What are your "Sweet Dreams"? Eurythmics Vocal ANALYSIS by Opera Singer

Yes, I've heard "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" by Eurythmics before, but never with a great set of headphones, and never have I done a deep dive. Y'all have been asking for this SO MUCH, especially going down the rabbit hole of Annie Lennox, so... here we are!
Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she analyzes Eurythmics for the first time, performing "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Written and Performed by Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I definitely recommend watching the original video without interruptions. Here's the link: • Eurythmics, Annie Lenn...
Show Eurythmics some love: / @eurythmicstv
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WE HAVE MERCH! Check-out the full line-up here: thecharismatic...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🎧 Elizabeth’s favorite headphones 🎧 : imp.i114863.ne...
Music Gear Questions? 🎤 See my list of recommendations: imp.i114863.ne...
WANT MY CHAIR? I don’t blame you…and here’s a link to make it even sweeter:
secretlab.co/?...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🎙️Podcast: thecharismatic...
🌐Website: thecharismatic...
📸Instagram: / thecharismaticvoice
🧑‍🤝‍🧑Patreon: / thecharismaticvoice
📺Twitch: / thecharismaticvoice
📰Our FREE Newsletter: manage.kmail-l...
-------------------------------------COURSES------------------------------------------
🎵MUSIC APPRECIATION COURSE🎵
Want to understand how to listen to and appreciate music more? My Music Appreciation course is now live. Take a look at thecharismatic...
🎶DEMYSTIFYING SINGING🎶
My intensive 7-week course on vocal foundations includes weekly group sessions and private lessons. Learn more at thecharismaticv....
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have a sister channel: THE SINGING HOLE. Join us there to examine how ordinary creatures create extraordinary sounds. / @thesinginghole
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#eurythmics #sweetdreams #Reaction #TheCharismaticVoice
-------------

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

www.kickstarter.com/projects/tcvresearch/harsh-vocal-research-with-the-charismatic-voice to sign up for the Vocal Research Kickstarter releasing tomorrow morning!

[@sirkat344]

Signed up and ready.... 😇

[@josefschiltz2192]

Nobody loves cattle more than McDonalds!

[@simonbremner2707]

Along the lines of your sweet dream is a book recommendation, Australian comedian/radio presenter Kate Langbroek packed the family up and moved to Italy for 2 years, 1 year originally but Covid extended it. The book is called "Ciao Bella" I have only heard her talk about it in media because chronic pain keeps me from concentrating long enough to enjoy a book, might have to get the audiobook✌

[@wfemp_4730]

@@josefschiltz2192 Explain.

[@jukeseyable]

The song is about the music industry, and how large corps abuse musicians, its a biographical peace on the Eurithmics struggles in their early days, not my interpretation, Anne is on record, the song was written in a day, she was in a terrible mood on the day, resigned to giving up on music, stewart started putting a synth drum beat together, and the vocals are her expressing hersef about how she is feeling. The cow was bought in as a comment on the absurdity of the music industry

[@keithkinkade4265]

You're gonna lose your mind when you hear " No More I Love You's ". Annie is simply amazing.

[@britishknightakaminininja1123]

^ THIS! ^ That's the exact song I immediately thought Elizabeth would simply adore and be mind-blown by. Annie Lennox is a genuine Diva, her voice the opera of the modern masses, and while it has power and a certain majesty in all her songs, "No More I Love Yous" is such a unique song for giving her the ability to showcase her range and talent.

[@VictorPM1550]

Nope... I never liked her version. Whenever it was on the radio, it made me long for the original by The Lover Speaks! Much more passion.

[@dalemac614]

There are so many omg all I need in life is Annie Lennox and Cyndi Lauper

[@stuartanderws5705]

Or the Savage album.

[@johnnyenglish33]

​@@VictorPM1550Yes couldnt agree more.

[@miguellecuyer8265]

Elizabeth discovers Annie Lennox and her world will never be the same.

[@joerosenman3480]

Finally!!

[@sirkat344]

She's heard Annie before. If no more than at the end of the 3rd Lord of the Rings film. This song however, is Annie's most well known. It will be fun!

[@fraymond3]

Such is life.

[@mrnoahlott]

@@sirkat344 Into the West makes me cry every single time

[@LibrarianMichael]

Sweet dreams are made of this!.

[@LolaDannst]

I'm 54 years old and "Sweet Dreams" is one of my alltime favourite songs. Annie's voice is amazing.

[@Kualinar]

That song came out when I was becoming fluent in English, about when I was starting to be able to follow the lyrics. That bring it into a special place in my memory.

[@alshirley3444]

45 here and yes I agree.

[@ShaYa21]

I'm just a little younger than you at 47 but same here, one of my favourite songs EVER.

[@krispypriest5116]

55 in a few weeks and this song got me into the Eurythmics. Had a crush on her so bad in the 80s. Didn't i see you on the dance floor? (JK!!!)

[@jakkdaniels6840]

50 here, amazing. Such a big song when it came out. Annie both scared and intrigued me at that time. In my top ten.

[@alanmitchell1132]

Annie and Bowie doing under pressure at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert is worth a watch.

[@Samael1113]

Was about to say that she's filled in for Mercury when doing Under Pressure with Bowie, but you beat me to it.

[@Jabberwok28]

Indeed!

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

The best part of that performance is when she's trying to be intimate with him, and he completely blanks her. It's hilarious.

[@TheOligoclonalBand]

I was really young then and the theatrics of that duo were a bit too much for me, but I somehow knew that I witnessed something amazing.

[@alanmitchell1132]

@TheOligoclonalBand I was about 14 and can remember watching the whole thing. Elton and Axel doing bohemian rhapsody was quite something to see. Robert Plant did crazy little thing which I remember being good.

[@kevinganje3356]

Pete Jackson snagged Lennox to sing the finale song in his Lord Of The Rings trilogy, "Into The West." Lennox gave us a powerful, emotional performance that near-perfectly sums up the sorrow, fear, hope, and joy that Tolkien's masterpiece conveys.

