Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)

Last updated

"Cruel Summer"
Bananarama - Cruel Summer.jpg
Picture sleeve for European and Australasian 7-inch releases
Single by Bananarama
from the album Bananarama
B-side "Cairo"
Released27 June 1983
Genre
Length
  • 3:35 (album version)
  • 4:55 (dance version)
Label London
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Jolley & Swain
Bananarama singles chronology
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"
(1983)
"Cruel Summer"
(1983)
"Robert De Niro's Waiting..."
(1984)

"Help!"
(1989)

"Cruel Summer '89"
(1989)

"Megarama '89"
(1989)

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [30]
"Cruel Summer '89"
Silver200,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Ace of Base version

"Cruel Summer"
Ace of Base Cruel Summer Swedish.jpg
Scandinavian cover
Single by Ace of Base
from the album Flowers and Cruel Summer
B-side "Into the Night of Blue"
Released16 June 1998 (1998-06-16)
Recorded1997
Genre Dance-pop
Length
  • 4:05 (Big bonus mix, normal version)
  • 3:33 (Cutfather & Joe mix)
Label Mega
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Ace of Base singles chronology
"Life Is a Flower"
(1998)
"Cruel Summer"
(1998)
"Whenever You're Near Me"
(1998)
Music video
"Cruel Summer" on YouTube
"Cruel Summer (U.S. Version)" on YouTube
"Cruel Summer (feat. Alliage)" on YouTube

In 1998, Swedish pop group Ace of Base recorded the song at the request of their German and American record labels PolyGram and Arista Records. It was released as the second single from their third album, Flowers (1998), and as the lead single from the American version of the album titled Cruel Summer . A different "dancier" version of the song (known as the Big Bonus mix on the album), produced by Stephen Hague, Jonas "Joker" Berggren, Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg, and Johnny Jam & Delgado, was released on mainland Europe. The original album version, produced by Cutfather & Joe, was released in North America and UK.

"Cruel Summer" reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, matching the peak of the original Bananarama version. It also became Ace of Base's 4th and final Top 10 single in the US.

Critical reception

Quentin Harrison of Albumism described the song as an "engaging cover" in his retrospective review of Flowers , and added that "one variant is closer to the originating take, albeit with a spike of hip-hop flavor for a bit of modish spunk", while "the second rendition is a surprisingly danceable, Spanish flecked trip." [31] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine said it is "the melodic high point" of the Cruel Summer album. [32] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "the act that gave the such ABBA-esque ditties as "All That She Wants" and "The Sign" turns its attention toward Bananarama, faithfully covering one of that group's bigger '80s-era hits. Producers Cutfather & Joe bring a few new rhythm ideas to the table dropping the tempo to a jeep-inspired funk beat and injecting an ear-tickling keyboard twist or two. However, the vocals hold few surprises, which is exactly what fans of both Ace Of Base and the original recording will want. In all, a potential smash that could keep this Swedish quartet on the front burner of top 40 radio for much of the summer." [33] Kelly Pickerel from Daily Kent Stater said she liked this remake better than Bananarama's original, noting that "it’s also one of those songs you can never get out of your head as soon as you hear it". [34]

Chuck Campbell from The Daily News noted it as a "slick-but-faithful remake". [35] A reviewer from Entertainment Weekly commented that "it's clear what Ace of Base Svengali Jonas Berggren is aiming for — the iridescent sonic symmetry of Swedish forebears ABBA. A pretty lofty ambition. But he and his seraphic singing sisters, Linn and Jenny, actually attain ABBA's perfect pop-Euro-disco balance on this third outing. There isn't a note out of concordant place, no potential hook overlooked. Excepting the pointless title track, Berggren has done his homework. Just don't hate him because they sound so pretty." [36] Evening Herald said it is a gem, adding "more of the same can often be a good thing". [37] Swedish newspaper Expressen stated that the song "shows why Ace of Base once ruled the pop world". [38] Gary Shipes from The Stuart News wrote in his review, that "the bubble-gum juvenilia of the original is replaced with updated hardware and a contemporary dance arrangement that launches the arc the rest of the CD will follow. At once melancoholic and jovial, the band's driving rhythmic force leaves no option but to fill dance floors on a dime." [39]

Chart performance

"Cruel Summer" was successful on the charts in Europe, Canada and the US. In Europe, it made it to the top 10 in Hungary, on MTV's European Top 20 and in the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single peaked at number eight in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on 4 October 1998. [40] Additionally, it climbed into the top 20 in Scotland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where "Cruel Summer" reached its highest position as number 16. It was a top 30 hit in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Iceland and Switzerland. Outside Europe, it peaked at number two on the RPM Dance/Urban chart and number six on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada, number 10 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States. It earned a gold record in the US, with a sale of 500,000 singles.

Music video

A music video was filmed and directed by English director Nigel Dick. It was shot in Rome, Italy between 27 and 29 June 1998. There are three versions of the video:

The original video and the video using the Big Bonus Mix contain identical and similar footage, whereas the Frenglish version contains completely new footage. The Big Bonus Mix video was uploaded to YouTube in January 2015. As of August 2022, it had more than 17 million views on Youtube . [41]

Track listings

  • Scandinavian CD single
  1. "Cruel Summer" (Big Bonus Mix) – 4:05
  2. "Cruel Summer" (Cutfather & Joe Mix) – 3:33
  • Scandinavian CD single
  1. "Cruel Summer" (Big Bonus Mix) – 4:05
  2. "Cruel Summer" (Cutfather & Joe Mix) – 3:33
  3. "Cruel Summer" (Hartmann & Langhoff Radio Edit) – 3:23
  4. "Cruel Summer" (Hartmann & Langhoff Club) – 7:45
  5. "Into the Night of Blue" (bonus track) – 4:11
  • Scandinavian CD single
  1. "Cruel Summer" (KLM club Mix) – 10:27
  2. "Cruel Summer" (Hani Num Club Mix) – 8:13
  3. "Cruel Summer" (Soul Poets House Bust) – 3:40
  4. "Cruel Summer" (Hartmann & Langhoff Club) – 7:45
  • UK CD 1
  1. Cutfather and Joe Mix
  2. Big Bonus Mix
  3. Hartmann and Langhoff Short Mix
  4. Hartmann and Langhoff Club Mix
  • UK CD 2
  1. "Cruel Summer" (Cutfather and Joe Mix)
  2. "Don't Turn Around" (The 7" Aswad Mix)
  3. "Beautiful Life" (Single Version)
  • US maxi CD
  1. Album Version a.k.a. Cutfather and Joe Mix
  2. Hani Radio Mix a.k.a. Blazin' Rhythm Remix
  3. KLM Radio Mix
  4. Hani Num Club Mix
  5. KLM Club Mix

Charts

Sales and certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [70] Gold500,000 [71]

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United States16 June 1998 Arista [72]
Europe10 August 1998CD [51]
Canada11 August 1998Arista [73]
United Kingdom28 September 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
London [74]

Ace of Base and Alliage version

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"Cruel Summer"
Ace of Base & Alliage-Cruel Summer.jpg
Single by Ace of Base and Alliage
from the album Musics
Released30 June 1998
Studio Rock-stone (London)
Genre
Length3:24
Label
  • Baxter
  • Mercury
  • PolyGram
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Steve Mac
Alliage singles chronology
"Je sais"
(1998)
"Cruel Summer"
(1998)
"Je I'aime à mourir"
(1998)
Ace of Base singles chronology
"Life Is a Flower"
(1998)
"Cruel Summer"
(1998)
"Whenever You're Near Me"
(1998)