"Elisabeth's Eyes" is a song by English musician Nik Kershaw, released in 1989 as the second and final single from his fourth studio album, The Works (1989). It was written by Kershaw, and produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn.
Kershaw began writing material for his fourth studio album in early 1987 and went to Los Angeles later in the year to record with producer Peter Wolf. Ten tracks were completed, but Kershaw was ultimately dissatisfied with the results. When he returned to England, he began remixing and re-recording the material with the help of Julian Mendelsohn. Kershaw also decided to drop two of the intended tracks and replace them with two new ones, "One Step Ahead" and "Elisabeth's Eyes".[2][3]
"Elisabeth's Eyes" was inspired by the pen pal relationship of Elisabeth Allan, a teacher from Essex, and Willie Darden, an American man who served 14 years on death row and was executed in Florida in 1988 for murder during the course of a robbery. Kershaw told radio presenter Simon Mayo in 1989, "For reasons she didn't really understand, Elisabeth began to write to him in prison and he wrote back. Towards the end he was writing three or four times a day. The letters were very personal, almost like love letters. They never met, but she was his one link with the outside world. I hope the song might help other people in Willie's position."[4]
Kershaw became aware of Allan and Darden after reading a newspaper article two days before Darden's execution about Allan and her campaign for his release. Kershaw then wrote the song a week later. After doing further research into Darden's case, Kershaw also believed he was innocent. He told the Sunday Mercury in May 1989, "Any new subject you start finding out about changes your life. Death row wasn't something that concerned me before and I didn't really think about the death penalty very much."[5]
ReleaseEdit
"Elisabeth's Eyes" was released by MCA on 7-inch vinyl, 12-inch vinyl and CD formats. The B-side is the non-album track "My Friend John". An extended version of "Elisabeth's Eyes" is included on the 12-inch and CD formats, and a club dub version was included on the 12-inch single.[6][7][8]
"Elisabeth's Eyes" was Kershaw's first single to fail to enter the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, ending a successive run of twelve entries. The single, which peaked at number 105, sold approximately 3,000 copies within the first five weeks of its release.[9] It was originally scheduled for release on 24 April but this was pushed back to 1 May.[10][1]
PromotionEdit
The song's music video was directed by Mike Ross and produced by Ali Newling.[11] On 22 May 1989, Kershaw performed the song on the British TV show Wogan.[12]
Critical receptionEdit
On its release, Geoff Zeppelin of Record Mirror wrote, "What a pity that this number should have all the emotional impact of a soggy bowl of cornflakes. Where are the royalties going Nik?"[13] Ian Gittins of Melody Maker stated, "Kershaw wants to be taken seriously, so I furrowed my brow and listened intently to every nuance of 'Elisabeth's Eyes'. It's still shit."[14] Jennifer Grant of the Perthshire Advertiser commented, "It's the new look, slick-backed single from midget Nik. But a new image hasn't altered his musical style any as this is predictable Kershaw pop."[15]
Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News felt the song to be "unfortunately too watery and bland to touch early belters like 'I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me'."[16] Dick Jones of the Faversham Times stated it was "another token effort" from Kershaw and "disappointingly typical". He added, "Little Nik will never be a millionaire churning out this sort of pleasant, but immemorable trivial. The days of 'Wouldn't It Be Good' and 'Human Racing' have well and truly gone yet pop's Mr. Clean appears to be trying to salvage further success from past glory."[17] In a 2020 retrospective review of The Works, Steve Harnell of Classic Pop noted the "beautiful reggae bounce" of the song and added that it "should have been [a] hit".[18]
FormatsEdit
7-inch single
"Elisabeth's Eyes" – 4:37
"My Friend John" – 4:08
12-inch single
"Elisabeth's Eyes" (Extended version) – 6:02
"My Friend John" – 4:08
"Elisabeth's Eyes" (Club Dub) – 4:41
CD Single
"Elisabeth's Eyes" (7" version) – 4:39
"My Friend John" – 4:01
"Elisabeth's Eyes" (Extended version) – 6:04
PersonnelEdit
Nik Kershaw, Julian Mendelsohn – producers, mixing on "Elisabeth's Eyes"
Michael H. Brauer – remixer on extended version and club dub of "Elisabeth's Eyes"
Julian Mendelsohn – co-production on extended version and club dub of "Elisabeth's Eyes"
Nik Kershaw – producer of "My Friend John"
ReferencesEdit
^ ab"New Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 29 April 1989. p. 43. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
^Simon Mayo (18 January 1989). "Nik makes a little revival". Reading Evening Post. Retrieved 12 November 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Tiny Nik walks tall". Reading Evening Post. 8 February 1989. Retrieved 12 November 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Simon Mayo (19 April 1989). "Wet, Wet, Wet!". Reading Evening Post. Retrieved 12 November 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Death row changes Nik's life". Sunday Mercury. 7 May 1989. p. 11.
