Music |
Ultimate Collection
Eurythmics
By
Published: Jan 01, 2005
Category:
Rock
I know. It is so corny, so hopelessly ’80s retro, to bang on about Eurythmics. But the wife and I recently watched a VH1 special — the induction ceremony for the UK Music Hall of Fame — that brought the ’80s back with a vengeance. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were being welcomed into this elite group, and they were, as a result, going to have to perform — hardly an everyday event. So we sat up and paid close attention.
Eurythmics are no more, and yet, what is time to genius? Musically, they hit their marks. Visually, Dave Stewart is older and softer; Annie Lennox, angular as ever, maintains her mystery and mastery. The more you see her, the less you know. You think, ‘Ah, she’s Bowie,’ and then she does something to banish that thought. Which leaves you only with the music and Stewart’s ultra-sophisticated electronics.
It’s hard to make the case for a singles band. These are songs you heard on the radio and liked but didn’t buy. (Others did. Eurythmics sold 80 million CDs.) The videos disturbed you, in a good way — when Annie seemed like a man and Dave might have been a woman, you knew they were just playing around with gender. And then they trudged off, until next time.
In fact, theirs is an amusing story. They started as lovers. He weaned her from the flute and gave her the confidence to perform. And she, as he says, ‘stopped me being so excessive in my lifestyle, eating only once every four days, taking huge amounts of amphetamines and never sleeping.’ Standing cliche on its head, they broke up and then became successful. ‘We are,’ says Stewart, ‘the only couple I know that have split up and yet stayed together.’
They finally called it quits. After, Lennox had a glittering solo career. Stewart produced movie scores and a few CDs for other musicians — he’s one good reason to love Abdel Wright. Now he’s remastered all the Eurythmics CDs, and he and Lennox recorded a new single and put it on this ‘Ultimate Collection.’
It’s not quite ultimate. But it’s close enough. (And Amazon gives you 19 songs for $14 — that’s cheaper than iTunes.) Think back: ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).’ ‘Who’s That Girl?’ ‘Here Comes the Rain Again.’ ‘When Tomorrow Comes.’ ‘Thorn in My Side.’ ‘Missionary Man.’ ‘Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves.’ And more.
Hit singles invariably take you back to where you were when you first heard them, and who you were with, and who you were — a collection of them is a nostalgia machine. As is this collection. But ‘Ultimate Collection’ is something more. It’s smart and fresh and timeless — it’s music you could love if it came out today. Corny, hopelessly retro and all.
To buy ‘Ultimate Collection’ from Amazon.com, click here.
