, and George Dzundza...
(1978), with a famous bar scene where many characters begin to sing along with the jukebox. It is also used in the plot in Son of the Mask
Son of the Mask
Son of the Mask is a 2005 American fantasy family-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman, starring Jamie Kennedy as Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist from Fringe City who has just had his first child born with the powers of the Mask. It is the stand-alone sequel to the successful 1994 film The...
(2005), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999), and in the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate about You
10 Things I Hate About You is a 1999 American teen romantic comedy film. It is directed by Gil Junger and stars Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz, and Larry Miller...
, where the performance by Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger
Heath Andrew Ledger was an Australian television and film actor. After performing roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s, Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career...
was nominated for Best Musical Sequence in the 2000 MTV Movie Awards
2000 MTV Movie Awards
The 2000 MTV Movie Awards were hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker. In conjunction with the success of a certain HBO Original Series at the time, the awards show presented a parody of Sex and the City and The Matrix during the program's opening...
. In the 1997 film Conspiracy Theory
Conspiracy Theory (film)
Conspiracy Theory is a 1997 American action thriller film directed by Richard Donner.The original screenplay by Brian Helgeland centers on an eccentric taxi driver who believes many world events are triggered by government conspiracies, and the U.S...
, Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts
Julia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. She became a Hollywood star after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman , which grossed $464 million worldwide...
sings along to the song while she is being watched through binoculars by Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
, who is singing the song at the same time.
The song is featured prominently in the Broadway musical Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is a documentary-style musical, based on one of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons...
(2005–). It has also been adopted as the song of Derwent College
Derwent College
Derwent College is a college of the University of York, one of the first two colleges to be opened following the university's inception. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 22 October 1965...
, University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, in the United Kingdom. In 2008, Valli's version of the song was played by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
as the morning wake-up call for astronaut Christopher Ferguson
Christopher Ferguson
Christopher J. Ferguson is a United States Navy captain and a NASA astronaut. He was the pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on his first mission to space, STS-115, which launched on September 9, 2006 and returned to Earth on September 21, 2006...
, in honor of his anniversary while he was on the STS-126
STS-126
-Crew notes:Originally scheduled to fly on STS-126 was Joan E. Higginbotham, who was a mission specialist on STS-116. On 21 November 2007, NASA announced a change in the crew manifest due to Higginbotham's decision to leave NASA to take a job in the private sector. Stephen G...
Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
mission (WAV MP3).
In the show HBO Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
, Vincent Chase (portrayed by Adrian Grenier
Adrian Grenier
Adrian Grenier is an American actor, musician and director. He is best known for his lead role on the HBO original series, Entourage, as Vincent Chase.-Early life:...
) and his brother Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon
Kevin Dillon
Kevin Dillon is an American actor.Kevin Dillon is also the name of:*Kevin Dillon , character from Rodman Philbrick's young adult novel Freak the Mighty and the film based on it, The Mighty...
) sing the song at a Sweet Sixteen in a season 5 episode.
The song has been adopted by fans of the Welsh national football team
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
and is regularly sung at games. The supporters band, known as The Barry Horns
The Barry Horns
The Barry Horns are an eleven-piece brass band, made up of fans of the Welsh national football team. Formed in 2011, the band's name is a homage to retired Welsh footballer Barry Horne...
, play a brass band arrangement of the song. They have appeared on BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
playing their version.
External links
- "Official Frankie Valli Site". Retrieved 2010-2-16.
- http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database