"Cruel Intentions" is the second physical single from

Simian Mobile Disco Simian Mobile Disco are an English electronic music duo and production team, formed in 2003 by James Ford and Jas Shaw of the band Simian. Musically, they are known for their analogue production. Ford is also known for his production work. ...

's second

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...

Temporary Pleasure ''Temporary Pleasure'' is the second album by Simian Mobile Disco. It was released in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2009. It was available in LP, CD and deluxe limited edition CD formats. History The album was recorded throughout 2008 and 2009 ...

''. It was co-written by

Beth Ditto Mary Beth Patterson (born February 19, 1981), known by her stage name Beth Ditto, is an American singer and songwriter most notable for her work with the indie rock band Gossip. Her voice has been compared to Etta James, Janis Joplin and T ...

, who also sings on the track.

Music video

The video for "Cruel Intentions" was directed by

Saam Farahmand Saam Farahmand (born 1979 in London) is an Iranian-British film and music video director. A fine arts graduate of Goldsmiths, Farahmand is considered, according to ''The Guardian'', "one of the most talented music video directors of his generat ...

and was originally released on 25 November 2009. It is a shorter version of the short film "Study After Cruel Intentions" featuring

Sharon Maughan Sharon Patricia Maughan (born 22 June 1950) is a British actress. Early life Sharon Mughan grew up in Kirkby, Lancashire, with her four siblings. She later changed her surname to "Maughan". Career Upon graduating from RADA, Maughan gained ...

Lysette Anthony Lysette Anne Chodzko (born 26 September 1963), known professionally as Lysette Anthony, is an English actress and model. She is known for her roles in the film ''Husbands and Wives'' (1992), as Princess Lysssa in the 1983 fantasy epic ''Krull ...

Pooky Quesnel Joanna Gabrielle "Pooky" Quesnel (born 30 April 1966) is an English actress, screenwriter and singer. Early life Quesnel was born and raised in Eccles, Lancashire, along with her five siblings. Her father was born in Trinidad. She read English ...

, Joanna Fussey, and Charlotte Weston. The longer version of the film is 20 minutes. Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford explained to ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' that the video was difficult to produce because it was considered too unconventional due to its length. "We had quite a lot of opposition to it because it doesn't really work with a traditional music format," he said. "It's useless as a marketing tool in that respect. We wanted to do something that stood up in its own right. It wasn't another pointless video."

Critical reception

Dan Weiss of

Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...

complimented Ditto's vocals, saying: "Here she out-lungs her mostly anonymous competition, and SMD percolate behind her with such spring I keep waiting for Los Del Rio to spit game." Digital Spy's David Balls wrote that the song "isn't massively original, but if you need something to help you work off those last few mince pies (and roast potatoes, and pigs-in-blankets...), this is a cool, classy option."

Track listings

12" 1

# "Cruel Intentions (DJ Pierre Dub)" 8:00 # "Cruel Intentions (Space Cave 12" Mix)" 7:06

12" 2

# "Cruel Intentions (Greg Wilson Re-Edit)" 6:38 # "Cruel Intentions (Maurice Fulton Remix)" 6:15

Download

# "Cruel Intentions (Single Version)" 3:04 # "Cruel Intentions (Single Version Instrumental)" 3:02 # "Cruel Intentions (Joker Dub)" 4:10 # "Cruel Intentions (Joker Remix)" 4:12 # "Cruel Intentions (Greg Wilson Re-Edit)" 7:44 # "Cruel Intentions (Heartbreak's Slow Action Remix)" 9:31 # "Cruel Intentions (Heartbreak's Minimal Dub)" 3:28 # "Cruel Intentions (Maurice Fulton Remix)" 6:15 # "Cruel Intentions (DJ Pierre Remix)" 8:00 # "Cruel Intentions (DJ Pierre Dub)" 8:01 # "Cruel Intentions (Space Cave 12" Dub)" 7:06 # "Cruel Intentions (Space Cave 12" Mix)" 7:05 # "Cruel Intentions (Space Cave 12" Instrumental)" 7:05

Charts

References

{{authority control 2010 singles 2009 songs Beth Ditto songs Simian Mobile Disco songs Songs written by James Ford (musician) Songs written by Beth Ditto Wichita Recordings singles