I think the song is about Nick Lowe. I think she hated him and couldn't wait to get out of his orbit after he produced the first Pretenders album. Using the title of his most famous song as a line in this song ("That's show biz big boy, you've got to be cruel to be kind!") was a dig at him. The song is a first-rate sneer on Hynde's part. Love it!
Wow, I recognized that "cruel to be kind" might be a reference to Nick Lowe, but I never thought the song might be about him! The lyrics make more sense if they're addressing the music industry rather than an ex.
Wow, I recognized that "cruel to be kind" might be a reference to Nick Lowe, but I never thought the song might be about him! The lyrics make more sense if they're addressing the music industry rather than an ex.
I have a version of this song called the "Radio Mix" and it just removes the vocals. Without them, you hear that the entire song is backed by a set of cheesy radio ads. (You can hear that at the beginning and end of the original too.) I hadn't been able to figure out why...
I have a version of this song called the "Radio Mix" and it just removes the vocals. Without them, you hear that the entire song is backed by a set of cheesy radio ads. (You can hear that at the beginning and end of the original too.) I hadn't been able to figure out why they made that choice, but now it seems perfect as a critique of commerciality in rock.
I think the song is about Nick Lowe. I think she hated him and couldn't wait to get out of his orbit after he produced the first Pretenders album. Using the title of his most famous song as a line in this song ("That's show biz big boy, you've got to be cruel to be kind!") was a dig at him. The song is a first-rate sneer on Hynde's part. Love it!
Wow, I recognized that "cruel to be kind" might be a reference to Nick Lowe, but I never thought the song might be about him! The lyrics make more sense if they're addressing the music industry rather than an ex.
Wow, I recognized that "cruel to be kind" might be a reference to Nick Lowe, but I never thought the song might be about him! The lyrics make more sense if they're addressing the music industry rather than an ex.
I have a version of this song called the "Radio Mix" and it just removes the vocals. Without them, you hear that the entire song is backed by a set of cheesy radio ads. (You can hear that at the beginning and end of the original too.) I hadn't been able to figure out why...
I have a version of this song called the "Radio Mix" and it just removes the vocals. Without them, you hear that the entire song is backed by a set of cheesy radio ads. (You can hear that at the beginning and end of the original too.) I hadn't been able to figure out why they made that choice, but now it seems perfect as a critique of commerciality in rock.