EURYTHMICS - WHO’S THAT GIRL?

Estrenada: 27 de juny de 1983

Llistes: EUA: #21   Regne Unit: #3

"Who's That Girl?" és una cançó del duo de pop britànic Eurythmics, escrita pels membres del grup Annie Lennox i David A. Stewart i produïda per Stewart. Inicialment llançada al Regne Unit el juny de 1983, va precedir el seu tercer àlbum d'estudi, "Touch" (1983). A Amèrica del Nord, la cançó va servir com a segon single del disc, fent el seu debut com a senzill a l'abril de 1984.

La lletra retracta una dona caracteritzada com a misteriosa i captivadora, però esquiva i enigmàtica. La pregunta recurrent a la tornada, "Who's that girl?" ("Qui és aquesta noia?") implica una intriga sobre la seva identitat, suggerint que és algú que val la pena descobrir i entendre. L'experiència personal d'Annie Lennox amb l'amor no correspós va infondre "Who's That Girl?" D’una important càrrega emocional. La cançó aborda l'angoixa d'una dona que lluita amb la infidelitat del seu company, reflectint les pròpies lluites amb l'amor de Lennox durant aquell període.

El videoclip té una narrativa visual captivadora que subratllava els temes de la sospita i la dinàmica de gènere de la cançó. La interpretació d'Annie Lennox de diversos personatges, incloent-hi tant la dona que qüestiona com el seu homòleg masculí. El vídeo va comptar amb un repartiment estel·lar d'estrelles convidades, incloent-hi Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston, Kiki Dee, Hazel O'Connor, Kate Garner, les quatre membres de Bananarama, i l'estrella del pop caracteritzat amb una imatge de gènere ambigua, Marilyn. Cada convidat interpretava una dona diferent acompanyant el personatge de Stewart. L'aparició de Marilyn, en particular, el va ajudar a assolir una major visibilitat i a iniciar la seva pròpia carrera musical poc després.

EURYTHMICS - WHO’S THAT GIRL?

Released: June 27, 1983

Charted:  US: #21   UK: #3 

"Who's That Girl?" is a track by the British pop duo Eurythmics, composed by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. Initially released in the UK in June 1983, it preceded their third studio album Touch (1983). In North America, the song served as the second single from Touch, making its single debut in April 1984.

The lyrics portray a woman characterized as mysterious and captivating, yet elusive and enigmatic. The recurring question in the chorus, "Who's that girl?" implies an intrigue about her identity, suggesting that she is someone worth discovering and understanding. Annie Lennox's personal experience with unrequited love infused "Who's That Girl?" with emotional depth. The song delves into the anguish of a woman grappling with her partner's infidelity, reflecting Lennox's own struggles with love during that period. 

The music video for "Who's That Girl?" was a captivating visual narrative that underscored the song's themes of suspicion and gender dynamics. Annie Lennox's portrayal of multiple characters, including both the questioning woman and her male counterpart. The video featured a star-studded cast of guest stars, including Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston, Kiki Dee, Hazel O'Connor, Kate Garner, all four members of Bananarama, and the gender-bending pop star Marilyn. Each guest played a different woman accompanying Stewart's character. Marilyn's appearance in particular helped catapult him to greater visibility and kick-start his own music career shortly thereafter.

 

EURYTHMICS - LOVE IS A STRANGER

Estrenada: 8 de novembre de 1982

Llistes: EUA: #23   Regne Unit: #6

"Love Is a Stranger" és una cançó del duo de pop britànic Eurythmics. Llançada inicialment a finals de 1982, el senzill va afrontar-se a una decepció comercial. Va ser reeditat el 1983, acabant per arribar al top 10 del Regne Unit. Una altra reedició el 1991, va coincidir amb la promoció de l'àlbum "Greatest Hits" del duo.

"Love Is a Stranger" captura els matissos complexos de l'amor, retractant-lo com a enigmàtic, seductor i potencialment perillós. Lennox indaga en la noció d'"objectes d'amor", posant èmfasi en com les persones sovint projecten els seus desitjos sobre els altres, malgrat els riscos que això comporta. La cançó aprofundeix en les complexitats de l'obsessió, destacant la seducció de l'inconnex mentre alerta sobre els perills de l'obsessió. La intenció de Lennox era englobar aquests temes dins d'una cançó pop, oferint una reflexió emotiva sobre les paradoxes de l'amor.

La perspectiva de Dave Stewart aclareix l'essència temàtica de "Love Is a Stranger". En descriure-la com una cançó d'amor contemporània, subratlla la seva rellevància per a l'era moderna, on les actituds cap a l'amor i les relacions han evolucionat. Stewart suggereix que la cançó reflecteix la tendència societària actual de valorar la independència i la individualitat, fins i tot dins de les parelles romàntiques. Aquest sentiment contrasta amb les cançons d'amor més tradicionals del passat, que sovint retractaven l'amor com una força unificada i ferma.

