Don't Get Me Wrong

"Don't Get Me Wrong" is a song released by the pop-rock group The Pretenders. It was the first single taken from the group's 1986 album, Get Close. It can also be found on the band's The Singles album, released in 1987. Chrissie Hynde said she was inspired to write the song for her friend John McEnroe.[1]

For the 1937 film, see Don't Get Me Wrong (film).
For the Westlife song, see Coast to Coast (Westlife album).
"Don't Get Me Wrong"
Artwork for UK and European vinyl releases
Single by The Pretenders
from the album Get Close
B-side"Dance!"
ReleasedAugust 5, 1986 (UK)
September 23, 1986 (US)
RecordedOctober 1985
Genre
Length3:49
LabelReal Records (UK), Sire (US)
Songwriter(s)Chrissie Hynde
Producer(s)
The Pretenders singles chronology
"Thin Line Between Love and Hate"
(1984)		 "Don't Get Me Wrong"
(1986)		 "Hymn to Her"
(1986)

In the US, "Don't Get Me Wrong" became the group's second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 10.[2] Their first Top 10 pop hit, "Back on the Chain Gang", had reached No. 5 in 1983. "Don't Get Me Wrong" also spent three weeks atop the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart in November 1986.[2] It also reached No. 5 on the Radio & Records CHR/Pop Airplay Chart on December 12, 1986 staying on that position for a week and remaining on the chart for eleven weeks.[3] In the UK, the song also peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] It did best in Australia, where it reached No. 8.[5]

The song features a jangly guitar sound and an emphasis on melody. Hynde's lyrics contain literary references in addition to the more relationship-based subject matter typical for pop music.

The music video for the song is a tribute to the British 1960s TV spy series The Avengers, with Chrissie Hynde playing Emma Peel searching for John Steed (Patrick Macnee appears in the original series' footage, with Hynde superimposed).

The song was covered by British pop singer Lily Allen for BBC Radio 1's 40th-anniversary celebrations in 2007 and was released on the subsequent compilation album. In 2018, it was covered by Leigh Nash.[6]

Personnel

Additional Personnel
  • Chucho Merchán – bass guitar
  • Steve Jordan – drums, percussion
  • Paul "Wix" Wickens – synthesizer, piano

Charts
Year-end chart (1987) Position
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[7] 92

References
  1. "How Chrissie Hynde Wrote 'Don't Get Me Wrong' for John McEnroe". Ultimate Classic Rock. December 5, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 505.
  3. "pretenders". wweb.uta.edu. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  4. Official Charts Company info OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 22 April 2009.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc)|format= requires |url= (help). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "JFH News: Leigh Nash Debuts New Single, "Don't Get Me Wrong"". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  7. "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 99 (52). December 26, 1987.
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