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Sweet Dreams Analysis

Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics is a notable example of 1980s synth-pop and new wave music featuring a repeating synthesizer riff and Annie Lennox's robotic vocals. The song uses a simple chord progression and lyrics that reflect the anxieties of the 1980s. The accompanying music video features surreal imagery and an androgynous style influenced by new wave fashion.

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508 views4 pages

Sweet Dreams Analysis

Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics is a notable example of 1980s synth-pop and new wave music featuring a repeating synthesizer riff and Annie Lennox's robotic vocals. The song uses a simple chord progression and lyrics that reflect the anxieties of the 1980s. The accompanying music video features surreal imagery and an androgynous style influenced by new wave fashion.

Uploaded by

Clara Gayed
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sweet Dreams

"Sweet Dreams" by Eurythmics, Released in 1983, by Annie Lennox, and Dave Stewart is a

notable example of synth-pop/new wave music. The song contains distinct musical and non-

musical features that align with the conventions and practices of these genres.

Musically, the song is driven by a synthesizer riff that repeats throughout the track. This riff is

built upon a descending chord progression and includes several syncopated rhythms that give

the song its unique character. The instrumentation also includes a drum machine, bass guitar,

and Lennox's detached, almost robotic vocals that feature a metallic, otherworldly quality due to

processing with a vocoder. The repeating arpeggio spans three octaves and is a prominent

feature of the riff.

Harmonically, the song features a simple and repetitive chord progression that revolves around

the key of C minor. The chords used are C minor, A flat, and G, creating a sense of stability and

resolution that is common in pop music.

The lyrics of "Sweet Dreams" describe the surreal and often unsettling nature of dreams,

offering commentary on the anxieties and uncertainties of the 1980s. This period was marked

by significant technological advancements and political tensions, and the song's lyrics reflect

these societal changes.

The music video for "Sweet Dreams" is also an essential part of its socio-cultural context,

featuring Lennox and Stewart performing in androgynous suits and sunglasses against a

futuristic backdrop. The video's visual style is influenced by the new wave and post-punk

movements, which embraced a minimalistic aesthetic and rejected the excesses of the 1970s.
The video incorporates surreal imagery and non-linear narrative techniques that reflect the

influence of the surrealist art movement of the early 20th century.

Main Synth riff from Sweet Dreams

"Sweet Dreams" is built around a simple but effective structure of verse-chorus-verse-chorus-

bridge-chorus-instrumental-chorus; as follows:

0:00-0:16 - Introduction: The song begins with a synthesizer riff that sets the tone for the entire

song. The riff is built around a descending chord progression and features a number of

syncopated rhythms that give the song its distinctive feel.

0:16-0:32 - Verse 1: Annie Lennox's vocals come in, delivered with a detached, almost robotic

quality that is typical of new wave music. Her voice is processed with a vocoder, giving it a

metallic, otherworldly quality that complements the song's synth-heavy instrumentation.The

verse is eight bars long and features the chord progression Cm-Ab-G.
0:32-0:48 - Chorus 1: The chorus follows the same chord progression as the verse (Cm-Ab-G)

but adds a new melody and a catchy vocal hook ("Sweet dreams are made of this...").

0:48-1:04 - Verse 2: The second verse follows the same structure as the first, with Lennox's

vocals rising in pitch and intensity.

1:04-1:20 - Chorus 2: The second chorus follows the same structure as the first, with the

addition of some backing vocals.

1:20-1:52 - Bridge: The bridge section features a new chord progression (Ab-G Cm-Fm Ab-G)

and a new melody. Lennox sings "Hold your head up, movin' on" over a series of syncopated

rhythms.

1:52-2:08 - Chorus 3: The third chorus follows the same structure as the first two, but with more

prominent backing vocals.

2:08-2:40 - Instrumental Section: The instrumental section features a breakdown of the song's

main synth riff, with additional synths and percussion added for emphasis.

2:40-2:56 - Chorus 4: The fourth and final chorus is similar to the previous three, but with some

slight variations in the arrangement and backing vocals.

2:56-3:18 - Outro: The song ends with a repetition of the opening synth riff, gradually fading out

to silence.
Works Cited:

"Sweet Dreams." Genius, 2022, genius.com/Eurythmics-sweet-dreams-lyrics. - "Sweet Dreams" lyrics on Genius.

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics." Songfacts, 2022, www.songfacts.com/facts/eurythmics/sweet-

dreams-are-made-of-this. - Information about "Sweet Dreams" on Songfacts.

"Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams Are Made of This." Pitchfork, 20 Nov. 2018,- pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/eurythmics-

sweet-dreams-are-made-of-this/.

"Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Official Video)." YouTube, uploaded by EurythmicsVEVO, 21 Oct. 2009,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg.

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