Shame (Eurythmics song)

Last updated

"Shame"
Eurythmics Shame.jpg
Single by Eurythmics
from the album Savage
B-side "I've Got a Lover (Back in Japan)" (LP Version)
Released7 December 1987 [1]
RecordedMay 1987
Genre Synth-pop
Length3:46 (single version) 4:30 (album version)
Label RCA Records
Songwriter(s) Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
Producer(s) David A. Stewart
Eurythmics singles chronology
"Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)"
(1987)		"Shame"
(1987)		"I Need a Man"
(1988)
Audio
"Shame (Remastered Version)" on YouTube

"Shame" is a song recorded by British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. The song appears on the duo's sixth studio album Savage and was released as the second single in the UK. "Shame" was not released in the United States.

Contents

The track is a synthpop ballad in which the protagonist expresses regret and disdain for excessive and shallow lifestyles led by those who frequent nightclubs, bars, parties and the like. The lyrics namecheck The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and mentions the songs "All You Need is Love" and "We Love You".

"Shame" stalled at number forty-one in the UK singles chart, the first Eurythmics single to miss the UK Top 40 since "Julia" in 1985. [2] It proved to be an airplay hit in Spain, with Radio España 97.2 including it in its playlist upon its release in the country.

Track listings

7":RCA (UK, GER, FR, SP, AUS, JP)

  1. "Shame" (7" Version) – 3:46
  2. "I've Got A Lover (Back In Japan)" (LP Version) – 4:33

12":RCA (UK, GER, FR, SP, AUS)

  1. "Shame" (Dance Mix) – 5:44
  2. "I've Got A Lover (Back In Japan)" (LP Version) – 4:33
  3. "Shame" (LP Version) – 4:23

CD Single:RCA (UK, GER)

  1. "Shame" (Dance Mix) – 5:44
  2. "I've Got A Lover (Back In Japan)" (LP Version) – 4:33
  3. "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)" (Live Version)* – 7:15

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Neil Taylor of New Musical Express praised "Shame" as "an alluring tune [which] beckon[s] you to the safe portals of crackerjack clubland" and a "great single". He added that it is "a great record for sipping your glasnost and lime to". [3] Lawrence Donegan, as guest reviewer for Record Mirror , described it as "a wonderful single" and added, "Behind the sorry mess that is Dave Stewart's hair there lies a pop genius." [4]

In a review of Savage, Musician described the song as having "icy passion", [5] and The Orlando Sentinel noted its "slow, ethereal arrangement." [6] The Toledo Blade commented that songs on the album like "Shame" "sound lush and full, but the plea in the lyrics is almost desperate: a human longing to be touched instead of crushed by others". The Bulletin noted the song "takes on the idea of raised expectations generated by the media and nails it down as patently false. Everything is a con job... everything from movies to TV to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones." [7] Spare Rib considered the lyrics to cover "success and disillusion". [8]

Charts

Chart performance for "Shame"
Chart (1988)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [9] 39
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [10] 37
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) [11] 77
Italy ( Musica e dischi ) [12] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [13] 44
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [14] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [15] 23
South Africa (Springbok Radio) [16] 16
UK Singles (OCC) [2] 41
West Germany (Official German Charts) [17] 53

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got My Mind Set on You</span> 1962 song by James Ray

"Got My Mind Set on You" is a song written and composed by Rudy Clark and originally recorded by James Ray in 1962, under the title "I've Got My Mind Set on You". An edited version of the song was released later in the year as a single on Dynamic Sound Records credited to Ray with Hutch Davie Orchestra & Chorus. The song features a variety of instruments, including a Chinese Lute, but it is unsure whether Ray or the orchestra played the lute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is a Stranger</span> 1982 single by Eurythmics

"Love Is a Stranger" is a song by the British pop duo Eurythmics. Originally released in late 1982, the single was commercially unsuccessful, but it was re-released in 1983, reaching the UK top 10. The single was re-released again in 1991, to promote Eurythmics' Greatest Hits album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lover Speaks</span>

The Lover Speaks were an English new wave duo consisting of David Freeman (vocals) and Joseph Hughes. They wrote and performed the original version of the song "No More "I Love You's"", covered by Annie Lennox in 1995 for her Medusa album, and which she took to number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin

"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics and American singer Aretha Franklin. A modern feminist anthem, it was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and featured on both Eurythmics' Be Yourself Tonight (1985) and Franklin's Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) albums. The duo originally intended to perform with Tina Turner, who was unavailable at the time and so they flew to Detroit and recorded with Franklin instead. The track also features three of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers: Stan Lynch on drums, Benmont Tench on organ, and Mike Campbell on lead guitar, plus session bassist Nathan East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)</span> 1983 single by Eurythmics

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" is a song by British synth-pop duo Eurythmics. It was released as the fourth and final single from their second album of the same name in January 1983. It was their breakthrough hit, establishing the duo worldwide. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in March 1983, and number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 six months later; it was their first single released in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who's That Girl? (Eurythmics song)</span> 1983 single by Eurythmics

