Annie Lennox On The Origins of Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)' | The Big Interview

Annie Lennox talks with Dan Rather about how the hit group @Eurythmicstv came to be, the creative and technical process behind making the standout single "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," and more on The Big Interview!
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#annielennox #eurythmics #sweetdreams

[@JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

Annie, in my opinion, has not gotten her due. Her voice is one of the most iconic voices in history and deserves more recognition than I think she's gotten. She is an F'ing legend!

[@DieselPurge]

Agreed

[@tjwash5118]

I agree! Thank you for not saying she’s under rated, the most over used word these days.

[@JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

@@wyganter her solo stuff was amazing though...

[@mjbl1787]

yeah shes awesome. right up there with sinead and kate bush

[@zacharyseibert4526]

​@@tjwash5118 Your comment is underrated.

[@Tuinuiski]

Annie still looks and sounds great.

[@bobbybecker6435]

She is a beautiful soul.

[@leegoddard2618]

I was just gonna say the same thing. 😁👍

[@jenf6489]

Seriously! Such amazing bone structure, beautiful skin, and has an elegance to her that’s rare to find

[@malcolmdrake6137]

How pandering...of course, she doesn't. Never did, actually.

[@mhammersley9857]

She does. But just to clarify, it appears that this interview was filmed in 2014.

[@leokimvideo]

Dave is a musical genius, Annie was the perfect partner in crime

[@villiersman951]

👍👍

[@danimartin818]

Annie is pretty genius too!

[@allisnotwhatitseems.]

They were a couple too

[@srldwg]

@@danimartin818 Annie is genius. I agree.

[@georgemeller7173]

lets be honest dave has always been superior to preachy annie

[@TacShooter]

"Love is a Stranger" and "Here Comes the Rain Again" are also excellent. They made the mid-80s more magical.

[@Einwetok]

'Why...y.y.y.y.y.y.Y"

[@cherylannebarillartist7453]

❤ thank you for the reminder!

[@constancemerryweather525]

Both great songs!! I was at a music festival and it was in danger of being shut down due to smoke from a nearby forest fire and amazingly it started pouring rain on the make or break night... one of the djs started playing a remix of here comes the rain.. what a moment!

[@DanielNewhoff]

Those are two awesome songs. Trendsetters in the 80s for sure.

[@frankk.2865]

Who am I to disagree?

[@C2C.]

How modest of Annie... People didn't simply identify with the song, we fell under the spell of her voice. 🤩

[@tigergreg8]

This woman has aged beautifully, the industry needs to look at that. As for the song, it may resonate, but it's her voice, and how she sings it that makes people want to pay attention. She has very unique vocals, and lets face it, we tend to like unique things.

[@thdarknez7171]

As a musician, I have to say that this woman is one of if not the best vocalists I've ever heard. The amount of emotion she can make you feel through her lyrics and her tone is unmatched imo. I am almost brought to tears every time I hear "why". Thank you Annie!

[@silviac221]

Exactly, "Why"! I was reading the comments to see if someone had mentioned it. It's a masterpiece and, as a woman, I can say it's so accurate!

[@kshelaanofelaas1967]

I too am often brought to tears by Annie Lennox's Voice! The Hurting Time,Pavement Cracks, Loneliness, Here Cones The Rain Again, COLD,The Gift,....

[@atsarginiskiemosnaiperis]

Agree, when I hear "Why" and also "I will always love you" by Whitney Houston, I almost can't help myself to take a pause at what I'm doing or at least shut my thought process down a little bit for a moment and just listen till it ends.

[@solfly6]

Sweet Dreams does not get old. Neither does the video. You can’t say that about many songs or videos. It’s all so purely executed with such confidence and conviction. I think this is one of the main reasons that it stands the test of time. It also has something to do with being a unique and great song and of course Annie’s voice is undeniable. Musically, I believe the secret to the Eurythmics as well as Yaz is: Truly hooky and interesting electronic music combined with incredibly rich and soulful voices. It’s a juxtaposition that’s absolutely magic!

[@SteveBonario]

Yes! Electronic instrumentation with soulful human vocals is definitely a winning combo. Sweet Dreams, Touch, and the criminally overlooked "1984" all have this. That said, I love "Would I Lie to You?" from Be Yourself Tonight even though that saw them moving away a little from synth instrumentation.

[@davidserlin8097]

I couldn’t agree more. Yaz had that combination of Vince Clarke’s icy synth made warm by Alison Moyet’s bluesy vocals. But then that’s also true of Soft Cell, which combined Marc Almond’s theatrical voice with Dave Ball’s “dirty” synthesizer sound.

