Aberdeen singing legend, Annie Lennox, has hinted that her songwriting career is over.
The former Eurythmics star, who penned some of the most memorable hits of the 1980s including ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Sisters are Doin’ It For Themselves’, has revealed how she now talks about her writing days in the “past tense” and that it is unlikely she will ever write new material again.
The 60-year-old said that despite the joy and pleasure she gets from creating new music, she admitted there is only so long artists can cope with the intense pressures a career in the spotlight brings.
Her comments come just a few months after she was awarded a British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (Basca) fellowship at the Ivor Novello awards in May, making her the only woman among 18 artists to have received such an honour.
She joins a distinguished list including stars like Sir Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Paul McCartney.
Annie has previously said that her finest work stemmed from periods in her life when she was unhappy.
She said that since marrying her third husband, Dr Mitch Besser, in 2012, she did not have the same desire to write.
“Songwriting has been a deep, deep passion for me. I needed it because I was tuned into it,” she explained.
“I was deeply committed to that whole way of life. But there’s a lot of sacrifice in it – writing, recording, touring. making videos, being a public person – it can destroy you.
“I need to feel I have more purpose in life that’s more than just having a job.”
Last weekend, Annie travelled to Pennsylvania for the funeral of Ian Jones, who had been dating her daughter, Tali, 22.
The couple had been on the Hudson River earlier this month when strong currents caused their boat to capsize.
Tali survived, but 32-year-old Jones died.