Cruel Summer (Bananarama song)
"Cruel Summer" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Picture sleeve for European and Australasian 7-inch releases | ||||
Single by Bananarama | ||||
from the album Bananarama | ||||
B-side | "Cairo" | |||
Released | 27 June 1983 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | London | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Jolley & Swain | |||
Bananarama singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Cruel Summer" on YouTube | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Cruel Summer '89" on YouTube |
"Cruel Summer" is a song by English girl group Bananarama. It was written by Bananarama and Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, and produced by Jolley and Swain. Released in 1983, it was initially a stand-alone single but was subsequently included on their self-titled second album a year later. The song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart in 1983 and the group appeared on the BBC's Top of the Pops that summer (July 1983), and after its inclusion in the 1984 film The Karate Kid, it reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Bananarama singer Sara Dallin said the song "played on the darker side (of summer songs): it looked at the oppressive heat, the misery of wanting to be with someone as the summer ticked by. We've all been there!"[4] It was ranked number 44 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.[5] Billboard named the song number 13 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[6]
History
[edit]"Cruel Summer" was an immediate success when it was released in the UK, reaching number eight on the UK Singles Chart, and the group performed the song live on the BBC's Top of the Pops in July 1983.[7] Its international popularity soared after its inclusion in the 1984 feature film The Karate Kid; this was a year after the song's original release (the song was released in 1984 in the US). The group did not allow the song to be included on the film's soundtrack album, but it still reached number nine in the US, their first top-10 hit there. When Bananarama were still struggling to make money in their early years, they even performed the song at a beauty contest in Hawaii. The song's biggest chart success was in South Africa, where it peaked at number three.
The song has since been revived in various forms. It has appeared in several television commercials, and was covered by other acts, such as Ace of Base, who had an international hit with it (their version reached gold in the US). Blestenation sampled and remixed the song to make their own, also named "Cruel Summer" but with interspersed rap lyrics and altered structure; there are two edits of this song, one of which appeared on the 2002 Blue Crush soundtrack.
Since the original release of the song, Bananarama recorded another three versions. "Cruel Summer '89" was released in 1989, and given a new jack swing makeover, featuring Dallin and Woodward's vocals as a duo for the first time. It reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in June. This version was not included on any Bananarama album until 2005's Really Saying Something: The Platinum Collection. Another version of the song was recorded and featured on their 2001 album Exotica. This version featured Latin instrumentation and additional lyrics, but it was not released as a single. They released another updated version in 2009, as a B-side of their single "Love Comes". In 2023, Bananarama released a new version to celebrate the song's 40th anniversary called "Cruel Summer 3AM".
Music video
[edit]The music video was directed by Brian Simmons, and shot primarily in the Dumbo section of New York City's Brooklyn borough in mid-1983.[8] It opens with a shot of Manhattan in the background, including the decade-old World Trade Center.
"[It] was just an excuse to get us to the fabled city of New York for the first time," Siobhan Fahey has said. She recalled the shoot, conducted during a heatwave, as a difficult experience. "It was August, over one hundred degrees (38 °C). Our HQ was a tavern under the Brooklyn Bridge, which had a ladies' room with a chipped mirror where we had to do our makeup."[9]
After an exhausting morning shooting in the city in brutal August heat, the band returned to the tavern for lunch. They made the acquaintance of some local dockworkers, who, upon learning of their situation, shared vials of cocaine with them. "That was our lunch," said Fahey, who had never tried the drug before. "When you watch that video, we look really tired and miserable in the scenes we shot before lunch, and then the after-lunch shots are all euphoric and manic."[9]
The music video for the 1989 remix was a compilation of different shots from Bananarama's earlier videoclips. Notably missing are clips from the original 1983 video. Fahey is only featured in a pair of frames. Bananarama were unable to record a proper video for the song, because they were in the middle of a world tour at the time of its release.
Track listings
[edit]- 7-inch vinyl single
- "Cruel Summer" (Album Version) 3:35
- "Cruel Summer" (Summer Dub Edited) 3:30
- 12-inch vinyl single
- "Cruel Summer" (Extended Version) 4:55
- "Cruel Summer" (Summer Dub) 5:15
- "Cairo" 3:15
"Cruel Summer '89"
[edit]- UK CD single
- "Cruel Summer '89" (Swing Beat Version) 3:22
- Remixed by Blacksmith
- Also available from CD the albums The Works, Now That's What I Call Music 15 and Really Saying Something: The Platinum Collection.
- "Venus" (The Greatest Remix Edit) 3:42
- Remixed by Phil Harding & Ian Curnow
- "I Heard a Rumour" (Corporation of Bananarama Remix) 5:44
- Remixed by Freddy Bastone
- Japanese 3-inch CD single
- "Cruel Summer '89" (Swing Beat Dub) 5:20
- Remixed by Blacksmith
- Also available from the CD albums The Greatest Remixes Collection and The Very Best of Bananarama.
