Thorn in My Side

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For the song by Bon Jovi, see The Circle (Bon Jovi album). For the song by Quicksand, see Manic Compression.

"Thorn in My Side"
Single by Eurythmics
from the album Revenge
B-side"When Tomorrow Comes" (live)
Released13 August 1986
GenrePop[1]
Length4:12
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart
Producer(s)David A. Stewart
Eurythmics singles chronology
"When Tomorrow Comes"
(1986) 		"Thorn in My Side"
(1986) 		"The Miracle of Love"
(1986)
Music video
"Thorn in My Side" on YouTube

"Thorn in My Side" is a song by British pop music duo Eurythmics. It was released as the second single from the duo's fifth studio album, Revenge (1986). Written by band members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, the song is a cast-off to an unfaithful lover. "Thorn in My Side" was produced by Stewart.

Background[edit]

Although the first single from Revenge, "When Tomorrow Comes", barely reached the UK Top 30, "Thorn in My Side" became Eurythmics' ninth Top 10 single, reaching number five on the UK Singles Chart and marking their last appearance in the UK top 10. In the United States, the track stalled at number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song additionally peaked at number two in Ireland and reached the top 10 in New Zealand (number seven) and Sweden (number six).

Reception[edit]

Billboard said it sounds like "Swinging London, 1964" although it "views the past with as much irony as affection."[2] Cash Box called it an "appealing pop/rock single" in which the "seething lyrics are masked by an infectious melody and Annie Lennox’s winning vocal."[3]

Music video[edit]

The music video, directed by Chris Ashbrook and Dave Stewart, depicts the band adorned in their black and leather Revenge stage costumes, playing in a studio set bar filled with an audience that includes a gang of Hells Angels. Clem Burke, drummer from the band Blondie, appears in the video as he was recording and touring with Eurythmics that year. It was also the second music video to feature backing vocalist Joniece Jamison, after first appearing in "When Tomorrow Comes".

Track listings[edit]

7-inch single

A. "Thorn in My Side" (album version) – 4:07
B. "When Tomorrow Comes" (live at the Roxy in Los Angeles) – 5:02

12-inch single

A1. "Thorn in My Side" (extended mix) – 6:54
B1. "Thorn in My Side" (album version) – 4:07
B2. "When Tomorrow Comes" (live at the Roxy in Los Angeles) – 5:02

12-inch single (Houston remix)

A1. "Thorn in My Side" (Houston remix) – 5:49
B1. "Thorn in My Side" (album version) – 4:07
B2. "In This Town" (live)

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Thorn in My Side"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Eurythmics - Greatest Hits (1991) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  2. ^ "Reviews". Billboard. 25 October 1986. p. 81. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. 25 October 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. ^ "Eurythmics – Thorn in My Side" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Eurythmics – Thorn in My Side" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0759." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  8. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 40. 11 October 1986. p. 12. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Thorn in My Side". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Eurythmics – Thorn in My Side". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  12. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  13. ^ "Eurythmics – Thorn in My Side". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Eurythmics: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending December 20, 1986". Cash Box. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Thorn in My Side" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Top 100 Singles (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week. 24 January 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  19. ^ "British single certifications – Eurythmics – Thorn In My Side". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2024.

External links[edit]

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