An orange crew cut, a man’s suit and a voice that could fill a stadium. When Annie Lennox stared down the camera in the “Sweet Dreams” video, the ’80s had a new kind of pop star. Eurythmics, Lennox and Dave Stewart, made some of the smartest synth-pop of the decade, and sold more than 75 million records doing it.
From the Tourists to a home studio
Before Eurythmics, Lennox and Stewart played together in a British band called the Tourists. When that ended, they formed Eurythmics in London in 1980 and went somewhere braver: synthesizers, drum machines and electronic production, mixed with pop, soul and rock. Their debut, In the Garden (1981), showed the idea. The hits came next.
Sweet Dreams, the riff that defined 1983
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983) was made largely in a small home studio, and it turned them into one of the defining acts of the MTV generation. “Love Is a Stranger” opened the door, and the title track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. That synth riff, Lennox’s commanding vocal and the video are still shorthand for the ’80s.
A hit album every year
They didn’t slow down. Touch (1983) brought “Here Comes the Rain Again”, “Who’s That Girl?” and “Right by Your Side”. Be Yourself Tonight (1985) added rock, R&B and gospel, with “Would I Lie to You?”, “There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)” and “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” with Aretha Franklin, and became one of their biggest sellers.
Revenge (1986), Savage (1987) and We Too Are One (1989) kept the reinvention going, with “Missionary Man”, “Thorn in My Side”, “When Tomorrow Comes”, “Don’t Ask Me Why” and “You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart”. Every record sounded different. Every one sounded like them.
Is Eurythmics new wave?
Yes. Eurythmics are one of the defining synth-pop and new wave acts of the ’80s. Their electronic production, Lennox’s soul-trained voice and their bold visual style made “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” a new wave landmark.
Reunion, and where they are now
After a break in the ’90s, they reunited for Peace (1999) and a world tour that raised money for humanitarian causes. Both have had acclaimed solo careers since, Lennox as a singer and Stewart as a writer and producer, and both still celebrate the Eurythmics catalog.
Eurythmics by the numbers
- Eight studio albums
- More than 75 million records sold worldwide
- Grammy Awards and Brit Awards
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022
Lady Gaga, Pink, Robyn, Goldfrapp, Scissor Sisters and CHVRCHES have all named them as an influence.
The essential Eurythmics songs
“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” · “Love Is a Stranger” · “Here Comes the Rain Again” · “Who’s That Girl?” · “Right by Your Side” · “Would I Lie to You?” · “There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)” · “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” · “Missionary Man” · “Thorn in My Side” · “When Tomorrow Comes” · “I Need a Man” · “You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart” · “Don’t Ask Me Why” · “Miracle of Love”
The essential albums
In the Garden (1981) · Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983) · Touch (1983) · Be Yourself Tonight (1985) · Revenge (1986) · Savage (1987) · We Too Are One (1989) · Peace (1999)
New to Eurythmics? Start here
Start with Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) for the cool, minimal synth sound that made them. Then jump to Be Yourself Tonight and hear what happened when they swapped some of the machines for a rock band, horns and Aretha Franklin. Then play “Here Comes the Rain Again” from Touch, where the synths meet a full string section and Lennox sounds like weather rolling in. Between the three you’ll hear why Annie Lennox is one of the great voices of the decade, in any genre, and why Dave Stewart is one of its most underrated producers. Keep “Love Is a Stranger” for the drive home.
Like Eurythmics? Try these next
- Pet Shop Boys: sophisticated synth-pop songwriting
- Depeche Mode: dark, melodic electronics
- Erasure: Vince Clarke and Andy Bell
- The Human League: Sheffield’s synth-pop pioneers
- Heaven 17: electronic pop with funk and soul
- OMD: cinematic British synth-pop
- ABC: lush, elegant pop
- Talk Talk: from synth-pop to art rock
- Tears for Fears: emotional, polished electronic pop
- Blondie: punk, disco and pop with a frontwoman to match
- Simple Minds: atmospheric Scottish anthems
- A Flock of Seagulls: futuristic MTV-era synth sound
Hear Eurythmics on New Wave Radio
“Sweet Dreams” is never far away, but ask for “Love Is a Stranger” or “Right by Your Side” and hear how wide their range really was.
Official links: annielennox.com · davestewart.com · Facebook · Instagram (Annie Lennox) · YouTube · Spotify
