No More ‘I Love You’s’ – The highest of Annie’s cover songs is her interpretation of The Lover Speaks’ little-known song from 1986. Her Grammy Award-winning recording (surprising many, perhaps, but no more than fellow nominee Mariah Carey) is so brilliant, so authentic that many are surprised to learn it’s a cover.

The elaborate video only enhances Annie’s stature as an icon of popular music. And, really, how many of you go about your life singing the doop-be-doop-be-doop-doop-doop bit as you go about your regular life? Admit it. You do. It’s infectious. You can’t help it.

i used to be lunatic from the gracious days
i used to be woebegone and so restless nights
my aching heart would bleed for you to see
Oh but now…
(i don’t find myself bouncing home whistling
buttonhole tunes to make me cry)

no more “I love you’s”
the language is leaving me
no more “I love you’s”
changes are shifting outside the word

(the lover speaks about the monsters)

i used to have demons in my room at night
desire,despair,desire,so many monsters
oh but now…
(i don’t find myself bouncing home whistling
buttonhole tunes to make me cry)

no more “I love you’s”
the langutage is leaving me
no more “I love you’s”
the language is leaving me in silence
no more “I love you’s”
changes are shifting outside the word

they were being really crazy
they were on the come.
and you know what mammy?
everybody was being really crazy. Uh huh.
the monsters are crazy.
there are monsters outsides

outside the word

Pure brilliance. This is Annie Lennox at her finest with a powerful vocal performance at her most dazzling. The song is a combination of romance, poetry, camp, soul, and goth. I adore the visuals she creates when she whisper-sings, “And you know what mommy? Everybody was being real crazy /The monsters are crazy / There are monsters outside.” This song here is the best example of an artist taking someone else’s brilliant work, re-crafting it, and completely making it her own. The theatrical music video takes the song to a different and higher dimension with gorgeous costumes and its troupe of backup-singing gender-queer drag queen ballerinas. “No More ‘I Love You’s'” best exemplifies why Annie Lennox remains as one of my all-time favorite artists.

– Gary Krupnick

COLLECTABLE RECORD

This is a standard version of the UK 7″ Single but comes with a letter from long term Eurythmics and Annie Lennox sleeve designer Laurence Stevens where he explains why the reverse sleeve is upside down. Click the link below to view the details and the gallery.

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MEMORABILIA

A nice selection of adverts, sheet music, postcards and another of Brendan’s creations!

CHART HISTORY

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Eurythmics and DAVE STEWART AND ANNIE LENNOX