What is "this" in "Sweet dreams are made of this" By the Eurythmics?

[doctor_uro]

…

[Onomatopoeia]

I have no answer to your question, but I found it a bit odd that in the title the word was “this” but Annie Lennox sang “these.”

[Shagnasty]

@Onomatopoeia

I have no answer to your question, but I found it a bit odd that in the title the word was “this” but Annie Lennox sang “these.”

That was my first thought as well. She clearly sang “these” so we are looking for multiple somethings, not just one. It is pretty strange that the song title and lyrics do not match.

[Grrr]

@Onomatopoeia

I have no answer to your question, but I found it a bit odd that in the title the word was “this” but Annie Lennox sang “these.”

In the lyrics, it’s “this”. Which is odd, because when you hear her sing it, she’s clearly saying “these”.

Anyway, the “this” is about the users and those who want to be used. Or… Gratification.

[snoe]

From a genius.com contributor who claims to be quoting Lennox’s memoir:

The song “Sweet Dreams” is a personal statement about people’s motivations, in their loves, their own dreams. I replaced the word “motivations” with the word “dreams.” I’m saying these are motivations as human beings, and there’s no way, whether I disagree, that I want to change anything about that. And everywhere I look (“I travelled the world, and the seven seas”), all I see is that every person on the earth is looking for that kind of fulfillment. So you have the extremes from the people who want to use and be used, the whole spectrum.

It’s not the easiest answer to parse, but I think it’s clear that “this” is something different for each person. So Lennox looks at someone whose dreams are made of abuse or gold toilets or whatever and doesn’t want to be dismissive their personal choices.

PS:

I have no answer to your question, but I found it a bit odd that in the title the word was “this” but Annie Lennox sang “these.”

I had the same impression as a youngster! But it is pretty clearly “thee-isss.” The ABBC rhyme scheme does not help.

[Colibri]

Moved to Cafe Society.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

[jayjay]

Sweet dreams are made of cheese.
Who am I to diss a brie?

[iiandyiiii]

@jayjay

Sweet dreams are made of cheese.
Who am I to diss a brie?

A cheddar is hurled
By the Prairie Breeze,
Everybody’s looking for stilton

[pulykamell]

@snoe

PS: I had the same impression as a youngster! But it is pretty clearly “thee-isss.” The ABBC rhyme scheme does not help.

I dunno about “pretty clearly.” To me, she pretty clearly said “these.” Not only is the first syllable an “ee” sound, but the “s,” at least to me, sounds like it’s voiced (in other words, a “z” sound), just like in “these” as opposed to unvoiced, as in “this.” But hard to tell, I guess. In other words, not clear at all.

[Drunky_Smurf]

Brie is really overrated as a cheese.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

@Drunky_Smurf

Brie is really overrated as a cheese.

But for a wall spackle, it’s quite tasty.

[panache45]

@snoe

[URL=“http://genius.com/10082069”]… gold toilets …

Isn’t that where Trump tweets from at 3 a.m.?

[NeonMadman]

“This” is probably The Maltese Falcon.

[snoe]

@pulykamell

In other words, not clear at all.

Really? I guess we’ll have to … disagree.

[pulykamell]

@snoe

Really? I guess we’ll have to … disagree.

Well played!

[Little_Nemo]

@Onomatopoeia

I have no answer to your question, but I found it a bit odd that in the title the word was “this” but Annie Lennox sang “these.”

In her defense, “these” worked as a better rhyme.

[Arcite]

@pulykamell

I dunno about “pretty clearly.” To me, she pretty clearly said “these.” Not only is the first syllable an “ee” sound, but the “s,” at least to me, sounds like it’s voiced (in other words, a “z” sound), just like in “these” as opposed to unvoiced, as in “this.” But hard to tell, I guess. In other words, not clear at all.

It’s just how Annie Lennox idiosyncratically pronounces the “iss” sound. Listen to “There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart).” It sounds like she sings “No one on earth could feel like these/I’m thrown and overblown with blese.”

[Jophiel]

@Little_Nemo

In her defense, “these” worked as a better rhyme.

Yeah, if the lyrics say it’s “this” then so be it, but that doesn’t rhyme (even with the usual broad definition of ‘rhymes’ applied to lyrics) with “seas” or “disagree”.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to argue with it?
I traveled the world and seven water-filled pits
Everybody’s lookin’ for lyrics…

[Snooooopy]

Actually, she’s saying “Theus,” as in former NBA guard Reggie Theus. She clearly admired the shooting stroke that enabled the former UNLV star to average more than 18 points a game for well over a decade in the pros.

[Isamu]

It’s made of jarring music and unpleasant, flat, talk-singing.