Her almost five-decade profession has taken Annie Lennox removed from her working-class roots in Aberdeen, Scotland. But by means of intense years of recording and touring success, and extra just lately, dedicating herself to humanitarian causes, she insists she has all the time remained the identical Annie. Amna Nawaz sat down with Lennox for our arts and tradition collection, CANVAS.
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Amna Nawaz:
Tonight, PBS will broadcast the ceremony for the Gershwin Prize for Common Track, awarded this yr to Joni Mitchell.
Mitchell, who’s used a wheelchair since she suffered a mind aneurysm in 2015, stunned the gang and took to the stage to sing a Gershwin normal, “Summertime.”
(SINGING)
Amna Nawaz:
Proper earlier than that present, I talked to a different musical legend, Annie Lennox, as she ready to honor Mitchell.
It is a part of our arts and tradition collection, Canvas.
(SINGING)
Amna Nawaz:
Annie Lennox first sang these lyrics for the debut single launched within the early Eighties by the Eurythmics, the Scottish British pop duo of Lennox and Dave Stewart.
That track, it was introduced only in the near past, has been streamed over one billion occasions on Spotify.
Annie Lennox, Musician and Activist: Now, I hadn’t been right here ever earlier than at this time.
Amna Nawaz:
I met up with Lennox on the Library of Congress and requested her concerning the endurance of her music.
I seen you shared this, folks overlaying “Candy Goals.”
Annie Lennox:
Sure.
Amna Nawaz:
And I noticed these three younger children who did a improbable cowl.
Annie Lennox:
Sure.
(SINGING)
Amna Nawaz:
What’s that like so that you can see?
Annie Lennox:
It is great.
Amna Nawaz:
Sure.
Annie Lennox:
Oh, I like it.
I feel that is the factor is, there’s so some ways to do songs. One track can have so many alternative interpretations. And it is the truth that “Candy Goals” has grow to be this — it is virtually like “Comfortable Birthday.”
(LAUGHTER)
Annie Lennox:
Have you learnt what I imply?
Hello, everyone.
Amna Nawaz:
Her almost-five-decade profession has taken Lennox removed from her working class roots in Aberdeen, Scotland. But, by means of intense years recording and touring, success at each business degree and, extra just lately, dedicating herself to humanitarian causes, she insists she has all the time remained the identical Annie, the lady who desires heard a Joni Mitchell album that modified her life.
You mentioned you did not even assume that you’d ever be a singer or a songwriter or a performer had it not been for Joni Mitchell.
Annie Lennox:
Joni had a big impact on me. There was some extent in my life once I was very younger, I got here all the way down to London to check classical music. I used to be a flute participant, and I performed piano. And it did not work out.
I went to the Royal Academy of Music. And I knew from the very first day that I stepped within the constructing that it wasn’t proper for me. I shared this basement flat condominium, and I did not have any cash, however they — with their cash, they purchased albums and have been very happy with the L.P.s that they purchased.
Amna Nawaz:
Sure.
Annie Lennox:
So he got here in with a Joni Mitchell album, which I feel was most likely “Court docket and Spark.” It was one thing else.
And what I recognized with was this extraordinary lyrical side, this poetic side of visible portray, however in sound and in phrase. It kind of made the whole lot come collectively.
Amna Nawaz:
She confirmed you this path was potential?
Annie Lennox:
Sure. That was life-changing. That encounter together with her music modified my life.
Amna Nawaz:
Is there one track or one lyric or something that actually sits with you? Or is it simply the entire story?
Annie Lennox:
No, I imply…
(singing):
Love got here to my door with a sleeping roll and a madman’s soul. I assumed for positive I would seen him strolling up a river at midnight in search of a girl to courtroom and spark.
I imply, who writes this? Who writes this?
Amna Nawaz:
Final yr, Lennox received the popularity her followers and the music business mentioned she deserved. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame and reunited for a uncommon efficiency on the ceremony with Dave Stewart.
