“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” – Single by Culture Club from the album Kissing to Be Clever
B-side “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me (Dub version)” / “Love Is Cold (You Were Never No Good)” (12″)
Released 6 September 1982
Recorded 1982
Label Virgin, Epic
Songwriters Boy George, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss
Producer Steve Levine
Charted No.2 in US; No.2 in UK; No.1 in West Germany; No.1 in Sweden; No.1 in France; No.1 in Ireland; No.1 in Australia; No.1 in Austria; No.1 in Canada.
The original accompanying music video for the song played in the UK and other Countries other than the USA/Canada was directed by Julien Temple, featured lead singer Boy George on trial in a courtroom (filmed in Islington Town Hall Council Chamber), with flashbacks to the Gargoyle Club, Soho in 1936 and the Dolphin Square Health Club, Pimlico in 1957. Some scenes were filmed at the Hornsey Road swimming baths in Islington, which later closed in 1991. The jury are in blackface making jazz hands gestures.
“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” was the third single released in Europe by Culture Club and their debut release in the United States and Canada. The song became a UK No. 1 single for three weeks in October 1982. It entered the American Pop chart the week ending 4 December 1982, hit No. 1 in Cash Box magazine, and held at No. 2 for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March and April 1983. The single hit No. 1 in Canada. It was also number one in Australia. In the UK, it was the fifth best-selling single of 1982, selling 882,440 copies.
