ANNIE LENNOX - NO MORE I LOVE YOU’S

Released: February 6, 1995

Charted:  US: #23  UK: #2 

"No More 'I Love You's'" originally written and recorded by the Lover Speaks, gained significant commercial success when Scottish singer Annie Lennox covered it in 1995. Lennox's rendition was released as the lead single from her second studio album, "Medusa" and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. 

"No More 'I Love You's'" was released in 1986 by the UK synth-pop duo The Lover Speaks, consisting of instrumentalist Joseph Hughes and singer David Freeman. The duo's debut self-titled album, produced by Jimmy Iovine, featured the song as its first single. Although it reached only number 58 on the UK charts, The Lover Speaks gained visibility by supporting the Eurythmics on tour. It was during this time that Annie Lennox discovered the song. Lennox's decision to record her own version was influenced by her belief in the song's quality and potential impact. In a 1995 article she wrote for The Independent, Lennox expressed her admiration for the song's lyrics, describing them as "extraordinary, poetic, and abstract," making it a perfect fit for her style. 

The ambiguity of the song leaves room for interpretation, but it appears to depict a situation where the singer has reached a breaking point in a relationship, leading to a loss of the ability to express love. In the original version by The Lover Speaks, sung by David Freeman with backing vocals by June Miles-Kingston, the gender of the protagonist is not explicitly defined, allowing Annie Lennox to cover the song without making significant changes to the lyrics.

The music video showcases her in yet another striking persona, this time portraying a fashion-forward aristocrat from the 1800s, set in a late 19th-century French bordello. Directed by Lennox and Joe Dyer, the video features men dressed as ballerinas entertaining her as she luxuriates in the opulent surroundings. Lennox explained in a blog post that the video explores themes of human behavior and the masks people wear to conceal hidden agendas and existences, particularly in the realms of sexuality and romantic love.

Annie Lennox's rendition of "No More 'I Love You's'" earned her the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1995.