Who's That Girl?

Seeing that the Eurythmics didn't waste much time getting sucked up into the New Pop sweepstakes of the early Eighties, it's easy to forget how startlingly weird their early singles and videos were. 

And seeing that she spent most of her time running around in an orange crewcut and a man-tailored suit, it's easy to forget that Annie Lennox was actually also startlingly beautiful in her day. 

"Love is a Stranger" is probably my favorite single and video from the band, and not only because Annie is in female drag. More like there's something at once both timeless and yet absolutely of their time in this song. And maybe it's on account of hearing it in my sleep or something, but it also calls to mind weird dreams I had at the time. 

Or maybe it's the obvious Giorgio Moroder influence, I don't know. There's always been a lot of stuff bouncing around inside my head. I also first heard it in the Dog Days of Summer 1983, which is why I'm posting this today. Early Eurythmics in general has a strong summer association to me.

SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES

Annie Lennox is one-third of the Eighties' Holy Celtic Songbird Trinity, with Kate Bush and Elizabeth Fraser rounding out the mix. They all seem to form a mutual admiration society, and have clearly greatly influenced each other over the years.

Archetypically speaking, Lennox is the androgynous chart champion of the three, with Kate Bush playing the kooky/sexy hippie chick, and Elizabeth being the traumatized kid sister. It's almost like a pop version of Hannah and Her Sisters, which would be timeline-appropriate.

SIDENOTE: I should point out that Lennox and Fraser are close friends - Scottish soul sisters, if you like. My guess would be that Lennox was who got Elizabeth into Rudolf Steiner.

I can't say I was ever an Ann-fan, but I have always admired her incredible range. Technically speaking, she's one of the Top 5 female singers of the past half-century, there's no denying that. And I will always have a soft spot for her after seeing this Tourists video back in 1979. Not so much to do with the song or the video, mind you. Just the whole 1979 thing. 

I'm sure you understand by now.

My favorite Eurythmics album may seem a strange choice to you, but it's their aborted 1984 soundtrack. For my money, a certified lost classic of Eigthies synthpop.

Part of that stems from the fact that the soundtrack format allowed the Eurythmics to explore interesting corners of their sound, whereas the pressure to serve up the hits in the slick/soulless mid-80s chart ecology absolutely destroyed their muse. As it did to so, so many other artists.

Or it could simply be that Annie and Dave Stewart's chemistry had run its course, seeing they'd been working together since 1977. It happens.

 

Speaking of pressure, here's Annie Lennox playing the part of David Bowie at the 1992 Freddy Mercury Tribute Concert, while the man himself was still stuck in his Tory pantomime mode. 

I love Annie at the end here - just radiating pure "effed in the head, good in bed" energy. So much so that I've always wondered if the two had a shag after the gig. Or was Annie too busy cringing with the rest of the world after Bowie recited the Lord's Prayer?

I'm still cringing over it, 33 years later.

POSTSCRIPT: It's worthwhile noting that it wasn't until Bowie ostensibly gave up on having a big hit single that he actually was able to write good songs again. That tells you a lot about the creative process - music writes you, not the other way around.

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