Recorded 1982 Label RCA Records | Genre Synthpop, new wave | |
Released 8 November 1982
28 March 1983 (Re-issue)
25 February 1991 (2nd Re-issue) Format 7", 12", CD single (1991 release) Writer(s) Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart | ||
"Love Is a Stranger" is the fifth single by the British rock/pop duo Eurythmics. Originally released in late 1982, the single was commercially unsuccessful, but it was rereleased in 1983 when it became a hit, reaching the UK Top Ten. The single was re-released again in 1991, to promote Eurythmics' Greatest Hits album.
Contents
Reception
Originally released in November 1982 in the United Kingdom, the song reached a disappointing #54 on the singles chart. Following the huge success of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" the following year, the song was re-released and reached #6 in April 1983. In the United States, the song was the second single from the Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) album and it was released just as the title track reached number one. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 at #81 on 17 September 1983 and peaked at #23 on 12 November of that year. The song was in the charts for thirteen weeks.
Music video
The single release was accompanied by a striking music video directed by Mike Brady, in which Stewart acts as chauffeur for an androgynous Lennox, who plays the role of a high-class prostitute. During the course of the video, Lennox removes a curly blonde wig to reveal her trademark, close-cropped, red hair underneath, though in the music video her hair was slicked back rather than being a buzz cut as seen in the subsequent music video, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)". This caused minor controversy in the USA, as some people mistakenly thought Lennox was a male transvestite.
Track listings
"Let's Just Close Our Eyes" is a newly recorded version of "The Walk" with a more synth-oriented instrumentation.