Open Up (Leftfield song)
"Open Up" is a song recorded by British electronic duo Leftfield featuring John Lydon (of Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd.). It was released as a single on 1 November 1993. The single reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart and number 39 in both Australia and New Zealand. "NME" reported in their 18 September 1993 issue, "This is the record that people have always wanted Lydon to do." In 2014, the same publication ranked "Open Up" at number 444 on their list of the "500 Greatest  Songs of All Time". "The Dust Brothers Remix" is an early remix by the Chemical Brothers, before they were forced to change to their current name. On later compilations, the remix appears as "The Chemical Brothers Remix" and is over nine minutes in duration (compared to eight minutes as first released). The longer version adds more than a minute of extra material around the 6–7-minute mark. The "I Hate Pink Floyd Mix" and the "Open Dub" were remixed by The Sabres of Paradise. The other 1993 versions are by Leftfield themselves. The song made an appearance on the soundtracks  to "Hackers" and "Rogue Trader", and it is also the title track to the Acclaim baseball video game "All-Star Baseball 2000". Critical reception. Music writer James Masterton described the song as "a rather brilliant piece of dance with Lydon's customary snarling vocals adding to the effect quite brilliantly and giving him a bigger hit than PIL have managed since Rise made No.11 in 1986." Pan-European magazine "Music & Media" commented, "It's surprising to hear what Johnny Rotten can do to a '90s dance track, and impressive too. His classic voice works a thread of hysteria through a  basically pumped track from Leftfield. A dark piece, well worth checking." Andy Beevers from "Music Week" rated it four out of five. He added, "The end result actually lives up to the hype, with Lydon's revitalised ranting carried along by a thumping trance production. It is certain to be a big specialist seller, and it could cross over if the tiny Hard Hands label plays its cards right." Brad Beatnik from the magazine's "RM" Dance Update stated that "this really is a remarkable record. The combination of Leftfield's deep, dubby rhythms and John Lydon's unique crazed  vocals is awesome. Imagine the pummelling insistency of 'Rez' combined with a near psychotic frenzied vocal and you'll be somewhere near the majesty of this track." Another editor, James Hamilton noted, "Sex Pistol John Lydon quaveringly wails "burn, Hollywood, burn" (among other lyrics) through an actual quite Frankie Goes To Hollywood-like surging chugger". Music video. A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by British director Lindy Heymann.