[@derekfay7684]

Real class is timeless.

[@DarrenWilson-wx1yv]

Isnt she Scottish

[@doh4828]

Beautiful, intelligent woman, musical genius, phenomenal singer, still adorable in every respectful way.

[@Noeland]

I'm old enough to remember seeing this video debut on MTV, you know back when Music Television was about music. In the states the song was different and unique. It was super catchy, and had very easy to remember lyrics. The lyrics were just edgy enough to be provocative without being offensive. And the name of the band was also interesting. Annie's orange hair also stood out and made the band visually compelling to a degree as well.

[@VersinKettorix]

I remember those days well. I was a freshman in HS when MTV started out and brought all of these new bands to the front. I was not wild about the orange hair, but Annie's beauty and talent were undeniable.

[@TheCollectorCave]

This video is one of the earliest memories I have of MTV. That and Dire Straits!

[@thrashinwebster]

Annie was before her time’ Eurythmics still holds up to this day and always will’ they are such a rad band 🙌

[@D8271]

absolutely. her energy is such a clear magic

[@stevenguajardo6049]

All these years, I had no idea that she's Scottish. The Eurythmics are great, but Annie's looks and beautiful talent just made it. I love her solo work, even my girls love her music. I hope she comes out with another album. It's nice to see her live on the screen again.

[@PS-ru2ov]

shes Scottish and she is British as well

[@maha77]

I can still remember the first time I heard this song in 1983 as a 14-year-old, it was the music that spoke to me like none other, It represented the future, it excited me in a way I couldn't comprehend, me and my friends went wild over it and the entire album

[@modehead101]

Sweet Dreams is such a unique and timeless tune.That early 80s UK pop explosion of talented acts writing their own material was an absolute joy to witness and has sadly never been repeated.

[@Earth1218]

The Eurythmics were so far ahead of their time. My teenage daughter (born in 2007) heard this in the car, loved it immediately and asked if it was new. I told her nope, it was made 40 years ago. This song changed everything in popular music in the early 80’s. It was like nothing most people had heard at the time. It swept away the 70’s influence/boomer vibe that was still present in pop music up through 1982 and ushered in a whole new sound that came to define the 80’s. It’s crazy how after being played so much for so many decades, this song is still enjoyable and still feels fresh.

[@scromp]

same, my son (2006) had exactly the same reaction. Also in the car :)

[@jennuary.]

i am a year younger but i used to listen to my moms CDs when i was really young this song has still stuck with me till this day i still play it often

[@felix121984]

A lot in the eighties were ahead of their time.

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

I still remember the first time I saw the video for Sweet Dreams back in '83. I was home from school watching MTV. Both the song, and Annie, were mesmerizing. She had so much swagger in that video you really couldn't take your eyes off her. Here was a a woman dressed like a man, who looked like a white Grace Jones, yet sounded more like Aretha Franklin. Annie was truly an iconoclast. ❤

[@franciet99]

Great description! Such great music and what a magnificent video!

[@amandazemke5765]

Same❤

[@joannwoodworth8920]

This 💯!

[@annlennox]

Thank you so much for your love and passion. You are amazing, love you.

[@hayleylongster4698]

Exactly. The woman has always fascinated me. I have wanted to look like her and channel her.... performative energy my whole life. I feel like she kinda represents my 'brand' of feminity which is edgy and powerful.

[@davevanbeers6944]

Her voice is so melodic. Just hearing speak sounds like song to me! 😊

[@sarelito9202]

The song is a hit also because of its vibrant authentic message. The fact that it was born of real pain and frustration but at the same time riding on the wings of real talent and a love for nusic. That song is just like a mantra, it gives you the strength to carry on and the desire to celebrate.

[@YesItsReallyKeith]

the music world not be the same without this song... hands down !!! everybody knows it !!! and what is fascinating about this story is the there is a saying that your best work always comes out in your lowest moment !! so you can imagine how low she felt that day and born was this absolutely mind boggling piece of work!!!

[@kernalbert4939]

"Hold your head up"...she was talking to herself and she wasn't kidding. You are correct. The song is a mantra.

[@skeeterradar]

Dave is a genius, no doubt about it, but it was Annie's unique, powerful, and haunting vocals that really put them on the map.

[@panzfaust9812]

Her voice so good it makes you travel back in time

[@jamesdaly9016]

Annie is the queen. She looks absolutely phenomenal. Her voice is still amazing as it always has been. I only wish she would record more. ❤

[@annlennox]

Thanks James for your love, time and passion. You are also special too

[@arte4arte]

When I first saw Annie Lennox in the Sweet Dreams video, she looked so cold and distant , even a bit frightening... But then when you hear her being interviewed like she is here... she seems so down to earth...so real...I've always had such a profound crush on her...