[@thormelsted]

And she earned herself a well deserved Oscar in the process.

[@Ethrianor]

@@thormelsted Beating out the Sting / Alison Krauss duet - love all 3 but glad Annie got it

[@gaffawebber]

He also snagged Emiliana Torrini to do "Golums Song". Her voice is also beautiful and unique.

[@haznick]

I just posted this song before seeing this comment. 100% agree.

[@k.s.k.7721]

She also sang "Love Song for a Vampire" on the end credits of "Bram Stoker's Dracula" by Francis Ford Coppola in 1992. The most beautiful, strange song. She wrote and composed this lovely song.

[@jeanpierreviergever1417]

The warm soulful voice of Annie Lennox in the frame of the ‘cold’ synthesizer sound is a magical combination.

[@liquidjoe71]

Totally agree, that combination just emphasizes the rich, soulful, humanity of Annie's voice. I feel the same way about Alison Moyet in her work with Yaz/Yazoo.

[@SofieBlakstad-ie2id]

I saw her recording once when I was in the business, I had never before seen anyone lay down a whole song without any flinches, wrong notes or re-records. She is absolutely astonishing.

[@k5sss]

Supposedly Karen Carpenter was the same.

[@davidareeves]

You certainly notice these people from the get-go. Even in my father's studio, quite a few prominent musicians came through over time, but when you seen them look up and admire a newcomer, you knew you were seeing something about to bloom.

[@paulbrut]

@@k5sss Any Experienced Singer, can sing without mistake, they practice before the event, memorise the lyrics, thats their Job ! Lol. So yes One takes - absolutely. Then there is the fact, that we as humans, are not metronomes -and Make mistakes everyday ! So Karen Carpenter- did have re -records on a bad day, as I am sure,did Annie Lennox. Often Adoration for an Artist- leads to Nobody willing to admit they too, are imperfect.

[@paulbrut]

So, you have never seen anyone live. sing a Whole song,in front of an audience, from start to finish and nail it ?

[@k5sss]

@@paulbrutI’ve been to hundreds of concerts, and while many were great, not one of them was studio quality singing. Most artists will record each phrase dozens of times, and the studio edits the best take of each together. That’s why it takes days to lay down each track in an album, and why they can’t replicate that sound on stage. In fact, many big artists have been caught lip syncing and/or using auto-tune at “live” concerts. And now that we have track isolation software, it’s trivial to show most of them are actually faking their performances-and shows how incredible the few are who don’t.

[@bawbagindustries]

The most mind-blowing thing; this entire album was recorded at home on an Fostex A-8 home studio tape recorder in 1982. Absolutely unbelievable production skills.

[@RockerfellerRothchild1776]

That's the 80s ! It literally set the standard for the next 50 years of pop music and underground music

[@FoolsDiary]

It was such a good album ad it lead to such wonderful electronic music lol

[@stamfordly6463]

Ah but if you can actually sing and play then you don't need to feck around with endless effects and tricks, do you?

[@pastaalalamborghini]

The nostalgia for early production is starting to get a little annoying and played out. It's not unbelievable, its what they had to work with at the time and within their budget. The fact that everyone is so reliant on post production now speaks to how lazy (or talentless) the industry has become while leaning on the crutch of post corrections and effects

[@j.f.fisher5318]

​@@stamfordly6463I can sympathize but, you see that expression on her face at the first beats of the song? Funny thing is there was a documentary about them and it cut to a commercial after a single "dun" and there was no other song it could be, the mixing of the effects is that distinctive.

[@grytlappar]

This created quite the stir when it was released (in MTV's infancy). _That_ voice. _That_ song. And then _her_ and her charisma and adrgynous beauty. Instant hit! I don't anyone watched that video and then forgot about it. You don't forget Annie!! Damned, what a song.

[@MrEjwheeler]

You have to do a reaction to "There Must Be An Angel". - Annie's incredible vocals - Operatic backing vocals - A gospel choir - A man dressed as a unicorn - A Stevie Wonder harmonica solo What more could you want?

[@MagicRat]

Spud Gun dressed as an angel……

[@JohnK-ph3vw]

I remember this song and video (was a heavy MTV watcher in my youth)-beauty with the voice of an Angel. *chefs kiss*🤌

[@MrHws5mp]

Seconded.

[@leithahyde8072]

Totally agree. "There must be an angel" is an amazing song and probably my favourite Eurythmics song. Annie sounded amazing

[@miguimau]

It's an overdubbed track. Kinda corny. It's awesome.

[@kennywilkus1632]

When people talk about the best voices of the 80’s, you rarely hear Annie mentioned. Her voice is incredible!

[@jeanmc4213]

And yet they totally broke MYV?

[@_emh]

Annie Lennox, Elizabeth Fraser, Sade, Whitney Houston, Sinead O'Connor... for sure Annie's in that top tier from the 80s!

[@meursault-ey7wq]

Bonnie Tyler

[@RichardOliver]

​@@jeanmc4213What's MYV, please?

[@GodmanchesterGoblin]

​Alison Moyet - so different from Annie Lennox, but equally outstanding.

[@zivo24]

Annie was training to be a classical flutist but left school just weeks before graduating because she knew it wasn’t her destiny. She met Dave Stewart while waitressing. They bonded over music and became a couple. She nursed him out of his heroin use. They formed a band, Ths Tourists, which enjoyed moderate success but ultimately broke up - as did Annie and Dave, but they formed Eurythmics from those ashes. Now they’re in the Rock Hall of Fame. And the Songwriters Hall of Fame. A woman who planning a life as a member of an orchestra is now regarded as one of the greatest white soul singers ever. She’s a legend and an icon.

[@lounolastname4477]

Dave never used Heroin. He used cocaine and speed.

[@pokerface8242]

If ever there was a Charismatic Voice, it belongs to Annie Lennox. Great reaction, Elizabeth.

