| "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Standard artwork | ||||
| Single byEurythmics andAretha Franklin | ||||
| from the albumBe Yourself TonightandWho's Zoomin' Who? | ||||
| B-side | "I Love You Like a Ball and Chain" | |||
| Released | 21 October 1985 | |||
| Studio | United Sound Systems (Detroit, Michigan)[1][2] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | RCA | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | David A. Stewart | |||
| Eurythmics singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aretha Franklin singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" by Eurythmics onYouTube | ||||
"Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" is a song by British pop duoEurythmics and American singerAretha Franklin. A modernfeminist anthem, it was written by Eurythmics membersAnnie Lennox andDavid A. Stewart and featured on both Eurythmics'Be Yourself Tonight (1985) and Franklin'sWho's Zoomin' Who? (1985) albums. The duo originally intended to perform withTina Turner, who was unavailable at the time and so they flew to Detroit and recorded with Franklin instead. The track also features three ofTom Petty'sHeartbreakers:Stan Lynch on drums,Benmont Tench on organ, andMike Campbell on lead guitar, plus session bassistNathan East.
Released as a single byRCA Records in October 1985, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" was highly successful, reaching number 9 on theUK Singles Chart and number 18 on the USBillboard Hot 100. The song was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Cash Box said that the song is "a rousing, soulful tune with a driving R&B feel".[5]Billboard said it has "two varieties of charisma plus a furious funkproduction".[6]Spin wrote, "That this hard-driving feminist anthem works so wonderfully for both women is a testament to the talent of Lennox. Any lesser singer would have wilted and died in such company."[7]
This music video was taped at Detroit's Music Hall. The video is interspersed with clips from old black and white films, including 1962'sA Kind of Loving. The video uses the single version of the song, as opposed to the album version.
7-inch
12-inch
| Chart (1985–1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] | 15 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[9] | 28 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] | 33 |
| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[11] | 9 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 9 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 5 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] | 20 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] | 17 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] | 6 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] | 20 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[18] | 9 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[19] | 18 |
| USDance Club Songs (Billboard)[20] | 10 |
| USDance Singles Sales (Billboard)[21] | 21 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] | 66 |
| USCash Box Top 100 Singles[23] | 22 |
| US Top 100 Black Contemporary Singles (Cash Box)[24] | 57 |
| West Germany (GfK)[25] | 22 |
