Don't You Want Me

Album: Jody Watley (1987)
Charted: 55 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Jody Watley is sizing up a potential love interest, trying to gauge his level of interest. In a Songfacts interview with Watley, she explained: "My idea was to convey the uncertainty and the vulnerability of when you meet someone and you don't know where they stand."
  • This was the third single from Watley's debut album, which landed her the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. The first single from the album was "Looking For A New Love," a title she revisited in the lyric to "Don't You Want Me" when she sings:

    Are you looking for a new love
    Or does commitment seem to bring you down?
  • Watley wrote this song with Franne Golde and David Bryant. Golde's other credits include "Nightshift" by the Commodores and "Talk To Me" by Chico DeBarge. Bryant's other co-writes include "The Love In Your Eyes" by Eddie Money and "Back On Holiday" by Robbie Nevil. Watley and Golde became good friends after the session.
  • The song was produced by Bernard Edwards of Chic, who also produced another track on the album, Watley's duet with George Michael, "Learn To Say No."
  • Dominic Sena directed the music video, which gives Watley a chance to show off her impressive dance moves and keen fashion sense. Before becoming a singer, she was a model and a Soul Train dancer. It was filmed in Los Angeles.

    The guy in the video is Andre Cymone, who produced six songs on the album. They had a real-life love connection and got married in 1991. They split three years later.
  • This isn't the biggest hit of the '80s called "Don't You Want Me." The Human League song of that title went to #1 in 1982.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.