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

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.