When Annie Lennox stepped onto the stage at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015, the room was already thick with talent. But then she started singing. Honestly, the moment Annie Lennox I Put a Spell on You began, the atmosphere in the Staples Center shifted. It wasn't just a cover. It was a haunting, bluesy exorcism that reminded everyone why she’s arguably the greatest white soul singer of her generation.
She walked out in a sleek black suit, stood next to Hozier, and basically stole the entire broadcast with a harmonica and a set of pipes that haven’t aged a day since her Eurythmics era.
Most people know the song. It’s a standard. But Lennox did something weird with it. She took the 1956 Screamin' Jay Hawkins classic—a track known for its theatrical, almost campy "voodoo" growls—and turned it into a sophisticated, velvet-drenched masterpiece for her album Nostalgia. It’s a weirdly difficult song to get right. If you go too big, it feels like a caricature. If you stay too quiet, you lose the "spell" entirely.
Lennox found the sweet spot.
The Raw Power Behind the Nostalgia
The Nostalgia album was a bit of a departure for Lennox. She wasn’t writing new synth-pop bangers. She was looking back. She spent months digging through the Great American Songbook, but she didn’t want to do the "Rod Stewart thing" where everything sounds like elevator music. She wanted grit.
When she tackled I Put a Spell on You, she was tapping into a very specific kind of female rage and desire. You can hear it in the way she phrasing "because you're mine." It isn't a romantic sentiment. It's a claim of ownership. It’s heavy.
Critics at the time, including those from Rolling Stone and The Guardian, noted that her version felt more grounded in jazz-blues than the psychedelic rock versions we saw in the late 60s. Think about Nina Simone’s version for a second. Nina made it a sophisticated plea. Hawkins made it a threat. Lennox? She made it an anthem of absolute control.
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The production on the track is surprisingly sparse. It relies on a walking bassline and a brass section that knows when to shut up. That’s the secret. By stripping away the clutter, Lennox forces you to focus on her vibrato. It’s wide. It’s controlled. It’s terrifyingly good.
Why the 2015 Grammy Performance Went Viral
You’ve probably seen the clip on YouTube. It has millions of views for a reason. Hozier was mid-set, performing "Take Me to Church," which was the biggest song in the world at the moment. He’s a great singer. But when Annie walked out to transition into her solo, the power dynamic shifted instantly.
She started playing the harmonica. Most pop stars use the harmonica as a prop. Lennox played it like she was in a smoky club in 1950s Chicago. Then came the vocals.
- She didn't use an earpiece for most of the start.
- The growl she emits during the bridge wasn't in the rehearsal.
- She glared at the front row like she was actually casting a hex.
The audience’s reaction—everyone from Taylor Swift to LL Cool J—was genuine shock. In an era of Auto-Tune and backing tracks, hearing a woman in her 60s hit those notes with that much physical force was a wake-up call. It was a reminder that "legacy acts" aren't just there to collect a paycheck; some of them can still out-sing everyone on the Billboard Hot 100 combined.
The Technicality of the "Spell"
Let’s get nerdy about the music for a second. The song is usually played in a 12/8 time signature. It’s a slow, rhythmic swing.
Lennox uses a technique called "vocal frying" in the lower register before jumping into a clean, operatic head voice. It’s a massive jump. Most singers would crack. She uses her diaphragm to support the "growl" so it doesn't damage her vocal cords, a skill she perfected over decades of touring.
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The arrangement on the Nostalgia record was produced by Mike Stevens and Lennox herself. They decided to keep the piano bright and the drums slightly muffled. This creates a "close-up" feeling, like she’s whispering in your ear before she starts screaming.
Nina Simone vs. Annie Lennox: The Comparison
You can’t talk about this song without mentioning Nina Simone. Nina’s 1965 version is the definitive one for many. It’s elegant. It’s heartbreaking.
Lennox’s version is different because it feels more theatrical. While Nina was singing from a place of deep, lived-in sorrow, Lennox is performing a role. She’s leaning into the "Siren" persona. It’s "theatrical" in the best way possible—think more Shakespearean tragedy and less Broadway musical.
Some jazz purists argued that Lennox was "too precise." They felt the song should be messier. But honestly? The precision is what makes it scary. The fact that she can control that much chaos in her voice is exactly why the cover works. It’s disciplined power.
Why We Are Still Talking About It
Google search trends show that every October, searches for Annie Lennox I Put a Spell on You spike. It’s become a seasonal staple, but it’s more than a Halloween track. It’s a masterclass in how to cover a song without losing your own identity.
Most artists cover a song and try to mimic the original. Or worse, they "modernize" it by adding a trap beat. Lennox did neither. She treated the song like a piece of classical text. She interpreted it.
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The song also marked a specific moment in her career. She hasn't released a full studio album of new material since Songs of Mass Destruction in 2007. Nostalgia was a way for her to stay relevant without chasing trends. It worked. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. It proved that there is a massive, hungry audience for "adult" music that doesn't feel like a museum piece.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers and Artists
If you’re a singer or just someone who loves analyzing great performances, there’s a lot to learn from Annie’s approach to this track.
- Study Phrasing: Listen to how she delays the start of a sentence. She doesn't always hit the note right on the beat. She waits. That creates tension.
- Respect the Silence: In the Nostalgia recording, notice the gaps between the verses. She isn't afraid of a second of dead air. It makes the next note hit harder.
- Visual Storytelling: Watch the official music video. It’s simple, mostly black and white. She uses her face—specifically her eyes—to sell the lyrics. If you're a performer, remember that the "spell" isn't just in the throat; it's in the eyes.
- Explore the Roots: If you like Annie’s version, go back to the 1956 Screamin' Jay Hawkins original. Then listen to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1968 version. Understanding the evolution of the song makes you appreciate Lennox’s choices even more.
The reality is that Annie Lennox I Put a Spell on You remains a benchmark for vocalists. It’s a high-wire act. She didn't have to go that hard, but she did. And that’s why, nearly a decade after that Grammy performance, we’re still talking about it. She didn't just sing a song; she reminded us that true artistry is about command.
If you want to experience the full impact, skip the low-quality social media rips. Find the high-definition live version from the Grammys or the official Vevo studio audio. Put on a pair of decent headphones. Pay attention to the way the bass interacts with her voice during the second verse. That’s where the magic actually happens.
Next Steps for the Listener:
- Check out the full Nostalgia album to hear how she handles other classics like "Summertime" and "Strange Fruit."
- Compare her live Grammy performance with the studio version; the live version has a much "dirtier" vocal delivery that is worth analyzing.
- Look for the documentary footage of the making of the album to see her collaboration with producer Mike Stevens.