[@edwardmunoz7853]

Well said my friend 👊

[@martinconnelly1473]

There's a good reason she was chosen to sing Into The West for the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Wistful, yet powerful and clear.

[@jeffreywillis4258]

Annie Lennox is classically trained. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1970 to 1973, where she received training in classical flute, piano, and harpsichord. Her classical training contributed to her musicianship and her ability to incorporate a wide range of musical styles into her work. She is of course much older now, her voice shows the strain of half a century of vocal work but she is still a musicians musician. You should check out some of her tributes. There is a youtube video of her reuniting with Stewart to perform "Fool on the Hill" for Paul and Ringo in front of a star studded audience. There is another for Sting.

[@thechomiji]

She did a lovely job on "Into the West" for the last Lord of the Rings movie.

[@DanFan2042]

I'll look for the video. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@wendellbarnhouse4852]

I'm 70. Three of the best voices in music I've heard over the last 50 years are Annie Lennox, Pat Benatar and Linda Rondstat. I know you've analyzed a Benatar song but can I recommend you listen to "Promises In The Dark." And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check out Linda. Her vocal range is amazing.

[@par500dragon7]

I'd have to include k d Lang!

[@dawnm1063]

agree with this comment 100%

[@georgeharris6851]

Anne Wilson, Dolores Riordan, Debbie Harry, Grace Slick, and Aimee Mann, along with your 3 are my top female rock voices. Pop is a different list. Linda is also partially responsible for the Eagles forming, as several, including Don and Glen were in her touring band.

[@michaelsamse84]

Try "Here comes the rain again"! Haunting, beautiful video and in my opinion vocally their best song bar none. The live version(s) are also musically fantastic, but the video is a masterpiece (like this one and "Beethoven").

[@ChrisLegner-qp1yh]

Excellent suggestion.

[@michaelsharpe4217]

Here comes the rain again"! ; reactt PLEASE

[@hayleyscomet4380]

Yes!! Great suggestion 🙌🏼 also “Walking on Broken Glass”

[@xrr101]

"Here cones the rain again" LIVE, 1986 ("revenge tour" or concert for nelson mandela), their best version live

[@jaapsch2]

It's my favourite Eurythmics song. I also love "Julia", a somewhat forgotten song from the soundtrack to "1984".

[@lea-anne9133]

Alison Moyet should be explored on the channel. She is a highly underrated vocalist❤

[@snezeire]

Where Hides Sleep: anthem of every insomniac.

[@madmanasaurusRex]

All cried out Or any YAZ/YAZOO

[@tonydegouveia9256]

Alison is a phenomenal vocalist.

[@jirimondo]

Alison Moyet & related (Yaz -> Erasure) was a great sound of the 80s. As far as female vocalists, Alison & Anita Baker were really two great female voices of the 80's

[@harvey66616]

Couldn't agree more! Though, maybe "underappreciated" is a better description than "underrated". No one who has actually _heard_ Moyet is likely to be caught underrating her, but lack of broader appreciation for her artistry means many people haven't even heard of her. Her output, with Yazoo (Yaz in the US) and solo, is a bit spotty as far as volume and frequency goes, but all worth a listen. My favorite is her album Hoodoo. Not a bad song on the record, but I'd say "It Won't Be Long", "This House", and the title track "Hoodoo" are a great place to start. "This House" gets her way down in her range, and "Hoodoo" shows off her distortion. I'm not as big a fan of her more pop-oriented records, but they still show off her amazing vocal skills. Another fabulous Moyet recording is her performance of the classic Christmas carol, "The Coventry Carol". Moyet has the song on her KZbin channel. It's from a Christmas album recorded by a bunch of different pop musicians in the 80's, called "A Very Special Christmas" (another great cut off that is Sting's "Gabriel's Message").

[@katiegwynn4495]

I'm 51 and I've had the same recurring sweet dream since I was 15. In my dream I'm little and fishing off the end of the dock with my grandpa. It's a sweet dream, though I always wake from it in tears. I miss my grandparents

[@jacobia7093]

That’s beautiful 🥲

[@rechargeandrelax1618]

🤗

[@darrenevans9862]

You know its going to be a classic when Elizabeth giggles and shivers

[@williamthelast1]

It's a classic since 40 years. But yes Elisabeth discovers the classicism of those two people !!! Unbelievable !!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@fidacuca]

Every video then?

[@gersongerson3293]

@@fidacucaBut sneeze, it’s the first time.

[@daemoe158]

Shiver and quiff?

[@KayButtonJay]

Dudes in KZbin comments continue to be creepy

[@johnathansaegal3156]

Dave Stewart has been collaborating with so many high-level rock n rollers that his resume is packed with top-list names. Everyone credits Eurythmics with Annie Lennox and for good reason, but Dave Stewart is the genius behind their sound. He's not just a synth player, he's an accomplished musician on many instruments.

[@singingfan]

One of my very favorite Celine Dion songs “Taking Chances” was thanks to him.

[@filliusfogg1957]

@@singingfan He wrote "Don't come around here no more" for Tom Petty too

[@nadermansour7487]

He wrote for Alison Moyet as well.

[@Jemraine]

Lily Was Here, with saxophonist Candy Dulfer, is one of my favourite instrumental pieces.

[@jerr7670]

The way she layers her voice in the background on her songs. It's almost orchestral. Love her!

[@fennec13]

Annie Lennox is an unmitigated legend, try some of her stuff like "why", "walking on broken glass" , "little bird" , "love song for a vampire" or "into the west" trust me - any of those will knock your socks off.

[@haznick]

Little Bird is a great song. Definitely a favourite of mine.

[@DaveRoberts308]

Forgot about Little Bird. Yes! Walking on Broken Glass is one of my favorites.

[@davidmuller9938]

Lennox had classical music training for years before she started her career. She studied classical piano, flute and singing. She is a contralto with big range (she shows it in "There must be an angel")

[@Manageode]

Studied harpsichord, also.

