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Every Time I Close My Eyes

This article is about the song by Babyface. For the song by Vanessa Amorosi, see Every Time I Close My Eyes (Vanessa Amorosi song).
"Every Time I Close My Eyes"
Single by Babyface featuring Kenny G and Mariah Carey
from the album The Day and The Moment
B-side"Lady, Lady"
ReleasedJanuary 14, 1997
Recorded1996
Genre
Length4:58 (album version)
4:11 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Babyface
Producer(s)Babyface
Music video
"Every Time I Close My Eyes" on YouTube
Babyface singles chronology
"Talk to Me"
(1996) 		"Every Time I Close My Eyes"
(1997) 		"How Come, How Long"
(1997)

"Every Time I Close My Eyes" is a song written, produced and performed by American musician Babyface. It was released as the second single from his fourth album, The Day (1996). Mariah Carey performs the backing vocals, after Babyface did the same for her on "Melt Away", a track written by both, included on her 1995 album Daydream. It also has a participation by Kenny G playing saxophone. An alternate version without Carey's vocals and additional sax elements is included on Kenny G's The Moment (1996).

The song was met with commercial and critical acclaim, peaking at number six in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in United States and at number 13 in the United Kingdom. At the 40th Grammy Awards this song received a nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, which it lost to "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John.[1] For the music video of this single, Babyface received a MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Male Video, losing to "Devil's Haircut" by Beck.[2]

Critical reception

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On the AllMusic review, "Every Time I Close My Eyes" was awarded with three stars out of five.[3] Larry Flick from Billboard praised the song, writing that it shows Babyface "at his all-around best." He added, "Complemented by harmonies from Mariah Carey, he weaves a sweetly romantic tale on top of a quietly shuffling pop/R&B groove. His performance has an engaging, soulful flexibility that never flies over the top into over-compensation. He's wise enough to let the song properly unfold and work its magic. There is no doubt that listeners of every imaginable format will be humming this gem within seconds—and then for months to come."[4] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, stating that "multi-talented Babyface shows why he is worth 12 Grammy nominations on this classy, sultry ballad on which he is joined by Mariah Carey and Kenny G."[5] The magazine's Alan Jones complimented it as "one of the cutest little Babyface records yet—a pretty, easy-paced ballad impeccably played and sung with sweetly cooed verses and a chorus which sticks in the brain."[6]

Chart performance

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The track debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated February 1, 1997[7] and climb to its peak at number six seven weeks later, spending 26 weeks in the chart.[8] On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaked at number 5.[9] Overseas, the single reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. At the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Year-End charts of 1997, this song ranked at number 26.[10][11] "Every Time I Close My Eyes" was certified gold by the RIAA and sold 700,000 copies.[12][13]

Track listing

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  1. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (Radio edit) – 4:11
  2. "Lady, Lady" – 4:23
  1. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (Timbaland remix) – 4:51
  1. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (Radio edit) – 4:12
  2. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (Linslee Campbell remix) – 5:53
  3. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (Every Time I Feel the Groove remix) – 4:43
  4. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (Every Time I Feel The Funk remix) – 4:44
  5. "Every Time I Close My Eyes" (House of Music remix) – 5:13

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[31] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

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The following people contributed to "Every Time I Close My Eyes":[3]

Production

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References

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  1. ^ "40th Grammy Awards". Rock on the Net. 1998-02-25. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  2. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards of 1997". Rock on the Net. 1997-09-04. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  3. ^ a b c "Every Time I Close My Eyes". AllMusic. Macromedia Corporation. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (1996-12-07). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 78. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  5. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1997-02-01. p. 27. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  6. ^ Jones, Alan (1997-02-08). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  7. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1997-02-01. Retrieved 2006-01-12. [dead link‍]
  8. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1997-03-22. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved 2006-01-12.
  9. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1997-03-01. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved 2006-01-12.
  10. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1997-12-31. Retrieved 2006-01-12. [dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1997-12-31. Retrieved 2006-01-12. [dead link‍]
  12. ^ "American certifications – Babyface – Every Time I Close My Eyes". Recording Industry Association of America.
  13. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. 110 (5). BPI Communications Inc.: 76 January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  14. ^ "Every Time I Close My Eyes (Timbaland remix)". Amazon. Amazon, Inc. 2001-02-06. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  15. ^ "Every Time I Close My Eyes (Timbaland remix)". Eli.com. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  16. ^ "Babyface – Every Time I Close My Eyes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  17. ^ "Babyface – Every Time I Close My Eyes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  18. ^ "Babyface – Every Time I Close My Eyes" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  19. ^ "Babyface – Every Time I Close My Eyes". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Babyface: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  22. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  23. ^ "Babyface Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  24. ^ "Babyface Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  25. ^ "Babyface Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  26. ^ "Babyface Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  27. ^ "Babyface Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  28. ^ "Babyface Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  29. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  30. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  31. ^ "American single certifications – Babyface with Mariah Carey, Kenny G & Sheila E. – Every Time I Close My Eyes". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 27, 2022.