"Don't You Want Me" is a song by British
synth-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s b ...
group
the Human League (credited on the cover as the Human League 100). It was released on 27 November 1981 as the fourth single from their third studio album, ''
Dare'' (1981). The band's best known and most commercially successful song, it was the best selling UK single of 1981,
that year's
Christmas number one, and has since sold over 1,560,000 copies in the UK, making it the 23rd-most successful single in
UK Singles Chart history.
It topped the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the US on 3 July 1982, where it stayed for three weeks.
In November 1983, ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' named it the "breakthrough song" of the
Second British Invasion of the US.
In 2015, the song was voted by the British public as the nation's seventh-favourite
1980s number one in a poll for
ITV. And in 2022, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it as one of the "200 Greatest
Dance Songs of All Time".
Background
The lyrics were inspired after the Human League lead singer
Philip Oakey read a
photo-story in a teen-girl's magazine. Though the song had been conceived and recorded in the studio as a male solo, Oakey was inspired by the 1976 film ''
A Star Is Born'' and decided to turn the song into a conflicting duet with one of the band's two teenage female vocalists.
Susan Ann Sulley was then asked to take on the role. Until then, she and the other female vocalist,
Joanne Catherall, had only been assigned backing vocals; Sulley says she was chosen only through "luck of the draw".
Musicians
Jo Callis and
Philip Adrian Wright created a synthesizer score to accompany the lyrics that was much harsher than the version that was actually released. Initial versions of the song were recorded but
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label owned by Universal Music Group. They were originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), ...
-appointed producer
Martin Rushent was unhappy with them. He and Callis remixed the track, giving it a softer, and in Oakey's opinion, "
poppy
A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, '' Papaver somniferum'', is the source of the narcotic drug ...
" sound. Oakey hated the new version and thought it would be the weakest track on ''Dare'', resulting in one of his infamous rows with Rushent. Oakey disliked it so much that it was relegated to the last track on side two of the album.
Before the release of the 1981 album ''
Dare'', three of its tracks—"
The Sound of the Crowd", "
Love Action (I Believe in Love)", and "
Open Your Heart"—had already been released as successful singles. With a hit album and three hit singles in a row, Virgin's chief executive Simon Draper decided to release one more single from the album before the end of 1981. His choice, "Don't You Want Me", instantly caused a row with Oakey, who did not want another single to be released because he was convinced that "the public were now sick of hearing" the band and the choice of the "poor quality filler track" would almost certainly be a disaster, wrecking the group's new-found popularity. The band felt the track was "our sort of
Des O'Connor song". Virgin were adamant that a fourth single would be released and Oakey finally agreed on the condition that a large colour poster accompany the 7" single, because he felt fans would "feel ripped off" by the "substandard" single alone.
The Human League often added cryptic references to their productions and the record sleeve of "Don't You Want Me" featured the suffix of "100". This was a reference to The 100 Club, a restaurant/bar in
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
.
Reception
In a contemporary review, ''
Record World'' praised its "throbbing synthesized beat and sharp
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved/bent back or has a deeply grooved indentation, which serves to grab, latch or in any way attach itself onto another object. The hook's d ...
."
Today, the song is widely considered a classic of its era. In a retrospective review,
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and former senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of multiple artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance ...
, senior editor for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, described the song as "a devastating chronicle of a frayed romance wrapped in the greatest
pop hooks and production of its year." Fellow new wave musician
Graham Parker praised the song, saying, "I just love that catchy chorus."
Oakey still describes it as overrated, but acknowledges his initial dismissal was misguided and claims pride in the track.
Chart performance and sales
"Don't You Want Me" was released in the UK in 1981. The
B-side was "Seconds", another track lifted straight from the ''Dare'' album. As with previous singles, a 12" version was also issued featuring the original version of "Don't You Want Me" and "Seconds" on the A-side and an "extended dance mix" lasting seven and a half minutes on the B-side. This mix is also featured on the ''
Love and Dancing'' album that was released under the name of the League Unlimited Orchestra in 1982.
