The Crystals - "He Hit Me (And it Felt Like a Kiss)"

[cking33]

This Crystals song, about an abusive, yet somehow loving relationship was written by Phil Spector, Carole King and Gerry Goffin and features a funky bass line that pervades through the whole song. Anybody know this one? I'm 18, but my dad and I have it on the Back to Mono Collection from Phil Spector. The lyrics alone should merit some discussion, lol. Although they are somehow more unserstandable with Phil Spector's trial, poor guy. Anybody get a look at his hair in the picture they featured of him on the Billboard website a week ago?

He hit me and it felt like a kiss
He hit me but it didn't hurt me
He couldn't stand to hear me say
That I'd been with someone new
And when I told him I had been untrue

He hit me (da-da-da-ah) and it felt like a kiss (felt like a kiss)
He hit me (da-da-da-ah) and I knew he loved me
If he didn't care for me,
I could have never made him mad
But he hit me (da-da-da-ah) and I was glad

(Da-da-da-ah)
(Da-da-da-ah)

Yes, he hit me (da-da-da-ah) and it felt like a kiss (felt like a kiss)
He hit me (da-da-da-ah) and I knew I loved him
And then, he took me in his arms
With all the tenderness there is
And when he kissed me (da-da-da-ah), he made me his
(Da-da-da)

[mst3k]

Very disturbing lyrics, but I'm sure they didn't raise an eyebrow at the time.

[JOJO SIWA DERANGEMENT SYNDROME]

Interesting song.

[mst3k]

omgw00t said:

This was performed by The Crystals, and if I'm not mistaken written by Phil Spector.

cking33 said:

This Crystals song, about an abusive, yet somehow loving relationship was written by Phil Spector, Carole King and Gerry Goffin

Yep. ;)

[cking33]

mst3k1 said:

Very disturbing lyrics, but I'm sure they didn't raise an eyebrow at the time.

I think it was supposed to be a single. This song was B-sided with another Spector/King/Goffin composition, (I think it was called "No One Ever Tells You") but Phil Spector yanked it away from being sold as a single for fear people would find it disturbing.

[Deleted]

This is one of my favorite singles by The Crystals and among my favorite Phil Spector productions.

The lyrics are disturbing, but that was the whole point. The message was still lost on the general public and the song failed to chart anywhere due to protests by people who thought the song condoned domestic violence.

From Wikipedia:

Goffin and King wrote the song after discovering that singer Little Eva was being regularly beaten by her boyfriend. When they inquired why she tolerated such treatment, Eva replied, with complete sincerity, that her boyfriend's actions were motivated by his love for her.

[gonecountry]

In the category of "WTF were they thinking?!?" I personally like the tune, but "wow, times change". Or at least I hope they do. If radio stations are banning "Baby Its Cold Outside", then they would be blowing up this one with dynamite


I also think the Motels did a great remake.