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Don't Get Me Wrong

For the 1937 film, seeDon't Get Me Wrong (film).For the Matchbox Twenty song, seeDon't Get Me Wrong (Matchbox Twenty song).For the Westlife song, seeCoast to Coast (Westlife album).

"Don't Get Me Wrong"is a song by British-Americanrockbandthe Pretenders.It was the first single released from the band's fourth studio album,Get Close(1986). It was also included on the band's compilation album,The Singles(1987). FrontwomanChrissie Hyndesaid she was inspired to write the song for her friendJohn McEnroe.[3]

"Don't Get Me Wrong"
Artwork for UK and European vinyl releases
Singlebythe Pretenders
from the albumGet Close
B-side"Dance!"
ReleasedSeptember 22, 1986(1986-09-22)[1]
GenreRock[2]
Length3:49
Label
Songwriter(s)Chrissie Hynde
Producer(s)
The Pretenderssingles chronology
"Thin Line Between Love and Hate"
(1984) 		"Don't Get Me Wrong"
(1986) 		"Hymn to Her"
(1986)
Music video
"Don't Get Me Wrong"onYouTube

Background

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The song features ajanglyguitarsound and an emphasis on melody. Hynde's lyrics contain literary references in addition to the more relationship-based subject matter typical forrockandpop music.

Critical reception

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Billboardwrote that although Hynde is the only original Pretender remaining, this song represents "a pretty upbeat, strutting, confident Pretenders."[4]Cashboxpraised Hynde's "sultry vocal" and "powerful songwriting."[5]Classic rock reviewdescribes "Don't Get Me Wrong" as a "jaunty rock track".[6]Ultimate Classic Rockcritic Matt Wardlaw rated it the Pretenders' eighth-greatest song, saying that it "[hammers] home the point rather succinctly that when it comes to love from the female point of view, it's best to expect the unexpected."[7]

Chart performance

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In the United States, "Don't Get Me Wrong" became the group's second top-10 hit on theBillboardHot 100chart, peaking atNo.10.[8]It also spent three weeks atop theBillboardAlbum Rock Trackschart in November 1986.[9]In the United Kingdom, the song also peaked at No. 10 on theUK Singles Chart.[10]In Australia, it became a top-10 hit, reaching No. 8 on theKent Music Report.[11]

Music video

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The music video for the song is a tribute to the British 1960s espionage television seriesThe Avengers,with Chrissie Hynde playingEmma Peelsearching forJohn Steed,while being diverted by body doubles and rival agents. She drives a 1983Reliant Scimitar SS1.Steed actorPatrick Macneeappears in the original series' footage, with Hynde electronically inserted. Two edits to the video were made, the second edit adds alternate shots (including a scene of one of the body doubles being revealed to be a woman) and inserts footage of the band performing in a studio.

Personnel

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The Pretenders

Additional personnel

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Don't Get Me Wrong"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[23] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 200,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers

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References

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  1. ^"New Singles".Music Week.September 20, 1986. p. 28.
  2. ^"Get Close by the Pretenders – Classic Rock Review".
  3. ^"How Chrissie Hynde Wrote 'Don't Get Me Wrong' for John McEnroe".Ultimate Classic Rock.December 5, 2018.RetrievedAugust 13,2020.
  4. ^"Reviews".Billboard.October 11, 1986. p. 85.RetrievedAugust 7,2022.
  5. ^"Single Releases"(PDF).Cash Box.October 11, 1986. p. 9.RetrievedAugust 7,2022.
  6. ^"Get Close by the Pretenders – Classic Rock Review".
  7. ^Wardlaw, Matt (September 7, 2011)."Top 10 Pretenders songs".Ultimate Classic Rock.RetrievedDecember 28,2022.
  8. ^ab"Billboard Hot 100".Billboard.December 27, 1986.RetrievedNovember 26,2023.
  9. ^ab"Mainstream Rock Airplay".Billboard.November 8, 1986.RetrievedNovember 26,2023.
  10. ^ab"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  11. ^abKent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 238.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  12. ^"The Pretenders – Don't Get Me Wrong "(in Dutch).Ultratop 50.Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  13. ^"Top RPM Singles: Issue 0759."RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  14. ^"European Hot 100 Singles".Music & Media.Vol. 3, no. 46. November 22, 1986. p. 15.
  15. ^"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Get Me Wrong ".Irish Singles Chart.Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  16. ^"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1986"(in Dutch).Dutch Top 40.Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  17. ^"The Pretenders – Don't Get Me Wrong "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  18. ^"The Pretenders – Don't Get Me Wrong ".Top 40 Singles.Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  19. ^"Adult Contemporary".Billboard.December 13, 1986.RetrievedNovember 26,2023.
  20. ^"Offiziellecharts.de – The Pretenders – Don't Get Me Wrong "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  21. ^"Jaaroverzichten 1986"(in Dutch). Ultratop.RetrievedAugust 5,2021.
  22. ^"Top Pop Singles"(PDF).Billboard.Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987. p. Y-22.RetrievedMarch 21,2021.
  23. ^"Spanish single certifications – Pretenders – Don't Get Me Wrong".El portal de Música.Productores de Música de España.RetrievedNovember 30,2024.
  24. ^"British single certifications – Pretenders – Don't Get Me Wrong".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedMay 13,2022.
  25. ^"JFH News: Leigh Nash Debuts New Single," Don't Get Me Wrong "".www.jesusfreakhideout.com.RetrievedAugust 24,2018.
  26. ^"The Magicians star breaks down the musical episode, from hungry bears to Margo's evolution".www.ew.com.RetrievedAugust 18,2020.
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