Joshua Ballou
The Broadside

“Sweet Dreams are made of this:” an innovative group, great music, and a hint of ambiguity.

The Eurythmics are one of the 80’s most recognizable groups because of the short red crew-cut Annie Lennox sported. Lennox and partner Dave Stewart will always be remembered for the groundbreaking album, “Sweet Dreams are made of this.”

European Electro-pop mixed with the gender-bending allusion Annie Lennox provided visually fit into the 80’s, like a hand in a glove.

Lennox, who was arguably influenced by the 70s shock goddess, Grace Jones, was a sign of the times much like Bowie in the 70’s and her gender bending counterpart of the 80’s Boy George. She folded subtly soulful vocals into this alternative subset of pop. Hauntingly beautiful vocals paired with an even more provocative image. Lennox, along with co-creator Dave Stewart, fashioned one of the 80’s most iconic songs, the title track, “Sweet Dreams.”

After 25 plus years it is so easy to lose songs, but I didn’t realize just how much of this album I already knew until I listened to it in it’s entirety for the first time.

“Love is a Stranger”, “I could give you a mirror”, and “The Walk” all took me back down memory lane with happy thoughts of a youth mired in music because of this new television station, MTV. Lennox delivered powerful catchy melodies over Stewarts computerized orchestra.

This album was undeniably ‘80s and still feels good today. Synthesizers and new inventive sounds of the time make this project fun and playful while never undermining the integrity of the musicianship and vocals.

Re-released and remastered back in 2005 “Sweet Dreams are made of this” is available online and on CD to enjoy for years to come. Check it
out and let me know what you think, or let me know what other classic albums you love from the 80’s.