“Don’t You Want Me” is a song by the British synth-pop band The Human League, released in November 1981 with “Seconds” on the B-side as the fourth single from their third studio album, “Dare.” Written by band members Philip Oakey, Jo Callis, and Philip Adrian Wright, the song became one of the band’s most successful and iconic tracks.
“Don’t You Want Me” was inspired by a photo-story in a teen-girl magazine and reflects the influence of synth-pop and new wave music. The song features a duet between lead singer Philip Oakey and then-new band member Susan Ann Sulley. Oakey initially had reservations about the song and its potential as a single, but it ultimately became the album’s standout hit.
“Don’t You Want Me” was a massive commercial success. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in December 1981, where it stayed for five weeks, and it became the Christmas number-one single that year. In the United States, it also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1982, marking the band’s breakthrough in the American market. The song sold over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone and was certified Gold in the US.
The Human League – Don’t You Want Me – Lyrics
