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Annie Lennox - Songs Of Mass Destruction

October 6th, 2007

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by Bambi Weavil

Annie Lennox really needs no introduction: iconic, respected, with album sales exceeding 78 million and that’s just touching the surface of Annie’s career. VH1 has declared her to be “the greatest living soul singer.” What you may not realize is Annie is also a inspirational artist, passionate humanitarian, who cares deeply about global activism. Annie is actively involved with Nelson Mandela’s 46664 and Treatment Campaign, organizations fighting for human rights, education and health care for those affected by the HIV AIDS virus.

Annie writes about the human condition, not only in the opening track “Dark Road” but as a whole her focus is on the state of the world in Songs of Mass Destruction. In “Dark Road” she poeticly talks about having a open door, and the lack of feeling what we should be feeling. “Love Is Blind” has a blues/funk sound to it that I just wasn’t expecting, written about the overwhelming feeling of life and ther lyrics are dark and heavy: “save me from the bitterness and hatred of humanity / it’s so screwed up.”

“Ghosts In My Machine” is more of Annie flirting with soul music, showing defiance and getting by life’s troubles and surviving. I felt Annie should have paired up with another R&B/soul type artist for this one but the respect Annie has for women is inspiring and evident through Songs of Mass Destruction . The song is followed by “Womankind,” another song that touches on the feminist perspective as well as the wrestling need of searching for a partner that is right in front of you. Though I get what she was trying to accomplish, I didn’t connect to it based on the styling of the song.

“Through The Glass Darkly” is experimenting with jazz and works so well with Annie’s powerful peformance. There’s something great about Annie that is incomparable when she sings about getting out of despair, discontentment and hurt. The best song on this album however is “Sing,” a true anthem about self-empowerment with 23 of some of the most empowering women in the music industry including Madonna, Joss Stone, Celine Dion, Dido, Gladys Knight, KD Lang, Angelique Kidjo, Bonnie Raitt, Shakira, Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan, Fergie, Anstasia, Beverley Knight, Faith Hill, Pink, Sugarabes, Martha Wainwright, Isobel Campbell, KT Tunstall, Beth Gibbons, Shingai Shoiwa and Beth Orton. All the profits for downloading the track online supports the TACA initiatives.

Songs of Mass Destruction was made to move and affect people for change and I think Annie has found her calling in using her talents as a artist for worldwide good for others.
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