Eurythmics Promote Peace, Sisterhood In Tour's First U.S. Show
LOS ANGELES — The Eurythmics touched on every part of their
career, from their '80s synth-pop hits to singer Annie Lennox's '90s solo
endeavors to their new Peace, as they brought their reunion tour
to the U.S. on Thursday night.
During the first of their two scheduled U.S. shows, the duo brought the
message of Peace to the stage — the show was a benefit for
Greenpeace and Amnesty International — and celebrated female bonding:
Lennox spent plenty of time in sisterly soul-singing sessions with her
three female background vocalists and connecting with women in the crowd
at the Staples Center.
"What would be a fantastic and empowering moment is if everyone could
connect," Lennox said in her Scottish accent, before the Eurythmics
closed the show with the new album's "Peace Is Just a Word"
excerpt) and their 1983 hit "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)."
She asked fans to join Amnesty International, which had informational
booths throughout the area. "They are an international organization trying
to make a change," Lennox said. "It doesn't cost much. Thank you for your
time."
Lennox, 44, still managed to maintain her old ice-queen image as she
commanded the crowd with sharp, divalike moves. During her calmer moments,
all she needed was to raise her eyebrows above her green-tinted glasses
to elicit an eruption of cheers.
Guitarist Dave Stewart played it cool as he manipulated guitar after
guitar, each bearing on its strap a message in shiny silver letters,
including "Sweet Dreams," "Peace" and "The Eurythmics."
Stewart, 47, was the first to appear onstage, walking backward in a shiny
silver jacket and hunched over his guitar. As the crowd began to roar,
he spun himself around and began "I Want It All"
excerpt) from Peace — the Eurythmics' first studio
album since 1989. Lennox ran onstage dressed identically — in
camouflage fatigues, a silver jacket and sunglasses — and began
belting out the song's demanding title line.
Lennox and Stewart, who were backed by a five-piece band and three female
singers, kept their distance during the uptempo tunes, but the ballads
invariably brought them together. For "When Tomorrow Comes" and the new
album's "I Saved the World Today," they shared one spotlight, with Stewart
circling close behind Lennox as she sang.
Introducing the first single from Peace, the nostalgic ballad "17
Again" (RealAudio
excerpt), Lennox said, "It's been 10 long years now. ... This
song is about him and me." While Lennox gave the song an emotional delivery,
Stewart mouthed the lyrics, which included, "Who couldn't be together
and who could not be apart."
About midshow, the musicians and background singers came down from their
perches to hover around a piano at center-stage, turning the show into
a jam session for a while. They played "I Love You Like a Ball and Chain"
from Be Yourself Tonight (1995), which morphed into "Would I Lie
to You?" and then into "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves," which the
Eurythmics recorded with soul singer Aretha Franklin.
"Where are my sisters?" Lennox asked before the last of these, requesting
that spotlights be shined on the crowd. As the spotlights scanned the
arena, the onstage focus remained on Lennox and the three background
singers. They ended the tune with a soul-sister singathon, taking turns
belting out lines.
Lennox got on her knees to finish the song, then the four shared a group
hug. A similar sisterly vibe came on "I Need a Man," for which the backup
singers again stepped forward to support Lennox's mating call, and for
"Who's That Girl." A chorus of female voices rose from the crowd during
the latter song, singing with Lennox as she asked, "Who's that girl running
around with you?"
A good part of the set was devoted to Lennox's solo career. Songs including
"Walking on Broken Glass" drew a welcome response from the crowd.
Lennox and Stewart's most intimate moments came with the first set of
encores, which they performed alone in front of three giant trees the
stage crew had positioned while the crowd awaited the Eurythmics' return
to the stage. Accompanied only by Stewart's guitar, they played "Here
Comes the Rain Again" and Lennox's 1992 solo hit "Why?"
"She's got to be the greatest singer ever," Juan Guerrero, 31, of San
Diego, said. He said he was pleasantly surprised to hear the solo cuts.
The Eurythmics are scheduled to play a date in New York at Madison Square
Garden on Tuesday.
Opener Meredith Brooks, backed by a four-piece band, focused on songs
from her second album, Deconstruction (1999), including "Shout"
and the single "Lay Down" (RealAudio
excerpt).
"I'm from Oregon, so I'm one of the original tree huggers," Brooks said.
"So I'm happy to be here, supporting Greenpeace and the Eurythmics."
She closed with her hit single, "Bitch," off Blurring the Edges,
asking the crowd to sing along with the chorus toward the end. When her
request didn't draw the response she'd apparently hoped for, Brooks took
over the mic and brought the song to a rocking close.