- "I Heard a Rumour" (Corporation of Bananarama Remix) 5:44
- Remixed by Freddy Bastone
- "Venus" (The Greatest Remix) 7:57
- Remixed by Phil Harding and Ian Curnow
Personnel
[edit]- Sara Dallin – vocals
- Keren Woodward – vocals
- Siobhan Fahey – vocals
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit]Original version
"Cruel Summer '89"
| Year-end charts[edit]Original version
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] "Cruel Summer '89" | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Ace of Base version
[edit]"Cruel Summer" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Scandinavian cover | ||||
Single by Ace of Base | ||||
from the album Flowers and Cruel Summer | ||||
B-side | "Into the Night of Blue" | |||
Released | 16 June 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | Mega | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Ace of Base singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
[edit]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
[edit]"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
[edit]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:
- "Cruel Summer"
- "Cruel Summer" (Big Bonus Mix)
- "Cruel Summer" (Frenglish version featuring Alliage)
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
[edit]- Scandinavian CD single
- "Cruel Summer" (Big Bonus Mix) – 4:05
- "Cruel Summer" (Cutfather & Joe Mix) – 3:33
- Scandinavian CD single
- "Cruel Summer" (Big Bonus Mix) – 4:05
- "Cruel Summer" (Cutfather & Joe Mix) – 3:33
- "Cruel Summer" (Hartmann & Langhoff Radio Edit) – 3:23
- "Cruel Summer" (Hartmann & Langhoff Club) – 7:45
- "Into the Night of Blue" (bonus track) – 4:11
- Scandinavian CD single
- "Cruel Summer" (KLM club Mix) – 10:27
- "Cruel Summer" (Hani Num Club Mix) – 8:13
- "Cruel Summer" (Soul Poets House Bust) – 3:40
- "Cruel Summer" (Hartmann & Langhoff Club) – 7:45
- UK CD 1
- Cutfather and Joe Mix
- Big Bonus Mix
- Hartmann and Langhoff Short Mix
- Hartmann and Langhoff Club Mix
- UK CD 2
- "Cruel Summer" (Cutfather and Joe Mix)
- "Don't Turn Around" (The 7" Aswad Mix)
- "Beautiful Life" (Single Version)
- US maxi CD
- Album Version a.k.a. Cutfather and Joe Mix
- Hani Radio Mix a.k.a. Blazin' Rhythm Remix
- KLM Radio Mix
- Hani Num Club Mix
- KLM Club Mix
Charts
[edit] Weekly charts[edit] | Year-end charts[edit]
|
Sales and certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[71] | Gold | 500,000[70] |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 16 June 1998 | Arista | [72] | |
Europe | 10 August 1998 | CD | [51] | |
Canada | 11 August 1998 | Arista | [73] | |
United Kingdom | 28 September 1998 |
| London | [74] |
Ace of Base and Alliage version
[edit]"Cruel Summer" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Ace of Base and Alliage | ||||
from the album Musics | ||||
Released | 30 June 1998 | |||
Studio | Rock-stone (London) | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 3:24 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Steve Mac | |||
Alliage singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ace of Base singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Cruel Summer" (Ace of Base / Alliage version) on YouTube |
Ace of Base united with the French boy band Alliage and re-recorded as a duet in a release designed specifically for the French markets. It is bilingual in English and French with added lyrics to the original. The joint version peaked at number 24 on SNEP, the official French Singles Chart.
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
France (SNEP)[75] | 24 |
Rico Bernasconi vs. Ace of Base version
[edit]"Cruel Summer" | |
---|---|
Single by Rico Bernasconi vs Ace of Base | |
Released | 2009 |
Genre | House, progressive house, electronic dance |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Music video | |
"Cruel Summer" (Rico Bernasconi vs Ace of Base version) on YouTube |
Rico Bernasconi released a remix EP with 8 remix versions of Ace of Base version of "Cruel Summer" which peaked at #69 in Germany.[76]
Track listing
[edit]- "Cruel Summer (Screen Mix)" (3:19)
- "Cruel Summer (Tom Pulse Sunshine Radio Mix)" (3:00)
- "Cruel Summer (Original Club Mix)" (6:21)
- "Cruel Summer (Tom Pulse Sunshine Club Mix)" (5:24)
- "Cruel Summer (Max Farenthide Remix)" (5:48)
- "Cruel Summer (DJ Tom Cut Remix)" (5:26)
- "Cruel Summer (DJ Tomekk vs. Anady Club Remix)" (6:10)
- "Cruel Summer (Chris Galmon vs. Christopher GrEy Club Mix)" (6:13)
Notable cover versions
[edit]- Kari Kimmel's version of the song was recorded for season 2 of Cobra Kai and was released on its soundtrack album. It was used for the season's teaser trailer as well as being played at the end of the season finale, echoing the original song's use in the Karate Kid film which the show is a sequel to.[77]
- Amy Lee and Troy McLawhorn of Evanescence recorded their version of the song at home during the COVID-19 pandemic for MagentaMusik 360.[78]
- American alternative rock band Superchunk covered the song in 2012 as the B-side of their "This Summer" single.