[@franko6677]

Can we take a moment to celebrate how wonderful Scottish women of rock are…three of my faves are Annie, Shirley Manson of Garbage and Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins. Creativity and authenticity off the charts with these women. Absolutely nothing fake or pretentious about them.

[@alpenglow4243]

One of the most incredible singers I’ve seen perform live.

[@MrChristbait]

You're lucky!

[@annlennox]

Thanks Alpen , you are amazing

[@thelonelyghosts9004]

Her solo albums are especially genius! I listened to “Bare” the other day from start to finish (for the first time in probably 15 years) and it was just stellar from start to finish! She has written some absolutely amazing songs!

[@annaJ00]

I was completing my PhD and had just been accepted into medical school, sweet dreams indeed. I remember dancing to this at a party the day I got the news. It encapsulated everything I had been working for all my life, and I was only 23. Love Annie Lennox.

[@slowery43]

no one came here hoping to hear all about you, how old you were, if you were in school, etc this isn't all about you though you think it is and everyone should be really interested in you

[@Groeliker]

Yep. Perfect text/mantra Anybody can relate to this in infinite ways on infinite occasions

[@brucetidwell7715]

I can almost say that Eurythmics was the 80s for me. I followed so many groups but Annie Lennox's voice is the sound that comes to me first. Her holiday album from a few years back still gives me chills every time I listen to it. Even though they are traditional carols, she has such raw, primal, pagan energy to celebrate the darkest time of the year and the rebirth of the world.

[@psychotictactoe]

Not afraid to say i had a massive crush on this woman back in the day, she was stunning, still is.

[@fanatamon]

Yep for sure.

[@macbethbee]

Same!!

[@Groeliker]

* shake hands *

[@Mikishots]

Daaaaaaaamn. She ages like fine wine. Love the Eurythmics.

[@nickcos100]

Annie is such a beautiful woman. She seems so caring, to life, people and to her art.

[@RomanJockMCO]

Sweet Dreams is four decades old and still sounds fresh.

[@crystalmckinney3151]

I always thought it was, Sweet Dreams are Made of These. I love every song they have ever made.

[@jblank1862]

She is still beautiful. Growing up there were a few female heros that made me feel like it was ok to be me. Grace, Tina, Annie, Cyndie....thanks ladies. Powerhouses!!!

[@paulEmotionalaudio]

Great music is great music. Like all other great music it’s timeless. Both Annie & David are musical geniuses….

[@Ali74]

The birth of home recording right here, and probably the most iconic synth-pop song. Always loved her work.

[@luxinfinity73]

Not the most iconic, we had tons of them in those days but definitely great!

[@taramerryman7330]

She has been one of my favorites since the 80’s❤

[@JB-sg1vy]

I remember first hearing Sweet Dreams and loved it because it felt futuristic in one sense and totally mysterious in another. The song transported me like into the pyramids of Egypt. It was and is all encompassing. It allows you to escape to another world. A fantasy. It never gets old. I didn't think about the lyrics at the time as much as how it made me feel. The rhythm and the beat. So exotic and other worldly. It was it's own thing and sound at the time as well. I had never heard anything like it and it was trance like mezmorizing and still is. They don't make them like they used to.

[@freddiehips4019]

I love an interviewer who lets the interviewee speak. A Grand Job.

[@HI967tree4]

For me, Sweet Dreams has kind of an eerie quality, yet has an extremely catchy vibe. This song has haunted me since I first heard it as 8 year old, and it still haunts me now, and I mean that in the best possible way🤗.

[@graemeknowles1431]

The Eurythmics was a fantastic band Brilliant written tracks. So many great songs.

[@crossefire01]

What a voice! The first time I heard the song I knew there was something special about Annie's voice. Truly an amazing and beautiful musician and singer!

[@missinghood]

“No More I Love Yous” is still one of my favorites.

[@pdcasablanca]

What a classy lady!💖

[@NipItInTheBud100]

One of the best voices out there!

[@lynpip3097]

Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 is proud she's a great singer 😊

[@phil4977]

Annie and Dave wrote so many wonderful songs. Their music will live on across many generations

[@kjamison5951]

I remember The Tourists. It was a fresh sound after all the Glam Rock bands. Annie’s voice is still mesmerising after all these years. The Eurhythmics concentrated Dave and Annie into such a powerful, undiluted stream of exceptional music.

[@fesswah]

Annie Lennox, the most beautiful womens voice in the world ! Fan since I first heard her singing Sweet Dreams at age 14 ( 54 now ) .

[@DS-182]

I wish Dan rather would come back and do the news the right way.... honestly, factually and straight to the point

[@natashatomlinson4548]

Those days are gone forever ….😮. Thanks corporate media!

[@thorsten1955]

Annie Lennox is just adorable. What an artist!

[@gregrobbins4251]

I had no idea Annie was Scottish! Her enunciation while singing is fantastic

[@MeMeDaVinci]

She is stunning. The short hair suits her. Their music brought life to the 80s. I never say and dissected Sweet Dreams; now I will never hear it without hearing her story.

[@brasnoostro]

After all these years, I still shiver when I hear this song. Way back in the past (already 40 years from now), when I was 16, I was captivated by a song on MTV and I couldn't wait for the LP to appear in the store. And then, on a cheap turntable (after all, I'm from a country that is located in Central Europe and Southeast Europe), I lay on the floor between the speakers and absorbed with my soul and body every sigh and tone Annie produced with the infectious rhythm. I don't have the right words to describe the state I feel today when I listen to this masterpiece. ❤❤❤

[@rjkrjk8344]

Love is a stranger is the best song. I play over and over.😊

[@DieselPurge]

Don't mess with the missionary man😊

[@garyt.8745]

Beautiful lady, in _every_ sense. Not a national treasure, but a treasure to humanity.

[@AnonymousAlcoholic772]

I never realized how much of an AL fan I am till I listened to all her stuff together. Here comes the rain is still my fav

[@oxouk]

Annie is such a beautiful and talented woman. Dave is a genius. A musical match made for perfection.

[@petermueller7407]

Pure genius, sitting there right in front of the camera.

[@chrislj2005]

The sweetest of Scottish Accenture because you can understand it! Love Annie❤

[@guppy0536]

Remember when Sweet Dreams came out loved then and still love it now 😍 ❤

[@rogersjgregory]

I always smile when I watch their old music videos. Annie was trying to look androgynous or masculine, but no one was fooled. She was stunning then and she’s still beautiful today.

[@Nightdare]

I believe it was Midge Ure who said: "Kids in bedrooms have better gear these days, than what we recorded with in expensive studio's"

[@mangoman9290]

Annie Lennox and Madonna, both powerful female icons of the 80's were comparable in many ways but now in 2023 there is only Annie, still strong, still powerful and still universally respected.

[@joec0914]

What hooks me about Sweet Dreams are Annie's harmonies with herself. They're so perfect. I was checking out at the grocery store once, and Sweet Dreams came on the Muzak. The checker started singing the melody, and then I couldn't help but start singing the harmony. Badly I might add, but it's an infectious tune.

[@peeker011]

When music was ground breaking, inspirational, creative.....LOVE ANNIE and all of her music!!!

[@romulus_]

There are songs, films, books where you think "this must exist. It absolutely has to." Sweet Dreams is one of those songs.

[@JBugz777]

You can tell she's humble.. and Scottish 😍

[@Audiogeek-kf2ez]

Annie is an unbelievable singer, looks great at 60 something. And still smiles all the time

[@donaldbutcher1260]

Love Annie, love Dave and really miss Eurythmics!

[@danielakoller6185]

Sweet Dreams was. the song of my life...Eurythmics..was my first Concert....Annie Lennox is my idol, her voice is brilliant " There must be an Angel"...timeless..❤

[@johnambrose5957]

Thank you Dave and Annie for the great music you made as it echos down the ages. ♥

[@radamus210]

Oh My dear, sweet Annie~ the object of many teen fantasies~ She is such an iconic and important figure of musical history in the era of MTv and its impact of music, art, drama and storytelling. An amazing period of evolution and impact. Annie and Dave were the right people at the right time in the right place for musical art and expression in a new dawn. Another example of "timing is everything" ~ they set the standard for a set of specific moments in time.

[@al6347]

At my family's reunion, we all sang at the top of our lungs..."Sweet Dreams" ... Thank you.❤

[@Purple1984Rain]

Love Annie. Such an amazing vocalist and her magnificent face was so photogenic in many of her classic music videos from the 80s and 90s.

[@DieselPurge]

...Yes it was

[@martijnkeisers5900]

And dont forget how stunning she was.

[@lovebug5439]

I was riding back from guard duty in 1983 in the back of a duce 1/2 truck listening to this song playing from a little radio we had. Fell in love with this due at that moment.

[@jarkolimbo9268]

For those wondering. This interview is from late 2013. Aired in 2014 on AXS.

