Missionary Man

The song "Missionary Man" by Eurythmics, from their 1986 album Revenge, is packed with fascinating stories behind its creation. Annie Lennox wrote the lyrics from a poem she penned, inspired partly by her 1984–1985 marriage to Radha Raman, a devout Hare Krishna, which gave the song a personal edge. She once said in an interview, “Obviously, there is a personal meaning in [Missionary Man] for me, because of my past history. But I also think that there are a great deal of people in the media, in the form of politicians or religious speakers… who I just don’t trust.” Dave Stewart, her bandmate, aimed to craft a track that would electrify arena crowds, drawing inspiration from U2’s Under A Blood Red Sky and Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense. He described it in The Dave Stewart Songbook as a “weird brew of blues, rock and voodoo” with guitars, synthesizers, and harmonica, creating a spiritual vibe that kicked off their Revenge tour with a bang. The song’s harmonica part, played by Jimmy “Z” Zavala, was recorded in one take in Paris after he flew in straight from the airport, a spontaneous moment sparked by Stewart’s connection with Zavala from Tom Petty’s Southern Accents sessions. Joniece Jamison’s powerful backing vocals, added after she was recommended as a top session vocalist in France, brought extra soul to the track. The music video, directed by Willy Smax, used stop-animation techniques similar to Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” and earned five nominations at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards.

Another layer of trivia comes from fan reactions and the song’s impact. On Songfacts, a user named Kenny from Dallas called “Missionary Man” one of Eurythmics’ best, noting their shift from synth-pop to hard rock during the Revenge era. A queer fan from the Midwest saw the “missionary man” as a figure to avoid, while Mary from Omaha, a Catholic, found empowerment in its lyrics, feeling “invincible” singing along. The song’s chart success was notable: it hit number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart (Eurythmics’ only song to do so), and reached number 9 in Australia. It also won a 1987 Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. On Reddit, a 2019 post by user PersonFromEarth808 on the r/Music subreddit shared the song, reflecting its enduring love among fans. Joniece Jamison, in an interview with Ultimate Eurythmics, recalled performing it live as a highlight, loving the energy of the Revenge tour band, which she described as “the best group of musicians and loads of fun.”

Eurythmics, the British duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, began their journey in 1980 after meeting in 1975 in a London restaurant where Lennox worked. They first played together in 1976 in the punk rock band The Catch, which evolved into The Tourists by 1977. The Tourists had modest success but faced internal tensions and legal disputes, leading Lennox and Stewart, who were also romantically involved, to form Eurythmics in Wagga Wagga, Australia, after The Tourists split. Named after a pedagogical exercise system Lennox encountered as a child, Eurythmics gave them freedom to experiment with pop, electronics, and avant-garde sounds. Their 1981 debut album, In the Garden, flopped, but their 1983 album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) launched them to global fame with its title track hitting number one in the US and Canada. They signed with RCA Records, keeping themselves as the only permanent members to collaborate flexibly with other musicians. Despite their romantic split during this period, their creative partnership thrived, leading to hits like “Love Is a Stranger” and “Here Comes the Rain Again.” Eurythmics sold over 75 million records, earning awards like the 1984 MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, the 1999 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

You can stay updated with Eurythmics through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts. Annie Lennox also has her own Facebook, Instagram, and X profiles, while Dave Stewart is active on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans, or “Zoo Freaks” in your crew’s spirit, can connect on the fan-run Ultimate Eurythmics website, which offers discography, lyrics, and news like Annie Lennox’s recent “silent album” protest against AI copyright changes or Dave Stewart’s upcoming charity concerts. There’s also a vibrant Eurythmics Fan Club on Facebook where fans share memories, photos, and updates about the duo’s legacy.