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Don't Be Cruel (Bobby Brown song)

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This article is about the song by Bobby Brown. For the song by Elvis Presley, see Don't Be Cruel.
"Don't Be Cruel"
Single by Bobby Brown
from the album Don't Be Cruel
ReleasedMay 16, 1988
StudioSilverlake (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length
  • 6:48 (album version)
  • 4:15 (single version)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
Bobby Brown singles chronology
"Girl Next Door"
(1987) 		"Don't Be Cruel"
(1988) 		"My Prerogative"
(1988)
Music video
"Don’t Be Cruel" on YouTube

"Don't Be Cruel" is a song by American singer Bobby Brown. Taken from his second studio album of the same name, the song was written and produced by the songwriting and production duo Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Antonio "L.A." Reid, with additional writing by Daryl Simmons.

Chart performance

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"Don't Be Cruel" was Brown's second single to reach the top position of the R&B chart, where it remained for two weeks. As a pop crossover, it rose from number 59 to number 49, on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, on the week of August 13, 1988, and took two months to peak at number eight on the week of October 15, 1988.[3]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (1988–1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 72
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5] 39
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 23
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[3] 8
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[10] 6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 1

Year-end charts

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Chart (1988) Position
US Billboard Hot 100[12][13] 79

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

In other media

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The song was featured in The Wizard (1989), and was featured in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

References

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  1. ^ Josephs, Brian (July 20, 2012). "The 25 Best New Jack Swing Songs". Complex. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  2. ^ Considine, J.D.; Coleman, Mark; Evans, Paul; McGee, David (1992). "Bobby Brown". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York: Random House. p. 49.
  3. ^ a b "Bobby Brown Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Scott, Gavin. "This Week In 1989: July 2, 1989". Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 15. April 15, 1989. p. 16.
  7. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Be Cruel". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  8. ^ "Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "Bobby Brown: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  10. ^ "Bobby Brown Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  11. ^ "Bobby Brown Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  12. ^ "1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-20.
  13. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1988". Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Recording Industry Association of America.
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