| "Open Arms" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Journey | ||||
| from the album Escape and Heavy Metal: Original Film Soundtrack | ||||
| B-side | "Little Girl" | |||
| Released | January 8, 1982 (US)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock[2] | |||
| Length | 3:18 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Journey singles chronology | ||||
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"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] It also reached number two in Canada.
"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]
- ^ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ^ Open Arms at AllMusic
- ^ "100 Greatest Love Songs". VH1. 2003. #4.
- ^ "112 Greatest love songs, ever!". Blender. #5.
- ^ "25 Greatest Power Ballads". Ep. 073. VH1. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
- ^ Journey: Escape. AllMusic. Retrieved April 16, 2012.