Eurythmics recorded “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” with Aretha Franklin.
The song pairs Franklin with the British duo Eurythmics—singer Annie Lennox and musician David A. Stewart. Released as a single in October 1985, it appears on Eurythmics’ *Be Yourself Tonight* and Franklin’s *Who’s Zoomin’ Who?* Both artists are credited because Lennox and Stewart wrote the song while Franklin supplied guest vocals and a contrasting powerhouse presence.
The collaboration was not the original plan. Eurythmics reportedly hoped to record the track with Tina Turner, but Turner was unavailable. They then traveled to Detroit to work with Franklin, creating a duet that became a modern feminist anthem. The recording blends soul, R&B, pop, and electronic production rather than sounding like a conventional solo Franklin track.
The song reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. A frequent mistake is to identify Franklin as the sole artist, but the defining partnership is Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin.