Viva La Diva (Diva - Annie Lennox)

Name: stoffy

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Product:	Diva - Annie Lennox
Date:	24/10/02 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: some timeless pop songs

Disadvantages: some tracks have dated a little bit

The Eurythmics were one of the most innovative and distinctive bands of the 1980's , producing hits like 'Sweet Dreams' and 'There Must Be An Angel Playing With My Heart' amongst their 9 Top 10 hits. Along with her partner Dave Stewart, Annie Lennox became one of British pop's most recognisable symbols of the 1980's with her ever changing hair and dress sense as well as one of the most respected vocalists of her generation.

After Stewart married Bananarama and Shakespear's Sister star Siobhan Fahey, the Eurythmics split and Annie went about recording her first solo studio album. Three years later in 1992, she emerged with 'Diva', a collection of personal and raw songs rather than the synth-driven anthems that people had previously associated her with.

Polished, but not over-produced, the album won her numerous awards including a number of Brits. It also showed off her creative side once more to a whole new audience.

Despite the album's title, which is possibly a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that the songs on the album are on the whole remote and isolated rather than showy and flamboyant, Lennox has always had a shroud of mystery rather than going on every TV show going peddling her wares. This aura of mystery has enabled her to receive the respect of music fans who appreciate artists that refuse to sell out and pander to public tastes.

The album's opener was also Annie's first proper single, 'Why'. A bare and emotionally vulnerable song, it features the most minimalist backing to allow Lennox's unique vocals to take centre stage. Despite the song's melancholy one-note piano intro being the soundtrack of a thousand local radio phone-ins about unwanted pregnancy and divorce, it still sounds as fresh today as it did back in 1992 when it reached the Top 10, and goes to re-emphasise just why she is regarded so highly by the music industry?

&#
39;Walking On Broken Glass', which also made the Top 10 in 1992, is a slight change of pace coupling a classic pop structure coupled with theatrical dramatics and ending up with something special. Instantly memorable, it epitomised just why she won all those Brit awards.

'Precious' was another track that was released as a single, although it lacks the instant appeal of the album's two openers. A little dated by today's production standards, it's still a decent little pop song which is raised from mediocrity thanks to Lennox's vocal style.

The fourth track is 'Legend In My Living Room' which seems lacks the oomph of most of the other songs on the album. However, it is quickly followed by 'Cold', a number 26 hit when it was released as the fifth song off the album. The most stripped down song on the album, it sees Annie belt out a lonely song like a blues singer without a piano. Definitely one to play when you're feeling a bit bitter about a break-up?

The halfway point on 'Diva' is reached with 'Money Can't Buy It', which like 'Precious' has probably aged a little worse than some of the other songs off the album and is nothing to write home about. Next up is 'Little Bird' which was released as a single some 12 months after the album hit the shops. As a double A-side with 'Love Song For A Vampire', it became Lennox's biggest hit, rising to number 3 in the UK charts. Another perfectly crafted pop song, it is another highlight on a great first album.

'Primitive' is another emotional tear-jerker that relies mostly on Lennox's vocal performance. A nice Asian backing distinguishes it from the other slower tracks off the album, but it isn't quite in the same league as 'Why'?

Track nine is 'Stay By Me' which features the same sample as 'Loaded' by Primal Scream as well as some panpipes. De
spite the lyrics veering into saccharine territory, its unusually clashing instrumentation sets it apart from some of the other songs on 'Diva'.

'The Gift' is the penultimate track, which sounds very much like 'Cold' at the beginning. Again, it could probably do with a more memorable hook, but once again, Annie's vocal performance is second to none.

The album ends with possibly the scariest 2 minutes and 17 seconds minutes you're ever likely to hear on record. Annie's cover of the now 70 year old Keep Young And Beautiful' maintains the same production values as Eddie Cantor's original and transports you to a smoky bar in 1930's Paris. It is completely out of synch with the rest of the album, but is a nice quirky novelty number to round off what was a good debut effort.

'Diva' was a big commercial success, selling a huge number of copies worldwide, and establishing her as a solo artist in her own right. Playing up to her penetrating voice rather than relying on studio trickery, she struggled to live up to it on the less well received 'Medusa', her second, and to date last, release.

In all, it's an essential purchase if you're are a fan of easy-listening and intelligent pop music, and although it has dated in places, it still shows that Annie Lennox really is something special?

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