To the amazement of the band (and especially Oakey), the song entered the
UK Singles Chart at number nine and rose to number one the following week, remaining there over the Christmas period for five weeks. It ultimately became the biggest-selling single to be released in 1981, and the fifth biggest-selling single of the entire decade. Its success was repeated six months later in the US, with "Don't You Want Me" peaking at number one on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 for three weeks. ''
Billboard'' magazine ranked it as the sixth-biggest hit of 1982. The single was certified gold by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) the same year for sales of a million copies.
After the band scored a number of hits for Warner's
East West label, the song was remixed and issued by Virgin as a
CD,
cassette and
12-inch single on 16 October 1995. This version featured new remixes by
Hooj Choons'
Red Jerry and German
Eurodance duo
Snap!, and would peak at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The release coincided with the issue of the group's second ''
Greatest Hits'' compilation album shortly afterwards (which featured the Snap! 7-inch remix).
As of November 2012, "Don't You Want Me" was the 23rd best-selling single in the UK, with 1.55 million copies sold.
On 23 March 2014, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 19 due to a social media campaign by fans of
Aberdeen Football Club. In 2017, it was reported to be the 43rd most successful single in UK chart history with sales and
streams combined.
In 2021,
Viacom International Studios put into production a music chart programme called ''The 80s Greatest Hits 1980-1989'' for
Channel 5 and asked the
Official Charts Company
The Official UK Charts Company Limited (formerly Music Industry Chart Services Limited), trading as the Official Charts Company (OCC) or the Official Charts (formerly the Chart Information Network), is a British inter-professional organisation ...
(OCC) to provide the countdowns for the series, based on the best-selling singles for each year. When the 1981 episode was broadcast (now under the title of ''Britain's Favourite 80's Songs''), "Don't You Want Me" was placed at number one,
with the OCC now confirming it was the official best-selling song of 1981 with an estimated 1.15 million sales (previously the title had gone to "
Tainted Love" by
Soft Cell, which now has been put in second place with 1.05 million sales).
Music video
In 1981, record company Virgin were becoming aware that the
music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
was evolving into an important marketing tool, with
MTV being launched that year. Virgin commissioned a promotional video for "Don't You Want Me".
The video for the song was filmed near
Slough,
Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...
, during November 1981. The video's theme is the filming and editing of a murder-mystery film, featuring the band members as characters and production staff. Because it is a "making-of" video, both crew and camera apparatus appear throughout.
The video was said by Susan Ann Sulley to be "a take on
''The French Lieutenant’s Woman'', which was a film about making a film". But director
Steve Barron said he was influenced by the 1973
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut ( , ; ; 6 February 1932 – 21 October 1984) was a French filmmaker, actor, and critic. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. He came under the tutelage of film critic Andre Bazin as a ...
film ''
Day for Night'' and had 'wanted to go one step further and try and make a film within a film within a film".
The video was conceived and directed by the Irish filmmaker Steve Barron, and has at its core the interaction between a successful actress (also an assistant editor) played by Susan Ann Sulley walking out on "film director" Philip Oakey on a film set.
In a 1995 interview, Catherall mentioned that the car Jo Callis was driving had to be pushed into shot as he could not drive at the time, to which Sulley added "he still can't!"
The video was released in December 1981.
Track listing
1981 release
* 7-inch vinyl (Virgin VS466)
#"Don't You Want Me" – 3:57
#"Seconds" – 4:59
* 12-inch vinyl (Virgin VS466-12)
#"Don't You Want Me" – 3:57
#"Seconds" – 4:59
#"Don't You Want Me (dance mix)" – 7:30
1995 release
* CD (Virgin VSCDT1557)
# "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 7" Remix)" - 3:43
# "Don't You Want Me (
Snap! 7" Remix)" - 3:58
# "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 12" Remix)" - 6:11
# "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 12" Extended Remix)" - 6:14
# "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry Dub Mix)" - 7:01
# "Don't You Want Me (Original Version)" - 3:57
* 12-inch vinyl (Virgin VST1557)
# "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 12" Extended Remix)" - 6:12
# "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 12" Remix)" - 6:09
* Cassette (Virgin VSC 1557)
# "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 7" Remix)" - 3:43
# "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 7" Remix)" - 3:58
# "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 12" Remix)" - 6:11
# "Don't You Want Me (Original Version)" - 3:57
Charts
Weekly charts
1995 remixes
2014 re-entry
Year-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
Mandy Smith version
In 1989, British pop singer
Mandy covered this song under the title of "Don't You Want Me Baby". Released as a stand-alone single from her only album, ''
Mandy'' (1988), it was also Smith's final single and became her only single to hit the UK top 75, peaking at No. 59.
