#SLS — Eurhythmics, Would I Lie To You?

Jim Adams is the organized host of Song Lyric Sunday.  Jim says:
English grammar can be complex and modal verbs are unlike other verbs. They include can, must, may, might, will, would, should. They are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so on. Our prompt for this week is Could/Might/Should/Would.

Here are the “rules”:
• Post the lyrics to the song of your choice, whether it fits the theme or not. If it does not fit, then please explain why you chose this song.
• Please try to include the songwriter(s) – it’s a good idea to give credit where credit is due.
• Make sure you also credit the singer/band and if you desire you can provide a link to where you found the lyrics.
• Link to the YouTube video, or pull it into your post so others can listen to the song.
• Ping back to this post or place your link in the comments section below.
• Read at least one other person’s blog, so we can all share new and fantastic music and create amazing new blogging friends in the process.
• Feel free to suggest future prompts.
• Have fun and enjoy the music.

image link

The story the song/video tells is compelling and resonates for any woman (or man) who has dated a bad boy. The energy of this song’s enough to light a city for a month. The musicians are  tight. I will try to make sure every one is mentioned in this post, as when they pull the song together it’s magic. I love how Annie struts out to the audience and continues her sass while she leads the band with her voice. I love her sexy backup singers. The horn section knocks it out of the park. The drummer nails it. Dave gives it that topping on the cake. The danceability factor of the song is 10 so please feel free to jump up and shake your stuff while it’s playing or do a chair dance.

Be Yourself Tonight is the fourth album by the British pop duo Eurythmics. It was released on April 29, 1985 and was largely recorded in Paris, with additional recording in Detroit and Los Angeles. Combining elements of Motown and rock music, the album incorporates a more traditional band line-up/instrumentation. Nonetheless, the recordings still possessed an atmospheric and cutting edge sound, winning David A. Stewart awards for his production work on the album. The release also coincided with a new look for singer Annie Lennox, who ditched the androgynous look of the previous albums and became, in biographer Lucy O’Brien’s words, “a bleach-blonde rock ‘n’ roller.”

“Would I Lie to You?” was released as the lead single from the album. Lyrically, the song features Lennox confronting a cheating lover as she leaves him for good. This was conveyed in the music video for the single, in which actor Steven Bauer played the part of the boyfriend. The video was directed by Mary Lambert and was shown heavily on MTV. The front and back cover photos, and the inner cover art of the Be Yourself Tonight album are screenshots from the music video. “Would I Lie to You?” is one of Eurythmics’ most recognized tunes and continued the band’s run of hit singles. In the UK, the song peaked at number 17, while it went to number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming their third Top 10 hit in the U.S. Furthermore, it is the duo’s biggest hit in Australia, where it topped the Kent Music Report for two weeks.

Personnel:
Annie Lennox — lead vocals
David A. Stewart – lead guitar, sequencer
Olle Romo – drums
Nathan East – bass guitar
Benmont Tench – Hammond organ
Dave Plews – trumpet
Martin Dobson – saxophone
Freda — (one of the backup singers in the beginning of the video)
Joniece? — (possibly one of the backup singers)

I took some time looking on the net for the names of the backup singers on the song and was only able to find one possible singer, Joniece Jamison. I know Joniece sang with the group but was she one of the three on this song? It is irritating and discouraging that these talented singers are not listed in the credits. I’m going to try to borrow the album from library and see if they are mentioned in the liner notes!

 

 

Would I Lie To You?

Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn’t true?
I’m asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?

My friends, know what’s in store.
I won’t be here anymore.
I’ve packed my bags
I’ve cleaned the floor.
Watch me walkin’.
Walkin’ out the door.

Believe me, I’ll make it make it
Believe me, I’ll make it make it

Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn’t true?
I’m asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?

Tell you straight, no intervention.
To your face, no deception.
You’re the biggest fake.
That much is true.
Had all I can take.
Now I’m leaving you

Believe me, I’ll make it make it
Believe me, I’ll make it make it

Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn’t true?
I’m asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?

Would I lie to you?
Would I lie to you honey?
Now would I say something that wasn’t true?
I’m asking you sugar
Would I lie to you?

My friends, know what’s in store.
I won’t be here anymore.
I’ve packed my bags
I’ve cleaned the floor.
Watch me walkin’.
Walkin’ out the door.

Believe me, I’ll make it make it
Believe me, I’ll make it make it

Would I lie to you?
Songwriters: Annie Lennox / David Allan Stewart