Love Is a Stranger

"Love Is a Stranger"
Single by Eurythmics
from the album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Released	8 November 1982 28 March 1983 (Re-issue)
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	1982
Genre	New Wave, Electronica, Synth Pop
Label	RCA
Producer	David A. Stewart Adam Williams
Eurythmics singles chronology
"The Walk" (1982) "Love Is a Stranger" (1982) "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1982) "(My My) Baby's Gonna Cry" (1990) "Love Is a Stranger" (1991 release) (1991) "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1991 release) (1991)
Alternate covers 1991 re-issue cover

"Love Is a Stranger" is Eurythmics' fifth single, and like its predecessors, was initially a commercial flop, although it later became a worldwide hit when it re-entered the chart following their commercial breakthrough with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".

It was produced by David A. Stewart and Adam Williams and was self-financed at Eurythmics' 8-track facility in Chalk Farm.

The song has a fairly sparse, up-tempo arrangement. It uses the rare Movement Systems Drum Computer and various synthesizers (providing bass, melody lines and sound effects), including the Suzuki Omnichord, combined with Lennox's strident multi-tracked vocal harmonies. The song is also punctuated with vocal grunts of "uh!" from Stewart.

The single was re-released in 1991.

Music video

The single release was accompanied by a striking music video, in which Stewart acts as chauffeur for an androgynous Lennox, who plays the role of a high-class prostitute. During the course of the video, Lennox removes a curly blonde wig to reveal her trademark, close-cropped, ginger hair underneath. This caused controversy in the USA, as some people mistakenly thought Lennox was a male transvestite.

B-side

The single B-side was "Monkey Monkey", a stripped-down electro track featuring a sparse drum machine and sequenced synthesizer arrangement, with Lennox's vocal heavily electronically processed. The bass-line consists of a rhythmically shifting motive permutating against the drum pattern. Lennox plays with half-articulated fake-French soundings and extremely long intonations.

On the 12-inch maxi-single this song was preceded by "Let's Just Close Our Eyes" a completely alternative version of their previous single "The Walk"

Track listings

7"

• A: "Love Is a Stranger"
• B: "Monkey Monkey"

12"

• A: "Love Is a Stranger"
• B1: "Monkey Monkey"
• B2: "Let's Just Close Our Eyes"

Chart performance

Cover versions

• U.K. gothic rock band Rosetta Stone recorded a cover for their 2000 album Unerotica.
• Singer-songwriter Martha Wainwright included a cover of the song on her 2008 album I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too.