📖 Overview
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This chronicles Dave Stewart's journey from his early days in Sunderland, England through his rise to fame as one half of the Eurythmics. Stewart recounts his musical beginnings, creative partnerships, and experiences during pivotal moments in rock history during the 1970s and 80s.
The memoir details Stewart's collaborations with Annie Lennox and the formation of Eurythmics, along with their breakthrough success. His narrative includes interactions with fellow musicians and industry figures, plus behind-the-scenes accounts of creating iconic songs and albums.
Stewart documents his work as a producer and songwriter for other major artists, his ventures into different musical genres, and his expansive career beyond the Eurythmics. The book incorporates photographs and memorabilia from his personal archives.
At its core, this autobiography explores themes of artistic evolution, creative partnership, and the transformative power of music in both personal and cultural contexts. Stewart's account provides perspective on an era of significant change in the music industry and popular culture.
👀 Reviews
Readers found Stewart's memoir engaging but uneven. Many appreciated his candid stories about collaborating with Annie Lennox, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and other musicians. Several noted his detailed accounts of the 1970s-80s music scene and Eurythmics' rise.
Readers liked:
- Behind-the-scenes music industry insights
- Stories of songwriting and recording sessions
- Descriptions of his early days in Sunderland
- The book's conversational tone
Readers disliked:
- Scattered, non-linear narrative structure
- Too much focus on name-dropping celebrities
- Lack of depth about personal relationships
- Limited coverage of post-Eurythmics career
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.8/5 (326 ratings)
Amazon: 4.2/5 (168 ratings)
Sample review: "Stewart tells great stories but jumps around too much chronologically. Wanted more about his creative process and less about parties with famous people." - Goodreads reviewer
Several readers mentioned wanting more details about his partnership with Annie Lennux and the dynamics that led to Eurythmics' breakup.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🎸 In the book, Dave Stewart reveals that the iconic Eurythmics song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" was created when he was experimenting with a synthesizer while Annie Lennox was lying on the floor, depressed after their previous band breakup.
🌟 Before his success with Eurythmics, Stewart survived a serious lung collapse at age 18. During his recovery in the hospital, he learned to play guitar and decided to pursue music professionally.
🎥 The memoir details Stewart's adventures with Bob Dylan, including a surreal evening where they wrote songs together while Dylan wore a trilby hat backwards and insisted on being called "Duck."
💑 Stewart and Annie Lennox were romantic partners before forming Eurythmics, and the book describes how they managed to transform their failed relationship into one of music's most successful creative partnerships.
🎼 Throughout his career, Stewart has produced or written for numerous legendary artists, including Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, and Stevie Nicks - collaborations he chronicles in detail throughout the book.