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Eurythmics

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Eurythmics
Company typePartnership
IndustryMusic
Founded1980
FounderAnnie Lennox, Dave Stewart
Headquarters
United Kingdom
ProductsMusic albums, singles
ParentRCA Records

Eurythmics emerged as a British new wave partnership in 1980, featuring Scottish singer Annie Lennox alongside English musician and producer Dave Stewart. Both artists had previously been members of the band The Tourists. Their first album, In the Garden (1981), achieved modest recognition, but it was their follow-up release, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983), that brought them international fame. The album’s title track became a global sensation, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and topping the charts in Canada as well as the US Billboard Hot 100. Throughout their career, Eurythmics produced multiple successful singles and albums, including hits like "Love Is a Stranger," "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)," and "Here Comes the Rain Again," before their initial split in 1990.

Following their separation, Stewart established himself as a prominent producer, while Lennox embarked on a solo journey with her 1992 debut, Diva. Nearly ten years later, the duo reunited to release their ninth studio album, Peace (1999), which featured three singles: "I Saved the World Today," "17 Again," and "Peace Is Just a Word." That same year, they were honored with the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Another reunion took place in 2005 when they released the single "I've Got a Life," which entered the top ten in Scotland, reached the UK top twenty, and claimed number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart as part of their compilation Ultimate Collection.

To date, Eurythmics have sold around 75 million records globally. Their accolades encompass the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist (1984), the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (1987), and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music (1999). They have been inducted into prestigious institutions such as the UK Music Hall of Fame (2005), Songwriters Hall of Fame (2020), and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022).

1976–1982: Formation and In the Garden

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart first crossed paths in London in 1975 during Lennox’s employment there. Their initial collaboration occurred in 1976 within the punk outfit the Catch, which eventually transformed into The Tourists. Despite some commercial achievements with The Tourists, internal creative disagreements, personal conflicts, and legal issues made their experience challenging. Motivated by a desire for greater artistic control and an interest in exploring pop infused with electronic and avant-garde sounds, Lennox and Stewart decided to form a duo.

While experimenting with a portable mini-synthesizer in Wagga Wagga, Australia, they opted to continue as a duo under the name Eurythmics—derived from an educational movement Lennox had encountered during childhood. They remained the sole consistent members and chief songwriters of the group, collaborating selectively with other musicians. Signing with RCA Records marked a key step in their career. During this period, Lennox and Stewart also ended their romantic involvement. Their management was overseen by Kenny Smith and Sandra Turnbull from Hyper Kinetics Ltd.

Their debut effort, In the Garden (released October 1981), was produced by Conny Plank in Cologne. The album fused elements of psychedelic rock, krautrock, and electropop while featuring contributions from notable artists such as Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit of Can, Blondie drummer Clem Burke, Robert Görl of D.A.F., and flautist Tim Wheater. Guitarist Roger Pomphrey co-wrote several tracks as well. Although it did not achieve commercial success—the lead single "Never Gonna Cry Again" reached only No. 63 on UK charts—the duo toured using backing tracks and electronic equipment transported via horse-box.

By 1982, they had established an eight-track recording studio in London financed through a bank loan, enabling them to produce music independently without incurring expensive studio charges. Focusing on electronic experimentation, they worked alongside Raynard Faulkner and Adam Williams to release three singles: "This Is the House," "The Walk," and "Love Is a Stranger." These songs initially struggled to gain traction in the UK market. Despite enjoying creative autonomy, commercial breakthrough remained elusive during this time; managing all aspects themselves proved taxing—Lennox endured at least one nervous breakdown while Stewart was hospitalized due to a collapsed lung.

1983–1984: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) and Touch

Eurythmics achieved their commercial breakthrough with the release of their second studio album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), in January 1983. The album's title track featured a moody synth bassline and a striking music video that introduced Annie Lennox’s unique visual style. It climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, became one of the year's top-selling singles, reached No. 6 in Australia, and eventually topped the charts in Canada as well as the US Billboard Hot 100. Lennox rapidly emerged as a pop culture figure, gracing numerous magazine covers including Rolling Stone. The earlier release "Love Is a Stranger" was reissued, achieving renewed chart success. The album also contained a rendition of Sam & Dave's "Wrap It Up", featuring Green Gartside from Scritti Politti.

Their subsequent album, Touch, released in November 1983, became their first UK No. 1 album and delivered three significant hits. "Who's That Girl?" reached the UK Top 3, showcasing Lennox portraying various characters and including cameo appearances by artists such as Hazel O'Connor and Bananarama. The calypso-inspired "Right by Your Side" entered the UK Top 10, while "Here Comes the Rain Again" peaked at No. 8 in the UK and No. 4 in the US, blending orchestral arrangements by Michael Kamen with synthesizer elements.

In 1984, RCA released Touch Dance, an EP featuring remixes from Touch, aimed at club audiences with production input from Francois Kevorkian and John "Jellybean" Benitez. That same year, Eurythmics issued the soundtrack album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother), created for Virgin Films’ adaptation of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, directed by Michael Radford. Despite controversies regarding its inclusion in the film and conflicts with producers that led to a temporary withdrawal, the soundtrack contained the hit single "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)", which reached the top 5 in the UK, Australia, across Europe, and became a prominent dance hit in the US.

1985–1986: Be Yourself Tonight and new musical direction

The duo’s following album, Be Yourself Tonight, recorded within a week in Paris, spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Australian charts. This record marked a stylistic transition toward a "band-oriented" sound influenced by R&B, incorporating live drums, brass sections, and increased guitar work from Stewart. The project involved nearly twelve musicians, including members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, harmonica contributions by Stevie Wonder, bass lines by Dean Garcia, string arrangements by Michael Kamen, and vocal collaborations with Aretha Franklin and Elvis Costello. Released in 1985, it maintained their international chart momentum with four successful singles: "Would I Lie to You?" reached the US Billboard top five and topped Australian charts; "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" featuring Wonder was their sole UK No. 1; the feminist anthem "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves", a duet with Franklin; and "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" also achieved strong chart performance. In September 1985, Eurythmics performed "Would I Lie to You?" at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards held in New York.

From a commercial standpoint, Be Yourself Tonight was an international triumph, reaching top five positions in Australia (No. 1), New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Finland, and the UK. It also secured top ten placements in the US, Switzerland, and Germany.

The album garnered nominations for both the Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Compact Disk Award at the 1985 Billboard Music Awards, as well as for the Brit Award for British Album of the Year at the Brit Awards 1986. Additionally, two singles—"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" and "Would I Lie to You?"—were nominated at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal respectively.

1986–1990: Revenge, Savage and We Too Are One

In 1986, Eurythmics unveiled Revenge, embracing a more album-focused rock and pop style. The record enjoyed considerable sales in the UK and internationally, while its US reception was more modest. Nevertheless, the single "Missionary Man" climbed to No. 14 on the US Hot 100 and topped the US Album Oriented Rock chart. Revenge was certified double Platinum in the UK, Gold in the United States, and maintained a 40-week presence in Australia's top 10, peaking at No. 2. To promote the album, the band embarked on an extensive global tour and issued a live concert video from their Australian performances.

The following year, Lennox and Stewart released Savage, signaling a significant transition toward programmed samples and drum loops. Lennox characterized this album as more reflective of her personal artistic vision compared to Stewart’s influence on Revenge. The album’s darker themes were complemented by a video album directed by Sophie Muller, which featured a conceptual storyline revolving around multiple personas portrayed by Lennox. Tracks such as "Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)" (reaching the UK top 30 and No. 13 in Australia) and the provocative rock track "I Need a Man" became essential parts of their repertoire, alongside "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart". Although it achieved Platinum certification and secured a top 10 spot in the UK, Savage was less commercially successful and largely overlooked within the US market.

Their 1989 release, We Too Are One, entered the UK Albums Chart at No. 1—marking their second album to top that chart after Touch. It yielded four singles that reached the UK Top 30. Returning to their mid-80s rock/pop roots, the album earned Double Platinum status in the UK and peaked at No. 7 in Australia, but saw limited traction in the US; only "Don't Ask Me Why" approached the Billboard Top 40. Other singles included "Revival", "The King and Queen of America", and "Angel". Their accompanying Revival world tour spanned from September 1989 through January 1990, with segments incorporated into promotional clips for their 1990 video compilation We Two Are One Too.

1990–1998: Hiatus and solo careers

Following exhaustive touring and releasing eight studio albums over eight years, Eurythmics quietly parted ways amid escalating tensions, without an official announcement. Stewart transitioned into composing film soundtracks, achieving notable international success in 1990 with the instrumental hit "Lily Was Here", featuring saxophonist Candy Dulfer, which reached No. 6 in the UK and entered top 20 charts across Europe and the US. He also produced the Lily Was Here soundtrack and formed the Spiritual Cowboys, releasing two albums during the early 1990s. Meanwhile, Lennox took time off to focus on motherhood and personal reflection, resulting in minimal interaction between the two from 1991 until 1998. In 1991, Eurythmics' Greatest Hits dominated the UK album chart for ten weeks and achieved No. 1 status in New Zealand and Australia, becoming an international bestseller. This period also saw new remixes of "Sweet Dreams" and "Love Is a Stranger" alongside a live compilation, Live 1983–1989, released in 1993.

Lennox launched her solo career with Diva in 1992, which debuted at No. 1 on UK charts and earned quadruple platinum certification—outperforming any Eurythmics studio release—and produced five successful singles. Her subsequent album, Medusa (1995), consisting of cover songs, also reached No. 1 in the UK and attained double platinum status both there and in the US.

Stewart released solo works including Greetings from the Gutter (1995) and Sly-Fi (1998), though neither achieved significant commercial recognition.

1999–2005: Peace and Ultimate Collection

Towards the end of the 1990s, Eurythmics reunited to unveil their album Peace in 1999. The track "I Saved the World Today" climbed to number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, while a remix of "17 Again" secured the top position on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. To promote the album, they embarked on a global tour known as the "Peacetour" from September through December 1999, with proceeds donated to Greenpeace and Amnesty International. In 2000, the duo also appeared at prominent European music festivals. During this period, Stewart collaborated with U2 for the 2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes event and contributed to Bryan Ferry’s 2002 album Frantic.

In June 2003, Lennox released her third solo effort, Bare, which achieved top-five chart positions in both the UK and the US. Three singles from the album reached number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. She earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song with "Into the West", featured in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Later that year, in November 2003, Eurythmics took part in South Africa’s 46664 benefit concert, an event organized by Stewart. Additionally, Stewart collaborated with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger on the soundtrack for the 2004 film Alfie, with their composition "Old Habits Die Hard" winning a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

On 7 November 2005, Eurythmics issued Ultimate Collection, a remastered greatest hits compilation featuring two newly recorded tracks. The single "I've Got a Life" peaked at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart and maintained a three-week run at number one on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. This compilation reached the Top 5 in the UK and was certified Platinum. Simultaneously, RCA re-released their eight studio albums as remastered editions containing rare B-sides and previously unreleased material, available individually or as part of a collector’s box set entitled Boxed. The soundtrack album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) was not included due to rights being held by Virgin Records. In that same year, Eurythmics were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. Lennox resumed her solo work with her fourth album, Songs of Mass Destruction (2007), which entered the top 10 charts in both the UK and US markets. In 2009, she released her inaugural solo greatest hits collection, The Annie Lennox Collection, expressing that although she remained amicable with Stewart, she did not foresee further Eurythmics collaborations.

One–off reunions (2012–present)

In an interview conducted in September 2012, Stewart revealed there were no immediate plans to produce a new Eurythmics album but did not rule out future possibilities, including a musical inspired by their repertoire.

2014: Beatles tribute concert

On 27 January 2014, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart performed together as a duo during The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles, where they presented their interpretation of the Beatles’ song "The Fool on the Hill."

2019: Sting's 30th We'll Be Together benefit concert

Eurythmics came together once again for Sting's 30th We'll Be Together benefit concert on December 9, 2019, held at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Their setlist featured prominent tracks such as "Would I Lie to You?", "Here Comes the Rain Again," and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." They concluded their performance by joining the finale with Journey’s "Don't Stop Believin'."

2022: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

During the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction event in Los Angeles, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart delivered live renditions of "Would I Lie to You?", "Missionary Man," and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." The Edge from U2 had the honor of inducting them.

Discography

Concert Tours

  • Sweet Dreams Tour (1983)
  • Touch Tour (1983–1984)
  • Revenge Tour (1986–1987)
  • Revival Tour (1989–1990)
  • Peace Tour (1999)

Awards

Billboard Music Awards

!Ref. |- | 1983 | "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" | Top Hot 100 Song | |[1] |- | 1984 | rowspan=6|Themselves | Top Disco Artist – Duo/Group | |[2] |- | rowspan=9|1985 | Top Artist | | rowspan=9|[3] |- | Top Billboard 200 Artist | |- | Top Hot 100 Artist | |- | Top Hot 100 Artist – Duo/Group | |- | Top Dance Club Play Artist | |- | rowspan=2|Be Yourself Tonight | Top Billboard 200 Album | |- | Top Compact Disk | |- |"Would I Lie to You?" | Top Hot 100 Song | |- |"Sexcrime" | Top Dance Play Single |

|- |- rowspan=2 |Billboard Year-End |rowspan=2 |Themselves |"Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Artist" |"" |"" |- |"Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Artist" |""

Brit Awards

|- |"1984" |"Themselves" |"Best British Group" |"" |- |"rowspan='2' |1986" |"Be Yourself Tonight" |"Best British Album " |"" |- |"rowspan='3' |Themselves " |"rowspan='3' |Best British Group" |"" |- |"1987" |"" |- |"rowspan='3' |1990" |"" |- |"We Too Are One" |"Best British Album " |"" |- |"Don't Ask Me Why" |"Best British Video" |"" |- |"1999" |"Themselves" |"Outstanding Contribution to British Music" |"" |- |"2010" |"There Must Be an Angel" |"Live Performance of 30 Years" |""

Grammy Awards

|- |"26th Annual Grammy Awards (1984)" ||Themselves |"Grammy Award for Best New Artist" |"" |- |"27th Annual Grammy Awards (1985)" |"Sweet Dreams: The Video Album" |"Grammy Award for Best Music Film" |"" |- |"rowspan='2' |28th Annual Grammy Awards (1986)" |"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Aretha Franklin)" |"Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" |"" |- |"Would I Lie to You?" |"rowspan='2' |Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" |"" |- |"29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987)" |"Missionary Man" |"" |- |"32nd Annual Grammy Awards (1990)" |"Savage (video)" |"rowspan='2' |Grammy Award for Best Music Film – Long Form" | |- |"33rd Annual Grammy Awards (1991)" |' 'We Two Are One Too |' 'Template:Nom'

MTV Video Music Awards

|- |' '1984 MTV Video Music Awards' |' 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) |' 'Best New Artist' |' |- |' 'rowspan=5' |1985 MTV Video Music Awards' |' 'rowspan=5' |"Would I Lie to You?"' |' 'Best Stage Performance' |' |- |' 'Best Overall Performance' |' |- |' 'Best Choreography' |' |- |' 'Best Editing' |' |- |' 'rowspan=2' |Best Group Video' |' |- |' 'rowspan=5' |1987 MTV Video Music Awards' |' 'rowspan=5' |"Missionary Man"' |' ' |- |' 'Best Concept Video' |' ' |- |' 'Most Experimental Video' |' ' |- |' 'Best Special Effects' |' ' |- |' 'Best Editing' |' ' |- |' 'rowspan=2' |1988 MTV Video Music Awards' |' "I Need a Man" ' |' Best Group Video ' |' ' |- |' "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" ' |' Best Direction ' |' '

Music & Media Year-End Awards

!Ref. |- |' 1987 ' |' Themselves ' |' Group of the Year ' |

  • In 1984, they received the Ivor Novello Award recognizing them as Songwriters of the Year.
  • They were honored again with the same songwriting award in 1987, alongside Best Contemporary Song for "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)."
  • The year 2000 saw them awarded both the Silver Clef and ASCAP honors for "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)."
  • In 2003, they were presented with the Kindred Spirit Music Award.
  • Their induction into the UK Music Hall of Fame occurred in 2005.
  • Between 2008 and 2010, ASCAP acknowledged "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" multiple times.

External links

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