Cruel Summer

"Cruel Summer" is a song recorded by the English girl group Bananarama. It was written by Steve Jolley, Tony Swain and Bananarama and produced by Swain and Jolley. Released as a single in 1983, it was initially a stand-alone single but was subsequently included on their self-titled second album which was released a year later, thus it is considered the album's first single. The song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart in 1983, and after its inclusion in the 1984 film The Karate Kid it reached number nine on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Bananarama singer Sara Dallin said the song "played on the darker side (of summer songs): it looked at the oppressive heat, the misery of wanting to be with someone as the summer ticked by. We've all been there!"[1] It was ranked number 44 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.[2] Billboard named the song #13 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[3]