In 1985, British Pop duo Eurythmics and America’s Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin teamed up to record “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” at the suggestion of bisexual music mogul Clive Davis.
But according to band member Dave Stewart, there was some backstage drama when the musicians first met in the studio.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph recently, Stewart said Franklin was initially suspicious of Lennox, thrown by her androgynous look and vegan lifestyle, and questioning whether the Scottish singer was “totally gay.”
“Aretha had stayed up half the night making fried chicken, and Annie was a vegan, so that was a bit awkward,” Stewart recalled. “Aretha was very wary of Annie with her cropped hair.”
“She said ‘Look, these lyrics, ‘ringing on their own bells’, ‘sisters doin’ it for themselves,’ what exactly are we supposed to be doing?’”
He added, “She was trying to work out if Annie was totally gay and she was doing a gay anthem.”
As it turns out, Lennox wasn’t and still isn’t gay (though she is a huge LGBTQ+ ally) and has, in fact, been married three times to three different men. And the song wasn’t a gay anthem either. It was a feminist anthem that has since gone on to be covered by several other artists, including…
Kylie and Dannii Minogue
The Spice Girls
And on the musical episode of Xena: Warrior Princess…
OK, OK, Aretha might’ve been onto something since that last one is, arguably, little gay.
Anyway, the gospel legend was eventually able to get past her hangups about Lennox’s perceived sexuality and record the song, and when “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” was released on October 1, 1985, it was a smash hit.
Included on both Eurythmics’ Be Yourself Tonight and Franklin’s Who’s Zoomin’ Who? albums, it reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and No. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, it earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
It also helped revitalize Franklin’s career. Who’s Zoomin’ Who? became her highest-charting album in over a decade, as well as her first (and only) one to earn a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, with more than one million copies sold. Today it’s considered to be her comeback album, much like Tina Turner’s late-career defining Private Dancer.
A music video for the song was filmed at the iconic Music Hall in Franklin’s hometown of Detroit.
After the song’s release, Franklin and Lennox remained close. In 2009, they performed together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary show, during which Lennox wore a t-shirt that read “HIV POSITIVE” in an effort to help raise awareness and combat stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.
Speaking about the t-shirt later, she explained, “It will raise questions, I know, as to whether I am HIV-positive. And I can tell you, actually, the good news is I am not. However, many people are.”
In 2011, Franklin performed at the wedding for same-sex couple Bill White and Bryan Eure. She was paid $250,000 for a 15-minute set, and ended up staying on stage for an entire hour, singing hit after hit for the couple and their 700 guests.
Speaking to CNN after Franklin’s death from pancreatic cancer in 2018, Eure recalled, “She was very passionate that night and very excited to be there. She looked at gay rights as the next civil rights movement.”
“It was the greatest night of our lives.”
Eure added that, for every year after the wedding, Franklin would call and leave a message wishing them a happy anniversary.
“Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves” was later included on both Eurythmics’ 1991 and Franklin’s 1998 greatest hits albums. Nearly 40 years after its release, it remains an enduring gay feminist anthem and a testament to what can happen when we work past our preconceived notions to create something beautiful together.
Related:
Remembering Aretha Franklin: 10 amazing live performances the Queen of Soul left us with
We remember the Queen of Soul.
bachy
Lennox reiterated Bowie’s androgyny to catalyze a new generation. I suppose Sam Smith is wearing that mantle now.
abfab
Have you watched MOONAGE DAYDREAM yet? My god he was incredible. I thought I ”knew” Bowie, but this film showed that in fact, I really didn’t.
raulinmiami
Sloppily and poorly – a poor persons Bowie or Lennox
Kangol2
I love both of these artists, the late, incomparable Aretha Franklin, and the still living, singular Annie Lennox. They are a gift to the world of music. I also always love to hear that story about how Aretha sang at White and Eure’s wedding, and despite only being booked for 15 minutes stayed for the entire hour and regaled everyone with her hits, then kept up her friendship with White and Eure for years afterwards. Just amazing!
abfab
“She is one of those exemplary human beings who chose to put her success in her chosen career to work in order to benefit others. She is a true friend of Africa and of South Africa. Her Aids activism in general, and support for the treatment action campaign in-particular, contributed significantly to turning the pandemic around in our country.”
—Archbishop Desmond Tutu pays tribute to Annie Lennox in November 2013
abfab
PLAY her album ”NOSTALGIA”. Her finest record.
Love you sooo much Annie Lennox!!!!!
FreddieW
Annie Lennox — superstar gay icon with all the class and talent that some others lack. And yes, I mean Madonna.
Jim
if it wasn’t for MTV we all know who would not have a career. And yes, I mean Madonna.
LumpyPillows
Oh, the tired old trolls out to bash Madonna. Madonna was and is great. So was Annie. It’s not a contest.
Jim
Just shows how ignorant Aretha was.
Yes a person of her time, but really!!
barryaksarben
two of the absolute best voices in all of rock and roll (screw you Jann Weiner) singing together was absolute heaven, Annie is a GOD to me and yes she has it ALL over madonna who isn’t even in the same room as either of these two real vocalists. I had every single eurythmics cd and played them to filth. Her voice sends shivers up your spine. Aretha was slow to being an ally but I dont think she thought outside her own life too much. But Id never deny her talent as she was the queen of soul and she has thousands of songs that no one can sing as well as her
LumpyPillows
Who didn’t think Annie was gay? She hit just before AIDS when all hip straight people were trying to emulate being gay.
Annie is a great singer/performer.
abfab
I saw this very hip stylish woman in produce the other day and I told her she looked just like Annie Lennox, hair and all. And she said yes that was the look she was going for. It was uncanny!
No more I love yous!