[1] Missionary Man (Lennox/Stewart) - 4:40
[2] Thorn in My Side (Lennox/Stewart) - 4:45
[3] When Tomorrow Comes (Lennox/Seymour/Stewart) - 4:28
[4] Last Time (Lennox/Stewart) - 4:10
[5] Miracle of Love (Lennox/Stewart) - 5:04
[6] Let's Go (Lennox/Stewart) - 4:08
[7] Take Your Pain Away (Lennox/Stewart) - 4:30
[8] Little of You (Lennox/Stewart) - 3:53
[9] In This Town (Lennox/Stewart) - 3:44
[10] I Remember You (Lennox/Stewart) - 5:00
Wir befinden uns also gerade Mitte der 80er Jahre, und wer nicht mit
dem Computer Musik macht (und nicht gerade Morrissey oder Dylan
heißt), hat sowieso keinen Erfolg. Während dabei jede Menge
ganz furchtbarer C-64-Quark in den Hitparaden landet, Gott weiß
wie, schaffen es einige wenige, ihren PC sinnvoll zu nutzen. Bestes
Beispiel sind die Eurythmics, die 1986 mit Revenge ihr kommerziell
erfolgreichstes Album veröffentlichen. Zu gut, zu tricky klingt
die Mischung aus der beeindruckenden Soul-Stimme von Annie Lennox und
den perfekt-poppigen Melodien von Dave Stewart, als daß sich
damit kein Geld in den Charts verdienen ließe. Zwar fällt
der zweite Teil des Albums gegenüber dem hitschweren Start (mit
"Missionary Man", "Thorn In My Side", "When Tomorrow Comes" und "The
Miracle Of Love") etwas magerer aus, aber immerhin bietet Revenge
wenigstens vier Knaller und noch jede Menge Pop weit über dem
Durchschnitt seiner Zeit. Dreizehn Jahre später klingen die
elektronischen Effekt-Spielereien manchmal ein bißchen komisch,
und die Frisur von Stewart auf dem Cover spricht Bände, aber die
Hits bleiben Hits -- auch gemeinsam mit dem mittelprächtigen Rest
gilt Revenge als Meilenstein auf dem langen Weg in das elektronische
Musikzeitalter.
Michael Ebert - Amazon.de
On their fifth album, Eurythmics moved away from the austere synth-pop
of their previous work and toward more of a neo-'60s pop/rock stance.
"Missionary Man" (which went Top 40 as a single in the U.S. and charted
in the U.K.) featured a prominent harmonica solo, while "Thorn in My
Side" had a chiming guitar riff reminiscent of The Searchers and a fat
sax solo. Of course, the primary element in the group's sound remained
Annie Lennox's distinctive alto voice, which was still impressive even
if the material was slightly less so. Revenge was a successful album,
reaching the Top Ten in the U.K. and going gold in the U.S., but it was
a disappointment compared to their last three albums. And creatively,
it was a step down as well - there was nothing here that they hadn't
done a little better before.
William Ruhlmann - All Music Guide
The Dynamic Duo of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox has done it again.
Although Revenge doesn't break through to any daring musical areas, it
does reaffirm the Eurythmics' status as one of the most recognizable
and substantial talents/superstars of the `80s. Their splendidly
crafted pop revolves around the universal leitmotif of love but avoids
the trite and maudlin sentiments that often accompany such
overwhelmingly appealing music. Annie's open and straightforward words
are self-assuredly delivered, exhibiting more of that inner strength
which first surfaced on Be Yourself Tonight. It's a truly remarkable
vocal performance. Dave Stewart continues to master the art of
producing contemporary popular music-here he builds a fully
orchestrated sound on top of the sturdy drum beats supplied by Clem
Burke (Blondie). Rather than crowding Annie's vocals he supports them
with soulful backing from Joniece Jamison and Bernita Turner, as well
as layering on Annie's own angelic choruses. Jimmy "Z" Zavala's spry
harmonica and sax add brightness and punch, as do Stewart's
guitars-he's one of the more underrated players around-and Patrick
Seymour's subtle keyboard ornamentations, which serve as the icing on
the cake. "Missionary Man" is undeniably tops here, but there are at
least three other hits in "When Tomorrow Comes," "The Last Time" and
the hard grooving Attitude rocker "Let's Go." Sweet Revenge indeed.
