music.wikisort.org - Composition

"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)"
Single by The Gap Band
from the album The Gap Band III
A-side	"Yearning for Your Love"
B-side	"Nothing Comes to Sleepers" "Baby Baba Boogie" "Humpin'"
Released	1980
Recorded	1980
Genre	Funk • R&B • Post Disco
Length	4:11
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Charlie Wilson, Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor[1]
The Gap Band singles chronology
"Party Lights" (1980) "Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" (1980) "Humpin'" (1981)
Music video
"Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" (TopPop, 1981) on YouTube

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 30, 2021, Dave Grohl said that the drumming on "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was ripped off from the drum intro of "Burn Rubber on Me".[6]

References

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