[@michaelsharpe4217]

"There must be an angel" is one of thheir best

[@colincampbell4261]

Thanks for info.

[@brendaerickson678]

the one I thought of too.

[@lounolastname4477]

She didn’t study singing at the Royal College of Music

[@amt9289]

Always loved Annie Lennox. Well I had/have cancer. Her sound energized me and gave the strength to get through it. When I lost my hair and when it came started growing back my friends would say I really rocked the Annie Lennox look.

[@AlBarzUK]

I just want to mention Dave Stewart’s choice of ‘voice’ for the synthesiser. It matches the mood and lends a certain style. There are many thousands of choices he could have gone with. This was a magical piece of the jigsaw of production.

[@Le3eFrereBrunet]

I cannot remember where I heard it, but the lead synth was composed by Annie herself…

[@tezzrterry7485]

They had very little to work with on their very basic synth. This was written and part recorded in a small flat, when they were broke, and were about to give up on music. Awesome.

[@lounolastname4477]

Actually the second synth was already programmed with that sound. Dave was playing about on their synth and Annie grabbed another, which had the sound pre-programmed. Dave also inverted the drums.

[@bendalton5221]

you gotta listen to "Here Comes the Rain Again" you just gotta.. it's haunting, melodic, really amazing

[@Random_user_8472]

Exactly!

[@DeniseVioletta]

Yes please do that one!!

[@freelightexpress]

YES......watch and react to the official Video.....its epic! one of their classics

[@FluidKaos]

Wow! I think that last section Elizabeth kept looping out of sheer joy had at least 5 vocal layers! Main vocals + doubling, a higher register backup, a barely audible operatic oooh in the same note as the main, and the wailing. All that over just a synth drum beat. The production on this song is amazing!

[@eridan-zumaya]

Eurythmics’s “Here Comes The Rain Again” ❤ “There’s Must Be An Angel” 💜💜🎶🎶🎶💜💜

[@evahanson7681]

I ALWAYS forget about Here Comes the Rain Again. Going to add it to the playlist!!

[@Biyobi.]

"Here Comes the Rain Again" is such a fantastic blend between the synthesizer, classical instruments, and Annie's phenomenal voice.

[@eridan-zumaya]

@@evahanson7681 😃🤜⭐️🤛😃

[@eridan-zumaya]

@@Biyobi. 😃🤜⭐️🤛😃

[@thechomiji]

Love Here Comes the Rain Again!

[@xtop23]

Next one from them you have to do “Would I Lie To You.” Annie absolutely kills it.

[@Lyeah73]

I second this! It’s my favorite!

[@Wintertier]

I like to say this alot lately: I love watching people do something they really love and enjoy. Nothing makes me happier and we humans need more of this. And you and your reaction to Annie is just delightful

[@johnisenhart4243]

"I am a woman and I AM AWESOME" is probably my favorite description of Annie Lennox. Props for that insightful observation! :-)

[@johnisenhart4243]

Since everyone is already pinging for No More I Love Yous, I'd like to propose another favorite of mine: Love is a Stranger. Absolutely love that song, So haunting.

[@stevenspicer4873]

Try the video of "Would I Lie to You" for more of that I am woman and I am awesome.

[@georgeharris6851]

"Women are doing it on their own" is one oh her songs that symbolizes her thoughts on being her own woman.

[@aleksanderdomanski222]

Song was written during band's lowest of the low. They just bought new synthesizer that turned out to have some inproper wiring so it sounded weird. They were broke thanks to that. So, instead sitting and crying they used that weird sound then added Annie's lyrics about being dissilusioned by music industry (Yes, it is a song about music industry) . And it turned to be a hit that turned everything around.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

It's a really inspirational story about how sometimes being in a dark place is what it takes to create something incredible.

[@TheNotedHero]

thanks, I was looking for this hoping someone had the right info!

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

@@j.f.fisher5318 yeah... talk about ''The Poet and the Pendulum''

[@shunte8]

So this recording is over 40 years old. It was recorded in their home studio and at a studio in a converted church - both on the cheap. Released in early 1983 it went to number two in the UK pop charts, and number one in the U, S, and A, The song proceeded to launch the duo worldwide. So at 40+ years old there's no electronic manipulation and certainly no generative AI. If I remember correctly they recorded on very basic equipment, the only fancy equipment they had was an 8-track, a monophonic synth, and a drum machine that cost the lofty price of 2000 pounds. The synth was a cheap as chips Roland SH-101 - in all its monophonic glory. Their previous band was The Tourists, which after minimal success had broken up a year or so earlier - Sweet Dreams is about that break-up and the music industry in general. Lennox was classically trained at Royal Academy of Music but dropped out before graduating.

[@lounolastname4477]

10:44 this sound was made by Dave and Annie hitting milk bottles

[@mwheelonh]

Annie's voice, for me, has always been like a vocal laser, like just being hit with a concentrated beam of pure Voice.

[@richardchocolas8800]

Annie Lennox has one of the greatest voices in the world. It is so satisfying

[@tyghe_bright]

I was a HUGE Eurythmics fan, and owned all of their albums, including the first one they made in Germany. As beautiful as much of Annie's solo work has been, I feel like Dave Stewart was able to bring out something special with his arrangements and production.

[@zenarcher9633]

Annie Lennox one of Scotland's great musical treasures, the Pride of Aberdeen.

[@davidjohns4745]

Everything good that comes from Scotland is Scottish, but everything good that comes from England is British.

[@adamplace1414]

As a forty year old man I will happily (and badly) belt out any Annie Lennox song while I'm driving. "Walking on Broken Glass" is especially good.

[@johnoglesby-vw7ck]

62 older dude and right there with ya!

[@erick5821]

I'll split the difference between you two. 51 and I do the same!

[@SirHeinzbond]

no matter how old walking on broken glass is just as perfect as it can be....

[@trapperjakk]

@@johnoglesby-vw7ck This 50 year old puts in a solid effort to belt her high range still....to varying success!!! one of the best vocalists to ever live!