Revenge marked a slip-away from that tricky combination of commercial
success and critical acclaim that Eurythmics usually enjoyed: while it
sold by the truckload, the critics were not pleased. Revenge emerges as
a large-scale, rapid Rock and Roll workout, with the gospel R&B of
Missionary Man and the guitar balladry of tracks like The Miracle Of
Love. Thorns, roses and broken hearts make up the imagery of most of
the tracks, leaving little room for irony or imagination. On a
superficial level, the songs are fun and danceable, full of crackling
drums, lively saxaphones and shrill harmonicas with Annie's voice
working powerfully as a rock-out alto. For those who enjoy exuberant
Rock and Roll on a grandiose scale, this album will be sure to please.
But generally, the album falls short of making any kind of memorable
statement. Accused of counterfeiting popular tripe for the first time
since The Tourists, it was felt that Dave and Annie's creation was most
suited to accomodate juke box junkfood. However, the follow-up Revenge
tour was smashing and was hailed as one of the must-see concerts of
that year. On stage, at least, the songs on Revenge were given room to
breathe, infused with the energy Eurythmics had become famous for. The
album remains the duo's best-selling record world wide. Notable Songs:
Missionary Man, Thorn In My Side, When Tomorrow Comes, A Little Of You
Well I was born an original sinner.
I was borne from original sin.
And if I had a dollar bill
For all the things I've done
There'd be a mountain of money
Piled up to my chin...
My mother told me good
My mother told me strong.
She said "be true to yourself
And you can't go wrong."
"But there's just one thing
That you must understand."
"You can fool with your brother -
But don't mess with a missionary man."
Don't mess with a missionary man.
Don't mess with a missionary man.
Well the missionary man
He's got God on his side.
He's got the saints and apostles
Backin' up from behind.
Black eyed looks from those Bible books.
He's a man with a mission
Got a serious mind.
There was a woman in the jungle
And a monkey on a tree.
The missionary man he was followin' me.
He said "stop what you're doing."
"Get down upon your knees."
"I've got a message for you that you better believe."
(Chorus repeats...)
Thorn In My Side
You gave me such a bad time
tried to hurt me, but now I know...
Thorn in my side.
You know that's all you ever were.
A bundle of lies.
You know that's all that it was worth...
I should have known better
But I trusted you at first.
I should have known better
But I got what I deserved...
To run away from you
Was all that I could do.
To run away from you
Was all that I could do.
Thorn in my side.
You know that's all you'll ever be.
So don't think you know better
'Cause that's what you mean to me...
I was feeling complicated.
I was feeling low.
Now everytime I think of you
I shiver to the bone...
(Chorus repeats...)
When Tomorrow Comes
Underneath your dreamlit eyes
Shades of sleep have driven you away.
The moon is pale outside
And you are far from here.
Breathing shifts your careless head
Untroubled by the chaos of our lives.
Another day - another night
Has taken you again my dear.
And you know that I'm gonna be the one
Who'll be there
When you need someone to depend upon
When tomorrow comes...
When tomorrow comes...
Wait till tomorrow comes - yea yea...
Wait till tomorrow comes - yea yea...
Last night while you were
Lying in my arms
And I was wondering where you were
You know you looked just like a baby
Fast asleep in this dangerous world.
Every star was shining brightly
Just like a million years before.
And we were feeling very small
Underneath the universe.
And you know that I'm gonna be the one
Who'll be there when you need
Someone to depend upon
When tomorrow comes...
When tomorrow comes...
The Last Time
Well the first time that I saw you
You were standing in the rain.
You were waiting at the station
For the last connecting train.
Well - who will you go to
When there's no-one to betray?
And I said - who will you go to
When your best friend turns away?
Hey hey...
Last time you're gonna let me down.
Last time you're gonna
Fool around with me...
There's a garden full of roses,
There's a necklace full of pearls.
You have come to take the roses
To give to other girls.
Well - I am just a pretty thing
You wanted for a day.
There is nothing left between us
There is nothing left to say...
Hey hey...
People like you
Can be so mean.
People like you
Just don't come clean.
(Chorus repeats...)