"Who's That Girl?" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics, released as the lead single from their third studio album, Touch (1983). It was written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right by Your Side (Eurythmics song)</span> 1983 single by Eurythmics

"Right by Your Side" is a 1983 song by the British pop duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, and produced by Stewart. The track was released as the second single in the UK from Eurythmics' third album Touch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here Comes the Rain Again</span> 1984 single by Eurythmics

"Here Comes the Rain Again" is a 1983 song by British duo Eurythmics and the opening track from their third studio album Touch. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. The song was released on 12 January 1984 as the album's third single in the UK and in the United States as the first single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four) (song)</span> 1984 single by Eurythmics

"Sexcrime " is a song written and performed by the British duo Eurythmics. It was released as the first single from their album 1984 , which served as the soundtrack to the film Nineteen Eighty-Four, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by George Orwell. The song was produced by Dave Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Would I Lie to You? (Eurythmics song)</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics

"Would I Lie to You?" is a song written and performed by British pop duo Eurythmics. Released on 9 April 1985 as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Be Yourself Tonight (1985), the song was the first by the duo to feature their change in musical direction from a predominantly synthpop style to rock and rhythm and blues. The song, and its accompanying album, featured a full backing band and relied less on electronic programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)</span> 1985 single by Eurythmics

"It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" is a song written and recorded by the British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was released as the fourth and final single from their 1985 album Be Yourself Tonight. The song was produced by Dave Stewart, and the song's brass arrangement was devised by Michael Kamen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missionary Man (Eurythmics song)</span> 1986 single by Eurythmics

"Missionary Man" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics from their fifth studio album, Revenge (1986). The song features Jimmy Zavala on harmonica and Joniece Jamison on backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorn in My Side</span> 1986 single by Eurythmics

"Thorn in My Side" is a song by British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was released as the second single from the duo's fifth studio album, Revenge (1986). Written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, the song is a cast-off to an unfaithful lover. "Thorn in My Side" was produced by Stewart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)</span> 1987 single by Eurythmics

"Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 12 October 1987 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Savage (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Need a Man (Eurythmics song)</span> 1988 single by Eurythmics

"I Need a Man" is a song recorded by British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. Taken from their sixth album, Savage (1987), the song was released in May 1988 by RCA Records as the third single in the UK and the first single in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart</span> 1988 single by Eurythmics

"You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, and appears on the duo's sixth studio album, Savage (1987). The song was released in May 1988 by RCA as the fourth and final single from the album in the United Kingdom and as the second in the United States. In the first, it was the only single from the album to reach the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 16. The music video for the song was directed by Sophie Muller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revival (Eurythmics song)</span> 1989 single by Eurythmics

"Revival" is a 1989 song by the British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, along with keyboardist Pat Seymour and vocalist Charlie Wilson who also sang backing vocals for the track. Produced by Stewart and Jimmy Iovine, it was the first single to be released from Eurythmics' 1989 album We Too Are One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Ask Me Why (Eurythmics song)</span> 1989 single by Eurythmics

"Don't Ask Me Why" is a song recorded by British pop music duo Eurythmics, released as the second single from their seventh album, We Too Are One (1989). The song was written by bandmembers Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart with Jimmy Iovine. In the US, it was released as the first single from the album. It is a lush pop song with melancholy and bitter lyrics which describe the ending of a love relationship. In it Lennox tells the subject "don't ask me why / I don't love you any more / I don't think I ever did".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The King and Queen of America</span> 1990 single by Eurythmics

"The King and Queen of America" is a song recorded by pop music duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart with Jimmy Iovine. The track appears on their album We Too Are One and was released as the album's third UK single in January 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I've Got a Life</span> 2005 single by Eurythmics

"I've Got a Life" is a song released by the British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was released as a single in 2005, in order to promote their second greatest hits compilation, Ultimate Collection. It was written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. It was the duo's final single to date, becoming their fourteenth UK Top 20 hit, and also topped the US Dance Chart.

References

  1. ↑ Andy Strickland, ed. (5 December 1987). "Index: Releases". Record Mirror . p. 9. ISSN   0144-5804.
  2. 1 2 "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Neil (12 December 1987). "45". New Musical Express . p. 16. ISSN   0028-6362.
  4. ↑ Donegan, Lawrence (9 January 1988). "Singles". Record Mirror .
  5. ↑ Musician - Google Books. 1988. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  6. ↑ Duffy, Thom (10 January 1988). "Archives - OrlandoSentinel.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  7. ↑ "The Bulletin - Google News Archive Search" . Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  8. ↑ Spare Rib - Google Books. 1987. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. ↑ "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 5, no. 5. 30 January 1988. p. 28. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2022.Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Eurythmics" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  13. ↑ "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "Eurythmics – Shame". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts E". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Shame" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.