^Smith, Robin (22 April 1989). "News: Eye Eye". Record Mirror. p. 6.
elisabeth, eyes, song, english, musician, kershaw, released, 1989, second, final, single, from, fourth, studio, album, works, 1989, written, kershaw, produced, kershaw, julian, mendelsohn, single, kershawfrom, album, worksb, side, friend, john, released1, 1989. Elisabeth s Eyes is a song by English musician Nik Kershaw released in 1989 as the second and final single from his fourth studio album The Works 1989 It was written by Kershaw and produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn Elisabeth s Eyes Single by Nik Kershawfrom the album The WorksB side My Friend John Released1 May 1989 1989 05 01 1 GenreNew wave pop rockLength4 40 album version 4 37 single version 6 02 extended version LabelMCASongwriter s Nik KershawProducer s Nik Kershaw Julian MendelsohnNik Kershaw singles chronology One Step Ahead 1989 Elisabeth s Eyes 1989 Wouldn t It Be Good re issue 1991 Music video Elisabeth s Eyes on YouTube Contents 1 Background 2 Release 3 Promotion 4 Critical reception 5 Formats 6 Personnel 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditKershaw began writing material for his fourth studio album in early 1987 and went to Los Angeles later in the year to record with producer Peter Wolf Ten tracks were completed but Kershaw was ultimately dissatisfied with the results When he returned to England he began remixing and re recording the material with the help of Julian Mendelsohn Kershaw also decided to drop two of the intended tracks and replace them with two new ones One Step Ahead and Elisabeth s Eyes 2 3 Elisabeth s Eyes was inspired by the pen pal relationship of Elisabeth Allan a teacher from Essex and Willie Darden an American man who served 14 years on death row and was executed in Florida in 1988 for murder during the course of a robbery Kershaw told radio presenter Simon Mayo in 1989 For reasons she didn t really understand Elisabeth began to write to him in prison and he wrote back Towards the end he was writing three or four times a day The letters were very personal almost like love letters They never met but she was his one link with the outside world I hope the song might help other people in Willie s position 4 Kershaw became aware of Allan and Darden after reading a newspaper article two days before Darden s execution about Allan and her campaign for his release Kershaw then wrote the song a week later After doing further research into Darden s case Kershaw also believed he was innocent He told the Sunday Mercury in May 1989 Any new subject you start finding out about changes your life Death row wasn t something that concerned me before and I didn t really think about the death penalty very much 5 Release Edit Elisabeth s Eyes was released by MCA on 7 inch vinyl 12 inch vinyl and CD formats The B side is the non album track My Friend John An extended version of Elisabeth s Eyes is included on the 12 inch and CD formats and a club dub version was included on the 12 inch single 6 7 8 Elisabeth s Eyes was Kershaw s first single to fail to enter the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart ending a successive run of twelve entries The single which peaked at number 105 sold approximately 3 000 copies within the first five weeks of its release 9 It was originally scheduled for release on 24 April but this was pushed back to 1 May 10 1 Promotion EditThe song s music video was directed by Mike Ross and produced by Ali Newling 11 On 22 May 1989 Kershaw performed the song on the British TV show Wogan 