The Miracle Of Love
How many sorrows
Do you try to hide
In a world of illusion
That's covering your mind?
I'll show you something good
Oh I'll show you something good.
When you open your mind
You'll discover the sign
That there's something
You're longing to find...
The miracle of love
Will take away your pain
When the miracle of love
Comes your way again.
Cruel is the night
That covers up your fears.
Tender is the one
That wipes away your tears.
There must be a bitter breeze
To make you sting so viciously -
They say the greatest coward
Can hurt the most ferociously.
But I'll show you something good.
Oh I'll show you something good.
If you open your heart
You can make a new start
When your crumbling world falls apart.
(Chorus repeats...)
Let's Go!
He was the kinda guy
I liked the way he looked.
He had a red silk tie -
He had a forties suit.
And I said - "You're the kind of person
I've been longing to adore."
"You're the kind of person
I've been waiting for."
He said - "The time is right to take a chance
'Cause I'm looking for a brand new romance."
"So come on baby let's go outside -
I've got a car in the drive and we can take a ride."
"So let's go - I wanna fall in love ooh hoo."
"Let's go - I wanna fall in love ooh hoo."
Well - we went driving for an hour or so
Till we took the little Chevy down to Mexico.
And I said - "Blue eyed boy, you know I love the way you look."
"Why don't we find a preacher
Who can get us hooked?"
"You know the time is right to take a chance
'Cause I'm looking for a brand new romance."
And the great big moon
Was a shinin' down
He said "Forget about the preacher man,
Let's do it on the ground!"
"Let's go - I wanna fall in love ooh hoo."
"Let's go - I wanna fall in love ooh hoo."
Take Your Pain Away
If I could find a way
To soothe your troubled mind
Then I would erase your fears
And help you to unwind.
I would ease the burden
That you carry everyday.
Oh - don't you know I'd find a cure
And take your pain away.
Take your pain away
Take your pain away...
And even though you're far from here
Don't forget I'm always near.
Find comfort in these words I send
In this cold world.
Take your pain away
Take your pain away...
For every aching heart
For every broken soul...
So give up your worries
They'll only do you harm.
There is no need to be concerned
It's just a false alarm.
(Chorus repeats...)
A Little Of You
There used to be a time
I wore my heart upon my sleeve.
There used to be a time
I'd show my gentle side to anyone
Through these years of wandering
I know I've been deceived.
Through these years of wandering...
And everytime you try to hurt me
You know you'll only hurt yourself.
And everytime you try to hurt me
I know you'll be the one to suffer
When you think you're hurting someone.
A little of you - a little of me -
A little of you -
Is hurting someone -
Don't tell me I'm the only one
'Cause I don't need that space.
Don't ask for love
I'll throw it back in your face.
All of these promises
Were only made to break.
All of these promises...
(Chorus repeats...)
In This Town
I could be anywhere else but here
But the rain won't let me go.
There's a photograph
Hanging on my wall
Of a place I've never been to...
I'll never make the grade
(Feels like Sunday everyday)
And I can't stop the rain
(Feels like Sunday everyday)
What do the papers say?
(Feels like Sunday everyday)
Get up and go now!
In this town - something's gotta change.
In this town - something's gotta change.
I'm looking at the world -
Looking for a scene -
Waiting for a day -
Filling in time like I'm digging
My own grave...
I'll never make the grade
(Feels like Sunday everyday)
And I can't stop the rain
(Feels like Sunday everyday)
What do the papers say?
(Feels like Sunday everyday)
Get up and go now!
(Chorus repeats...)
I Remember You
Well there's a colour picture
In my mind.
Of all the places
That I've left behind.
The broken windows
Where the wind blows through
Empty shells of houses
That have turned to ruin.
Oh - we were so young.
We didn't realise
Just what we'd done.
Oh - we were too young.
And I remember you.
You were the back yard boy.
Hiding in the wreckage
Of broken dreams.
Standing by the railway line.
Standing.
Oh - we were so young.
We didn't realise
Just what we'd done.
Oh - we were too young.
And all the sweetness
Has been taken out of this place.
So many memories
Are knocked down or replaced.
And I can't stand to see
The shifting time
Taking me further -
Leaving you behind.