Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)
"Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)" is a song by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 12 October 1987 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Savage (1987).
"Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)"
"Heaven" (LP Version)
12 October 1987[1]
1987
4:40 (album version)
3:56 (single version)
David A. Stewart
Background[edit]
Writing[edit]
It was written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. Although not released as a single in the United States, the track appeared as a double A-side of the 12 inch single for "I Need a Man", and received heavy rotation on MTV. It was a Top 20 hit in several European territories and also in Australia.
Style[edit]
The Savage album returned Eurythmics to a more electronic sound and the "Beethoven" vocals are performed mostly as spoken-word from Lennox, with the exception of the repeated phrase "I love to" throughout the track.
Critical reception[edit]
Upon its release as a single, Pete Paisley of Record Mirror described it as "the strangest Lennox/Stewart song to date" and "totally loop-di-loop". He added, "Annie assumes a variety of singing voices over a typically brisk production from chum Dave. Impossible to tell what's going on. But let's just hope they make enough dosh from it never to have to do it again."[2] Jerry Smith of Music Week praised it as a "striking track" with its "spoken verses and curiously catchy chorus".[3]