[@groksr]

What a Charming woman

[@freedomthroughspirit]

I adore her. She was such a big influence on my self-growth during my teens and twenties, especially. 🤩

[@thegalty7119]

She is a trailblazer ❤ absolute grace

[@mykhedelic6471]

It's a complex mix of emotions delivered with honesty, confusion, yearning, skepticism, a bit of questioning hope and straight, laser beam seering attitude. The beat takes no prisoners and Annie shoots right through, and it is a mantra, bedazzled with tricky, clever little flourishes and persistent purpose. There, that explains it.

[@The_SCC]

It resonates because the intro has such a nice swagger to it.

[@Ast3rixMusic]

Amazing how simple a beat and a synth part can turn into pure gold. It was self deprecating, however in turn it created a new style of music that is now part of our musical culture. Annie is an amazing songwriter and was able to purely put into words how she was feeling at that time and I think songs that come from the heart tend to be some of the best ones. I think that the combo of both Dave and Annie was that fated combo pack that doesn't happen that often.

[@gothravenmore1123]

Theres no words to describe how important this song for me, how powerful it is, the thing is, in comparison with what Annie says about how people use it, in some cases for a victory for example, I have no clue or idea why is so important to me, what its that call me every time I heard a fraction of that incredible first beat that makes me want to hear it over and over again, I'm 20 and I "found" this song seeing "X-Men Apocalypse", for the people who have seen the movie, the moment when Quicksilver step and it showed the Massion, when that song started I can remember perfectly how my eyes got wide open, the shock of hearing that song, it was so powerful and I still nowadays don't know why is like that, there's no song I love more than this one, there's no song that I probably have listen more than this one, and without a doubt "Sweet Dream: Are Made of This" was the song how to call me for know the wonderful time of 80's and 90's, make me wish live on that time, a few weeks ago i just bought a Sony Walkman and order on Ebay the Sweet Dreams cassete, i feel so complete, so happy, hearing this song, and there's no possible way I could think be able to thank both Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart for this, what I would want to call "Piece of Haven" a timeless masterpiece....

[@Riveller]

Sweet Dreams was the first foreign music I actually enjoyed listening when I was kid, in 1984. I Couldn't understand a single word back then but had the song playing in my head all the time. It's one of my favorite music since then.

[@zackkohler511]

Sweet Dreams are made of Annie Lennox!!

[@DamirBabic-xc5po]

God bless this woman she is awesome a Queen 👑🥰🙏❤

[@michaelrosspearson9756]

I saw her live Christchurch New Zealand in the early 80's. She came onstage wearing black leather pants and a red lace bra, signature cropped orange hair, shining a massive spotlight into the audience. A omg moment.

[@ten3353]

I remember seeing this on my local music station at the time, for the first time. I knew they were going to be embedded into music history from that day. At one time in pop music history, they were the biggest selling artists of the day. Much respect 🙏🏼🎉

[@orbitflyer9275]

Fell in love with her the first time with Sweet Dreams. The 2nd time I fell was when she was on the academy awards and wore THE dress. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@typhoon2minerva]

One thing im fascinated about Annie Lennox in the 90s is she created a very interesting video among many others during the 90s MTV who take you back in history, its like a period film like french revolution, the victorian era, the napoleonic era. But the best of all among many female singers i love she (Annie), Shirley Bassey and Maria Callas as the singers who give so much emotions on their singing that you can feel those nuanses in the lyrics they sing.

[@tomkatdj]

Honest simplicity and a catchy hook…..but it is the voice that made it. Amazing what you can do when the music comes from a passion for music rather than profit……surrender is a powerful state of mind.

[@luxinfinity73]

When Sweet Dreams came out in Italy, I was just a young girl who couldn't understand English but the song rhythm was irresistible, especially at the disco where we had to dance if the dj played it. Everybody was singing it but we could only sing "Sweet Dreams lallalala...". I think that Dave did an excellent job with the zanza zanza zan za za zanza zanza zan za za.

[@bsquared4604]

the vocals the synth and the beat. pulled me right in.

[@georgeb8976]

About sweet dreams and resonating around the globe… they forget that it was the first time we heard her voice and were simply stunned by it and could not get enough of that.

[@guardianofthemoon]

She is literally a treasure, capable of anything her talent has no limit

[@mgmcd1]

One of the very great voices in modern rock.

[@brigittelehmann9749]

Exactly one great singer beautiful voice

[@duncansteedman9986]

Annie Lennox is such a super special gorgeous person! All Scots are very proud of her 😎👍🥰

[@noelhughes7635]

When a song has a statement like: sweet dreams are made of this without being specific about what 'this' is, the people who hear it can fill in the blanks to suit themselves. A perfect recipe for a successful song.