Don't Close Your Eyes (Keith Whitley song)

"Don't Close Your Eyes"
Single by Keith Whitley
from the album Don't Close Your Eyes
B-side"Lucky Dog"
ReleasedMarch 1988
Recorded1987
GenreCountry
Length4:11
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Bob McDill
Producer(s)Garth Fundis, Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley singles chronology
"Some Old Side Road"
(1987) 		"Don't Close Your Eyes"
(1988) 		"When You Say Nothing at All"
(1988)

"Don't Close Your Eyes" is a song written by Bob McDill, and recorded by American country music artist Keith Whitley. It was released in March 1988 as the third single from his album of the same name. In the United States, the single reached number-one for the week of August 13, while peaking at number 2 in Canada. Additionally, it was Billboard's number-one country single of the year 1988.[1]

Content

In the song, Whitley talks about how a girl who is still stuck on a former boyfriend. Whitley tells not to close her eyes due to believing that she fantasizes about the other guy.

Music video

The music video was directed by Michael McClary and premiered in mid-1988.

Covers

The song was covered by Alan Jackson for Keith Whitley's 1994 tribute album, by Kellie Pickler for the deluxe edition of her 2008 self-titled second album, and by The Voice Season 6 contestant Jake Worthington for his audition song and fan-chosen final performance. Garth Brooks performed the song at the 50th CMA Awards whilst Whitley's widow Lorrie Morgan looked emotional in the audience. Garth Brooks also recorded this song for The Ultimate Collection box set only sold at Target stores in 2016.

Commercial performance

The song reached number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs on chart dated August 13, 1988.[2] After it became available for digital download, the song has sold 475,000 digital copies in the United States as of March 2019.[3]

Charts

Weekly chart

Chart (1988) Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 2

Year-end Chart

Chart (1988) Position
Canadian RPM Country Tracks[5] 15
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Don't Close Your Eyes (Ashamed Remix)

On July 1, 2015, Billboard Magazine announced the release of "Don't Close Your Eyes (Ashamed)" a tribute to Keith Whitley on his 60th birthday. The song is performed by Shady Records recording artist Kxng Crooked fka Crooked I (from Slaughterhouse), Truth Ali, Jonathan Hay and Morgan McRae. "I feel the rap verses really capture the emotional torment of the original," producer Jonathan Hay tells Billboard. "As you may or may not know, Keith Whitley died from alcoholism -- Kxng Crooked talks about his own chilling battle with alcoholism in his verse," he adds of the evocative tribute. "One of the main reasons I wanted to do this tribute is because I was raised in Kentucky, just like Keith Whitley," Hay continues. "Being all over the United States, it seems Whitley is more iconic back home in the 'Bluegrass State' than he is everywhere else. We want to change that."[7] "Don't Close Your Eyes (The Ashamed Remix)" is part of The Urban Hitchcock LP.[8]

The music video premiered on MTV News on August 27.[9]

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 382.
  2. ^ "Hot Country Songs". Billboard. August 13, 1988.
  3. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 9, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: March 11, 2019". Roughstock. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  4. ^ "Keith Whitley Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Top 100 Country Singles of '88" (PDF). RPM. December 24, 1988. p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  6. ^ "American single certifications – Keith Whitley – Don't Close Your Eyes". Recording Industry Association of America.
  7. ^ "Kxng Crooked & Truth Ali Pay Tribute to Late Country Star Keith Whitley on His 60th Birthday: Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
  8. ^ "KXNG Crooked f. Truth Ali - "Ashamed (Remix)"". HipHopDX. 3 July 2015. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  9. ^ Tardio, Andres. "KXNG Crooked Opens Up About Suicide And Alcohol Abuse In 'Don't Close Your Eyes' Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2015.