Love Is A Stranger - Eurythmics (cover) - Michael Aaron

Probably nowhere near as well known as the first single from the album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), this was my favorite track off of the Eurythmics second album (or first breakthrough album). The original was a perfect example of their formula: icy cold electronics juxtaposed with the soulful, warm, sexy vocals of Annie Lennox. It was, under the veneer, an incredibly harsh, angry look at the darker side of love, or love lost. As always, I try to pull a cover in another direction from the original (otherwise, what's the point?) and this one is pretty dramatically different - using almost an island/calypso/reggae groove, with some very Phil Spector-esque timpani. I kept the vocal line pretty much the same as Annie's and got most of the harmonies in, with some slight alterations. I would say mine is a more resigned sentiment than the anger of the original, but that's in keeping with the groove of the track. This is also the largest production track-wise I have attempted - over 25 layers or individual tracks, so the mix was a bit of a challenge. Hope you enjoy, and thanks for listening.

Lyrics:

Love is a stranger
In an open car
To tempt you in
And drive you far away

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

Love is a danger
Of a different kind
To take you away
And leave you far behind
And love love love
Is a dangerous drug
You have to receive it
And you still can't
Get enough of the stuff

It's savage and it's cruel
And it shines like destruction
Comes in like the flood
And it seems like religion
It's noble and it's brutal
It distorts and deranges
And it wrenches you up
And you're left like a zombie

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

It's guilt edged
Glamorous and sleek by design
You know it's jealous by nature
False and unkind
It's hard and restrained
And it's totally cool
It touches and it teases
As you stumble in the debris

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

Category:

Music

Tags:

• eurythmics
• annie
• lennox
• love
• is
• stranger
• cover
• sweet
• dreams
• are
• made
• of
• this
• taylor
• guitars
• garage
• band
• audio
• shibbopics
• michael
• aaron

[zolluuu]

This is my favorite Eurythmics song. Nice job, man. Cool twist on it. You wouldn't think this was a song that would be that malleable, but it's actually pretty coverable. Slick.

[shibbopics]

@zolluuu Thanks zolluuu! I had a hard time making it work - I love the song, but everytime I tried it, I was doing a version like the original, but not as good haha. I had to find a totally different groove for it. But it was a lot of fun to do.

[mermaids14]

oh - how very much do i LOVE that sly li'l grin at the beginning of this!

it's delicious, it's delightful, it's delovely...i want this in my ipod!!!!

totally diggin' the shadow puppet action.

[shibbopics]

@mermaids14 ahem, well, you make me blush. Those aren't shadow puppets though, those are Pier 1 puppets :)

[Euracaille]

Damned tasty. Thank you so much for this great interpretation of a surprisingly flexible song; you've made an engaging and delicious personal piece while solidly honoring the original composition.

[shibbopics]

@Euracaille Wow, thanks, Euracaille, that is a great compliment, and exactly what I try to do with any cover. Much appreciated.

[TAJours]

Just perfect !

[ronnieluv]

Seriously??? The more I see and hear from you the more impressed I am!!! WOW! Your work is f*cking BRILLIANT!!!

[shibbopics]

@chtichat Thank YOU, chitchat, for the kind words of encouragement!

[shibbopics]

@divataunia The dancing dolls - high cost special effects LOL Thanks taunia, the harmonies might sound buttery, but they are like sludge for the first few takes :)

[shibbopics]

@navim49 You sir, flatter me! We are going to have to collaborate somehow!

[shibbopics]

@1cruisedirector Hi Diana, thank you! If you are aging, then so am I!