As Women in Construction Week winds down and with International Women’s Day on March 8, it feels appropriate that the Song of the Week is “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves,” a funky 1985 banger from Eurhythmics and Aretha Franklin.
Released as a single in October 1985, the song is a feminist anthem written by the British duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. They had originally planned for Tina Turner to sing with them, but when that didn’t work out, they recruited Motown legend Franklin. The song was included on the Eurhythmics album Be Yourself Tonight and Franklin’s album Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
The song went to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #9 on the U.K. Singles Chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a duo or group.