Annie Lennox : 100 BEAUTIFUL SONGS
Pavement Cracks – A fan favorite from Annie’s woefully under-appreciated Bare, “Pavement Cracks” did not, perhaps, break any new ground in songwriting technique, but it did highlight Annie’s knack for writing and arranging perfect pop songs. From its gentle opening to its full-on throbbing second verse, “Pavement Cracks” crackles with confidence on an album searching for real-world confidence and hope. Without a doubt, it’s Bare’s most pop-influenced, single-ready track.
Top 15 voters
| Christopher Perrello | 1 |
| Clem Stambaugh | 1 |
| Daniel Mueller | 1 |
| Eric Gustin | 1 |
| Mark Stevens | 1 |
| Alexander Barton | 2 |
| Ian Renner | 3 |
| John DesJardins | 4 |
| Lynne Foster | 4 |
| Rob Dziubek | 4 |
| Xaque Gruber | 4 |
| Wolfgang Nomi | 5 |
| Matt Lee Newby | 7 |
| Michele A. Plaga | 7 |
| Sverre Espeland | 7 |
The city streets are wet again with rain
But I’m walking just the same
Skies turn to the usual grey
When you turn to face the day
Oh and love don’t show up in the pavement cracks
All my watercolours fade to black
I’m going nowhere and I’m ten steps back
All my dreams have fallen flat
(Love don’t show in the pavement cracks aha
There will be no turning back aha)
Time and space will pass us by and by
When we don’t see eye to eye
I would have done anything
For happiness to bring?
Ooh but it don’t show up in the pavement cracks
I can’t even cover up my tracks
I’m going nowhere and I’m light years back
Ooh I wish you well
How come
Everyday
I’m still waiting for the change?
How come
I still say
Give me strength to live?
(Love don’t show in the pavement cracks aha
There will be no turning back aha)
Where is my comfort zone?
A simple place to call my own
‘Cause everything I wanna be
Comes crashing down on me
Ooh and it don’t show up in the pavement cracks
I can’t even recognize my tracks
You and I can’t turn the whole thing back
Ooh I wish you well
(Love don’t show in the pavement cracks aha
There will be no turning back aha)
(Love don’t show in the pavement cracks
There will be no turning back)
I was away at college during the summer of 2003, trying to catch up on my academic credits and living on an empty campus in Oswego, New York,—isolated, lonely, and 20 years old when Annie Lennox released “Pavement Cracks.” I first heard the song by downloading it on Audio Galaxy before the album was officially released and thought immediately, “This song was released for ME.”
Pavement Cracks intertwines a variety of Lennox tropes that are felt both physiologically and emotionally. The soothingly depressing minute-long intro; blues-pop musical crossovers; soul-driven backup singing; and modulation between stinging minor-major key signatures. My absolute favorite part of the song is when Annie pleads with her own emotions, “How come, every day, I’m still waiting for the change? How come, I still say, “Give me strength to live!”—her own rock anthem turned pocket narrative. “Pavement Cracks” is demonstrative of Annie’s ability to sell her soul to the inevitable feeling of regret. This song is thematic of Annie’s bleeding heart and searching for something she will never find, “Where is my comfort zone? A simple place to call my own…cause everything I want to be, comes crashing down on me.” Incredibly honest. Devastatingly authentic. Tauntingly sophisticated. “Pavement Cracks” is my number one because of all of these elements that culminate into a soul-felt piece where Annie conveys turmoil and fading personal hope.
– Christopher Perrello
COLLECTABLE RECORD
Pavement Cracks proved to be one of the hardest singles for collectors to obtain every promo version issued around the world. With so many remixes available the combination of promo’s was a free for all. The one that has always proved the hardest and most expensive to obtain is this Greek promo CD. View them all here
| Record ID | Image | Format | Release Details | Note | Click for more info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1736 UP2017-11 |  ' | CD Single | Artist : Annie Lennox Title : Pavement Cracks Format : CD Single Label : BMG \ Capitol Cat No. : None Country : Greece Promo : Yes | 4 Track Dance Mix CDR Promo |  |
MEMORABILIA
A struggle to find much for Pavement Cracks, but this is a DJ Return sheet for the Pavement Cracks remixes and a promo T-Shirt.
CHART HISTORY
Click to view the chart history for Pavement Cracks
| Country | Chart | Position | Year End |
|---|---|---|---|
| The USA | Billboard Hot Singles Sales | 17 | |
| The USA | Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 1 |
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