[@module79l28]

Even if it was released before you were born, which means that when you first heard the song it was already well over 10 years old. 🙂

[@dougoneill7266]

Annie is one of the most striking and serious players in an often (mostly) frivolous industry. Defying the need to be buttonholed by media commentators she was and is a fierce warrior, representing those less privaleged in the world. Massive respect for her.

[@JeffreyLByrd]

As a retired classical musician, who spent a fair amount of my career playing in opera orchestras, this is why I love watching this channel. Where else can you see someone bring Minimalism and Glass’s Ahknaten while analyzing Annie Lennox.

[@lesliedavis2185]

Gotta love Akhenaten. I like opera and metal, lol. I sing opera chorus, I know who sings better than me sigh

[@lipgloss202]

40 years later and I still love this song.

[@marsy1480]

It’s a bit wondrous, what a song!

[@albamartinez4987]

Imagine hearing this as a 14 year old when nothing like this had been heard before. I felt the same shivers as you...and was obsessed. We were so so spoilt with such amazing music in the 80s. For another amazing vocalist from the 80s you should hear Alison Moyet in Yazoo. My fave back then was Don't Go. She was the Adele of the 80s ❤

[@scotmark]

Indeed, Alf & Vince were a great duo just like Annie & Dave.

[@johnhayes6414]

Reason for using the COW. It's a metaphor. The song is about being used by the industry and the cost of fame. The members of the band are liking themselves to livestock

[@tamfuwing1]

Absolutely correct. Was looking for this comment. Aimed at the music industry.

[@johnoglesby-vw7ck]

@@johnhayes6414 Same with the lyrics

[@celestinomoya4470]

And, all those “oooh”s are actually “mooo”s. U just have to listen really closely.

[@gameh4x]

Heard that when Seth Godin came out with his book "Purple Cow", Dave Stewart joked that they already had one.

[@brians933]

Plus the cow (named Cowtherine) often played the cowbell parts in their music.

[@bryonburrell9509]

So overjoyed that you've finally dipped into Eurythmics and the singing hole that is Annie Lennox. I do believe that she is severely underrated when top female vocalists are brought to to discussion. Thank you Elizabeth, that was an entrée of Awesome Sauce 👌

[@greendragonpublishing]

SEVERELY underrated. She has incredible range, control, talent, and endurance as a sensation.

[@muce1998]

The line "who am I to disagree" as she points to the gold records... Chef's kiss

[@matthewhead1465]

Annie Lennox is an absolute marvel. Her vocal talents are truly incredible, she can sing anything flawlessly.

[@carlettoburacco9235]

As a teenager, when this song just came out, I found myself with thousands of others like me in an amphitheater gym with spectacular acoustics for the opening of a gymnastics event. The organizers decided to open the ceremony with two songs at a volume just a notch below exaggerated. One song was Barbra Streisand - Woman in Love and the other was Sweet Dreams. By the end half the girls had tears in their eyes....... and a third of the boys too..... and it wasn't because the volume was too high. When just one ooohhh-ooo sends shivers down your spine you know you're listening to something special.

[@troysimpkins4528]

Annie Lennox is one of the greatest singers of the past 50 years and her voice has a depth, character and soul that you can just get lost in. She and Dave Stewart had some truly iconic hits in the 1980s, but Annie only got better as she moved into her solo career into the late 1980s and 1990s (I specifically recommend the 1992 album Diva, and especially the song Little Bird). Even 20 years later, in her 2014 album called "Nostalgia," where she covers some all-time classics of the American songbook, her voice is still so complex and moving. She is one of my all-time favorite musical artists.

[@Cadinho93]

Annie Lennox is a shapeshifter kinda like David Bowie was. Always evolving, always different, always exquisitely artistic and dramatic. She's still doing it, too. Also, Annie Lennox is one of the great vocalists EVER, not just the '80s. The woman is AMAZING and Dave Stewart is a genius as well.

[@Merzui-kg8ds]

Great comparison betw Bowie and Annie

[@adamplace1414]

I always have a special place for artists who just made whatever the hell music they wanted two, and those two are great examples. Beck and Warren Zevon are two others that jump out.

[@leftcoaster67]

Bowie never worked with Annie correct? What a missed chance for music.

[@russelmurphy4868]

@@leftcoaster67 They did "Under Pressure" at the Freddie Mercury Memorial Concert. Look it up. Worth while.

[@mikegraham4255]

@@leftcoaster67Amazing duet at the Freddie Mercury tribute.

[@TheMolesRevenge]

Since we were asked about sweet dreams, I offer the following: "Sweet dreams are made of cheese, Who am I to dis a brie? Cheddar the world and the feta cheese, Everybody's looking for Stilton, Some of them want the Gouda, Some of them want the Danish blue, Some of them are emmental, Some of them want to be fondue...."

[@BRIDINC1972]

😂😂😂

[@musiclistsareus1029]

​@@BRIDINC1972everybody is looking for Munster

[@musiclistsareus1029]

​@@BRIDINC1972everybody is looking for Munster

[@marynorris8800]

Hilarious 😂

[@Le3eFrereBrunet]

Where’s the Parmesan!

[@John-tr5hn]

Her solo song "Cold" is spectacular as well, and the lyrics are very simple, but deep.

[@tinatown73]

This is what I was looking for! I love her voice in "Cold". I could & have listened to it over & over again.

