Week 3 Video Reviews
Sweet Dreams (are made of this)
Artist's Name:
Eurythmics, a British pop music duo consisting of Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart
Song Title:
"Sweet Dreams"
CD/Album Title
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
Year
1983
Record Company
RCA
Director
Chris Ashbrook
Narrative of Video:
The video begins with the image of a fist that bangs once on a table. The camera moves to a wider angle, which shows Annie Lennox dressed in a man’s suit standing inside a conference room. At first she is still and bent over like a robot. Then she springs to life. Behind her on the wall is a screen that has projected images on it. There is a picture of earth on the screen. She has a pointer in her hand that she uses to point to the screen as she begins the song. In front of her is a desk with a globe on it. When she sings the lyric “I’ve traveled the world and the seven seas” she spins the globe. The camera pulls back and David Stewart is seen typing on a computer. On the computer screen the Eurythmics performing. As the video continues, the camera moves in front of Lennox so that the projector
screen is in back of her. The images on the screen change to fit the lyrics of the song. The video moves to a close up of Lennox with her eyes closed as if she is
sleeping. The scene changes again to the duo in a meditation position; then it changes to a close up of Lennox in front of a wall filled with gold records. The video
moves back to the computer where Stewart is typing as if he is playing a part of the song. The computer screen shows different images on it. The scene shifts
again to the two of them meditating, and then to another close up of Lennox with her eyes closed. This time the camera focuses in on a red dot she has on her forehead. It moves through the dot to images of both of them in weird clothing. He is wearing a mask and she is wearing a wig and a mask. There is a video montage of Lennox, Stewart and a cow, with different colors surrounding them. The camera moves in close on Lennox again with her eyes closed and with a blue flash, she opens them and the scene changes to the group out in a field. Stewart is playing a cello. At one point, Stewart picks up the instrument and begins twirling around
in a circle. The scene changes back to the conference room and Lennox is laying on the table, then she is standing and a cow is wandering around the table. A
video montage begins alternating images of Lennox with images of Stewart and the cow. There is a wall covered with gold records. The next scene is Lennox out in the field again but this time she is standing in front of a small herd of cows. Stewart, with the computer on the conference room table are out there with her. The next scene shows them walking across the field in slow motion behind the small herd of cows. The scene changes again and the two are in a boat. Stewart is standing up playing the cello. The scene changes to Lennox laying in bed. A close up of her face shows her eyes are fluttering as if she is trying to wake up. She opens her eyes and reaches over to the bedside table to turn off the lamp. On the table is a small box that resembles a pack of cigarettes. The words Sweet Dreams are made of this and a picture of Eurythmics are on the box. The screen goes black. The song finishes and the video comes to an end.
screen is in back of her. The images on the screen change to fit the lyrics of the song. The video moves to a close up of Lennox with her eyes closed as if she is
sleeping. The scene changes again to the duo in a meditation position; then it changes to a close up of Lennox in front of a wall filled with gold records. The video
moves back to the computer where Stewart is typing as if he is playing a part of the song. The computer screen shows different images on it. The scene shifts
again to the two of them meditating, and then to another close up of Lennox with her eyes closed. This time the camera focuses in on a red dot she has on her forehead. It moves through the dot to images of both of them in weird clothing. He is wearing a mask and she is wearing a wig and a mask. There is a video montage of Lennox, Stewart and a cow, with different colors surrounding them. The camera moves in close on Lennox again with her eyes closed and with a blue flash, she opens them and the scene changes to the group out in a field. Stewart is playing a cello. At one point, Stewart picks up the instrument and begins twirling around
in a circle. The scene changes back to the conference room and Lennox is laying on the table, then she is standing and a cow is wandering around the table. A
video montage begins alternating images of Lennox with images of Stewart and the cow. There is a wall covered with gold records. The next scene is Lennox out in the field again but this time she is standing in front of a small herd of cows. Stewart, with the computer on the conference room table are out there with her. The next scene shows them walking across the field in slow motion behind the small herd of cows. The scene changes again and the two are in a boat. Stewart is standing up playing the cello. The scene changes to Lennox laying in bed. A close up of her face shows her eyes are fluttering as if she is trying to wake up. She opens her eyes and reaches over to the bedside table to turn off the lamp. On the table is a small box that resembles a pack of cigarettes. The words Sweet Dreams are made of this and a picture of Eurythmics are on the box. The screen goes black. The song finishes and the video comes to an end.
How the Music and Video Relate:
I thought the video and song went well with each other. The
video depicts Annie Lennox asleep having this strange dream which coincides
with the basic theme of the song. The various props in the video are used to
emphasize different words in the song which gives them a clearer meaning.
Review:
The video is filled with images that mesh well with the theme of the song. Some of the images enhance the lyrics like the world and the globe. There is a hit of
S&M as Lennox strikes her hand with the pointer she uses while singing “some of them want to be abused”. Overall, I think it is a very good video and it
enhances the song very well.
S&M as Lennox strikes her hand with the pointer she uses while singing “some of them want to be abused”. Overall, I think it is a very good video and it
enhances the song very well.