GIRLS WHO GET IT- ANNIE LENNOX

11:59 AM Posted by MS.NOVA

March 1983. I'm 3 years old and every where I went that year, I heard this woman's voice over a simple but haunting keyboard arrangement on the radio. It was a scary sound I'd never heard before. "Some of them want to use you/some of them want to get used by you..."

When I saw the accompanying video to "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" my mind was blown. It was one of my first memories and its how I was introduced to Annie Lennox.

"I consider myself an outsider who belongs everywhere and nowhere...

Being a human being is what truly counts. That's where you'll find me.”

The first thing you notice about her is, well, her. In the early eighties where every artist was over the top, Annie's androgony created an air of mystery and allowed ample room to explore her style. Leather suits, bras and blazers, rooster red crew cuts, platinum blond pompadours or 15th century costumes - the girl made it work! Every artist to come after her, from Marylin Manson to Madonna has taken a page out of her style book. Get familiar fashionistas.

By embracing her individuality and staying true to herself, Annie empowered others to do the same. A killer voice and eclectic range churned out hit after hit and between her solo work and early start with the Eurhythmics she has sold over 80 million albums. WORRRK! Her career highlights have been her tireless humanitarian efforts for Africans effected by the HIV virus, donating profits from concert tours, wearing t-shirts that read "HIV Positive" when performing to create curiosity and awareness and as a result, Annie was was recently named a UN Goodwill Ambassador for AIDS.

Bold, ballsy and a trailblazer in every way, Annie Lennox is a Girl Who Gets It.