This Is the House

The song This Is the House by Eurythmics was recorded in 1982 in an eight-track home studio in North London, a project funded by a personal loan from David A. Stewart. Although it was released as the lead single from their second album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), it failed to achieve the expected commercial success and did not chart. However, Annie Lennox considered this song a milestone in her evolution as a songwriter and artist, noting that it marked a starting point for her musical development.

The single was released in Australia in 1983, coinciding with the rise of Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) and Love Is a Stranger. In that context, This Is the House managed to enter the Kent Music Report, peaking at number five. The B-side of the single, Home Is Where the Heart Is, was exclusive to this release until its inclusion in a 2005 album remaster. The 12-inch version featured an extended remix of the song and four live tracks, though the latter are not available on CD due to their omission in later remasters.

The sound of This Is the House is characterized by the use of synthesizers and drum machines, moving away from the more psychedelic approach of their debut album, In the Garden. Despite mixed reviews that criticized its lack of depth, the song represents a step toward a new style that would define their career. The production was handled by Stewart and Adam Williams, who also assisted in the recording, and although no music video was made for the single, its innovative sound laid the groundwork for the success that would follow with the subsequent album.