[@Just-Rob]

As always I love your review and reaction to this song. You asked for our interpretation of it's meaning. Professor of Rock does a really good review of this song, and provides incite to it and the duo. Apparently, they were down to their last bit of money when they made this and down on their luck. They were incredibly disillusioned and abused by the music industry. Their previous group, The Tourists has just broken up. Annie was laying on the floor in the fetal position crying because she felt her music career was over. Dave had just spent the last of their money on a drum machine and a Roland 101 synthesizer. He began playing this riff on the machine (which he had inadvertently recorded backwards) and Annie came to life. She came up with these lyrics. She had spoken of "real monsters" in the music business. This song is about the cruelty and abuse found in the music industry as well as in society as a whole, but there is hope ... (Hold your head up ... Keep your head up ... Movin' on ...) Ref: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqLchHdmrMx7nK8si=ZJ_rGuJG8fsG2VDS (Professor of Rock)

[@bwcbiz]

Monsters and Barracudas...I wonder if she ever commiserated with Nancy Wilson.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

I recommend the storytelling style in the Trash Theory video. And the sarcastic sense of humor is on point. Also I was shocked how regressive the response to Annie's style was which imo puts a lot of modern stuff going on today in a new light.

[@Tampahop]

Now you need to catch Annie Lennox and David Bowie doing "Under Pressure" at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on April 20, 1992.

[@Joreel]

An amazing tribute concert that definitely honored him.

[@Stereotype5346]

Dear Elizabeth, This was "The Eurythmics" debut L.P., Dave Stewart had studio production experience. He only had an 8-track tape machine, so he went for a minimal production using sparse instrumentation. 4 vocal tracks, 1 main synth melody, 1 bass synth (here & there), 1 bass drum, 1 snare drum. So mixed in a proper studio there's a lot of bass & melody synth that Annie sings over. The vocals were recorded well & mixed upfront with a great reverb. Annie sang all of the vocals except for the 'soulful wailing'. "Here Comes The Rain" is a full studio production by them worthy of examination.

[@thomask8345]

Yes, yes, yes!!! 😃 More Annie, please... She's done so many amazing songs... "Why"... "No more I love you's"... "Into the West"... "Wonderful"... the list goes on an on... she is truly one of a kind.

[@lazurusknight2724]

First recommendation I've seen with her solo stuff!

[@pippagrey9633]

@@lazurusknight2724 I just added a suggestion for Walking on Broken Glass. Went and watched the video, the layered vocals are there and I think they are all her. And Hugh Laurie is in it!

[@BreetaiZentradi]

Adding to the list "Love Is a Stranger", "Here comes the rain again", "Adrian", and "Sisters are doing it for themselves". Anyone who is not put to shame singing soul next to Aretha Franklin is the real deal. Annie could do it.

[@armorer94]

It is hard to understand now how different and new this was when it first came out. It blew people's minds.

[@diamonddavefuller6136]

You should give Marylion mansons version a look. The contrast between the two songs is amazing. Both are beautiful in their own way.

[@brianesteve283]

Completely agree. The Manson version has a nightmare vibe to it.

[@spazclone2000]

Manson version is amazing but so are the original and Emily Browning versions. Each one has its own feel and brings something new to the table

[@DavidF-y4t]

Lennox went toe to toe with Aretha Franklin - and matched her. You can't argue with those pipes, they're incredible.

[@MHomer-mr6ch]

The next song should be "Would I Lie To You?" This song showcases their versatile style from "Sweet Dreams" to this song! And.. it rocks!!

[@KhajiitMoon]

I first heard this at a young age because of the movie Striptease. I became infatuated with Eurythmics and have loved them and Annie since. Such a strong, defining female artist for so many!

[@cyranoboughton874]

The cow in the music video for 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)' was Dave Stewart's idea, who was inspired by surrealist artists like Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel. "A few people were saying, 'Dave, why the cow? Annie is so good-looking'" he later commented. "Those people should go buy a copy of Purple Cow by Seth Dogin, about how to make your business remarkable. It was written 20 years after I had the purple cow in our video - which certainly did the trick and made my whole life remarkable." Not only did the cow baffle fans at the time, it also caused several logistical problems as there wasn't any major studios that could accommodate such animals, so the music video was shot in a London basement. Annie Lennox admitted filming in a basement with a cow was one of the most surreal experiences of her life, saying: "The video is a statement about the different forms of existence. Here are humans, with our dreams of industry and achievement and success. And here is a cow."

[@philliplee6824]

The cow first shows up at "movin' on" so doesn't that mean it's actually a "moo-vin' on" pun?

[@drunvert]

..........and here's a cow

[@ShawnNowlan]

I fell in love with Annie Lennox's sound when I was 15 - i.e. just after this song first came out. Raised on classical music, what I loved the most was how this was both popular music, but also so deeply musical. And it has aged so very very well - at least in the opinion of this Annie Lennox fan.

[@ZepeDebo]

I saw them in '86. I had not heard a whole lot of their music but I loved Annie Lonnox' voice. I was expecting a night of synth rock. What I got was a night of Annie and Dave absolutely rocking out. Dave Stewart is a monster on guitars and Annie's voice chimed, floated, and wailed through the night. It was amazing.

[@beesoftheinvisible4021]

It is surprising to listen to her in interviews and hear the Scottish accent. Such a stunning singer. Beautiful.

[@philgrossman660]

I met Dave Stewart 34 years ago. He came to see a band that was at my university and I was on the ENTS. He's a really down to earth guy, really likeable, I spent about 2 hours or so looking after him, it was a real pleasure,. He's a genuine gentleman and a super charismatic person.

[@AdyHutch]

There are a lot of amazing Eurythmics songs that deserve reviewing. Annie's voice is one of my all time favorite female voices. Once you hear a selection of her songs, you can then appreciate how good she really is.

[@direnova6284]

Annie's "Why" is iconic and the video is beautiful.

[@dragon-ed1hz]

I also highly recommend the "Annie Lennox Why Live 2000" video. One of the most soulful performances ever.

[@user-kq5yf5wg9x]

Agree!! 💯

[@susanpilling8849]

I agree too. It's absolutely my favourite but the whole Diva album is great. 🩵

[@MrBruinman86]

Annie Lennox is a fabulous singer. Her first solo album, after the breakup of the Eurythmics, has some beautiful singing on it. "Cry" and "walking on Broken Glass" come to mind.