El videoclip va mostrar el talent d'Annie Lennox per adoptar diferents personatges, una característica que es convertiria en una marca distintiva de l'estil visual d'Eurythmics. Dirigit per Mike Brady, el vídeo mostra Lennox interpretant diversos personatges, incloent-hi una prostituta de classe alta, mentre Dave Stewart fa de xofer. La transformació de Lennox d'una dona de cabell daurat a una de cabell roig cridaner va generar certa confusió entre els espectadors, especialment als Estats Units, on el seu cabell roig engominat va portar a suposicions equivocades sobre la seva identitat de gènere.

EURYTHMICS - LOVE IS A STRANGER

Released: November 8, 1982

Charted:  US: #23   UK: #6 

"Love Is a Stranger" is a song by the British pop duo Eurythmics. Initially released in late 1982, the single faced commercial disappointment. It was re-released in 1983, eventually reaching the UK top 10. Another re-release followed in 1991, coinciding with the promotion of Eurythmics' “Greatest Hits” album.

"Love Is a Stranger" captures the intricate nuances of love, portraying it as enigmatic, alluring yet potentially perilous. Lennox delves into the notion of "love objects," emphasizing how individuals often project their desires onto others, despite the risks involved. The song delves into the complexities of infatuation, highlighting the allure of the unknown while cautioning against the dangers of obsession. Lennox's intention was to encapsulate these themes within a pop song, offering a poignant reflection on the paradoxes of love.

Dave Stewart's perspective sheds light on the thematic essence of "Love Is a Stranger." By describing it as a contemporary love song, he underscores its relevance to the modern era, where attitudes towards love and relationships have evolved. Stewart suggests that the song reflects the current societal trend of valuing independence and individuality, even within romantic partnerships. This sentiment contrasts with the more traditional love songs of the past, which often portrayed love as a unified, steadfast force.

The music video showcased Annie Lennox's talent for adopting different personas, a characteristic that would become a hallmark of Eurythmics' visual style. Directed by Mike Brady, the video features Lennox portraying various characters, including a high-class prostitute, with Dave Stewart serving as her chauffeur. Lennox's transformation from a glamorous blonde to a striking redhead sparked some confusion among viewers, particularly in the United States, where her slicked-back red hair led to mistaken assumptions about her gender identity. 

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.

 

ANNIE LENNOX - LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE

Released: February 1, 1993

Charted:  UK: #3 

"Love Song for a Vampire" was a hauntingly beautiful piece by Annie Lennox, fitting perfectly with the atmospheric mood of Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula." Its release in February 1993 as a double A-side with "Little Bird" garnered significant success, reaching number three on both the UK and Irish Singles Charts. The song is often described as "a vulnerable ode to loss, capturing the enduring grief that seems never-ending."

Annie Lennox explained how reading Anne Rice's works, alongside Francis Ford Coppola's film plans, revealed a new dimension to vampire mythology. When approached to contribute vocals for the soundtrack, Lennox admitted she had "little interest in Bram Stoker’s book." Instead, she had developed a fondness for a new series of novels, including The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. Rice's novels, particularly Interview With The Vampire (1976) and The Vampire Lestat (1985), captivated Lennox's imagination and influenced her creative approach to the song. Lennox was particularly captivated by the psychic and psychological aspects of vampires, aiming to infuse the song with the essence of their dark world. In her view, vampires symbolize compulsive and addictive behavior, portraying a co-dependent relationship between vampire and victim, destined for eternal doom.

The music video for "Love Song for a Vampire" was directed by British director Sophie Muller. It features Annie Lennox in a dark garden reminiscent of Lucy Westenra's setting in the film, wearing a similar white dress. As Lennox sings, several excerpts from the film are interspersed throughout the video. The video concludes with what appears to be holy light shining upon Lennox, reminiscent of Dracula's death at the end of the film. Rolling Stone's David Sinclair praised it as an "extraordinary video," noting Lennox's "striking display of sinister melancholia" intercut with scenes from the movie.

 QUEENSRŸCHE - SILENT LUCIDITY

Released: February 1991

Charted:  US: #9    UK: #18 

"Silent Lucidity" is a ballad by the band Queensrÿche from their 1990 album "Empire." Written by lead guitarist Chris DeGarmo, it became the band's biggest hit, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1992: Best Rock Song and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

"Silent Lucidity" written by guitarist Chris DeGarmo, delves into the concept of lucid dreaming. Inspired by the book "Creative Dreaming," the song explores the idea of being aware within a dream and having control over it, similar to the premise of the movie "Inception." DeGarmo discussed the recurring nature of dreams and their therapeutic potential, noting that the average person spends a significant portion of their life in the vivid hallucinations of the subconscious mind.

Geoff Tate, Queensrÿche's lead singer, expressed his fondness for "Silent Lucidity," describing it as a beautiful piece that he had a significant role in shaping, despite not being its primary writer. He highlighted his contributions to the song's melody, vocal delivery, and mixing process. Tate revealed that the song's inception was unconventional, starting as a simple acoustic guitar and vocal composition. It wasn't until the final stages of the album's production, just a week before completion, that additional instrumentation was added. Despite the resistance from the album's producer, who was against including the song, the band members advocated for its inclusion, leading to its eventual release on the album.

"Silent Lucidity" remains Queensrÿche's sole entry on the Hot 100 chart in America, despite their extensive career. However, they found more success on the UK charts, with six songs reaching the Top 40.