ANNIE LENNOX ON JOINING THE HALL OF FAME
The singer-songwriter’s early 80s look helped define the decade and weaken gender barriers that are only coming down fully now
ANNIE Lennox has revealed people thought she was a lesbian when she wore suits and had a very short haircut. The Aberdonian singer caused a worldwide stir in 1983 with the video to the Eurythmics breakout hit Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) when she wore a suit and tie, and had dyed orange cropped hair. Her look and songs such as Love is a Stranger and Who’s That Girl made the duo superstars and in November they will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, giving them music immortality. Annie said: “I think we were in some ways ahead of our time. “When Sweet Dreams came out, people didn’t know what to make of it. We had to break down a lot of resistance, certainly in the United States. “Wearing a man’s suit, cutting my hair... it was definitely quite threatening at that point in time. “People automatically assumed that I was a lesbian, which was fantastic in a way. I was like, ‘Well, if you want to think that I’m lesbian, that’s fine. I don’t mind.’ “I really don’t mind because we have to get beyond labels. What we need in the world is equality and opportunity for all.” Along with Culture Club’s Boy George, Annie’s androgynous look was at the vanguard of what at the time was called gender-bending but is now known as gender fluidity. The pair appeared together on the cover of Smash Hits in 1983 with the headline “Which one is the boy?”. Newsweek in America also had the pair on their cover in 1984. The following month Annie appeared at the Grammy Awards in a black suit, tie and with a quiffed wig and sideburns which many thought was her impersonating Elvis. Annie, 67, said: “People can say Elvis but it was whatever it looked like. It was a dark-haired man that had a certain hardcore, cool stance. “I felt like, ‘I’m gonna be a man today.’ It was a great feeling. It was very empowering to be that man. “I’d never known what it felt like to be a man. Of course, I’m not a man but it’s so interesting, all the labels that you get.” Although Annie’s sexuality was questioned in the 80s she has had a more conventional private life. She dated Dave Stewart in the 70s while in their pre-Eurythmics band The Tourists. She has been married three times. Her second husband is the father of her daughters Lola and Tali. Annie has been married to gynaecologist Mitch Besser since 2012. But the LGBT community have long praised her for opening doors and making their lives easier. Even the language has changed. She said: “We have gender fluid; it’s not gender-bender, which was so insulting
in a way. It was insulting because it was a bit like, ‘Oh, this is a bit of a joke’.”
Being a trailblazer helped the Scot became one of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2022, along with the likes of Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Eminem, Duran Duran and Lionel Richie.
It’s the second time she and Dave have been nominated.
The duo split in 1990, reuniting in 1999 to release their ninth album Peace. They reunited in 2005 when they were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, in 2014 for a Beatles tribute and in 2019 for Sting’s rainforest benefit.
Annie’s stellar solo career included two UK No1 albums and hits such as Why and No More ‘I Love You’s’. She also won an Oscar in 2004 for the song Into the West from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Annie began singing in Jean Auchinachie’s choir in 1961. Every
Saturday she went to her classes at Aberdeen Music Hall.
Aged nine she won second prize in a Butlin’s talent contest, singing Marie’s Wedding. Annie, who was brought up in the Torry area of Aberdeen, moved to London aged 17 when she won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music to study flute and piano.
She also sang and wanted to write her own songs, and cites Joni Mitchell and fellow 2022 Hall of Famer Carly Simon as major influences.
Annie said: “I love the fact that Carly is there because the music and the voice were really beautiful for me when I was much, much younger.”
Another icon being inducted this year is Dolly Parton, despite asking to “bow out” as she didn’t think she had “earned the right” as a country singer to be counted as a rock artist.
Annie said: “I was really touched by Dolly Parton saying that she didn’t feel she should be there. Why shouldn’t she be? She’s so significant and her music has touched people, not only people who love country music.”
Fewer than 100 female performers have been added to the Hall since Aretha Franklin was the first woman back in 1987.
The 2022 ceremony will include the most women inducted in a single class – six – since the event began 37 years ago: Annie, Carly, Dolly, Pat Benatar, blues legend Elizabeth Cotten and singer Sylvia Robinson.
The Scots sees the music industry becoming more inclusive. She said: “It’s changed enormously. When I first had the notion that at my core I was a singer-songwriter, there were so very few women that I could refer to.”
After moving to London, Annie’s first venture was The Stocking Tops but it was while working as a waitress that she met Dave. Their first group, The Catch, flopped. The Tourists had two top 10 hits before Eurythmics formed.
It was only Sweet Dreams, their sixth single release, that ignited the charts – going to No1 in the US.
Nearly 40 years later, Annie is pinching herself at joining the Hall of Fame ranks.
She said: “Certain dreams come true, and it’s always very surreal when they do.
“To step through that imaginary door and be inducted into this imaginary space reflects the power of music.”
Annie was speaking on the SiriusXM show Volume West.
I felt like, ‘I’m gonna be a man today.’ A great feeling ANNIE LENNOX ON DRESSING UP FOR THE GRAMMYS