"You Don't Know" is a song by American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, released by

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...

as the first single from Lauper's fifth album, ''

Sisters of Avalon ''Sisters of Avalon'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Cyndi Lauper. It was released in Japan on October 15, 1996 and worldwide on April 1, 1997, by Sony Music Entertainment. Thematically the album expounded on the issue of complacency ...

'' (1997). Remixes of the song were made by several producers such as

Tony Moran Anthony "Tony" Moran is a DJ, record producer, remixer, singer and songwriter known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Play chart twice with " Walk Away" featuring Kristine W and "Kee ...

and Junior Vasquez. It peaked at number 27 in the UK, while peaking at number 16 on the US ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song contains the word "bullshit" and was not edited out of the UK singles as is typical. While performing on several UK shows, such as ''

Noel's House Party ''Noel's House Party'' is a BBC light entertainment series that was hosted by Noel Edmonds. Set in a large house in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, leading to much innuendo, it ran from 23 November 1991 to 26 March 2000 on BBC One, an ...

'', she skipped the word. The music video for the song was directed by Lauper.

Critical reception

Larry Flick Larry Flick is an American journalist, former dance music columnist, single reviewer, and Senior Talent Editor for ''Billboard'' magazine, where he worked for 14 years. Now he produces and hosts Sirius XM radio shows. Flick started in the music ...

from ''

'' wrote, "Lauper unveils her new ''

Sisters Of Avalon ''Sisters of Avalon'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Cyndi Lauper. It was released in Japan on October 15, 1996 and worldwide on April 1, 1997, by Sony Music Entertainment. Thematically the album expounded on the issue of complacency ...

'' collection, offering a tune that is far more biting and intelligent than fluffy past hits like "

Girls Just Want To Have Fun "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is a song written, recorded and performed by American musician Robert Hazard, who released it as a Single (music), single in 1979. It is best known for the version of American singer Cyndi Lauper, who covered the s ...

" and "

She Bop "She Bop" is a song by American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, released as the third single from her debut studio album, ''She's So Unusual'' (1983). It reached number three on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in September 1984. Worldwide, the ...

". If programmers can move beyond the singer's old cartoonish image, they will discover an artist and music worthy of placement alongside the likes of

Alanis Morissette Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with tw ...

." He added further, "The original version of "You Don't Know" unfolds with a jittery

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

beat and jangly guitars that deserve a listen at

modern rock Modern rock is an umbrella term used to describe rock music that is found on college rock radio stations. Some radio stations use this term to distinguish themselves from classic rock, which is based in 1960s–1980s rock music. Radio format Mod ...

radio. Redrafted by

, the song becomes an anthemic

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

revelation that popsters will love. Add the underground club perspective of remixers Prince Quick Mix and Junior Vasquez, and you have a single that aims to hit every possible mark. The next step is for people to listen." Kevin Courtney from ''

Irish Times ''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...

'' said, " The unusual girl is back at last, and that

Hazel O'Connor Hazel Thereasa O'Connor (born 16 May 1954) is a British singer-songwriter and actress. She became famous in the early 1980s with hit singles " Eighth Day", " D-Days" and " Will You?" She also starred in the 1980 film '' Breaking Glass''. Caree ...

-on-helium voice still has that girlie edge, but as the song builds in intensity, she sounds in danger of totally eclipsing Bonnie Tyler in the overkill department, and when she prances around in her new video, she looks like she's stuck in a jerky 1980s movement. A pleasant, nondescript attempt at resurgence from a lady out of time." Caroline Sullivan from ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' commented, "And who else could endow the word 'bullshit' with such fervour while denouncing US politics on "You Don't Know"?" A reviewer from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' gave it four out of five, noting that "Lauper's trademark vocal performance is more restrained for this nicely produced, acoustic-style pop song. A certain airplay hit, expect massive sales success, too."

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was recorded in Washington Square,

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

in the beginning of September 1996. Lauper directed it herself. The little Japanese boy who closes the video is called Grayson. The 6-year-old boy was hand-picked by Lauper.

Track listing

* US CD single # "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) – 4:06 # "You Don't Know" ( TM's Single Remix) – 4:23 # "

That's What I Think "That's What I Think" is a song by American singer and songwriter Cyndi Lauper, released in November 1993 as the second single from her fourth album, ''Hat Full of Stars'' (1993). Produced by Lauper and Junior Vasquez, the song peaked in the to ...

" – 4:38 * US CD maxi-single # "You Don't Know" (Single Mix) - 4:06 # "You Don't Know" (TM's Single Remix) - 4:23 # "You Don't Know" ( Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) - 3:34 # "You Don't Know" (TM's Know It All Mix) - 10:06 # "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) - 7:51 * Japanese CD single # "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) – 3:59 # "You Don't Know" (Album Version) – 5:14 # "Mother" (Extended Version) – 6:11 * European CD single # "You Don't Know" (Album Version) - 5:14 # "Mother" (Extended Mix) - 6:12 * UK CD single (The Junior Vasquez Mixes) / European CD maxi-single # "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) – 4:06 # "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) – 7:45 # "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Dub) – 6:45 # "Mother" (Extended Mix) – 6:12 * UK Limited Edition CD single # "You Don't Know" (Album Version) - 5:13 # " Time After Time" - 3:58 # " True Colors" - 3:46 # "

I Drove All Night "I Drove All Night" is a song written and composed by American songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly and originally intended for Roy Orbison. Orbison recorded the song in 1987, the year before his death, but his version was not released until ...

" - 4:11 * Australian CD single # "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) - 4:06 # "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) - 7:51 # "You Don't Know" (Tribal Beats) - 4:33 # "Mother" (Extended Mix) - 6:12 * US 12" :A1. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know It All Mix) - 10:00 :A2. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know You're in the Hole Dub) - 5:30 :B1. "You Don't Know" (Prince Quick Mix's Amped Up Pass) - 6:35 :B2. "You Don't Know" (Junior's Riff Dub) - 6:09 * European 12" :A1. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) - 3:44 :A2. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) - 7:51 :A3. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Dub) - 6:46 :B1. "You Don't Know" (Album Version) - 5:14 :B2. "You Don't Know" (TM's Single Remix) - 4:23 :B3. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know It All Mix) - 10:06 :B4. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know You're in the Hole Dub) - 5:33

Official versions

# Junior Vasquez Dub – 6:45 #Junior Vasquez Remix Edit – 3:34 #Junior's Riff Dub – 6:09 #Prince Quick Mix's Amped Up Pass – 6:35 #Radio edit – 3:59 #

's Know It All Mix – 10:00 #Tony Moran's Know You're in the Hole Dub – 5:30 #Tony Moran's Single Remix – 4:23 #Tribal Beats – 4:33

Charts

References

{{Authority control Cyndi Lauper songs 1997 singles Songs written by Cyndi Lauper Songs written by Jan Pulsford 1996 songs Epic Records singles Pop ballads