Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)"
"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" cover
Single by Eurythmics
from the album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)
Released 1984
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1984
Genre New Wave, Electronica, Synth Pop
Label Virgin Records
Producer(s) David A. Stewart
Chart positions
  • #4 UK
  • #5 AUS
  • #81 U.S.
Eurythmics singles chronology
"Here Comes the Rain Again"
(1983)
"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)"
(1984)
"Julia"
(1984)

"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" is a song performed by British pop duo Eurythmics. It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart for their album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother), which served as the soundtrack to the film 1984, an adaptation of the political novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. The song was produced by Stewart.

"Sexcrime" is a synthpop tune which features a heavily-sampled Lennox, utilizing snippets of her vocal performance to produce a stuttering effect. Also prominently featured is the voice of Stewart, with the aid of a vocoder, uttering the phrase "nineteen eighty-four". It was the first of two singles released from the soundtrack album. The term "sexcrime" is one of several Newspeak words found within the novel.

The single peaked at number four on the UK singles chart, becoming Eurythmics' sixth song in a row to enter the top ten. It was also a hit single in Australia, peaking at number five and becoming one of the duo's biggest selling singles in that country. "Sexcrime" met with resistance on United States radio — its title and bleak lyrical content did not earn mainstream success. The music video (featuring a straightforward performance of the song by Lennox and Stewart) had limited rotation on MTV. It peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was much more successful on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it reached number two.

[edit] Charts

Chart (1984) Peak
position
UK singles chart 4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 81
U.S. Hot Dance Club Play 2
Eurythmics
Annie Lennox | David A. Stewart
Eurythmics discography
Albums/EPs: In the Garden | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | Touch | Touch Dance | 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) | Be Yourself Tonight
Revenge | Savage | We Too Are One | Peace
Compilations: Greatest Hits | Live 1983-1989 | Ultimate Collection
Box Set: Boxed
Singles: Never Gonna Cry Again | Belinda | This Is the House | The Walk | Love Is a Stranger | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | Who's That Girl? | Right By Your Side | Here Comes the Rain Again | Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four) | Julia | Would I Lie to You? | There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) | Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves | It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) | When Tomorrow Comes | Missionary Man | Thorn in My Side | The Miracle of Love | Beethoven (I Love to Listen to) | Shame | I Need a Man | You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart | Revival | Don't Ask Me Why | The King and Queen of America | Angel | (My My) Baby's Gonna Cry | I Saved the World Today | 17 Again | I've Got a Life
Video/DVD: Sweet Dreams - The Video Album | Revenge Tour | Savage (Video Album) | We Two Are One Too | Greatest Hits | Peace Tour | Ultimate Collection