Friday, May 06, 2022

Song of the Day: 'Who's That Girl' by Eurythmics (without the 'THE')


Since the first time I heard "Jennifer" -- on a cassette my friend Greg made me of the "Sweet Dreams" album -- I have been in awe of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. I'd lie on my bed on West Kiva back in my Dobson High days playing it over and over. wondering how fellow humans could come up with something so captivating and haunting. (That Newsweek cover still transports me back to 1984.) The entire record was a revelation  -- "Love Is a Stranger" was one of the best singles of the new wave, and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" was one of the most iconic, which is to say nothing about "The Walk" -- and they continued making smart albums packed with infectious singles in the years that followed, including today's pick. What a thrill to at last see these childhood idols inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, about which Annie wrote this: 
Ever since I learned about Eurythmics induction I’ve been seeing my life run before me - Performing in tiny hole in the wall clubs, then theatres and eventually arenas, stadiums, and festivals across every major city.. sleeping on ‘the bus’ arriving in Boston, Nashville, Chicago ..every venue in the USA and everywhere else around the world. Backstage dressing rooms, sound checks, road crews, catering.. every aspect of touring, rehearsals, travelling in cars, buses and airplanes.. TV and radio stations, Press interviews.. Writing and recording songs in the studio, Conceiving and creating videos.. The impact of ‘Fame’. The life of an ‘artist’, as opposed to a ‘celebrity’. There’s a difference! Everyone inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame knows this as a ‘lived’ experience. I’m very grateful to EVERYONE who made this all happen! 

ps. We’re Eurythmics without the ‘THE’!!! 🤣


This also happens to be one of the best videos ever.

UPDATE: Read what Dave Stewart had to say about the honor BELOW.

“I'm thrilled that Annie and I will be among such great artists that have been inducted through the years. I’m sure they all have battled their way through many situations and put in way more than the 10,000 hours to arrive at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It's difficult to get onto even the tiniest stage and have the confidence to play your music. The journey that happens, if that music becomes successful, is impossible to explain. Annie and I have a very strong bond -- that no matter what -- can never be broken. 

What we went through personally, as well as songwriters and performers; how much it took to overcome so many obstacles in order to play our music on stages all around the world -- whilst constantly trying to release great music, freshly recorded in the most unusual ways -- is something only we know and understand. 

It's amazing that it’s now been almost 40 years since the "Sweet Dreams" album was released, and to be recognized and get inducted into the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

We’ve been through it all and seen it all. I met Annie when she was 21 years old, we were just kids then; two dreamers collided and sparks flew. Annie from Aberdeen, Scotland and me from Sunderland, England. Neither of us ever dreamed this moment would happen. But then again, if you are a dreamer, I suppose anything can happen. Fortunately for us, almost everything happened and we survived!” #eurythmics @rockhall

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