Customer Reviews

We Too Are One

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3 star:		(1)
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It wasn't the saddest occasion to see Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart end their ties as Eurythmics because those of us who were (and are) Eurythmics fans knew that good things would come from them individually. Yet it feels like a goodbye present for us to have We Too Are One to cap off a 10-year career that sent the biggest of the fans into different universes all at the same time.

This album has been panned for being too sedate compared to more ambitious past efforts. But, if Eurythmics wanted to create another Savage or 1984-type album, they would've. Here we see how Stewart and Lennox were able to keep the emotional level high even with such a refined sound.

The first single from the album, "Don't Ask My Why," is understated, to say the least. But what makes it a great number is the orchestral setting backing Lennox's held back performance. We couldn't have Annie pulling an "I Need a Man" with so much haute-couture surrounding her. "The King and Queen of America," likewise, holds tight and contains a reserved, almost sad, vocal performance. "Sylvia," a chamber-orchestra-style ballad, is obviously inspired by the Beatles. "Revival" is fun and the only personality protruding track on the album. "You Hurt Me (And I Hate You)" is less intense than its title. And "Angel," the track that makes this album worth having, shows us how beautifully Dave and Annie work together.

Of course, to end the album, they had to give us "When the Day Goes Down," a carthartic look at the hope of the down-trodden, "the burnt out and the useless and the lonely and the weak, and the lost and the degraded and the too dumb to speak." Although it's not standard Eurythmics fare, it's a nice way to give us one for the road.

This album is primarily a must for the Eurythmics fan and is not definitive of what made Eurythmics the practitioners of musical creativity in the more-sensible-than-aesthetic '80s. But it never hurts to expand your musical horizons.

I totally thought I was going to hate an album with a song called "You Hurt Me And I Hate You" (does this sound like a three-year-old's whiny tantrum or what?) but in fact it's one of my favorite songs on the album. It starts off with a grandiose, soulful cry for help, then goes into a big funky verse and chorus, before leading into that MAGNIFICENT middle-eight where Annie deepens her voice with dark menace and purpose. It's really satisfying; this is one time you can tell Annie isn't going to take the heartache of life lying down.

That's probably why in the end this has become one of my favorites; Annie sings more about dealing with pain and moving on ("When the Day Goes Down","Revival","The King and Queen of America") than just wallowing in it. Couple that with a bigger production than usual and you have a really fun album to listen to. And I love to hear David play his funky guitar to boot!

Here was the Eurythmic's last album of the 80's, although much different from their earlier work, Annie & Dave dish out a few songs that may seem reminscent to earlier work. "We Two Are One" vividly returns to the "Revenge" album fusing soul and rock together, while "Sylvia" returns to the Sweet Dreams era with all the right synthesizer keys with Annie's voice gliding smoothly over it. The album ends with a beautiful song "When The Day Goes Down" most likely the most beautiful song they ever wrote together. While this album doesn't churn out many hits, it's worth having just because this is one of the most memorable groups of the 80's. Enjoy!

No more heavy synth riffs for the Eurythmics, its onto more pop like music than New Wave, yet still keeping the New Wave roots slightly, such in songs like "Sylvia". Annie delivers more powerful vocals in songs such as "Revival", "How Long", "You Hurt Me (And I Hate You)" and "When the Day Goes Down" than "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)". I'd like to make special mention on the song "When the Day Goes Down" probably one of my favorite songs of all time, could bring tears to even the toughest people. No average singer could create that effect.

This album was my favourite record of the 1989-90 season. We were fortunate enough to have Eurythmics tour Australia in December, and they played several songs from this album at the concert I attended here in Hobart, including the wonderful ballad Angel and the elegant, stylish pop of Don't Ask Me Why. Other choice cuts include the valedictory When The Day Goes Down , which for 10 years stood as a fitting coda to the group's terrific run of 80's songs, and the jaunty, lighthearted single Revival. This record has a professional pop sheen to it that marks it as being from the late phase of the band's career, and the quirky, ear-catching sounds of the Eurythmics' innovative early 80's records are missing, yet it's still a good album.

Eurythmics bowed out in 1989 with this accomplished pop album, full of their usual strong hooks and poetic lyrics. The farewell feeling is very tangible throughout the album, especially so on the rousing but sad King and Queen of America (... "the king of nothing/and the queen of pain ...") and the atmospheric When The Day Goes Down with its beautiful lyric about compassion for the weak. Don't Ask Me Why and Angel made the charts in the UK and are the more immediately accessible tracks here. Not quite as brilliant as "Savage," "Be Yourself Tonight" or "Revenge," this is nevertheless still a strong album which all Eurythmics fans will appreciate.

In early 1988, Annie Lennox suffered great tragedy when she gave birth to a still-born baby. I do not have children at this moment, so through experience, I have no idea how Annie must have felt. But through commen sense, I understood what must feel like for a mother to lose her child when the child is born. But Annie pulled herself together as most people do.

In 1989, Annie moved on with her life, where she and David, as Eurythmics released their final studio recorded album of the 80s. The album is entitled, WE TOO ARE ONE. This album shows that Eurythmics were going out with a bang. This is an incredible album and I have enjoyed it since the day I got it, although, it does not match up to that of their seventh album, SAVAGE. But there are many great songs on this album for everyone to enjoy. This whole album is for everyone to enjoy.

WE TWO ARE ONE
The album's title track, although instead of writing it as "We Too Are One", as in the album title, they wrote this title track as "We Two Are One", Two as in the word-form for the number. An amazing song that should be heard by every fan. No excuses.

THE KING & QUEEN OF AMERICA
The third single from the album. This song is definitely my favorite off of this album. The choruses are absolutely incredible. Annie's voice is absolutely amazing and powerful.

(MY MY) BABY'S GONNA CRY
The fourth single from the album. Great song, where David Stewart actually sings the second half of each verse, right after Annie sings the first half of each verse. David, just like Annie, has got an ace of a voice.

DON'T ASK ME WHY
The second single from the album. Great song.

ANGEL
The fifth & final single from the album. A beautiful, moving ballad. I could listen to this one over and over again. This song is actually about her still-born son. This song came from Annie's heart, which gives me more reason to love this song.

REVIVAL
The first single from the album. Not bad.

YOU HURT ME (AND I HATE YOU)
Another classic break-up song. This is another one of my favorites.

SYLVIA
Amazing.

HOW LONG?
Amazing.

WHEN THE DAY GOES DOWN
Amazing.

What a way to close out the 80s. Eurythmics were one hell of an 80s synthesized band. They have made millions of fans around the world, most of who still enjoy their music today. After the release of this album, Annie and Dave went on to persue other projects. In 1992, Annie Lennox had released her first solo album entitled, DIVA, which features the hit single, "Why". In the same year, Annie even provided a theme song for the 1992 remake of BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA. The theme song for that film is entitled, "Love Song For A Vampire". But this album shows how great Eurythmics were. Buy this album and enjoy it.

This cd is very pretty but I loved some of their other cds a lot better. This cd is a little more adult sounding not all that electronic as some of their previous work was. Not as dancy but never the less a good cd.

Is there anything more relaxing than the smooth vocals of Annie Lennox? I doubt it. This album is perfect with a glass of wine. My friend stole it from me, but I have no problem buying it again.

Length:: 0:54 Mins