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
Released7 December 1987
RecordedMay 1987
GenreSynthpop
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox and 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)

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.[1]

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

Upon release, Musician described the song as having "icy passion".[2] Lawrence Donegan, as guest reviewer for Record Mirror, described "Shame" as "a wonderful single" and added: "Behind the sorry mess that is Dave Stewart's hair there lies a pop genius."[3] The Orlando Sentinel felt "Shame" was a "slow, ethereal arrangement."[4] In a retrospective review of Savage, AllMusic highlighted the song as an album standout by labeling it an AMG Pick Track.[5]

The Toledo Blade noted the 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 commented that "Shame" "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."[6] Spare Rib considered the lyrics to cover "success and disillusion".[7]

Charts
Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 39
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] 37
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[10] 77
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 44
Netherlands (Tipparade)[12] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 23
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[14] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[1] 41
West Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 53

References
  1. "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  2. Musician - Google Books. 1988. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  3. Donegan, Lawrence (9 January 1988). "Singles". Record Mirror.
  4. Duffy, Thom (10 January 1988). "Archives - OrlandoSentinel.com". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  5. Ruhlmann, William (14 November 1987). "Savage - Eurythmics : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  6. "The Bulletin - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  7. Spare Rib - Google Books. 1987. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Ultratop.be – Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  10. "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 5 no. 5. 30 January 1988. p. 28. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 3 June 2020 – via World Radio History.
  11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  12. "Eurythmics – Shame" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  13. "Charts.nz – Eurythmics – Shame". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  14. "SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts E". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Shame". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
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