Goodbye Cruel World (Shakespears Sister song)
| "Goodbye Cruel World" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Shakespears Sister | ||||
| from the album Hormonally Yours | ||||
| Released | 23 September 1991 | |||
| Genre | Jangle pop, indie pop | |||
| Label | London Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Siobhan Fahey, Steve Ferrera, Manu Guiot | |||
| Producer(s) | Chris Thomas | |||
| Shakespears Sister singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 1992 re-release cover | ||||
"Goodbye Cruel World" is a song by British pop act Shakespears Sister, released in September 1991 as the lead single from their second album, Hormonally Yours (1992). Initially, the song had little commercial impact, reaching #59 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] Following the success of the album, the song was re-released as a single in July 1992, slightly remixed, this time reaching #32.[1]
Critical reception
[edit]Jean Rosenbluth from Los Angeles Times felt that the song "exhibit a slinky, funky feel that’s as seductive as a plate of fudge."[2] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker wrote, "Good to see this sweetly vicious little item granted a second stab at the Top 40. It'll succeed this time on the Sister's momentum alone, thus injecting another dose of sexy, sinister glamour into the impressionable minds of the nation's youth." He added, "Smooth and shiny, like a razorblade."[3] A reviewer from People Magazine found that the song "blends the muted oomph of "Ruby Tuesday"-era Rolling Stones with the exoticism of the Cocteau Twins."[4]
Retrospective response
[edit]In 2007, the Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith stated that "Goodbye Cruel World" "sets the perfect mood" as the opening track of the Hormonally Yours album. He added, "How they got the guitars to sound like bagpipes, I'll never be able to figure out."[5] In a 2014 retrospective review, Pop Rescue noted that "this is pop with real drums and guitars and a great blend of scaling vocals."[6]
Music video
[edit]The accompanying music video for "Goodbye Cruel World" was directed by British director Sophie Muller, who had previously worked with the band on several videos for their first album. The video features Fahey and Detroit spoofing famous melodramas such as Sunset Boulevard and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?.
Track listing
[edit]
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Charts
[edit]| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[1] | 59 |
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[1] | 32 |
| US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[7] | 22 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Official Charts > Goodbye Cruel World". The Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
- ^ Rosenbluth, Jean (8 March 1992). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Jennings, Dave (11 July 1992). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 29. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Hormonally Yours". People. 13 April 1992. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ Smith, Michael R. (26 August 2007). "Hormonally Yours – Shakespear's Sister". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Review: "Hormonally Yours" by Shakespears Sister (CD, 1992)". Pop Rescue. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard. 7 March 1992. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
