Don't You Want Me

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".Interview – Smash Hits Magazine – December 1981

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-appointed producer Martin Rushent was unhappy with them. He and Callis remixed the track, giving it a softer, and in Oakey's opinion, "poppy" 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.Martin Rushent speaking on UK Channel 4 Documentary "Top 10 Electro Pioneers" BBC – 27 November 2001 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".{{Citation|title=TOP OF THE POPS ( THE STORY OF 1981 )| date=9 January 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6EddEzUX04 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/o6EddEzUX04| archive-date=12 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=24 December 2019}}{{cbignore}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.league-online.com/biography2.html |title=Human League Biography |publisher=League-online.com |access-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809101621/http://www.league-online.com/biography2.html |archive-date=9 August 2007 }}

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.Smash Hits Magazine December 1981

In a contemporary review, Record World praised its "throbbing synthesized beat and sharp hook."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=20 February 1982|page=1|accessdate=2 March 2023|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/82/Record-World-1982-02-20.pdf}}

Today, the song is widely considered a classic of its era. In a retrospective review, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, senior editor for AllMusic, described the song as "a devastating chronicle of a frayed romance wrapped in the greatest pop hooks and production of its year."{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dare!-mw0000194181 |title=Dare! – The Human League | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=29 March 2014|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine }} Fellow new wave musician Graham Parker praised the song, saying, "I just love that catchy chorus."{{cite web |last=Himes |first=Geoffrey |title="GP: Rock's Last Angry Man Reflects on Life after the Rumour," by Geoffrey Himes |url=https://homepages.uni-regensburg.de/~dej09534/gparker/articles/muscn82.htm |website=homepages.uni-regensburg.de |access-date=24 June 2020}} Oakey still describes it as overrated, but acknowledges his initial dismissal was misguided and claims pride in the track.{{Citation needed|date= June 2012}} Oakey has also pointed out another misconception: that it is not a love song, but "a nasty song about sexual power politics."Human League Interview – Eamon Holmes GMTV 2001{{better source needed|date=February 2023}}

"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),{{cite web|url=http://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/articles_1983_rolling_stone.htm|title=Rolling Stone 1983 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=21 February 2011}} 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 (RIAA) the same year for sales of a million copies.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

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,Virgin Records 1995 cat: VSCDT 1557/724389318524 cassetteVirgin Records 1995 cat: VSC 1557 and 12-inch single on 16 October 1995.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=27|date=14 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.British Hit Singles and Albums (Guinness 19th Edition) Guinness World Records Limited; 20Rev Ed edition {{ISBN|978-1904994107}} (2 June 2007) 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 thanks 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.[https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-chart-millionaires-revealed__20459/ The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed] Official Charts 19 September 2017

In 2021, Viacom International Studios put into production a music chart programme called The 80s Greatest Hits 1980-1989 for Channel 5{{Cite web|title=Viacom International Studios UK|url=https://viacomstudiosuk.com/the-80s-greatest-hits/|access-date=12 May 2021|website=viacomstudiosuk.com|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004122955/https://viacomstudiosuk.com/the-80s-greatest-hits/|url-status=dead}} and asked the Official Charts Company (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),{{Cite web|title=Britain's Favourite 80's Songs|url=https://www.channel5.com/show/britains-favourite-80s-songs|access-date=12 May 2021|website=Channel 5}} "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).

In 1981, record company Virgin were becoming aware that the music video 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, 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".{{Cite web |title='I never worked in a cocktail bar': How the Human League made Don't You Want Me {{!}} The Human League {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/dec/13/the-human-league-how-we-made-dont-you-want-me |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=amp.theguardian.com|date=13 December 2021 |last1=Simpson |first1=Dave |last2=Simpson |first2=Interviews by Dave }} But director Steve Barron said he was influenced by the 1973 François Truffaut film Day for Night and had 'wanted to go one step further and try and make a film within a film within a film".{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/excl_interviews_barron.htm}}

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.{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/excl_interviews_barron.htm}}

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 Beatbox, RTE Television, February 1995 (promotion for "Tell Me When")

The video was released in December 1981.

• 7-inch vinyl (Virgin VS466)

1. "Don't You Want Me" – 3:57
2. "Seconds" – 4:59

• 12-inch vinyl (Virgin VS466-12)

1. "Don't You Want Me" – 3:57
2. "Seconds" – 4:59
3. "Don't You Want Me (dance mix)" – 7:30

• CD (Virgin VSCDT1557)

1. "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 7" Remix)" - 3:43
2. "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 7" Remix)" - 3:58
3. "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 12" Remix)" - 6:11
4. "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 12" Extended Remix)" - 6:14
5. "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry Dub Mix)" - 7:01
6. "Don't You Want Me (Original Version)" - 3:57

• 12-inch vinyl (Virgin VST1557)

1. "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 12" Extended Remix)" - 6:12
2. "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 12" Remix)" - 6:09

• Cassette (Virgin VSC 1557)

1. "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 7" Remix)" - 3:43
2. "Don't You Want Me (Snap! 7" Remix)" - 3:58
3. "Don't You Want Me (Red Jerry 12" Remix)" - 6:11
4. "Don't You Want Me (Original Version)" - 3:57

