Over the years, many of Eurythmics’ albums had TV adverts that accompanied their releases in different countries. To fans, it was very exciting to see the new album by their favorite artist featured in an exciting music and image-filled ad. Here are a few examples from over the years of some of these adverts:
- “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” – 1983
- “Savage” – 1987
- “We Too Are One” – 1989
More adverts here.
“Brand New Day” is a 1987 documentary film about Eurythmics’ 1986 tour of Japan and was directed by Amos Gitai. The film received limited release and is rare to find on official video.
From the Director’s website:
“The 1986 Eurythmics tour of Japan. It is the end of the world tour during which Annie Lennox (vocals) and Dave Stewart (guitar) promote their latest album “Revenge”. It is also, between concerts, the shock of discovery: a world of sounds as cultivated by the Japanese, both brutally technological and highly refined traditional expressions.”
Clyde Jeavons writes in the London Film Festival catalogue from 1987:
“The result is a fascinating and idiosyncratic exploration of Japan and its music culture, during which [Dave & Annie] improvise and philosophise respectively, experiment with Japanese sounds and locations, compare notes with local musicians, and reveal to the full their genuine passion for music and gift for live performance, be it in concert, bamboo forest or the backs of cars.”
Here are two musical moments from the film, an impromptu acoustic version of “Missionary Man”, and a fascinating clip where Dave and Annie are writing the track “Brand New Day”, which ended up on 1987’s “Savage” album.
Annie Lennox’s unique take on the holiday classic “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” manages to blur religious and musical stylings, kick ass, and still remain a festive song for the season all at the same time. The now-classic videoclip explores themes of paganism, feminism and religion and is considered one of Annie’s finest solo videos.
For this Video Spotlight, we highlight one of our favorite live performances of the song, recorded in 2010 on U.S. television.
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is from Annie’s 2010 album “A Christmas Cornucopia”, which has recently been re-released in a 10th anniversary edition with one new track. Details here.
“Something So Right” is the fourth single and video by Annie Lennox from her 1995 album “Medusa”. It is a cover of Paul Simon’s song from his 1973 album “There Goes Rhymin’ Simon”.
Directed by Annie and Joe Dyer, the video is set in a Victorian style and explores the early use of film. Annie’s character experiments with various poses while the “director” tries out a variety of styles and shots, the implication being a screen test of sorts but also just the expression of the pure wonder of being able to film live action. Maureen Martin, former Professor of History at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California, said this about the video: “When the ability to film motion pictures became a reality, people were experimenting and filming all sorts of things, from the mundane to the profound, simply because, for the first time, they could. In the process an unintended archive of early avant-garde filmmaking was created.”
Annie Lennox re-recorded the track as a duet with Paul Simon, and it was released as a single, reaching no. 44 on the UK charts. Paul Simon has commented publicly that he is very fond of Annie’s interpretation of the song.
“Lily was Here” by Dave Stewart and Candy Dulfer, was released as a single from the 1989 soundtrack to the film of the same name. The soundtrack was produced by Dave Stewart and the single was a massive worldwide hit. A duet with saxophonist Candy Dulfer, whose debut album “Saxuality” was produced by Dave in 1990, the song is an instrumental, a rarity on the pop charts at the time.
The song went to #11 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the Adult Contemporary charts on Billboard in the United States, #6 on the UK Singles chart, #10 in Australia, and #1 in the Netherlands (for five weeks), just to name a few. Reportedly, the song was recorded in only one take, and wasn’t originally considered for release.
The film “Lily Was Here”, which features the song, is a 1989 Dutch film directed by Ben Verbong, starring Marion van Thijin. Watch the trailer here, which features a rare version of Eurythmics’ “Here Comes the Rain Again”. This version is also available on the soundtrack album.
Video Spotlight No. 1 – 17 Again (Official Video)
“17 Again” is the second Eurythmics video from the album “Peace.” Directed by Dave Stewart, the video is alternately disturbing in its imagery and critical in its commentary. A companion piece of sorts to “I Saved The World Today” in terms of set design and costuming, the clip ignited some controversy when first presented to VH-1 and was reportedly shown thereafter in an edited version.
In the video, a camouflage clad Annie and Dave, along with the Peace Army band, are again performing in a large concert hall when suddenly war erupts and everyone is pelted with gunfire. Symbolizing the attacks and intrusions that artists and celebrities must endure by the media and fans, the video delivers a pointed commentary on public irresponsibility. With it’s “Matrix”-style photography and graphic gunfire images, “17 Again” is ground breaking and definitely unlike anything Eurythmics have done in the past. It is a unique and worthy addition to their impressive collection of cutting-edge music videos.
