The best version/mix of Open Your Heart

[Openyourheart 118]

I'm relatively new as a hardcore M fan and I'm still exploring the various mixes of her songs for the most part and so I was wondering which version of OYH (my favourite song) is considered definitive. And also what people's favourite mix is?

I was presuming it's either the album or the video version that's considered definitive 

[Fabiolous 5,489]

12 minutes ago, Openyourheart said:

I'm relatively new as a hardcore M fan and I'm still exploring the various mixes of her songs for the most part and so I was wondering which version of OYH (my favourite song) is considered definitive. And also what people's favourite mix is?

I was presuming it's either the album or the video version that's considered definitive 

Always the album version. It's the one Madonna picked as the definitive version

[Openyourheart 118]

2 minutes ago, Fabiolous said:

Always the album version. It's the one Madonna picked as the definitive version

I don't think fans always have that much faith in Madonna's taste in her own songs from what I've seen. For example, I know Express Yourself is a song where people generally prefer the Shep Pettibone 7' version

 

[Ari Interactive 275]

7 version/ Remix is best one

[Aiwa08 16,210]

39 minutes ago, Openyourheart said:

I'm relatively new as a hardcore M fan and I'm still exploring the various mixes of her songs for the most part and so I was wondering which version of OYH (my favourite song) is considered definitive. And also what people's favourite mix is?

I was presuming it's either the album or the video version that's considered definitive 

The European 7'' (Remix Edit A.K.A. Edit of Extended Version)

[Aiwa08 16,210]

On 2/19/2023 at 2:30 PM, Fabiolous said:

Always the album version. It's the one Madonna picked as the definitive version

This is a nonsense. She picked many 7'' versions too (months later after the album versions were released) and many times the 7'' versions are enhanced album versions, like "Open Your Heart", "Like A Prayer" or "Express Yourself".

Sometimes even the "Album Edits" are better than the album versions. 

[Openyourheart 118]

Thanks for all the responses. The 7' isn't available on streaming is it? 

[Aiwa08 16,210]

19 minutes ago, Openyourheart said:

Thanks for all the responses. The 7' isn't available on streaming is it? 

It's not even released on CD. It's one of  her "holy grails": the European 7'' on CD or streaming from a digital source. 

Anyway there would be a better choice, but it remains unreleased: "Straight Pass #2". It's basically the 7'' Remix but includes the full ending (the commercial 7'' fades out too early). Sadly we have this version in a very low quality.

[wonderboy 1,889]

my fav is the mike dean edit on FEL

[Aiwa08 16,210]

2 minutes ago, wonderboy said:

my fav is the mike dean edit on FEL

Mike Dean did nothing. It's just the Video Version with an atrocious remaster. 

[Openyourheart 118]

38 minutes ago, Aiwa08 said:

It's not even released on CD. It's one of  her "holy grails": the European 7'' on CD or streaming from a digital source. 

Anyway there would be a better choice, but it remains unreleased: "Straight Pass #2". It's basically the 7'' Remix but includes the full ending (the commercial 7'' fades out too early). Sadly we have this version in a very low quality.

So on streaming is the album version > FEL version in your opinion?

Edited February 19, 2023 by Openyourheart (see edit history)

[Openyourheart 118]

29 minutes ago, Aiwa08 said:

Mike Dean did nothing. It's just the Video

29 minutes ago, Aiwa08 said:

Mike Dean did nothing. It's just the Video Version with an atrocious remaster. 

Version with an atrocious remaster. 

What makes it atrocious? I've not heard it on particularly good speakers 

[Aiwa08 16,210]

4 minutes ago, Openyourheart said:

What makes it atrocious? I've not heard it on particularly good speakers 

The bass and the treble is too high, and her voice is lowered too much (in a good stereo system sounds awful). If you wanna hear the FEL version with the best sound quality on streaming, then play the original video version on youtube:

 

[Pootz333 2,687]

The Drowned World Tour version. 🥸

[EgoRod 5,436]

2 hours ago, Aiwa08 said:

The European 7'' (Remix Edit A.K.A. Edit of Extended Version)

You see I found than a bit too long distracting at the beginning. I love the 12" because it goes straight to it.

I do love both thou, for different reasons

[survivalartist 6,465]

I love the extended with the ad libs where she sounds like a girl on Long Island at the mall asking a guy out on a date then does a variation of MJ’s ow or Princes’s a-ow where she sounds like a feisty puppy.

[wtg1987 10,159]

1 hour ago, Aiwa08 said:

Mike Dean did nothing. It's just the Video Version with an atrocious remaster. 

exactly - i sold my CD of FEL as i think the mastering was awful on it - im so glad i kept all the original promo cd rips - i dont trust any of his "mastering" - i think him and M were smoking weed and downing champagne rose when they were "curating" this project - i really hope he isnt involved in any other mastering - she needs Bernie Grundman - his remastering on Tango In the Night and Sign O The Times is amazing :))

[Fabiolous 5,489]

2 hours ago, Aiwa08 said:

This is a nonsense. Her picked many 7'' versions too (months later after the album versions were released) and many times the 7'' versions are enhanced album versions, like "Open Your Heart", "Like A Prayer" or "Express Yourself".

Sometimes even the "Album Edits" are better than the album versions. 

Most of the time these are just butcherings, always go for the album version 

[Aiwa08 16,210]

8 minutes ago, Fabiolous said:

Most of the time these are just butcherings, always go for the album version 

Nah, many times the edits are better than the album version because a few album versions are too long and repetitive.

 I'm not saying that all the album edits are better than the album versions, but I find many album edits better than the album versions, and I love when they add new elements not present in the albums.

[Roland Barthes 5,833]

Video version (same for Papa don't Preach)

[Would You Like To Try 8,335]

This one here https://youtu.be/b_M_RmaxE9c

 

 

[Donna 16,320]

It's all about the Extended Version for me.  Love the ad libs and it's just too good to settle for an edited version.

[Blue Jean 15,194]

The album version

[Aiwa08 16,210]

11 hours ago, tscott said:

It's all about the Extended Version for me.  Love the ad libs and it's just too good to settle for an edited version.

The Extended version has the best intro. It's a blast. But I hate the typical noises made with her voice (present in almost every extended remix created in the 80s) and it's too long. 

[thegoldencalf 12,575]

2 hours ago, Aiwa08 said:

The Extended version has the best intro. It's a blast. But I hate the typical noises made with her voice (present in almost every extended remix created in the 80s) and it's too long. 

They did some questionable voice effects in those 80s extended mixes. But I think that stuttering over the synth in OYH is amazing and really dramatic