Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)
"Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" is a song originally performed by The Gap Band in 1980 and written by member Charlie Wilson, Rudy Taylor, and producer Lonnie Simmons.
"Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" | ||||
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Single by The Gap Band | ||||
from the album The Gap Band III | ||||
A-side | "Yearning for Your Love" | |||
B-side |
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Released | 1980 | |||
Recorded | 1980 | |||
Genre | Funk • Post-disco Contemporary R&B • New Wave | |||
Length | 4:11 | |||
Label | Mercury | |||
Songwriter(s) | Charlie Wilson, Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor[1] | |||
The Gap Band singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" (TopPop, 1981) on YouTube |
Song Background
The song's lyrics refer to abandonment by a lover. The phrase "Burn Rubber on Me" itself refers to said woman driving off while her lover is away.[2] The narrative is continued in "Early in the Morning".
Chart Performance
In 1981, it peaked at number eighty-four on the Billboard Hot 100, and it was a number one hit on the R&B charts.[3] Billboard magazine ranked it as the 12th biggest R&B single of 1981. A later single released, featuring "Humpin'" on the B-side, scored a #19 appearance on the dance charts.[4]
Releases
All releases are in the U.S. unless indicated:
- 7" single
- 12" single
- 7" with "Nothing Comes to Sleepers" on the B-side
- 7" with "Baby Baba Boogie" from 1979's The Gap Band on the B-side
- 7" with "Yearning for Your Love" on the A-side
- Album, "Gap Band III" (1980), along with a radio edit and 8 other songs
All the releases can be checked at Discogs[5]
Samples
- Public Enemy sampled the song on their 1987 single "You're Gonna Get Yours".
- Pop singer George Michael sampled the song for his 1997 single "Star People '97".
Inspiration
On June 30th 2021 Dave Grohl said that the drumming on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was ripped off by taking the intro drums from “Burn Rubber”.
References
- "discogs.com". discogs.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- Lyrics
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 223.
- Chart History
- Discogs Archived April 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine