Be Yourself Tonight featured as Classic Pop Magazine’s Classic Album describing it as “Eurythmics’ Bold Soulful Reinvention”

​In the latest Classic Album feature for Classic Pop, writer Felix Rowe takes a deep dive into Eurythmics’ 1985 masterpiece Be Yourself Tonight. This was the duo’s fourth studio album and marked a dramatic shift from their cool, synth-driven sound to a bold, soulful style inspired by the Motown era. Rowe describes it as “a raw, tooled-up update of the Motown sound,” praising Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart for their ability to reinvent themselves without losing their identity.

The article explores the album’s standout tracks in detail. Would I Lie to You? opens with swagger and attitude, setting the tone for the record. There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart), featuring Stevie Wonder’s harmonica, became Eurythmics’ only UK No. 1 and is hailed as “a dreamlike fantasy.” Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves, a collaboration with Aretha Franklin, is described as “a feminist anthem for the ages,” while It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back) offers a softer, romantic counterpoint. Other tracks such as Conditioned Soul, Here Comes That Sinking Feeling, and Better to Have Lost in Love showcase lyrical depth and emotional range.

The videos receive equal attention. Rowe calls Would I Lie to You? “a mini action movie,” while There Must Be an Angel is “a surreal fantasy that matched the song’s dreamlike quality.” These visuals, alongside Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves and It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back), reinforced Eurythmics’ artistic ambition during MTV’s golden age.

The feature also highlights the impressive guest list: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello, and members of The Heartbreakers all contributed, adding authenticity to the album’s soul makeover. Annie’s voice is described as “powerful and mesmerising,” with lyrics that “come from a position of renewed strength.” Dave’s production is praised for its audacity and precision.

Rowe concludes with a powerful statement:
“Qualms over the authenticity of their 60s soul makeover seem churlish. If anything, their evolution highlights not only the pair’s audacity, but their dexterity in pulling it off.”