Walking on Broken Glass

Contrary to the lilting melody, the lyrics describe a woman who is anguished over a breakup. The guy in the song has smashed her to pieces, which now feel like broken glass beneath her feet. Lennox had been through some rather intense relationships, including a short-lived marriage in 1984, but in this song she was likely playing a role. In later years, she cited Diva tracks like "Why" and "Precious" as being very personal, but "Walking On Broken" glass doesn't fit that category. Explaining how she could get into character, she told Q in 1992: "I've always loved R&B and I had that in mind when I was singing. In fact, I'd think of myself as a very old black man - and I know I've got no right to imagine I know what that is - but, in my way, I stepped into that persona."

The video was based on the 1988 movie Dangerous Liaisons, with elaborate costumes inspired by film, which was set in France during the 1700s. John Malkovich, who starred in the movie, also appeared in the video, as does Hugh Laurie, who went on to star in the TV show House. With the string section and baroque sound, the music fit the theme. The MTV audience had little interest in Lennox or Dangerous Liaisons, but VH1, which went on the air in 1985, played it in heavy rotation.

The Diva album was Lennox' first as a solo artist; throughout the '80s, she was in Eurythmics, her extremely successful and inventive duo with Dave Stewart. In early 1990, Eurythmics split; Lennox took time off to work on charitable endeavors and focus on her home life. She got married in 1988, the same year her first child was stillborn. In December 1990, her daughter Lola was born. Work on the album was done at a studio constructed in her home so she could spend time with her. A lot of people believed in her, including Stewart and her manager Simon Fuller, but Lennox never seemed to believe her hype and often questioned her considerable talents. Fuller teamed her with up-and-comers who would be patient and nurturing: producer Stephen Lipson and keyboard wizard Marius De Vries. It worked: the Diva album was a critical and commercial smash, establishing Lennox as a solo artist. Released as a single following "Why," "Walking On Broken Glass" earned considerable airplay on Top 40 and Adult Contemporary radio.