[@Kcee118]

Annie Lennox is LEGEND! 💖 Had to smile over Elizabeth's own 'deeper' voice during the first five mins of the vid as she was describing Annie's lower tones, as if she was subconsciously emulating Annie. Afterwards, I could hear her revert to her normal voice. ☺ This video is GOLD! 🌟

[@camibels]

Elizabeth! The actress that made you remember Annie's look is Jane Lynch 🙌🏻

[@alwolfy1782]

Yes I agree. I was about to write this.

[@richdukester]

What’s even more impressive is that she did all the vocals. One of my favorite female artists!!

[@charlesmellor3557]

This single, and Annie Lennox's voice and sheer presence in particular, blew me away when it was released, and it never loses its appeal. It's timeless. But I've never appreciated it more than after your deep dive into the minutiae of vocal delivery, and your obvious joy in the process. Also really liked your tip-of-the-hat to Great Gig in the Sky, the studio version with Clare Torry's astounding vocal improvisation, one of my all-time favourite tracks, along with Sweet Dreams of course. Thank you.

[@timaustin2000]

Love the story of the recording of this. Annie and Dave were in the studio. Their work hadn't been selling well and she was depressed, thinking they'd never make it. Just sat on the floor in one corner, upset. Then he started playing around on the synth and came up with the baseline and it was a lightning moment. Recorded in a day. Made their careers. Hence "sweet dreams" the dreams of success Annie was having on that floor.

[@cuoresportivo155]

she does point at 2 gold records on the wall behind her....

[@cobba42]

@@cuoresportivo155 Studios are most often shared or rented spaces...

[@eljanrimsa5843]

@@cobba42 they had their own studio, but no money left, and still lived together to save rent besides not being romantically involved anymore. it's a fascinating story about two very talented people giving up a lot to follow their dreams, staying true to their musical vision, and still believing in themselves and finding success

[@j.f.fisher5318]

The studio was a rented second floor commercial space and DIY equipment. The advantage was they could work at their own pace.

[@Danjite]

But without the video the song would not have been a mega hit. MTV had very few things to play in this era and this was in incredible rotation

[@_emh]

Along with Elizabeth Fraser and Sade, Annie Lennox is among my three favorite female vocalists from the 80s. Definitely need to add "No More I Love Yous" and "Walking on Broken Glass" to the must-listen list!

[@scotmark]

And two of those are Scottish! I'd definitely like to see our host check out her namesake: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fne6fH1oe7qcd7M

[@stuartlawson6991]

Annie Lennox's voice is one of the most unique musical instruments in the history of music

[@Mhantrax]

Oh man, this song and video blew out minds when it first released. I was in middle school and decided that if I could channel Annie Lennox I would be more badass than any other guy in the school. I was completely unable to channel Annie Lennox. 😢

[@colinneagle4495]

Don't be too hard on yourself, Annie Lennox is tough to duplicate!

[@def1ghi]

Same.

[@plutothe9th361]

Elizabeth, PLEASE listen to "Love is a Stranger" by Eurythmics. In the same vein, Yaz "Midnight" or "Situation" would be right up your alley.

[@theknave69]

That's my favorite Eurythmics song. I love Annie Lennox.

[@LiquidFranz]

seconding the request for Yaz "midnight" or "situation"

[@amymikesparks2699]

@@LiquidFranzThirding the request for “Midnight”

[@seanmurphy637]

Yes please. My choice too.

[@fusiliers]

Another request for "Midnight", or "Situation", or "Winter Kills", or really almost any Yaz song.

[@timcotterill3952]

Another EXCELLENT music lesson. This guitarist has learned so much about music, tone, & exploring the voice over the years of watching. I’ve even started to experiment with using my voice. Can’t play & sing yet… but I’m trying at least. Love your work Mam, regards to the husband & little one. You’re all very impressive. Come see the music in Oz. 🇦🇺🐾🎸🎼❤️

[@jeangentry6656]

Another song you might like, from when Annie Lennox became a solo artist, is "Why"

[@robertadams998]

Beat me to it. Her live performance of this is amazing.

[@wojopf88a]

The song that dealt with the band and marriage breakup of the eruthmics

[@NatureOkie]

Why? ...the Marika Gombitova song?

[@necessaryevil3428]

👏

[@Rjhs001]

Oh yes, Why is heartbreakingly beautiful. Good recommendation.

[@davidrauh8118]

Incredible diction. Her pronunciation is so clean you can understand every syllable with awesome clarity. Double or triple harmony makes it that much more mezmerizing.

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

It was so fun watching you nerd out over this song. This is one of those songs where I remember exactly where I was when I first heard it. It was 1983, I was 14, just got home from school and turned on MTV, after a few minutes they played this video and it completely shook my world. This was just before Madonna and Cyndi Lauper hit the scene. Annie had so much swagger, style and confidence in this video she was just undeniable. Here was this white woman who sounded like Aretha Franklin and dressed like a man. This just wasn't done back then. I felt like I had witnessed the future.

[@ddttrrb72]

I remember the first time I saw this on MTV. I just stopped and stared. Mesmerized

[@MarkChen-m8n]

"Those were the days,my friend!"

[@rudolphpyatt4833]

@@MarkChen-m8n “I want my (old) MTV!” (I would even settle for NBC’s Friday Night Videos, which is how I first heard this song).

[@CB-kj6xw]

Me too. Room full of teenagers shut up and watched, speechless.

[@joergojschaefer3521]

No comment, but a suggestion: Annie Lennox and David Bowie's homage to Freddie Mercury - Under Pressure -

[@billsplanet]

"Love is a Stranger" would be a good one to do next. It's from the same album, and her high notes make my arm hairs stand on end every time.

