Eurythmics Be Yourself Tonight released

Be Yourself Tonight Eurythmics

Released: April 29, 1985 Peak: 9 US, 3 UK, 3 CN, 14 AU, 4 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.6 UK, 1.6 world (includes US + UK) Genre: new wave

Tracks: Click on a song title for more details. Would I Lie to You? There Must Be an Angel Playing with My Heart (with Stevie Wonder) I Love You Like a Ball and Chain Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves (with Aretha Franklin) Conditioned Soul Adrian (with Elvis Costello) It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back) Here Comes That Sinking Feeling Better to Have Lost in Love Than Never to Have Loved at All Total Running Time: 43:16 The Players: Annie Lennox (vocals, keyboards) Dave Stewart (guitar, bass sequencer, drum computer program)

Rating: 4.114 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Most Successful Album Be Yourself Tonight was the Eurythmics’ second top-ten, platinum-selling album in America. It reached #1 in Australia. It ended up being the duo’s “most commercially successful and hit-laden album” AM Four singles “kept them a mainstay on MTV’s play lists during the channel’s heyday.” AM The Album’s Sound On the album, “the duo meticulously blended the new wave electronic elements that dominated their previous sets with the harder straight-edged rock and soul that would dominate later sets.” AM Dave Stewart said, “It was a conscious decision, at least on my part.” RL-76 “It proved they could hold their own across an array of contrasting genres, that they were chameleon-like, ever changing and expanding, not to mention ahead of the game and ahead of their time.” RL-76 Famous Guest Appearances The duo famously collaborated with ‘some of the biggest music legends the world has seen, from Aretha Franklin and Elvis Costello to Stevie Wonder, all of which paid off and added to the allure and respect that ultimately shrouded the album.” RL-76 The End Result This disc is, without a doubt, one of the best rock/pop albums from the 1980s and one of the grandest, most creative albums delivered by the ever-appealing and innovative duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. A true classic.” AM “This is arguably the duo’s finest moment” AM and “a near-perfect pop album.” AM The Album Cover Rolling Stone said that the album’s original artwork, which featured Annie and Dave wearing bird masks, was intended as “an ironic play on the title Be Yourself Tonight…[but] the result looked more like the invitation to a satanic masquerade ball.” RL-77 Stewart said, “They were so S&M horror, a bit like a rapist’s mask. The record company president almost had a heart attack.” RL-77 When Stewart saw a freeze frame from the video for “Would I Like to You?” he thought it would be “the perfect representation of the title and feel of the album” RL-77 so the original artwork was replaced with “a pixelated close up of an all new bleach blonde Lennox on the cover.” RL-76 The Songs “From the soulful electronic beats (a rarity) in ‘It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back)’ to the beauty of the Elvis Costello duet ‘Adrian’ to the pain and longing of the sorrowful rocker ‘Better to Have Lost in Love (Than Never to Have Loved at All),’ this album runs a wide array of musical styles, each song standing tall on its own two feet.” AM “Virtually every track could have provided a potential hit record.” RL-86 Here’s a breakdown of each of the individual songs.

Would I Lie to You? Eurythmics

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: 4/9/85 (single), Be Yourself Tonight (1985), Greatest Hits, Live 1983-1989, Ultimate Collection B Side: “Here Comes That Sinking Feeling” Peak: 5 BB, 6 CB, 8 GR, 7 RR, 2 AR, 2 CO, 17 UK, 5 CN, 12 AU, 2 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 23.08 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: The Eurythmics landed yet another top-10 hit in the U.S. with “Would I Lie to You?,” giving them three straight studio albums (not including the 1984 soundtrack) to produce a top-10 hit. The song is “an unashamed, sassy rock anthem full of gusto,” RL-77 “great guitar licks, a soulful horn section, and Annie Lennox sounding as vicious and vivacious as ever.” AM “It is a song that instantly grabs listeners by the throat and demands attention.” RL-77 “It’s an all out raging party even prior to Lennox opening her mouth.” RL-78

There Must Be an Angel Playing with My Heart Eurythmics with Stevie Wonder

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: 6/24/85 (single), Be Yourself Tonight (1985), Greatest Hits, Live 1983-1989, Ultimate Collection B Side: “Grown Up Girls” Peak: 22 BB, 23 CB, 19 GR, 25 RR, 5 CO, 11 UK, 12 CN, 3 AU, 17 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.20 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 9.58 streaming About the Song: “There Must Be an Angel” “is almost the antithesis of ‘Would I Lie to You?,” RL-79 the album’s lead track. It “is nothing short of shimmering beauty, with Lennox providing truly angelic vocals and Stevie Wonder lending an enchanting harmonica solo.” AM He reportedly recorded it in one take, “which gave Lennox and Stewart goosebumps.” RL-80 Lennox, however, said they weren’t sure he was going to show up. “The song was dedicated to him and everyone said it would be great to have him playing harmonical solo. He said he’d love to, but we waited in the studio for him from midday to midnight and gave up. We’d just got home and the studio engineer rang and said, ‘Get back over here, he’s just turned up.’” RL-80

I Love You Like a Ball and Chain Eurythmics

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: 10/13/85 (B side of “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”), Be Yourself Tonight (1985), Live 1983-1989 Charted: 7/13/85 Peak: 36 AR, 31 CO, 22 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 1.30 streaming About the Song: This was “a little like the single that never was.” RL-81 It was released as a promo single, receiving “a fair amount of club play at the time, as well as some radio play in the USA.” RL-81 It reached #36 on the Billboard rock chart. The song is “a mid tempo blend of guitars and electronics” RL-81 “as well as Lennox at the forefront sounding as bluesy as ever.” RL-81 It also “features prominent backing vocals by the Charles Williams Singers, who also appear on ‘Sisters.’” RL-81

Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves Eurythmics with Aretha Franklin

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: 10/13/85 (single), Be Yourself Tonight (1985), Greatest Hits, Ultimate Collection Peak: 18 BB, 22 CB, 25 GR, 25 RR, 66 RB, 3 CO 9 UK, 33 CN, 15 AU, 5 DF Click for codes to charts. B Side: “I Love You Like a Ball and Chain” Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 18.97 streaming About the Song: “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” is “an uptempo blend of funk, R&B and rock with prominent percussion and a dance-y bassline – the perfect backdrop to the soulful outpourings.” RL-84 The song, which has “become an immortal feminist anthem,” AM is most notable for Aretha Franklin lending her “powerhouse pipes.” AM Tina Turner was apparently asked first and said no, saying the song was “too feminist.” RL-83 Legendary producer Clive Davis suggested Aretha RL-83 but Stewart and Lennox both assumed she’d decline, saying “they didn’t feel worth of such an honour.” RL-83 However, Lennox said Aretha “loved the song.” RL-83 While Lennox said they got along all right, the meeting and recording was “slightly uncomfortable.” RL-83 Aretha wasn’t sure if Lennox was straight and was concerned she was doing a gay anthem. RL-83 It also didn’t help that Aretha brought homemade fried chicken, not realizing Annie was vegan. RL-83

Conditioned Soul Eurythmics

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: Be Yourself Tonight (1985) Peak: 32 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.74 streaming About the Song: “A mid tempo pop ballad, the track opens with a gentle, almost hypnotic, chime effect and, what sounds like, a genuine pan flute.” RL-85 “Lennox is grappling with herself and her demons of the past…[trying] to convince herself the fears and desires consuming her are normal and rational.” RL-85 “In Hare Krishna religion, a conditioned soul is significant and means someone who accepts illusion as reality.” RL-85 For Annie Lennox, it served as the perfect reference to her failed marriage to Radha Raman, a Hare Krishna devotee she’d only known a matter of weeks. RL-85

Adrian Eurythmics with Elvis Costello

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: Be Yourself Tonight (1985) Peak: 20 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.73 streaming About the Song: “Allegedly inspired by a Eurythmics fan named Adrian, the track is a mid tempo ballad which relies mostly on synthesizers and sequencers with smatterings of guitar.” RL-86 “One gets the impression this fan may have been highly emotionally enamoured with the band, and this track is, in a sense, a message of placation…[to] stop wasting time with fandom.” RL-86 “Elvis Costello steps into the spotlight to duet and provide soaring harmonies with Lennox.” RL-86 They are “the perfect complement to one another’s pipes.” RL-86

It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back) Eurythmics

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: 12/30/85 (single), Be Yourself Tonight (1985), Greatest Hits, Ultimate Collection B Side: “Tous les garçons et les filles” Peak: 78 BB, 79 CB, 10 CO, 12 UK, 37 CN, 32 AU, 12 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 6.43 streaming

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Song: “It’s Alright” “is complex both in terms of its arrangement and lyrics and was written in the technically ambitious key of D flat major with ever-changing compositions and call and response melodies throughout. It’s also incredibly catchy, not to mention unique.” RL-87 Lennox described it as, “Gentler, more intimate and sweet, less strident.” RL-87 “While primarily a synthesized and keyboard-sequenced piece, a striking robust brass arrangement from Michael Kamen, with whom the duo worked extensively, also features heavily and Stewart once again delights with another trademark guitar display.” RL-87 It’s also “one of Lennox’s most soulful efforts, and hardly what one might equate with a white woman from Scotland.” RL-87

Here Comes That Sinking Feeling Eurythmics

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: 4/9/85 (B side of “Would I Lie to You?”), Be Yourself Tonight (1985) Peak: 39 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.59 streaming About the Song: “Here Comes That Sinking Feeling” is “an indignant, stomping rock-oriented number.” RL-89 It “is vigorously fierce, yet has a damn good time in the process.” RL-89 The song starts as “a slow burn, commencing with some distant chattering voices and an eerie, descending synth note that captures the sinking feeling entirely.” RL-89 “Lennox, at first, employs a detached, subdued delivery, where her vocals verge on being spoken rather than sung.” RL-89 “In some ways, ‘Here Comes That Sinking Feeling’ is a lyrical counterpart to ‘Here Comes the Rain Again,’ although the former is less metaphorical and more direct.” RL-89

Better to Have Lost in Love Than Never to Have Loved at All Eurythmics

Writer(s): Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart Released: Be Yourself Tonight (1985) Peak: 22 DF Click for codes to charts. Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 0.51 streaming About the Song: This song is “possibly one of the duo’s all-time best offerings.” RL-90 It “bursts onto the scene as an uptempo rock and synth combo with undulating drums and an expressive Lennox.” RL-90 It “is an unwavering thrill ride of bitterness and empowerment and an absolute sensation.” RL-90 “Despite being tainted with reticence and subtle torment, there is a sense of closure and optimism.” RL-90

Resources/References: AM AllMusic.com review by Jose F. Promis RL Ross Larkin (2026). Eurythmics: Song by Song. Fonthill: Great Britain. Related DMDB Pages: First posted 6/11/2026.