Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves

"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"
"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"
	One of cover arts for the single release
Single by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin
from the album Be Yourself Tonight and Who's Zoomin' Who?
B-side	"I Love You Like a Ball and Chain" (LP Version)
Released	October 1985
Recorded	1984
Studio	United Sound Systems; (Detroit, Michigan)
Genre	Pop rock, soul
Length	5:52
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Annie Lennox; David A. Stewart;
Producer(s)	David A. Stewart
Eurythmics singles chronology
Aretha Franklin singles chronology
Music video
	"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" by Eurythmics on YouTube

"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" is a 1985 song recorded by the British pop duo Eurythmics and American singer Aretha Franklin. A modern feminist anthem, it was written by Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and featured on both Eurythmics' Be Yourself Tonight (1985) and Franklin's Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) albums. The duo originally intended to perform with Tina Turner, who was unavailable at the time and so they flew to Detroit and recorded with Franklin instead. The track also features three of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers: Stan Lynch on drums, Benmont Tench on organ, and Mike Campbell on lead guitar, plus session bassist Nathan East.

Released as a single by RCA Records in October 1985, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" was highly successful, reaching number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Music video[]

This music video was taped at Detroit's Music Hall. The video is interspersed with clips from old black and white films, including 1962's A Kind of Loving. The video uses the single version of the song, as opposed to the album version.

Track listings[]

7"

A: "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" (7" Version) - 4:35
B: "I Love You Like A Ball And Chain" (LP Version) - 4:08

12"

A1: "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" (LP Version) - 5:54
B1: "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" (ET Mix) - 7:53
B2: "I Love You Like A Ball And Chain" (LP Version) - 4:08

Credits[]

Eurythmics

Annie Lennox – vocals, keyboards
David A. Stewart – guitars, keyboards

Additional personnel

Nathan East – bass guitar
Stan Lynch – drums
Mike Campbell – lead guitar
Benmont Tench – organ
Aretha Franklin – guest vocals
The Charles Williams Singers – gospel choir

Charts[]

Chart (1985–1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[3]	15
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[4]	28
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[5]	33
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[6]	9
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[7]	9
Ireland (IRMA)^[8]	5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[9]	20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[10]	17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[11]	6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	20
UK Singles (OCC)^[13]	9
US Billboard Hot 100^[14]	18
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[15]	10
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)^[16]	21
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[17]	66
US Cash Box Top 100^[18]	22
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[19]	22

Cover versions[]

The song was performed by the cartoon character Lisa Simpson (as sung by actress Yeardley Smith) along with Ann & Nancy Wilson and Lisa's aunts Patty and Selma Bouvier on The Yellow Album released in 1998.
In 2005, The Pointer Sisters recorded a cover version of the song with Belgian singer Natalia. The single was released only in Belgium in October 2005 and reached number two on the Belgian singles chart.
The television show Xena: Warrior Princess featured a cover of the song by actress Lucy Lawless and Gillian Ileana Waters in the episode Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire.

Live cover performances[]

In 1998, the Spice Girls performed a live cover version of the song on their Spiceworld Tour, as a duet between Melanie C (Sporty Spice) and Mel B (Scary Spice). They also performed it on TFI Friday.
In 2011, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson & Yolanda Adams covered this song at 53rd Grammy Awards.

References[]

^ "United Sound Systems » Museum » Detroit's Musical History". unitedsoundsystemsrecordingstudios.com. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
^ "SoulfulDetroit - United Sound Systems - Great Soul Music Recording Studios of Detroit". soulfuldetroit.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Ultratop.be – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0611." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 48. 2 December 1985. p. 12. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 30 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eurythmics" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
^ "Charts.nz – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
^ "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 7, 1985". Cash Box. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

External links[]

[unitedsoundsystemsrecordingstudios-1] "United Sound Systems » Museum » Detroit's Musical History". unitedsoundsystemsrecordingstudios.com. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 2016-11-09.

[soulfuldetroit-2] "SoulfulDetroit - United Sound Systems - Great Soul Music Recording Studios of Detroit". soulfuldetroit.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.

[3] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Flanders_Eurythmics_and_Aretha_Franklin-4] "Ultratop.be – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-5] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0611." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[6] "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2 no. 48. 2 December 1985. p. 12. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 30 May 2020 – via American Radio History.

[7] Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.

[sc_Ireland2_-8] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

[sc_Dutch40_Eurythmics-9] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Eurythmics" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_Eurythmics_and_Aretha_Franklin-10] "Dutchcharts.nl – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

[sc_New_Zealand_Eurythmics_and_Aretha_Franklin-11] "Charts.nz – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

[sc_Switzerland_Eurythmics_and_Aretha_Franklin-12] "Swisscharts.com – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Eurythmics-13] "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Eurythmics-14] "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[sc_Billboarddanceclubplay_Eurythmics-15] "Eurythmics Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[16] "Eurythmics Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2020.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_Eurythmics-17] "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 June 2020.

[18] "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 7, 1985". Cash Box. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[sc_West_Germany_Eurythmics_and_Aretha_Franklin-19] "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

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show v t Eurythmics
Annie Lennox David A. Stewart
Studio albums	In the Garden Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) Touch Be Yourself Tonight Revenge Savage We Too Are One Peace
Compilation albums	Greatest Hits Ultimate Collection Boxed
Other releases	Touch Dance 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) Live 1983–1989
Singles	"Never Gonna Cry Again" "Belinda" "This Is the House" "The Walk" "Love Is a Stranger" "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" "Who's That Girl?" "Right by Your Side" "Here Comes the Rain Again" "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" "Julia" "Would I Lie to You?" "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" "When Tomorrow Comes" "Thorn in My Side" "The Miracle of Love" "Missionary Man" "Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)" "Shame" "I Need a Man" "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" "Revival" "Don't Ask Me Why" "The King and Queen of America" "Angel" "(My My) Baby's Gonna Cry" "Sweet Dreams '91" "I Saved the World Today" "17 Again" "I've Got a Life"
Videography	Sweet Dreams: The Video Album Live Savage We Two Are One Too Greatest Hits Peacetour Ultimate Collection
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Live albums	Live at the Opera House The Pointer Sisters Live in Billings Natalia Meets the Pointer Sisters
Compilation albums	The Best of the Pointer Sisters
Singles	"Yes We Can Can" "Wang Dang Doodle" "Steam Heat" "Fairytale" "How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)" "Fire" "Everybody Is a Star" "Happiness" "He's So Shy" "Slow Hand" "Should I Do It" "I'm So Excited" "Automatic" "Jump (For My Love)" "I'm So Excited" (Remix) "Neutron Dance" "Dare Me" "Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves" (with Natalia)
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