[@TheFalconerNZ]

Eurythmics were magic with vocalist Annie Lennox and musician/producer Dave Stewart breaking many music & social barriers. Annie Lennox's look in this video was both shocking & controversial as it had never been done before, "A Woman in a Men's suit & her Hair colour, what is she doing?" I loved the Eurythmics for their unique & experimental music styles as they didn't fall into the "Different song, same formula" rut that many groups do, they liked to play with what they were doing. Eurythmics - A smorgasbord of love & pain, joy & sadness, regret & hope, amazement & wonder - all served in delightful dishes of perfection. Enjoy the journey Elizabeth.

[@Merzui-kg8ds]

It is interesting living through the entire history of MTV from the beginning until now. One can learn a great deal not just about music history, but sound tech and vid tech history, as well as social history. Hey you, who needs a master's thesis topic.....

[@johnoglesby-vw7ck]

I watched this premiere on MTv and decided Annie was beautiful, regardless of her appearance ❤

[@majonkie]

Yes! I find it hard to believe it’s been over 40 years since this song was released. It still feels fresh and relevant to me today. Annie is still a fabulous singer and I’m still a fan ❤

[@plutz6901]

M​@@majonkie

[@voiceofraisin3778]

Shocking to the point that the Us government wouldnt let her into the country until she was able to prove that she wasnt a man doing a drag act! God knows why, whether they were scared about trans people or her passport said female and they had trouble believing it!

[@michaelmaltzer]

You don’t know how exactly perfectly you have understood annie lenox with just hearing her voice

[@ennuieffect]

In the 80s, we had female pop stars like Madonna, Whitney Houston, Cindy Lauper, Debbie Gibson, Dale Bozzio, and even Grace Jones. Each had their own style, but when it comes to Annie Lennox, nobody could touch her range, power, and cadence (the exception being Whitney Houston). Her style and voice were clearly her own, and her talent reached far beyond her contemporaries. She blended soul with a punk-rock/new wave aesthetic, making her style unique, with only Alison Moyet of Yaz (UK “Yazoo”) having similar characteristics. I would highly recommend Yazoo when you get a chance, if only to compare.

[@lonepigeon68]

"Sweet Dreams" is a great song to start with and I'm guessing after experiencing that you'll want much more. Next Eurythmics song I'd suggest "Here Comes the Rain Again" then "Love is A Stranger" then possibly some of Annie Lennox's solo material such as "Why". Nobody has a voice like Annie Lennox, and there hasn't been a duo quite like Eurythmics with Dave Stewart and his talent as a musician/producer/songwriter/etc.

[@nickmcp7191]

All great recommendations, but if there's one Eurythmics number everyone should hear, it's When Tomorrow Comes. It's my go-to song when I'm having a rough day.

[@joshdv4977]

Here Comes the Rain Again is my favorite Eurythmics song. Fully support this.

[@MrGadfly772]

Annie Lennox is astounding.

[@KhajiitMoon]

Vocal layering can really create a scoundscape that is jaw dropping. While live performances really showcase vocal talent rawness, production can really add those extra sparkles to take music to the next level. I've mostly suggested live performances of Dir En Grey, but their album versions are also worth a look. The first example that comes to mind when talking about vocal layering is Magayasou. The haunting effects Kyo achieves through layering his own voice are too cool.

[@brianh9358]

Annie Lennox has an extensive solo catalog of music also. Difficult to list them all here, but I would take a listen to "Why?", "Walking on Broken Glass?" , "No More I Love Yous", "Little Bird", and "Into the West - Closing them from Lord of the Rings".

[@iluvj50]

To me, Annie Lennox has a voice that is both icy and warm. Amazing.

[@lounolastname4477]

That is a great description - I would totally agree 👍

[@AlanRogers250]

You have to remember that this song was recorded in 1983! It is NOT a modern composition. It was a pioneer in the genre. Annie Lennox also sang the ending song in the film, "The Lord Of The Rings - The Return Of The King", in which she won an Oscar. Famously The Beatles were one of the first to apply multi tracking to their music starting with their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

[@nicholashylton6857]

Contemporary mainstream artists would try something like this, sadly.

[@CarlGorn]

You're thinking, I believe, of Jane Lynch. She wasn't the principal in Glee, she was the cheerleading coach, who was always plotting to destroy the glee club because it split the focus of two members of the cheer squad. Which she viewed as a threat to her ability to win cheerleading competitions. Fun Fact: Before Glee, she had a small one-off role on Gilmore Girls, playing a front desk nurse who had the misfortune of dealing with Emily after Richard had his first bout of angina. Brilliantly played, just the right blend of snark and longsuffering.

[@klausheinrich1791]

She also did a recent stint as host for The Weakest Link in the US.

[@macmcleod1188]

She also had a great bit as a recurring therapist in "two and a half men."

[@tattycakes2k2]

Also spotted her in the fugitive the other day!

[@michelleponzio]

She also played Diana Reid in Criminal Minds

[@leileyaravencroft]

I love Jane Lynch. She is so delightful in the characters she’s played. I think my favorite role of hers was “Dog Show”. I also loved when she played Spencer Reid’s mother too.

[@p2va73xc6j3]

About time for a Marilyn Manson follow up...

[@johnbunker6224]

I was 13 when this song came out and I was TOTALLY in love and awe of Anne Lennox. Her voice was and still is AMAZING!! So glad Elizabeth is finally listening and appreciating her!

[@timgorman2437]

To get an idea of her range, would love to see you react to “There Must Be an Angel”, “Missionary Man”, “No Fear, No Hate, No Pain (No Broken Hearts)”, or her solo song “Walking on Broken Glass”.

[@MarkChen-m8n]

Yes, Missionary Man!

[@fanbase6297]

and "Cold" played live at the BBC One Sessions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/robVpnRmj9ejnZY

[@vinniedixon1140]

Marilyn Manson cover of this song is epic, a must watch.

[@derangedband]

I always wanted to see her take on a Manson song! I've been listening a lot since his recent come back!

[@tiagogontar379]

Conheci a versão do Marilyn Manson primeiro.

[@JDK516]

Eurythmics were masters of combining soul and machine sounds. Annie continued that style in later solo work. It's one of my favorite things about her/their songs.