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"Double Vision" is a single by Foreigner from their second album of the same name. The song reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for two weeks in 1978, behind "
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" by
Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Honorific nicknames in popular m ...
. It became a
gold record Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile meta ...
. The song was also a top 10 hit in Canada. The song has been a staple of the band's setlist since its release. Over recent years,
Lou Gramm Lou Gramm (born Louis Andrew Grammatico; 2 May 1950) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for being the lead singer of the rock band Foreigner from 1977 to 1990 and 1992 to 2003 during which time the band had numerous successful albu ...
and Foreigner (now fronted by
Kelly Hansen Kelly Hansen (born April 18, 1961) is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Foreigner since 2005. Hansen started his career as an independent studio singer. He later met guitarist Robert Sarzo and bassist Tony C ...
) have both used the song as their show opener.


Background and writing

In an interview, vocalist Lou Gramm explained the origin behind the song: "'Double Vision' was a song that was written in about late 1977 just before the ''
Double Vision Diplopia is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally or vertically in relation to each other. Also called double vision, it is a loss of visual focus under regular conditions, and is often v ...
'' album came out. ...A lot of people think it's about being intoxicated or being high. When we were recording that song before we had the title, the
New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its ho ...
hockey team was playing the
Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wel ...
and one of the big Flyers guys bumped into the Rangers' all-star goalie John Davidson">John_Davidson_(ice_hockey).html" ;"title="/nowiki> John Davidson/nowiki> and knocked him down and they had to take him out of the game because he was experiencing diplopia">double vision Diplopia is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally or vertically in relation to each other. Also called double vision, it is a loss of visual focus under regular conditions, and is often v ...
." Gramm similarly stated:
I was a season ticket holder for the New York Rangers and they were playing the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup Finals. While we were recording, I had an eight-inch TV taped inside my vocal booth with the volume turned all the way down. While I was singing and recording, I’d keep my eye on the screen. Then, whenever we stopped, I’d turn the volume up a little bit. On one occasion, the play had stopped when Dave Schultz (ice hockey)">Dave Schultz from the Flyers skated in front of John Davidson, the Ranger’s goalie, gave him an elbow and knocked him out cold. The trainers helped Davidson off the ice and the Rangers wound up putting in the second-string goalie. Every so often, the announcers would come on and say they were waiting for word on the condition of Davidson. Finally, the announcer said, “The trainers said they don’t think Davidson will be back tonight. He doesn’t have a concussion, but he is experiencing… double vision." That’s when I said — “That’s it!”
According to the New York Rangers website, the incident actually took place in April 1978 during a hockey game between the Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres. The game announcers repeatedly used the phrase "double vision" which then inspired Foreigner to use it as the song's title. The single is certified RIAA gold, selling one million copies, prior to the reduction of gold certification standards that occurred in the late 1980s. ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its co ...
'' critic Ken Tucker suggested that the title phrase seems to suggest that "all the pent-up frustration and rage felt by the narrator ue to his romantic agonyhas found its pernicious outlet in a sort of ocular apoplexy."


Reception

''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' felt that "Double Vision" was a stronger single than the previous release "
Hot Blooded "Hot Blooded" is a song by the British-American rock band Foreigner, from their second studio album ''Double Vision''. It was released as a single in June 1978 and reached #3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart that September. The single was a ...
" due to its "driving but less monotonous hard rock rhythm" and "more infectious melody." '' Cash Box'' said it has "slashing guitars and a mean, ticking beat" that gives way "to an appealing, lighter chorus which is underlined by gently swirling keyboard work" and also praised the vocal performance. ''
The Daily News Journal ''The Daily News Journal'', commonly abbreviated to ''DNJ'', is a newspaper serving Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Rutherford County, and surrounding communities. It is Rutherford County's sole daily newspaper. It publishes print and digital content. ...
'' critic Gary Balser regarded "Double Vision" as the best song on the album, stating that it is "an example of Foreigner's individual sound with a keyboard interlude and a constant
bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gu ...
and guitar drive." ''San Pedro News-Pilot'' critic Joseph Bensoua said it has "just the right hooks, phrasing and simple lyrics needed for controlled rock 'n' roll. '' St. Joseph News-Press'' critic Conrad Bibens described "Double Vision" as "competent but a little too bombastic." Tucker described the melody as "melodramatic," said of Gramm's vocal performance that his "histrionic head tones threaten to capsize his sinuses as he moans about the suffering he must bear at the hands of wretched women" and found lyrics such as "No disguise/For that double vision...My double vision is the best of me" to be "incomprehensible." Music critic
Maury Dean Maury Dean is an American musician, author and professor at Suffolk County Community College, whose book "The Rock Revolution" is in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian. Music Dean taught a "History of Rock N' Roll" course as well ...
stated that it "sparks double-whammy of...
Jones Jones may refer to: People *Jones (surname), a common Welsh and English surname *List of people with surname Jones *Jones (singer), a British singer-songwriter Arts and entertainment * Jones (''Animal Farm''), a human character in George Orwell' ...
's steamy guitar salvos and Lou Gramm's White Soul volcanic vocalics." ''Detroit Free Press'' critic Kim McAuliffe described the melody as being "one of those ditties, like a television commercial jingle, that imprints itself on your brain whether you want it to or not." ''Billboard'' reviewer Gary Graff rated "Double Vision" to be Foreigner's 10th greatest song. ''Classic Rock History'' critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Foreigner's 5th best song, particularly praising the opening guitar
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.


Chart history


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


References

{{authority control 1978 singles Foreigner (band) songs Songs written by Mick Jones (Foreigner) Songs written by Lou Gramm Song recordings produced by Keith Olsen 1978 songs Atlantic Records singles Song recordings produced by Mick Jones (Foreigner) Song recordings produced by Ian McDonald (musician)