Music
Annie Lennox: 'Dark Road'
Released on Monday, Sep 24 2007
Published Tuesday, Sep 25 2007, 16:57 BST | By Nick Levine | 2 comments
Annie Lennox, it's easy to forget, is one of the greatest singers that Britain has ever produced. She can purr softly, reach high notes that only the uber-divas of the nineties (Celine, Whitney, Mariah) normally attempt, and, when she really decides to let rip, clear your sinuses like a triple-dose of Sudafed. 'Dark Road', the first single from Songs of Mass Destruction - only her third album of original material in a decade and a half – is a timely reminder of the Scottish songstress’ awesome vocal chops.
Over portentous, melancholy piano chords, Lennox croons world-weary, slightly ambiguous lyrics - "Maybe I'm still searchin' but I don't know what it means, all the fires of destruction are still burnin' in my dreams" – with tenderness and restraint. Its melody grows in stature with every spin, while its tumultuous, strutting middle eight feels like the smashing vase that ends the bitter sulk of a domestic dispute. We'd hate to be at Casa del Lennox when somebody's forgotten to take the bins out.
Over portentous, melancholy piano chords, Lennox croons world-weary, slightly ambiguous lyrics - "Maybe I'm still searchin' but I don't know what it means, all the fires of destruction are still burnin' in my dreams" – with tenderness and restraint. Its melody grows in stature with every spin, while its tumultuous, strutting middle eight feels like the smashing vase that ends the bitter sulk of a domestic dispute. We'd hate to be at Casa del Lennox when somebody's forgotten to take the bins out.
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In my view the 'Dark Road' single by Annie Lennox is stunning, but many of the other songs on the new cd Songs of Mass Destruction are absolutely superb! Give her a break, this collection of beautiful and intelligent songs shouldn't be dismissed or forgotten. Her best achievement to date!
We come to know all about Annie's strengh and weakness by listening to 'Dark Road'. We re-learn all over again the turmoil she feels about the world today. The music and melody is comforting but unleashes Annie's inner demons like nobody does - that's her biggest charm, that she's confessional and simple but complex at the same time. The tune has the same quiet beauty as her Golden Globe and Oscar-winning song 'Into the west'. It's not only a good song in terms of structure, but also in its delivery and the intelligence and warmth behind it. It's a great opener for the album - a difficult choice for a first single - but inspired nonetheless.