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Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 1983
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

The Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics, released in 1983, marked a turning point for the duo. After a beginning that did not meet the expected impact, this second studio album became their major commercial breakthrough, resonating across both Europe and America. The key to this success was undoubtedly the song that gives the album its title, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), which catapulted Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart to the international stage. All song compositions bear the signature of both Lennox and Stewart.

Year
1983
Songs
10
Duration
42 min 33 seg
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About the album

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), according to DoReSol

This work stands out for its sound, which moves away from the more psychedelic and guitar-centered style of their previous In the Garden. Instead, Stewart, alongside Robert Crash and Adam Williams, focused on the use of raw analog synthesizers, such as the Oberheim OB1 and the EDP Wasp, as well as drum machines, notably the Movement Systems Drum Computer. Recorded in the duo’s own studio, which had only eight tracks and limited resources, the final result was surprising in its quality despite its humble origins. In an era where "synth pop" was often associated with colder proposals, Eurythmics—and especially Lennox’s voice—infused a soulful sensibility, attracting a broader audience.

The album’s impact was particularly felt in the spread of their music through MTV in the United States, where the music video for Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), featuring Annie Lennox’s iconic imagery playing with gender ambiguity and psychology, left an indelible mark. Following the success of the main track, even Love Is a Stranger, which had initially underperformed, resurged strongly, also accompanied by a striking music video where Lennox appeared in both male and female personas. Some early CD editions, including Australian, German, and American releases, as well as the 2005 reissue, include an extended version of This City Never Sleeps, which incorporates sound effects and a message from David A. Stewart.