Driven by a keyboard that marked many early 90’s R&B recordings, “Someone Else’s Eyes” arrives with an appetizing melody on the hook. Written by Burt Bacharach, Carol Bayer Sager, and Bruce Roberts (co-writer of “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)”), the song takes Aretha in somewhat of a different direction.
Lyrically it’s an introspective departure, something topically unique amongst the many, many songs recorded by Aretha. She candidly describes taking herself for granted, singing to someone else’s melody, not really being herself, and essentially only loving herself through the lens of someone else. It’s a powerful message coming from a powerful woman.
Vocally, Aretha gives a straightforward performance, accentuated by her changing voice of the time. She was in her final years of smoking, and they more than made their mark. Her maturing voice found its’ upper register diminished, and a raspy quality took hold from top to bottom. It’s not at its most powerful, yet it is mesmerizing, As I continued to listen, I found myself returning not just to “Someone Else’s Eyes” and What You See Is What You Sweat, but other moments from around this time, such as Aretha’s fantastic cover of Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free”. The song feels tailor-made to her, and her voice in that time. Even the key-change, which of course creates a surge in the song and Aretha lands exactly where it should.
During a Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon in 1990, Aretha beamed in from Caesar’s Palace in Atlantic City gave a somewhat disjointed performance of “Someone Else’s Eyes.” The tempo is slowed down, which seems to dismay Aretha, who continually raises her hand and snaps, as if to indicate the tempo she’s looking for from her band and drummer. Nevertheless, she powers through, looking rather ravishing in an emerald green gown.
Aretha also performed the song at Radio City Music Hall in 1990, and on a few other occasions as she toured surrounding the What You See Is What You Sweat LP.
Listen to “Someone Else’s Eyes” & purchase What You See Is What You Sweat:
365 Days of Aretha Franklin 
I enjoyed reading your thoughts and reflections on this particular song. As a lifelong, diehard fan of Ms. Franklin, it is always refreshing to read a fellow fan’s take on some of her lesser known cuts. I love her “What You See…” album as well as her entire early ’90’s “New Jack Swing” sound – AND look! The elaborate weaves and braids along with her stunning makeup (alá Reggie Wells) accentuated her classic beauty remarkably well, and her iconic flare for daring fashion perfectly tied together her whole 90’s package.
“Someone Else’s Eyes” remains today a favorite of mine ( ok, so I say that about every song she ever recorded, but ya know…lol). And like you, I also think it works beautifully for her voice during that period. The atypical theme is also very gripping, particularly in light of her highly guarded personal life and emotions. And, like so many of her other songs that seem to hint at personal experiences, I can just see Aretha right now responding to an interviewer’s suspicions with one one of her iconic eye gestures that seem to say it all and THEN some – the raised brow mimicking a look of bewilderment while also throwing some serious shade thus making dude look and feel like a total buffoon in front of the whole world lol! Of course, ever the classy and dignified woman of grace and poise, Aretha had that unique ability to cut you in half if she felt it was indeed warranted, and the next moment she would have your ego so charmed that you’d be blushing! Anyway, thank you for sharing your beautiful reflections on Ms. Franklin with us. I hope to read more of your thoughts and memories regarding Our Eternally Beloved Queen of Soul.
Ps.
“Standing on the Rock” – same era and voice. I would be curious to hear your take on that as well. I love it!
LikeLike