Is that one thing you ever dreamed of taking place?
Annie Lennox:
Whenever you’re somebody within the public eye, as a performer, folks love you and so they hate you or they really feel detached.
So, truly, actually, in a manner, you’ll be able to’t assume an excessive amount of about what different folks really feel. Or, if you happen to’re getting this unbelievable award, it is significant, however it’s not.
Amna Nawaz:
The Lennox-Stewart partnership first started with The Vacationers. They broke up in 1980.
The duo then grew to become the Eurythmics, collectively till 1990. They churned out seven albums in simply eight years, bought over 75 million information worldwide, and racked up awards, together with a Grammy in 1987.
Annie Lennox:
It was exhausting. It was exhausting. However we have been on a roll. I feel it got here from that starvation to have the flexibility to make music, as a result of we have been actually, actually obsessive about music-making.
And so we have been completely centered on that. And these are the times actually main as much as, for me, personally, once I truly had the privilege of getting youngsters. So, as a girl, that modifications the whole lot. And it is very totally different if you happen to’re a person and you’ve got youngsters and you are a musician. You are on the highway.
Amna Nawaz:
How did you handle that steadiness?
Annie Lennox:
I had assist. I had very great folks serving to me. And that was nice, as a result of my — I’ve requested my children again and again, did you — has it broken you? Do you’re feeling broken?
Amna Nawaz:
You requested them that?
Annie Lennox:
Sure, whether or not being an artist and a mom was a dangerous factor. They usually say: “No, it is was nice enjoyable.”
(LAUGHTER)
Annie Lennox:
“You have been — that was — we have been glad that you just have been who you’re.”
Amna Nawaz:
Lennox went solo in 1992, producing hit after hit, “Strolling on Damaged Glass, “Why,” “Valuable,” throughout six studio albums. She was named finest British feminine artist a report six occasions, with a singular sound and a method all her personal, minimalist, highly effective, and explicitly androgynous.
Have been you intentional about that, or was that…
Annie Lennox:
Sure. No, it is attention-grabbing.
Amna Nawaz:
Was that simply you being you?
Annie Lennox:
That is an attention-grabbing query, is not it?
In case you are a inventive particular person, then you definately’re all the time sort of wanting exterior the field. So it is partly choice. However it’s additionally one thing intuitive. It simply occurs to be who you’re. I am comfy within the garments I select to put on. If I am not comfy, I am not comfy.
Amna Nawaz:
Only a few folks attain the extent of voice and platform that you’ve got in your profession, and fewer folks nonetheless use it to then ship different messages, different causes and different missions that you just put your voice behind.
And also you based a complete NGO, a worldwide NGO, known as The Circle, particularly to advertise feminine empowerment around the globe.
Annie Lennox:
Sure. Sure.
Amna Nawaz:
Why is that necessary for you?
Annie Lennox:
You see, I used to be actually very lucky, as a result of, by means of Comedian Reduction, this unbelievable group within the U.Ok., I had the chance to be despatched to make little movie items on their behalf, going to tasks in Africa at the moment.
So I noticed a facet of the world that folks do not get to see. And I noticed the disparity of rights for ladies and women. I noticed that younger women not getting training, not getting elements to training, younger women turning into pregnant as a result of they’ve been raped or abused.
Amna Nawaz:
A part of her mission now could be to make use of her energy and voice to alter that for the following era of ladies and women.
Man:
This one is for a 1986 declare to “When Tomorrow Comes.”
Annie Lennox:
Oh, my goodness.
Amna Nawaz:
Throughout her go to to the Library of Congress in Washington, Lennox was offered with papers to copyright her track “When Tomorrow Comes,” one among many hits from her musical journey and, with Joni Mitchell wanting on, paid tribute to the lady who confirmed her this path was potential.
And you’ll watch “Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Common Track” at 9:00 p.m. Japanese tonight and on the PBS.org Website online and the PBS app. Verify your native listings.