Annie Old Irony

The first time I heard Annie Lennox singing 'Shining Light' I was stupefied. The second time I roared with mirth. Now I find it compelling to hear. I'm picking out new parts of the song for my personal delight, like the lawdy-lawdy gospel finale and the way the arrangement creaks up toward the bridge section.

When Tim Wheeler recorded it with Ash, his band was facing bankrupcy and the record company was ready to walk. The song won him a commercial and artistic reprieve plus a Novello Award. He sang it in his breathless way, revealing the awe and a sincere, gauche quality that I've always liked in the chap.

I don't really know where Annie Lennox is coming from in her version. She keeps much of the Ash arrangement, but skids around the melody with little finesse. It sounds like a pub singer warming up. And the video is hilariously literal. Shining lights everywhere. You'd be disappointed if there weren't.

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