“Tainted Love” by Soft Cell
“Tainted Love” talks about a no-longer existing love. The narrator speaks about he has to let go of the love he feels for a person because it brings him so much pain. According to him, what they share seems to be pointless. He also claims that he is losing himself as a result of the relationship.
In the second verse, he talks about him having no other option than to end the relationship. He also states the person is not ready to have a relationship but only wants someone who can be there for her at her beck and call. To him, the person’s idea of love is different from what he considers as love.
The chorus expresses how he used to be the one longing after her but now he is done. He clearly talks about how he gave her his all and only one got back what he describes as a contaminated love.
He uses his outro to depict that the person decided to work on the relationship after it was too late.
All in all, this is a song that describes an unhealthy relationship.
“Tainted Love” Facts
- Primary Artist(s): Soft Cell
- Writing: Ed Cobb
- Production: Mike Thorne
- Release: 1981 in UK and 1982 in US
- Album/EP: “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret”
Genre(s)
This belongs to the synth-pop music genre. It is also a new wave song.
Chart
- United Kingdom: 1
- United States: 8
Different Versions
Various artists have recorded different versions of this song, including”:
- Marilyn Manson in 2001
- Gloria Jones in 1964
In Gloria Jones’ case, she was the first person to release the song in 1964. Its popularity led to other renditions of it.
FYI: Soft Cell’s version is a cover. It is arguably the most popular of all the other versions released.
Did Soft Cell release “Tainted Love” as a single?
Yes. The group released this song as their second single from their bestselling “Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret” album. The album produced two other singles:
- “Bedsitter”
- “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye”
“No other option” is false. You always have the option of staying in a relationship with someone, even if it’s “unhealthy”. Also, while you should want MORE than JUST someone who’s at your beck and call, being at each other’s beck and call is still a basic element of a truly loving relationship. Also, love is never “pointless”, and you never “lose yourself” to it; you become one with the person, shedding anything that’s irrelevant to your union in the process.
You do indeed always have an option of staying but that doesnt mean its the right one, and love can definitly feel pointless if you give someone your all and get nothing in return, although that might not be pointless it can sertenitly feel like it.
You can 100% lose yourself in a unhealty relationship. It can consume you to love someone so much it hurts and you cant think about anything but them, seeing them and talking to them, being with them. It can ruin somone, easly.
Hey I feel like ur also NOT stating the obvious here… That there us hope, tainted love doesn’t mean u can’t potentially rekindle and work on things as adults and have a fulfilling relationship after
Also, you cannot “let go” of true love, even if you let go of the person. True love is unconditional.
Michelle,
We should have a beer together.
It ends with ‘touch me, please’ so I guess that it is not finished (yet), even though painful…
Sounds like the female is a narcissist, taking but never giving. She drew him in so he loves her, but she will never love in return. He wants to let go but his trauma bond makes it a struggle. She has him hooked.