Annie Lennox Foundation
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DECEMBER 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM DECEMBER 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Lennox’s proceeds from the lone original on How is working with Mike Stevens? the world, but he’s Bob Dylan. It’s about Cornucopia, “Universal Child,” will go to the We work very fast and very simply. We go to the character and the integrity and about Annie Lennox Foundation. “I felt very strongly his studio, which used to be a garage—just how people hear you. that if that song was to have a presence then one room with a small sound booth. I sit at I don’t want to put the money into my own the keyboard and we have infi nite sounds, How do you look back on the bank account,” she says. “I’d rather utilize which is beautiful. I draw from my memory: Eurythmics? the song as a tool to support the work that What do I feel like doing today? Then I might I’m very proud of what Eurythmics did, I do with HIV.” fi nd my key and play with chordal structures. visually and aurally. I think we wrote and That’s the beginning of the mood, that’s the recorded some very classic songs that are Why make a holiday album? atmosphere. We’ll put some simple tempo timeless. It’s part of my catalog and part of I’ve always had the idea that one day I was down and piece it together. Once all that is my archive. A hell of a lot of creative stuff going to take the opportunity to record my down, I’ll start to put the vocal part down went down there. favorite carols for posterity. I just adore because I like to have that as a guide. them so much. It’s not because it’s a good Might there be another reunion? career move or I felt I should do this. It’s a Is covering a song as satisfying as I never say no because I feel that’s too true labor of love. singing one you’ve written? complete. But at the same time, I like the I love to sing any song, as long as I love it. autonomy of being my own person, and What makes this record unique? You can’t sing a song you don’t like. Why I feel that what Eurythmics did was so I suppose the honest answer to that is would you? And it has to be something that precious and special that I don’t know me. If you’re interested in my voice and you bring into yourself and then you get it about going back there. I think I want to my musicality and my interpretation, that’s out to the world in your way. have another chapter. what you will get. You’re going to get my taste and my take. Is your writing very personal? What’s next? I think everybody who writes songs is There’s so much more to do. I’m really Some of the songs are quite obscure. bringing themselves to the table. Whether informed by my curiosity. I’m intrigued with I used to sing in choirs as a kid, and the they’re doing it autobiographically or life, and that appetite hasn’t lessened, it’s choirmistress had a wonderful repertoire of songs that she introduced us to. Some of them come from her knowledge and what she passed down. I was drawn to them because they have a particular resonance for me. The words of “In the Bleak Midwinter”—“Frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone”—that is timeless poetry, something so extraordinary. As a lyricist and Mike Owen performer, I’m struck by these words and the beauty of the haunting melody. All of these songs have their own characteristics. ANNIE LENNOX Are you religious yourself? I don’t practice any particular form of religion. Revisiting the music of her childhood while looking ahead I fi nd it profoundly ironic that most of the confl ict in the world is exacerbated by IF ANNIE LENNOX HAD DONE NOTHING and distinctive style in a variety of settings 2007’s Songs of Mass Destruction) is an different religious viewpoints. That really in her life except sing “Sweet Dreams (Are on carefully crafted multiplatinum albums like On stage at the BBC appropriate addition to the Lennox canon, as troubles me and makes me feel incredibly Children in Need Rocks Made of This),” the 1983 No. 1 smash that Diva and Medusa. Her solo career continued the singer was born on Dec. 25, 1954. dark. It’s odd to sing songs about Christ Photos/Landov Mok/PA Yui concert in London, 2009 helped defi ne that decade, her place in pop apace through the millennium’s fi rst decade, But for all of her accomplishments— and all of that, but on the other hand, the history would be secure. But there’s been no following a brief reunion with Stewart she’s sold more than 80 million albums songs are very close to my culture, my metaphorically, it doesn’t really matter ‘You can’t sing a stopping her for nearly three decades. With in the late ’90s. worldwide, including her Eurythmics work— life and my upbringing. I think of them as because what you’re addressing is a the Eurythmics—the duo she formed in 1980 Lennox’s latest release is A Christmas Lennox’s greatest impact may ultimately take metaphors, in a way. universal experience that people feel. song you don’t like. with Dave Stewart—Lennox scored hit after Cornucopia, which fi nds her returning to place outside of the entertainment business. If you listen to all great songs, there’s hit, from “Here Comes the Rain Again” to some of the carols she heard while growing With her own Annie Lennox Foundation “Universal Child” is the only song you something in there you identify with. It’s “Missionary Man” to “Would I Lie To You?” up in Scotland and offering one new song and SING campaign, Lennox has devoted wrote. How did that come about? profoundly inspiring. Why would you?’ before striking out on her own in the ’90s. of her own. The album, produced by Mike herself to fi ghting the scourge of AIDS and I hadn’t intended to write a single song for Lennox displayed her considerable pipes Stevens (who also collaborated with her on HIV among women and children in Africa. this album, but one day a title came to mind, How do you feel about awards? gotten stronger. I’m never bored and never “Universal Child,” and it stuck around in my It’s a huge compliment, obviously, and very challenged as to what do next. I’m on a head for a few days. During a moment in nice, but I don’t consider myself that person. journey now—it’s so fascinating, so vital the studio a couple of lines came to mind, How do you grade a voice? It’s like a dog and I feel so privileged to be an artist. ‘All great songs have something in them that you and I realized it could develop into the seed show. How do you grade a dog? What’s That’s what I wanted to be all along and of a song. By the end of the day, the song the best voice? It’s not about that. Bob that’s who I am. identify with. It’s profoundly inspiring.’ had been completed. Dylan is probably not the best singer in –Jeff Tamarkin 34 35 M mag 8.indd 34 1/1/11 7:22:58 PM M mag 8.indd 35 12/30/10 6:32:54 PM.