Shame (Eurythmics song)
Encyclopedia
"Shame" is a song recorded by British pop music
duo Eurythmics
. It was written by band members Annie Lennox
and David A. Stewart
and produced by Stewart. The song appears on the duo's seventh album Savage
and was released as the second single in the UK. "Shame" was not released in the United States.
The track is a synthpop
ballad
in which the protagonist expresses regret and disdain for excessive and shallow lifestyles led by those who frequent nightclubs, bars, parties and the like. The lyrics namecheck The Beatles
and The Rolling Stones
and mentions the song "All You Need is Love
".
"Shame" stalled at number forty-one in the UK singles chart
, the first Eurythmics single to miss the UK Top 40 since "Julia
" in 1985.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
duo Eurythmics
Eurythmics
Eurythmics were a British pop rock duo, formed in 1980, currently disbanded, but known to reunite from time to time. Consisting of members Annie Lennox and David A...
. It was written by band members Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
and David A. Stewart
David A. Stewart
David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...
and produced by Stewart. The song appears on the duo's seventh album Savage
Savage (album)
-Personnel:*Annie Lennox - vocals, keyboards and programming*Dave Stewart - backing vocals, guitar, keyboards and programming*Olle Romo - programming-Production:*Producer: Dave Stewart*Engineers: Fred DeFaye, Manu Guiot, Alan Moulder...
and was released as the second single in the UK. "Shame" was not released in the United States.
The track is a synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
in which the protagonist expresses regret and disdain for excessive and shallow lifestyles led by those who frequent nightclubs, bars, parties and the like. The lyrics namecheck The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
and mentions the song "All You Need is Love
All You Need Is Love
"All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Watched by 400 million in 26 countries, the programme was broadcast via satellite on 25 June 1967...
".
"Shame" stalled at number forty-one in the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, the first Eurythmics single to miss the UK Top 40 since "Julia
Julia (Eurythmics song)
"Julia" 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 , which served as the soundtrack to the film 1984, an adaptation of the political novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell...
" in 1985.
7":RCA (UK, GER, FR, SP, AUS, JP)
- "Shame" (Single Version) – 3:54
- "I've got a lover (back in japan)" – 4:25
12":RCA (UK, GER, FR, SP, AUS)
- "Shame" (Dance Mix) – 5:38
- "I've got a lover (back in japan)" – 4:25
- "Shame" (Album Version) – 4:23
CD Single:RCA (UK, GER)
- "Shame" (Dance Mix) – 5:38
- "I've got a lover (back in japan)" – 4:25
- "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)" (Live)* – 7:15
- live version recorded in Sydney, 1987
Chart performance
| Chart (1987/1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Singles Chart | 25 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 44 |
| French Singles Chart | 36 |
| German Singles Chart | 53 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 23 |
| Italian Singles Chart | 28 |
| Polish Singles Chart | 17 |
| South African Singles Chart | 16 |
| UK Singles Chart | 41 |