Diva (Annie Lennox album)
Diva | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 6 April 1992 | |||
Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
Studio | Mayfair and The Church (London, England) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 49:55 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer | Stephen Lipson | |||
Annie Lennox chronology | ||||
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Singles from Diva | ||||
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Diva is the debut solo studio album by Scottish singer Annie Lennox, released on 6 April 1992 by RCA Records. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and has since sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK alone, being certified quadruple platinum.[1] Diva was the 7th best selling album of 1992 in the United Kingdom.[2] In the United States, it reached number 23 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified double platinum.[3]
The album spawned five successful single releases, beginning with "
Diva won the Brit Award for
Background and recording
Following the informal dissolution of
The song "
The headdress worn by Lennox on the album's cover (and seen in several of the album's videos) was obtained from the London-based costume company Angels. It had been used previously in the James Bond film Octopussy.[4]
Lennox gave birth to a
Naming
Lennox explained during a radio interview with BBC Radio 2 that the name Diva chosen for the album was "arrogant". Lennox explained "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".[5] 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".[5]
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".[5]
Release and promotion
Lennox released the lead single from Diva, "Why" on 16 March 1992.[6] Upon release, "Why" was the most played track across European radio networks.[7] The choice to release "Why" as the lead single and launch of Lennox's solo career was described as a "bold move" by some due to its heart wrenching nature.[5] Lennox described "Why" as "a deep dialogue with myself in a funny way. A song about communication, or lack of communication.”[5] Diva was released on 6 April 1992, one month after the release of "Why" as the first single. Upon release, album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and has since sold over 1.2 million copies in the UK alone, being certified quadruple platinum.[1] In the United States, it reached number 23 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified double platinum.[3]
"
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [11] |
Calgary Herald | B+[12] |
Chicago Sun-Times | [13] |
Entertainment Weekly | C[14] |
Los Angeles Times | [15] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[16] |
Q | [17] |
Rolling Stone | [18] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [19] |
Slant Magazine | [20] |
The Village Voice | C+[21] |
In 1993 the album was included in Q magazine's list of the "50 Best Albums of 1992". Rolling Stone described the album as "...state-of-the-art soul pop..." and it is included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's" list.
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 Diva's 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.[18]
Pitchfork magazine commented on Diva, stating that the album is "a joyous and liberated pop album with a prophetic message about the disillusionment of fame".[22]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Annie Lennox, except where noted.[23]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Why" | Lennox | 4:53 |
2. | "Walking on Broken Glass" | Lennox | 4:12 |
3. | "Precious" | Lennox | 5:08 |
4. | "Legend in My Living Room" |
| 3:45 |
5. | "Cold" | Lennox | 4:20 |
6. | "Money Can't Buy It" | Lennox | 5:00 |
7. | "Little Bird" | Lennox | 4:48 |
8. | "Primitive" | Lennox | 4:19 |
9. | "Stay by Me" | Lennox | 6:28 |
10. | "The Gift" |
| 4:52 |
Total length: | 47:45 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
11. | " Keep Young and Beautiful" | 2:17 | |
Total length: | 50:02 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "Step by Step" | 4:49 |
Total length: | 52:34 |
Video album
Diva | |
---|---|
Video by | |
Released |
|
Label | BMG Video |
Director | Sophie Muller |
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.[24]
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
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Why" | |
2. | "Legend in My Living Room" | |
3. | "Money Can't Buy It" | |
4. | "Cold" | |
5. | "Remember" (excerpt) | |
6. | "Primitive" | |
7. | "The Gift" | |
8. | "Keep Young and Beautiful" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Why" | |
2. | "Legend in My Living Room" | |
3. | "Precious" | |
4. | "Money Can't Buy It" | |
5. | "Cold" / "Remember" (excerpt) | |
6. | "Primitive" | |
7. | "The Gift" | |
8. | "Walking on Broken Glass" | |
9. | "Keep Young and Beautiful" |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Diva.[25]
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
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[55] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[56] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[57] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[58] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[59] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Ireland (IRMA)[60] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[60] | Platinum | 250,000[61] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[62] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[64] | Gold | 25,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[65] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[60] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] | 4× Platinum | 1,200,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[3] | 2× Platinum | 2,700,000[66] |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 7,000,000[67] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades
Brit Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1993 [68] |
Diva | Best British Album | Won |
Annie Lennox (performer) | Best British Female Artist | Won | |
Stephen Lipson (producer) | Best British Producer | Nominated | |
"Walking on Broken Glass" | Best British Video | Nominated |
Grammy Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1993 [69] |
Diva | Album of the Year | Nominated |
Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female | Nominated | ||
Diva (Performer: Annie Lennox; Director: Sophie Muller; Producer: Rob Small) |
Best Long Form Music Video | Won |
References
- ^ a b c "British album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Diva & Medusa Reissued on Vinyl". Annie Lennox.com. Annie Lennox. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "American album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Rosen, Barbara (25 August 1998). "For Rent: 150 Years of Stars' Costumes". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Making Annie Lennox: Diva". Classic Pop. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "New Music Releases" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "New Music Releases" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 23 May 1992. p. 19.
- ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 5 December 1992. p. 53. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Parisien, Roch. "Diva – Annie Lennox". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ Obee, Dave (26 April 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
- ^ Sachs, Lloyd (24 May 1992). "Annie Lennox, 'Diva' (Arista)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ Zacharek, Stephanie (15 May 1992). "Diva". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (24 May 1992). "Annie Lennox; 'Diva' Arista". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Arielle (18 July 2021). "Annie Lennox: Diva Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Cranna, Ian (May 1992). "Annie Lennox: Diva". Q. No. 68. p. 79.
- ^ a b Evans, Paul (25 June 1992). "Annie Lennox: Diva". Rolling Stone. No. 633. p. 41. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Henderson, Eric (1 September 2004). "Review: Annie Lennox, Diva". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1 December 1992). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- ^ "Annie Lennox: Diva Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Album Details". Universal Music Publishing Group : United Kingdom. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Diva at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Diva (liner notes). Annie Lennox. RCA Records. 1992. PD 75326.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Australiancharts.com – Annie Lennox – Diva". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Annie Lennox – Diva" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2143". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Annie Lennox – Diva" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1992. 31. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- ^ ディーバ/アニー・レノックス [Diva / Annie Lennox] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Annie Lennox – Diva". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Annie Lennox – Diva". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Annie Lennox – Diva". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Annie Lennox – Diva". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Annie Lennox Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1992". austriancharts.at (in German). Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ISSN 0033-7064– via World Radio History.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- OCLC 29800226– via World Radio History.
- GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1992". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Complete UK Year-End Album Charts". Chartheaven. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Annie Lennox; 'Diva')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "Music & Media" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 19 December 1992. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ Stansfield, Davud (13 February 1993). "The British Invasion Continues - Italy" (PDF). Billboard. p. B-4. Retrieved 30 September 2020 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 10 November 2011. Enter Diva in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Annie Lennox – Diva". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (2 November 2006). "Ask Billboard: Return of a 'Diva'?". Billboard. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "The Brits 1993". brits.co.uk. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "35th Annual Grammy Awards". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 1 March 2023.