- British artist Jessie Ware sampled the song for the track "Mirage (Don't Stop)" on her 4th studio album What's Your Pleasure?[79]
- In 2022 a remix was released by canadian djs Vito V and Tobeck on purple tea records.
- The song appeared in the Season 3 episode of Knight Rider - K.I.T.T vs K.A.R.R, from 1984. The track was a cover version made by the production in order to reduce royalty costs.
References
[edit]- ^ Rolling Stone Staff (25 June 2022). "The Best Summer Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
...this is essentially the British synth-pop answer song to Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer in the City"
- ^ Billboard Staff (10 July 2017). "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
Bananarama's signature '80s hit pulls it off by marrying a pitch-perfect vocal of resentful teenage ennui with a fantastically funky electro-pop bounce...
- ^ "New Wave Music Songs". AllMusic.
- ^ Rogers, Jude (22 July 2009). "What makes a great summer pop hit?". The Guardian.
- ^ "VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 80's". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Bananarama on Top of the Pops". BBC. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Jen Carlson (28 July 2015). "Visit 1980s Brooklyn In Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" Video". Gothamist.
- ^ a b Marks, Craig; Tannenbaum, Rob (2011). I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution. New York, NY: Dutton. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-525-95230-5.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. p. 25. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Bananarama – Cruel Summer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Cruel summer in Canadian Top Singles Chart". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Cruel Summer'". Fireball Media. Retrieved 6 February 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 34, 1983" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ "Bananarama – Cruel Summer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Bananarama – Cruel Summer". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ John Samson. "Cruel summer in South African Chart". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Official Charts > Bananarama". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "Billboard > Artists / Bananarama > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "Billboard > Artists / Bananarama > Chart History > Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "allmusic > Bananarama". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "Bananarama – Cruel Summer" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 5 June 2015". imgur.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- ^ Danish Singles Chart. 4 August 1989.
- ^ "Top 3 Finland" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 August 1989. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ "Bananarama – Cruel Summer '89". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 24 June 1989. p. 16. Retrieved 30 August 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Bananarama – Cruel Summer '89" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ "Talent Almanac 1985: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 51. 22 December 1984. p. TA-19.
- ^ "British single certifications – Bananarama – Cruel Summer '89". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ Harrison, Quentin (13 June 2018). "Ace of Base's 'Flowers' Turns 20: An Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ace of Base - Cruel Summer". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ Flick, Larry (27 June 1998). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 25. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ Pickerel, Kelly (7 May 2009). "Summer lovin'". Daily Kent Stater. p. 16. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ Campbell, Chuck (5 August 1998). "'Ace of Base' is back with what we like". The Daily News. p. 7. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ "Music Review: 'Cruel Summer'". Entertainment Weekly. 14 August 1998. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
- ^ Evening Herald. 19 August 1998. p. 32.
- ^ "ACE OF BASE". Expressen. 12 June 1998.
- ^ Shipes, Gary (7 August 1998). "MAKING A CASE FOR ACE OF BASE; UN-APEELING 'AVENGERS'". The Stuart News.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 04 October 1998 - 10 October 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "Ace of Base - Cruel Summer [Big Bonus Mix] (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7907." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7937." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3658." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 42. 17 October 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Ace of Base". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 9. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 September 1998. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.08.1998 – 27.08.1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 21 August 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Ace Of Base - Cruel Summer" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Major Market Airplay - Week 32/1998" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 August 1998. p. 21. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 04 October 1998 - 10 October 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Ace of Base – Cruel Summer". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "1998 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive – 10th October 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ace of Base awards on AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- ^ "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. 14 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved 6 June 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "RPM's Top 50 Dance Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved 6 June 2020 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 45.
- ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. 26 December 1998. p. YE-54.
- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. 30 January 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "American single certifications – Ace of Base – Cruel Summer". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1252. 12 June 1998. pp. 63, 67.
- ^ "Album Releases: August 1998". Jam!. Archived from the original on 30 August 2000. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 26 September 1998. p. 33.
- ^ Hung Medien. "Cruel summer in French Chart". Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Cruel summer in German Chart". Media control. Retrieved 24 June 2013.[dead link]
- ^ Curtis Zimmermann (28 May 2019). "Kari Kimmel Covers Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" for 'Cobra Kai'". Cover Me. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ MagentaMusik 360 (5 June 2020). "Amy Lee & Troy McLawhorn von Evanescence #DaheimDabei". Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "'What's Your Pleasure?': Jessie Ware Finds What Feels Good Again". MuuMuse. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2023.