Diva (Annie Lennox album)

in 1990, Lennox began working on Diva in 1991 Following the informal dissolution of Eurythmics in 1990, Lennox took some time away from the music industry, during which she gave birth to her eldest daughter. She commenced working on her first solo album in 1991 with producer Stephen Lipson. Though she had been accustomed to co-writing material with Dave Stewart during her years with Eurythmics, eight of the ten tracks on Diva were written solely by Lennox herself, with two tracks being co-written by her. In a 1992 interview with BBC, Lennox claimed she had "two years when I didn't do anything", and confirmed that during that period she was doubtful as to whether she should write and record a solo album or not. She highlighted that after much deliberation, "it all came back to you are supposed to write songs", claiming that when she writes songs "it affirms who I am", citing it being "part of her identify". After giving birth to a stillborn son in 1988, Lennox gave birth to her eldest daughter in 1991 while she was working on Diva. The song "Money Can't Buy It" touches on the theme of motherhood, with the lyrics "I believe in the power of creation". Analysis of the lyrics would suggest that a mother's love for a child is greater than success, fame and money. ==Composition==

Speaking to the BBC in 1992, Lennox said that the song "Why" is "a deep dialogue with myself", stating that the song was inspired by ones lack of communication. At the end of the song, Lennox describes the ending as "a big rant", stating that she wrote that part of the song to affirm to others that she is not what she had often been portrayed by others to be. She described her writing technique for the ending of the song as a "denouncement of things that had been applied" to her up until that point in her career, further adding that she "reserves the right" to not let people know exactly who she is as a person. Lennox indicated that her own upbringing as an only child inspired the song, noting her wish for her daughter to have the sibling she never had. She acknowledged that "it is not like going to the supermarket and it being something you can buy; you never know how it will work out". She said that songs she has written, both for Diva and with Eurythmics partner Dave Stewart, were "intensely personal", stating she "cannot go outside of myself and looking at other people's situations and reinterpreting them in some kind of story form". She said she "loved that kind of songwriting", but claimed it "does not apply to my own ability" and she finds it easier to "confront herself" during songwriting. ==Title==

Lennox explained that the album's title was meant ironically. During a radio interview with BBC Radio 2, she said, "It's quite an arrogant thing to take that name and put it on yourself. It's like taking a crown and putting it on your head, in a way. But I do it with a smile because the diva that you see, the person in performance, is not necessarily the person that I am." Lennox further explained: "As a performer, I've lived that diva-esque existence. Being in a little box, and having that box opened up, night after night, when you come out and perform and everybody sees this thing, this entity, and then go back and disappear, and pack your suitcase. I've experienced that balance of being the public person that is this monstrous kind of diva, a personage, and then trying to maintain my life." The notion of being a "diva" is a central theme throughout the album, and, as argued by Felix Rowe of Classic Pop, "understanding this notion is central to unwrapping the themes of the record, and the picture is fully realised through the accompanying visuals." ==Release and promotion==

" at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony Lennox released the lead single from Diva, "Why" on 16 March 1992. Upon release, "Why" was the most played track across European radio networks. Described as "by far the hardest-hitting track on the album in terms of the attack of its instrumentation" by Classic Pop magazine, "Precious" is composed around a low-slung bass groove. "Walking on Broken Glass" was released as the third single from the album, and has been described by music commentators as "catchy and immediately familiar", further adding that "Walking on Broken Glass" is "the type of track that every self-respecting pop star would give anything to have in their arsenal". "Little Bird" was issued as a double A-side with "Love Song for a Vampire", which Lennox recorded for ''Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Although not included on Diva'', the latter appeared on the film's official soundtrack. In their review of the soundtrack, Billboard wrote, "The highlight and probable single is the only vocal entry on the album, Annie Lennox's haunting, romantic 'Love Song for a Vampire'." ==Critical reception==

Diva received acclaim from critics upon release. In their review, Rolling Stone commented: State-of-the-art soul pop, Annie Lennox's solo debut is sonically gorgeous; it also declares her aesthetic independence. Ace sessionmen polish Divas gloss, and producer Stephen Lipson (Pet Shop Boys, Propaganda) operates in hyperdrive, but these eleven songs are fiercely those of a sister doing things for herself. Three years after her last outing with Dave Stewart, her cohort in Eurythmics, Lennox voids any notion that he was her Svengali and she merely the MTV beauty with stunning pipes. Writing nearly all of Diva, she manages a whirlwind tour of mainstream R&B and retains her singular persona – an ice queen thirsting to be melted by love. It was later included in Rolling Stones Essential Recordings of the 90's list. Pitchfork stated that the album is "a joyous and liberated pop album with a prophetic message about the disillusionment of fame". Reviewing the record for the publication, Eric Henderson wrote that Diva "glides with a rich, feminine dignity that stands tall in pop history." He further noted that the album's relative quietude reflects "a woman in full awareness, if not complete control, of the occasional ostentation of her emotional whims." ==Track listing==

}} Lennox simultaneously released a video album for Diva, featuring promotional videos for seven of the album's tracks along with an excerpt of a track entitled "Remember", which has never been released elsewhere. The video album was directed by Sophie Muller, who had worked with Lennox during her later years with Eurythmics. Later in 1992, the video album was reissued as Totally Diva, featuring two additional videos that had been made since the original release in April: "Precious" and "Walking on Broken Glass". Totally Diva was subsequently released on DVD in 2000. The only omissions from the video album were "Little Bird" (the video for which had not yet been made at that time), and the album track "Stay by Me", for which no video was made. Track listing ==Personnel==

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Diva. Musicians • Annie Lennox – all vocals, keyboards • Stephen Lipson – guitars, programming, keyboards • Peter-John Vettese – keyboards, programming, recorder • Marius de Vries – programming, keyboards • Luís Jardim – percussion • Ed Shearmur – piano • Keith LeBlanc – drums • Doug Wimbish – bass • Kenji Suzuki – guitar • Steve Jansen – drum programming • Paul Moore – keyboards • Dave DeFries – trumpet • Gavyn Wright – violin Technical • Stephen Lipson – production • Heff Moraes – engineering, MIDI management • William O'Donovan – mixing assistance • Ian Silvester – digital technician • Ian Cooper – mastering Artwork • Laurence Stevens – sleeve designs • Satoshi – photography (front cover) • Anton Corbijn – photography ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications and sales==

Brit Awards Grammy Awards ==References==