What's Happened to Blue Eyes

"What's Happened to Blue Eyes" is a country music song recorded by American country artist Jessi Colter. The song was released as her second single under Capitol Records August 4, 1975, peaking as a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Country Chart and a minor hit on the Pop chart.

"What's Happened to Blue Eyes"
Single by Jessi Colter
from the album I'm Jessi Colter
B-side"You Ain't Never Been Loved (Like I'm Gonna Love You)"
ReleasedAugust 4, 1975
Recorded1974
GenreCountry
Length2:19
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Jessi Colter
Producer(s)Ken Mansfield
Waylon Jennings
Jessi Colter singles chronology
"I'm Not Lisa"
(1975)		 "What's Happened to Blue Eyes"
(1975)		 "It's Morning (And I Still Love You)"
(1975)

Content

"What's Happened to Blue Eyes" was written entirely by Jessi Colter. The narrator discusses how she is looking for her male lover who goes by the name "blue eyes." She is curious to wondering if anyone else has seen him, while also hoping he has not decided to end their relationship. The song's chorus further explains the song's initial meaning:

What's happened to blue eyes?
Has anyone seen him?
Don't anyone tell me that he gave up on me
I'm looking for blue eyes
Does anybody know him?
Can anyone tell me if he's still looking for me?

The song was produced by Ken Mansfield and Waylon Jennings, both of whom produced Colter's previous single, "I'm Not Lisa" and her 1975 Capitol album.[1] Since its release, the song has been covered by Colter's husband, Waylon Jennings as duet with Colter for their 1981 collaboration, Leather and Lace.

A later version, recorded the following year for the album Wanted! The Outlaws, had the first line of the chorus changed from "What's happened to blue eyes?" to "I'm looking for blue eyes", and it appeared on the track listing by the alternative name "I'm Looking For Blue Eyes". The second version is more blues-oriented, versus the mid-tempo, pop-country style of the Capitol single release.

Chart performance

"What's Happened to Blue Eyes" was released as Colter's second single on Capitol Records and was issued August 4, 1975. The song made its chart debut on the country list shortly afterwards on August 23.[1] The song became Colter's second major hit as a solo recording artist, reaching a peak of #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, as well as becoming a minor hit on the Pop chart, peaking at #57 around the same time. It would be released on her debut Capitol album, I'm Jessi Colter.[2] The song was the follow-up single to Colter's major country pop crossover hit, "I'm Not Lisa", which was released earlier in the year.[3]

Critical reception

Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that "when she writes, she turns out masterpieces, and then when she does the interpretation herself, it is superb. This is a case in point."[4]

Charts
Chart (1975) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles[5] 5
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] 57
Canadian RPM Country Singles 11

Cover Versions

References
  1. Zimmerman, Keith and Kent (2003). "The Very Best of Jessi Colter: An Outlaw...a Lady (CD liner notes)". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Ankeny, Jason. "Jessi Colter > Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  3. Wolff, Kurt. "Ch. 9 - Dreaming My Dreams: The Outlaws Hit Town". In Orla Duane (ed.). London, England, UK: Rough Guides Ltd. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Billboard, August 16, 1975
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 86.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 185.
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