Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four) (song)

"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" is a song written and performed by the British duo Eurythmics. It was released as the first single from their album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother), which served as the soundtrack to the film Nineteen Eighty-Four, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by George Orwell. The song was produced by Dave Stewart.

"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)"
Single by Eurythmics
from the album 1984 (For the Love of Big Brother)
B-side	"I Did It Just the Same" (LP version)
Released	22 October 1984
Length	3:56 8:01 (extended Version)
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Annie Lennox David A. Stewart
Producer(s)	David A. Stewart
Eurythmics singles chronology
"Here Comes the Rain Again" (1984) "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" (1984) "Julia" (1985)
Audio
"Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" on YouTube

Background and performance

"Sexcrime" is a song which features heavy sampling of Lennox's voice, utilizing snippets of her vocal performance to produce a stuttering effect. Also prominently featured is the voice of Stewart, with the aid of a vocoder, uttering the phrase "nineteen eighty four". It was the first of two singles released from the soundtrack album. The term "sexcrime" is one of several Newspeak words found within the novel.

The song was originally intended to appear in the film 1984, but was dropped prior to the film's release. However, it was used as background music for the film's trailer, and the song's promotional video was included on home video releases of the film.

In addition to the standard 7" and 12" formats, the song was also released as a limited edition 12" picture disc.

Cash Box called it a "fascinating song" that is "somewhat constrained" by the Eurythmics' practice of writing songs using few notes.^[1] Billboard called it a "compelling dance track...with its aura of doomy foreboding [and] touches of humor."^[2]

Chart performance

The single peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart,^[3] becoming Eurythmics' sixth consecutive Top 10 hit. It was one of the duo's biggest selling singles in the UK, being certified Silver by the BPI for sales in excess of 250,000 copies.^[4] It was also a big hit throughout Europe, a top 10 hit in New Zealand, a top 20 hit in Canada, and one of the duo's biggest selling singles in Australia.

"Sexcrime" met with strong resistance on United States radio and on video outlets such as MTV – the song's title was particularly controversial to those who were not aware of the meaning of the word in Orwell's novel. The music video (featuring a straightforward performance of the song by Lennox and Stewart) had limited rotation on MTV. "Sexcrime" peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was much more successful on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it reached number 2.

Track listings

7"

• A: "Sexcrime (1984)" (LP Version) – 3:57
• B: "I Did It Just The Same" (LP Version) – 3:32

12"

• A: "Sexcrime (1984)" (Extended Mix) – 8:01
• B1: "Sexcrime (1984)" (LP Version) – 3:57
• B2: "I Did It Just the Same" (LP Version) – 3:32

3" CD Re-Issue

• A: "Sexcrime (1984)" (Extended Mix) – 8:01
• B1: "Julia" (LP Version) – 6:38
• B2: "I Did It Just the Same" (LP Version) – 3:32

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" Chart (1984–1985) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[5] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[6] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[7] 18 Europe (European Top 100 Singles)^[8] 7 France (SNEP)^[9] 7 Ireland (IRMA)^[10] 4 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[11] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[12] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[13] 12 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[14] 8 Norway (VG-lista)^[15] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[16] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[17] 6 UK Singles (OCC)^[3] 4 US Billboard Hot 100^[18] 81 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[19] with "I Did It Just the Same" 2 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[20] 3

Year-end charts 1984 year-end chart performance for "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" Chart (1984) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[21] 84 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[22] 95 UK Singles (Gallup)^[23] 58 1985 year-end chart performance for "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" Chart (1985) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)^[24] 51 France (IFOP)^[25] 45 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[26] with "I Did It Just the Same" 15 West Germany (Official German Charts)^[27] 38

Certifications

Certifications for "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[4]	Silver	250,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 17 November 1984. p. 7. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
2. "Reviews". Billboard. 24 November 1984. p. 64. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
4. "British single certifications – Eurythmics – Sexcrime". British Phonographic Industry. 1 December 1984. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 105. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
7. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9577." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
8. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 38/39. 17 December 1984. p. 14. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
9. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sex Crime (1984)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
11. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2 June 2022. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Eurythmics" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 2, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
13. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
14. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
15. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)". VG-lista. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
16. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
17. "Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
18. "Eurythmics Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
19. "Eurythmics Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eurythmics – Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
21. "Jaaroverzichten 1984 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
22. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
23. "Top 100 Singles (January 3–December 29, 1984)" (PDF). Music Week. 26 January 1985. p. 37. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
24. "National Top 100 Singles for 1985". Kent Music Report. No. 599. 30 December 1985 – via Imgur.
25. "TOP – 1985". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 13 July 2014.
26. "1985 The Year in Music & Video – Top Dance Club Play Singles/Albums". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 52. 28 December 1985. p. T-23. ISSN 0006-2510 – via Google Books.
27. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 1985" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 October 2016.