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1995 remixes

2014 re-entry

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Don't You Want Me|artist=Human League|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1981|certyear=1982|certmonth=4|access-date=9 April 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Don't You Want Me|artist=Human League|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1981|certyear=2024|access-date=August 13, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|title=Don't You Want Me|artist=Human League|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1981|certyear=2024|note=since 2009 sales|access-date=29 January 2024|id=11942}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|title=Don't You Want Me|artist=Human League|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1981|certyear=2024|access-date=14 August 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Don't You Want Me|artist=Human League|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2023|access-date=11 April 2023|id=1917-1056-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Don't You Want Me|artist=Human League|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=1982|access-date=2 June 2015}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Don't You Want Me Baby

| cover = DontYouWantMeBabyMandy.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| type = single

| artist = Mandy Smith

| album = Mandy

| B-side = If It Makes You Feel Good

| released = May 1989

| recorded = 1989

| studio =

| genre = Pop

| length = 3:44

| label = PWL

| writer = {{flatlist|

• Philip Oakey
• Jo Callis
• Philip Adrian Wright

}}

| producer = Pete Hammond

| prev_title = Victim of Pleasure

| prev_year = 1988

| next_title = I Just Can't Wait (92' Remixes)

| next_year = 1992

}}

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.

• CD single

1. "Don't You Want Me Baby"
2. "If It Makes You Feel Good"
3. "Don't You Want Me Baby" (Cocktail Mix)
4. "If It Makes You Feel Good" (Extended Version)

• 7-inch single

1. "Don't You Want Me Baby"
2. "If It Makes You Feel Good"

• 12-inch single

1. "Don't You Want Me Baby" (Cocktail Mix)
2. "If It Makes You Feel Good" (Extended Version)

{{Infobox song

| name = Don't You Want Me

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Farm

| album = Love See No Colour

| B-side = Obviously

| released = {{start date|1992|10|5|df=y}}{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=19|date=3 October 1992}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Dance-rock{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: The Human League's "Don't You Want Me|website= Stereogum |date= Jun 5, 2020 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2086575/the-number-ones-the-human-leagues-dont-you-want-me/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Here’s the Farm’s video for their dance-rock cover of “Don’t You Want Me,” a top-20 UK hit in 1992...|accessdate= July 22, 2023}}

| length = 4:12

| label = End Product

| writer = * Jo Callis

• Philip Oakey
• Philip Adrian Wright

| producer = Mark Saunders

| prev_title = Rising Sun

| prev_year = 1992

| next_title = Love See No Colour (re-mix)

| next_year = 1992

}}

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 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 footballer George Best mouthing along to the chorus.{{cite news |title=The Farm are all together now but for how long? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2008/07/14/the-farm-are-all-together-now-but-for-how-long-270462/ |access-date=23 November 2021 |work=Metro}}

• CD single

1. "Don't You Want Me"
2. "Don't You Want Me" (Premier mix)
3. "Obviously"
4. "Groovy Train" (alternative mix)

• 7-inch single

1. "Don't You Want Me"
2. "Obviously"

• 12-inch single

1. "Don't You Want Me" (Premier mix)
2. "Don't You Want Me" (20K mix)
3. "Don't You Want Me" (Pickles Keef mix)
4. "Groovy Train" (alternative mix)

{{Infobox song

| name = Don't You Want Me

| cover = Alcazar - Don't You Want Me.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Alcazar

| album = Casino

| released = May 2002

| recorded = 2001

| studio =

| genre = Eurodance

| length = 03:27

| label = {{flatlist|

• RCA Records
• BMG

}}

| writer = {{flatlist|

• Jo Callis
• Philip Oakey
• Philip Adrian Wright

}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Sexual Guarantee

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = Not a Sinner Nor a Saint

| next_year = 2003

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|-KriUokCLHg|"Don't You Want Me"}}}}

}}

"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 (2000) together with a few others. It was recorded in Stockholm 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.

The accompanying music video 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.

• CD single

1. "Almighty Radio Edit" – 3:27
2. "Almighty Club Mix" – 7:25
3. "Project Eden Remix" – 7:34
4. "Earth Club Anthem" – 10:24
5. "Wild Cowboys Radio Mix" – 3:38

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1982

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master |master=53263|name=Don't You Want Me|type=single}}
• [http://www.the-black-hit-of-space.dk/dont_you_want_me.htm "Don't You Want Me" at The Black Hit of Space.dk]
• {{YouTube|6EhG9giKZvo|The Human League - Don't You Want Me}}

{{Human League}}

{{The Farm (band)}}

{{Alcazar}}

{{UK best-selling singles (by year) 1970–1989}}

{{UK Christmas number ones in the 1980s|song}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1981 songs

Category:1981 singles

Category:1982 singles

Category:1989 singles

Category:2002 singles

Category:The Human League songs

Category:Mandy Smith songs

Category:The Farm (British band) songs

Category:Alcazar (band) songs

Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Number-one singles in Israel

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Number-one singles in Norway

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Male–female vocal duets

Category:Songs written by Philip Oakey

Category:Song recordings produced by Martin Rushent

Category:Music videos directed by Steve Barron

Category:Virgin Records singles

Category:Pete Waterman Entertainment singles

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles

Category:Songs written by Jo Callis

Category:Songs written by Philip Adrian Wright

Category:Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles