Do You Really Want to Hurt Me

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
Single by Culture Club
from the album Kissing to Be Clever
Released	1 September 1982
Genre	New Wave, pop, reggae, blue-eyed soul, R&B, Lovers rock
Label	Virgin Epic (US)
Writer(s)	Culture Club
Producer	Steve Levine
Culture Club singles chronology
"Mystery Boy" (Japan) (1982) "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (1982) "Time (Clock of the Heart)" (1982)

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is a song recorded by Culture Club and was released as a single from the album Kissing to Be Clever.

History

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" was the third single released by the Culture Club and the first single released in the USA and Canada. The song was picked up by BBC Radio 2 and became a UK number one single for three weeks in October 1982. The song reached number two on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in March 1983 (kept from the number one spot by Michael Jackson's smash hit "Billie Jean") and number one in the Canadian RPM listing on the 5th of the same month.^[1] It was also number one in Australia.

This was Culture Club's first success, after their first two releases, "White Boy" and "I'm Afraid of Me" charted in the UK at #114 and #100 respectively. According to George, it was their last chance to get an album deal. Helen Terry mentioned that her backing vocals were recorded on 24 May 1982.

The B-side was a dub version featuring Pappa Weasel in many countries and "You Know I'm Not Crazy" on the USA release. On the 12" version of the record, the track "Love Is Cold (You Were Never No Good)" was also included.

The video for the song featured lead singer Boy George on trial in a courtroom, with flashbacks to a 1936 nightclub and a 1957 health club. The jury was in blackface making jazz hands gestures. One band member, Mikey Craig, was not in the video, and was replaced by his brother Greg.

The song was remixed by DJ's Quivver and Kinky Roland, in 1998 for a Culture Club compilation called Greatest Moments and the single "I Just Wanna Be Loved". It was also remixed and presented on Culture Club's 2002 Box Set along with the original demo version.

Re-released in a reggaeton remix in France, it was again a top 20 hit in the summer of 2005. The music video was shot & directed by J.G Biggs. Famous French gay figure Steevy Boulay plays a garage owner who is victim of a homophobic client.

In Film

The song can be heard in the 2004 box office hit The Day After Tomorrow starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal. It is also featured as a running gag in The Wedding Singer (1998).

Track listings

7" A. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – 4:22 B. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (Dub Version) – 3:38 (Released at least in UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) A. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – 4:23 B. "You Know I'm Not Crazy" – 3:35 (Released in USA, Mexico) 12" A1. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – 4:22 A2. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (Dub Version) – 3:38 B1. "Love Is Cold" (non-album track) – 4:23 (Released at least in UK, Canada (different cover), USA, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands (different cover), Spain)

CD single (1992 re-issue) "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – 4:22 "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (Dub Version) – 3:38 "Bow Down Mister" (Sitari Bizarri Mix) – 6:24 (Released in Germany in 1992, to promote the compilation album Spin Dazzle) CD single (2005 remix) "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (DJ LBR 2005 remix) – 3:59 "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – 4:25 (Released as a remix version in France, to promote the compilation album Culture Club 2005 - Singles & Remixes, with new video)

Charts and certifications

Chart (1982/83) Peak position Australian ARIA Singles Chart 1 Austrian Singles Chart[2] 1 Canadian Singles Chart 1 Dutch Singles Chart 2 Eurochart Hot 100 1 German Singles Chart[3] 1 Irish Singles Chart[4] 1 Italian Singles Chart 2 Japanese Singles Chart 23 New Zealand Singles Chart 2 Norwegian Singles Chart[5] 2 Swedish Singles Chart[6] 1 Swiss Singles Chart[7] 1 UK Singles Chart[8] 1 U.S. Billboard Black Singles[9] 39 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[9] 8 U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks[9] 21 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] 2 Chart (2005) Peak position Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[10] 24 French SNEP Singles Chart[11] 16

Country Certification Date Sales certified Canada[12] Platinum 1 May 1983 100,000 France[13] Gold 1983 500,000 Germany[14] Gold 1983 250,000

Successions

Order of precedence
Preceded by "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth	UK Singles Chart number-one single 23 October 1982 – 6 November 1982	Succeeded by "I Don't Wanna Dance" by Eddy Grant
	Australian Kent Music Report number-one single 27 December 1982 – 31 January 1983	Succeeded by "Gloria" by Laura Branigan
Preceded by "Starmaker" by Kids from Fame	Irish Singles Chart number-one single 31 October 1982	Succeeded by "Starmaker" by Kids from Fame
Preceded by "Words" by F. R. David	German Singles Chart number-one single 10 December 1982 – 21 January 1983	Succeeded by "Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst)" by Peter Schilling
Preceded by "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners and The Emerald Express	Swiss Singles Chart number-one single (first run) 12 December 1982 – 9 January 1983	Succeeded by "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth
Preceded by "Heartbreaker" by Dionne Warwick	Swedish Singles Chart number-one single 11 January 1983 – 25 January 1983	Succeeded by "Our House" by Madness
Preceded by "Weil i di mog" by Relax	Austrian Singles Chart number-one single 15 January 1983 – 15 February 1983	Succeeded by "Major Tom (völlig losgelöst)" by Peter Schilling
Preceded by "Pass the Dutchie" by Musical Youth	Swiss Singles Chart number-one single (second run) 23 January 1983	Succeeded by "I Don't Wanna Dance" by Eddy Grant
Preceded by "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye	Canadian RPM number-one single 5 March 1983 – 12 March 1983	Succeeded by "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran

Violent Femmes version

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
Single by Violent Femmes
from the album Why Do Birds Sing?
Released	1991
Genre	Alternative rock
Label	Reprise Records
Producer	Violent Femmes, Michael Beinhorn

In 1991, the Violent Femmes covered this song on their album Why Do Birds Sing?. The new version consisted of almost all new lyrics, retaining only the first verse and chorus; the music itself was slightly modified as well. Unlike the original, this version is very rock-heavy and therefore stands out clearly from the original.

Blue Lagoon version

"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me"
Single by Blue Lagoon
from the album Club Lagoon
B-side	Extended version
Released	2005
Format	CD single CD maxi
Length	3:29
Label	Kon$um, SME
Writer(s)	Michael Craig Roy Hay Jon Moss George O'Dowd
Producer	Felix J. Gauder
Blue Lagoon singles chronology
"Break My Stride" (2004) "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (2005) "Heartbreaker" (2005)

The song was covered in 2005 by German band Blue Lagoon on its album Club Lagoon and became a hit in Europe.

Track listings

CD single

1. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (radio edit) — 3:29
2. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (extended version) — 4:59

Charts

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart[15]	21
Danish Singles Chart[16]	11
German Singles Chart[3]	13
Swedish Singles Chart[17]	29
Swiss Singles Chart[18]	32

Cover versions

• In 1997, singer-songwriter Diana King covered the song for her second album Think Like a Girl. While it was not chosen to commercial release as a single, King's version of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" grew lasting critical acclaim.^{[citation needed]}
• In 2006, singer-songwriter Thomas Anders covered the song for his album Songs Forever.
• In 2010, Amanda Lear recorded a dance version for her 2010 album Brief Encounters Reloaded.
• In 2011, Marcus Canty performed this song on the first season of the U.S. version of The X Factor.

References

1. ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6220&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=sf872jufaimauqf61j80sjvti5
2. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
3. ^ ^{a b} German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
4. ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
5. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", Norwegian Singles Chart Norwegiancharts.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
6. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", Swedish Singles Chart Swedishcharts.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
7. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
8. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
9. ^ ^{a b c d} Billboard allmusic.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
10. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
11. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", French Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
12. ^ Canada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved 19 July 2008)
13. ^ French certifications Chartsinfrance.net (Retrieved 19 July 2008)
14. ^ "German certifications – Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Do+You+Really+Want+to+Hurt+Me&strInterpret=&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved 19 July 2008. 
15. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", by Blue Lagoon, Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
16. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", by Blue Lagoon, Danish Singles Chart Danishcharts.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
17. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", by Blue Lagoon, Swedish Singles Chart Swedishcharts.com (Retrieved 17 July 2008)
18. ^ "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", by Blue Lagoon, Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved 17 July 2008)