Track listings
* CD single
# "Don't You Want Me Baby"
# "If It Makes You Feel Good"
# "Don't You Want Me Baby" (Cocktail Mix)
# "If It Makes You Feel Good" (Extended Version)
* 7-inch single
# "Don't You Want Me Baby"
# "If It Makes You Feel Good"
* 12-inch single
# "Don't You Want Me Baby" (Cocktail Mix)
# "If It Makes You Feel Good" (Extended Version)
Charts
The Farm version
British band
the Farm released a cover of "Don't You Want Me" in October 1992 that reached number 18 on the UK Singles Charts making it their third-highest chart single after 1990's
"All Together Now" and "
Groovy Train". It was originally recorded for the ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' charity album ''
Ruby Trax''.
An uncredited female singer sings lead vocal on the second verse, as sung by Susan Ann Sulley in the original version. The accompanying music video features former
Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club, commonly referred to as Man United (often stylised as Man Utd) or simply United, is a professional association football, football club based in Old Trafford (area), Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, Engl ...
footballer
George Best
George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish professional association football, footballer who played as a winger (association football), winger, spending most of his club career at Manchester United F.C., Manchester Un ...
mouthing along to the chorus.
Track listings
* CD single
# "Don't You Want Me"
# "Don't You Want Me" (Premier mix)
# "Obviously"
# "Groovy Train" (alternative mix)
*7-inch single
# "Don't You Want Me"
# "Obviously"
* 12-inch single
# "Don't You Want Me" (Premier mix)
# "Don't You Want Me" (20K mix)
# "Don't You Want Me" (Pickles Keef mix)
# "Groovy Train" (alternative mix)
Alcazar version
"Don't You Want Me" was recorded as a Eurodance song by Swedish band
Alcazar, released internationally in 2002. The song was included in the European version of their debut album, ''
Casino
A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...
'' (2000) together with a few others. It was recorded in
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
at first, but when the band wanted it for a new pan-European single, a new version was made.
The single was released in Australia as a follow-up to the successful single "
Crying at the Discoteque". The white
12-inch was released in Europe and distributed to DJs to get maximum airplay at the disco arenas.
"Don't You Want Me" is Alcazar's biggest hit in the United States with 15 weeks on the ''
Billboard''
Hot Dance Club Play chart, peaking at #30.
Music video
The accompanying
music video
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...
for "Don't You Want Me" was filmed at Filmhuset in Stockholm, and was directed by Jesper Ganslandt. The video takes place in "Circus Alcazar" and is filled with horses, ducks, an evil parrot, acrobats, the Alcazar ballet (including a dog in a pink ballerina dress) and
Annikafiore's boyfriend juggling with fire in the background. The video shoot took almost 23 hours.
Track listing
* CD single
#"
Almighty Radio Edit" – 3:27
#"Almighty Club Mix" – 7:25
#"Project Eden Remix" – 7:34
#"Earth Club Anthem" – 10:24
#"Wild Cowboys Radio Mix" – 3:38
Charts
See also
*
List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982
References
External links
*
"Don't You Want Me" at The Black Hit of Space.dk*
{{Authority control
1981 songs
1981 singles
1982 singles
1989 singles
2002 singles
The Human League songs
Mandy Smith songs
The Farm (British band) songs
Alcazar (band) songs
Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Cashbox number-one singles
Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Number-one singles in Israel
Number-one singles in New Zealand
Number-one singles in Norway
Number-one singles in Scotland
RPM Top Singles number-one singles
UK singles chart number-one singles
Male–female vocal duets
Songs written by Philip Oakey
Song recordings produced by Martin Rushent
Music videos directed by Steve Barron
Virgin Records singles
Pete Waterman Entertainment singles
RCA Records singles
Bertelsmann Music Group singles
Songs written by Jo Callis
Songs written by Philip Adrian Wright
Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom
Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles