Shame (Eurythmics song)

"Shame" is a song recorded by British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart. The song appears on the duo's sixth studio album Savage and was released as the second single in the UK. "Shame" was not released in the United States.

"Shame"
Single by Eurythmics
from the album Savage
B-side"I've Got a Lover (Back in Japan)" (LP Version)
Released7 December 1987[1]
RecordedMay 1987
GenreSynth-pop
Length3:46 (single version) 4:30 (album version)
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
Producer(s)David A. Stewart
Eurythmics singles chronology
"Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)"
(1987)		 "Shame"
(1987)		 "I Need a Man"
(1988)
Audio
"Shame (Remastered Version)" on YouTube

The track is a synthpop ballad in which the protagonist expresses regret and disdain for excessive and shallow lifestyles led by those who frequent nightclubs, bars, parties and the like. The lyrics namecheck The Beatles and The Rolling Stones and mentions the songs "All You Need is Love" and "We Love You".

"Shame" stalled at number forty-one in the UK singles chart, the first Eurythmics single to miss the UK Top 40 since "Julia" in 1985.[2] It proved to be an airplay hit in Spain, with Radio España 97.2 including it in its playlist upon its release in the country.

Track listings

7":RCA (UK, GER, FR, SP, AUS, JP)
  1. "Shame" (7" Version) – 3:46
  2. "I've Got A Lover (Back In Japan)" (LP Version) – 4:33

12":RCA (UK, GER, FR, SP, AUS)
  1. "Shame" (Dance Mix) – 5:44
  2. "I've Got A Lover (Back In Japan)" (LP Version) – 4:33
  3. "Shame" (LP Version) – 4:23

CD Single:RCA (UK, GER)
  1. "Shame" (Dance Mix) – 5:44
  2. "I've Got A Lover (Back In Japan)" (LP Version) – 4:33
  3. "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)" (Live Version)* – 7:15
  • live version recorded in Sydney, 1987

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Neil Taylor of New Musical Express praised "Shame" as "an alluring tune [which] beckon[s] you to the safe portals of crackerjack clubland" and a "great single". He added that it is "a great record for sipping your glasnost and lime to".[3] Lawrence Donegan, as guest reviewer for Record Mirror, described it as "a wonderful single" and added, "Behind the sorry mess that is Dave Stewart's hair there lies a pop genius."[4]

In a review of Savage, Musician described the song as having "icy passion",[5] and The Orlando Sentinel noted its "slow, ethereal arrangement."[6] The Toledo Blade commented that songs on the album like "Shame" "sound lush and full, but the plea in the lyrics is almost desperate: a human longing to be touched instead of crushed by others". The Bulletin noted the song "takes on the idea of raised expectations generated by the media and nails it down as patently false. Everything is a con job... everything from movies to TV to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones."[7] Spare Rib considered the lyrics to cover "success and disillusion".[8]

Charts
Chart performance for "Shame"
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 39
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 37
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[11] 77
Italy (Musica e dischi)[12] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 44
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 23
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[16] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 41
West Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 53

References
  1. Andy Strickland, ed. (5 December 1987). "Index: Releases". Record Mirror. p. 9. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  3. Taylor, Neil (12 December 1987). "45". New Musical Express. p. 16. ISSN 0028-6362.
  4. Donegan, Lawrence (9 January 1988). "Singles". Record Mirror.
  5. Musician - Google Books. 1988. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  6. Duffy, Thom (10 January 1988). "Archives - OrlandoSentinel.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  7. "The Bulletin - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  8. Spare Rib - Google Books. 1987. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5, no. 5. 30 January 1988. p. 28. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Eurythmics" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
  13. "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  15. "Eurythmics – Shame". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts E". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Shame" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
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