Love Is a Stranger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Love Is a Stranger" | ||
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| Single by Eurythmics | ||
| from the album Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) | ||
| Released | 1982 | |
| Format | 7", 12" | |
| Recorded | 1982 | |
| Genre | New Wave, Electronica, Synth Pop | |
| Label | RCA | |
| Producer(s) | David A. Stewart Adam Williams |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| Eurythmics singles chronology | ||
| "The Walk" (1982) |
"Love Is a Stranger" (first release) (1982) |
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1982) |
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| "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1982) |
"Love Is a Stranger" (second release) (1982) |
"Who's That Girl?" (1983) |
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| "(My My) Baby's Gonna Cry" (1990) |
"Love Is a Stranger" (1991 release) (1991) |
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1991 release) (1991) |
| Alternate covers | ||
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| 1991 re-issue cover | ||
"Love Is a Stranger" is Eurythmics' fifth single, and like its predecessors, was initially a commercial flop, although it later became a worldwide hit when re-released following their commercial breakthrough with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".
It was produced by David A. Stewart and Adam Williams and was self-financed at Eurythmics' 8-track facility in Chalk Farm.
The song has a fairly sparse, up-tempo arrangement, made possible using the Movement Systems Drum Computer and various synthesizers (providing bass, melody lines and sound effects) combined with Lennox's strident multi-tracked vocal harmonies. The song is also punctuated with sexual-sounding vocal grunts of "uh!" from Stewart.
The single release was accompanied by a striking music video, in which Stewart acts as chauffeur from an androgynous Lennox, who plays the role of a high-class prostitute. During the course of the video, Lennox removes a curly blonde wig to reveal close-cropped slicked-backed orange hair underneath. This caused controversy in the USA, as some people mistakenly thought Lennox was a male transvestite.
The single B-side was "Monkey Monkey", a stripped-down electro track featuring a sparse drum machine and sequenced synthesizer arrangement, with Lennox's vocal heavily electronically processed.
The single was re-released in 1991.
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK singles chart | 54 |
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
| UK singles chart | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 23 |
| U.S. Hot Dance Club Play | 7 |
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
| UK singles chart | 46 |
