ANNIE LENNOX - WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS

Released: August 10, 1992

Charted:  US: #14  UK: #8 

"Walking on Broken Glass," written and performed by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, is featured on her debut solo studio album, “Diva”. Released on August 1992, the single achieved commercial success, reaching number one in Canada, number eight in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and number 14 in the United States. Despite its lilting melody, the lyrics convey the anguish of a woman grappling with a breakup. The song metaphorically portrays the emotional pain inflicted by her former partner, likening it to walking on broken glass.

The opening piano line of "Walking on Broken Glass" infuses a Caribbean-inspired vibe into the song, recurring in the chorus and at the song's end. Throughout, pizzicato strings mirror the melody. Pitchfork noted the juxtaposition of the song's melancholic theme of romantic abandonment with its irresistibly danceable tune, a hallmark of Eurythmics' best records.

Lennox had experienced intense relationships, including a short-lived marriage in 1984, but "Walking On Broken Glass" likely involved her taking on a role rather than drawing from personal experience. In later years, she identified tracks like "Why" and "Precious" from the “Diva” album as deeply personal, but this song didn't fall into that category. Describing how she got into character for the song, she told Q magazine in 1992: "I've always loved R&B, and I had that in mind when I was singing. In fact, I'd think of myself as a very old black man - and I know I've got no right to imagine I know what that is - but, in my way, I stepped into that persona."

The music video was inspired by the 1988 film “Dangerous Liaisons”, set in 18th-century France. Elaborate costumes and a baroque sound were used to capture the theme, with actors John Malkovich and Hugh Laurie appearing in the video. Lennox reflected on the video in a blog promoting her 2009 greatest hits album, describing it as a fun and tongue-in-cheek production. She noted the alternative title for the song could have been "Hell hath no more fury than a woman scorned."

Annie Lennox's character stands out in royal red amidst a predominantly white environment, drawing attention to her emotional turmoil. She wears a 'Turkish' headdress, contrasting with the period wigs worn by others. Throughout the video, Lennox's character displays a mix of jealousy, desire, and anger towards her former lover. She rejects the advances of the Prince Regent, indulges in champagne, and ultimately throws herself at her ex-lover, only to realize the folly of her actions and flee the party in embarrassment. At the foot of the stairs, she finds solace in the arms of Malkovich's character.