Eye in the Sky (song)
Encyclopedia
"Eye in the Sky" is a 1982
song by the Alan Parsons Project
from the album Eye in the Sky.
Possibly the most successful song the group has ever had, it hit #3 on the Billboard charts in the US in October of 1982 and #6 in Canada
and New Zealand
. Says Parsons of the song, "...I hated the song when we first started recording it — I was quite ready to drop it altogether. Then we hit upon the hypnotic guitar chugs and it all came together." However, it did not fare as well in the UK.
's classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
, regarding a possible future in which individual privacy
is virtually non-existent due to the ever-watching eye of Big Brother. In the novel, citizens are constantly monitored by hidden video recording equipment.
It has also been noted by Eric Woolfson
, the songwriter and vocalist of this song, spent a lot of time in casinos and in commercial districts, fascinated by the hidden security cameras that monitor gamblers and shoppers, hence the theme of the song. See "Eye in the Sky."
The 1:54 minute instrumental piece entitled "Sirius" immediately precedes "Eye in the Sky"' on the original recording, which then seamlessly leads into "Eye in the Sky" as a second track. However, most radio stations choose to play "Eye in the Sky" alone, due to time constraints. Reports surfaced in November 2010 that Lady Antebellum
's single "Need You Now" has the same melody as "Eye In The Sky".
"Sirius" has been used as the intro for Chicago Bulls
home games for many seasons and intermittently for many other NBA basketball teams for decades. For a period of time "Sirius" was also the opening theme for the National Wrestling Alliance on TBS weekly television show.
1982 in music
This 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....
song by the Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project
The Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
from the album Eye in the Sky.
Possibly the most successful song the group has ever had, it hit #3 on the Billboard charts in the US in October of 1982 and #6 in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Says Parsons of the song, "...I hated the song when we first started recording it — I was quite ready to drop it altogether. Then we hit upon the hypnotic guitar chugs and it all came together." However, it did not fare as well in the UK.
Overview
The song is in part a reference to George OrwellGeorge Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
's classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
, regarding a possible future in which individual privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
is virtually non-existent due to the ever-watching eye of Big Brother. In the novel, citizens are constantly monitored by hidden video recording equipment.
It has also been noted by Eric Woolfson
Eric Woolfson
Eric Norman Woolfson was a Scottish songwriter, lyricist, vocalist, executive producer, pianist, and creator of The Alan Parsons Project. He has sold over 50 million albums world-wide....
, the songwriter and vocalist of this song, spent a lot of time in casinos and in commercial districts, fascinated by the hidden security cameras that monitor gamblers and shoppers, hence the theme of the song. See "Eye in the Sky."
The 1:54 minute instrumental piece entitled "Sirius" immediately precedes "Eye in the Sky"' on the original recording, which then seamlessly leads into "Eye in the Sky" as a second track. However, most radio stations choose to play "Eye in the Sky" alone, due to time constraints. Reports surfaced in November 2010 that Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is an American country pop music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley , Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott .The group made its debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman's single "Never Alone", before signing to Capitol...
's single "Need You Now" has the same melody as "Eye In The Sky".
"Sirius" has been used as the intro for Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
home games for many seasons and intermittently for many other NBA basketball teams for decades. For a period of time "Sirius" was also the opening theme for the National Wrestling Alliance on TBS weekly television show.
Covers
- Folk rockFolk rockFolk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
artist Jonatha BrookeJonatha BrookeJonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist from Illinois.Her music merges elements of folk, rock and pop, often with poignant lyrics and complex harmonies...
covered this song on her 2004 album, Back In The Circus. - International artist NoaAchinoam NiniAchinoam Nini , also known by her professional name, Noa, is a leading Israeli international concert and recording artist.-Career:...
covered this song on her 2002 album, Now.