12 Critical reception EditOn its release Geoff Zeppelin of Record Mirror wrote What a pity that this number should have all the emotional impact of a soggy bowl of cornflakes Where are the royalties going Nik 13 Ian Gittins of Melody Maker stated Kershaw wants to be taken seriously so I furrowed my brow and listened intently to every nuance of Elisabeth s Eyes It s still shit 14 Jennifer Grant of the Perthshire Advertiser commented It s the new look slick backed single from midget Nik But a new image hasn t altered his musical style any as this is predictable Kershaw pop 15 Marcus Hodge of the Cambridge Evening News felt the song to be unfortunately too watery and bland to touch early belters like I Won t Let the Sun Go Down on Me 16 Dick Jones of the Faversham Times stated it was another token effort from Kershaw and disappointingly typical He added Little Nik will never be a millionaire churning out this sort of pleasant but immemorable trivial The days of Wouldn t It Be Good and Human Racing have well and truly gone yet pop s Mr Clean appears to be trying to salvage further success from past glory 17 In a 2020 retrospective review of The Works Steve Harnell of Classic Pop noted the beautiful reggae bounce of the song and added that it should have been a hit 18 Formats Edit7 inch single Elisabeth s Eyes 4 37 My Friend John 4 0812 inch single Elisabeth s Eyes Extended version 6 02 My Friend John 4 08 Elisabeth s Eyes Club Dub 4 41CD Single Elisabeth s Eyes 7 version 4 39 My Friend John 4 01 Elisabeth s Eyes Extended version 6 04Personnel EditNik Kershaw Julian Mendelsohn producers mixing on Elisabeth s Eyes Michael H Brauer remixer on extended version and club dub of Elisabeth s Eyes Julian Mendelsohn co production on extended version and club dub of Elisabeth s Eyes Nik Kershaw producer of My Friend John References Edit a b New Singles PDF Music Week 29 April 1989 p 43 Retrieved 27 June 2022 Simon Mayo 18 January 1989 Nik makes a little revival Reading Evening Post Retrieved 12 November 2019 via British Newspaper Archive Tiny Nik walks tall Reading Evening Post 8 February 1989 Retrieved 12 November 2019 via British Newspaper Archive Simon Mayo 19 April 1989 Wet Wet Wet Reading Evening Post Retrieved 12 November 2019 via British Newspaper Archive Death row changes Nik s life Sunday Mercury 7 May 1989 p 11 Smith Robin 22 April 1989 News Eye Eye Record Mirror p 6 Elisabeth s Eyes UK 12 inch single sleeve notes Nik Kershaw MCA Records 1989 NIKT 13 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Elisabeth s Eyes UK CD single liner notes Nik Kershaw MCA Records 1989 DNIKT 13 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Jones Alan 27 May 1989 Chartfile Record Mirror p 35 Robin Smith ed 22 April 1989 News Eye Eye Record Mirror p 6 ISSN 0144 5804 Nik Kershaw Elizabeth s Eyes 1989 IMVDb Retrieved 12 November 2019 UK TV Appearances 1983 2012 Nikmania nikmania me uk Archived from the original on 12 November 2019 Zeppelin Geoff 6 May 1989 Singles Record Mirror p 28 ISSN 0144 5804 Gittins Ian 13 May 1989 Singles Melody Maker p 36 Grant Jennifer 23 May 1989 Discover Perthshire Advertiser Hodge Marcus 8 May 1989 Singles Cambridge Evening News p 12 Jones Dick 11 May 1989 Sound Advice Faversham Times p 25 Harnell Steve 19 November 2020 Nik Kershaw Album by Album Classic Pop Retrieved 1 November 2021 External links EditElisabeth s Eyes at Discogs list of releases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elisabeth 27s Eyes amp oldid 1178739447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
