"Goodbye Cruel World" is a song by female duo Shakespears Sister

Shakespears Sister

Shakespears Sister/Shakespear's Sister is a British-based synth-pop-rock band formed by Irish-born singer–songwriter Siobhan Fahey in 1988, with plaudits including a BRIT Award and Ivor Novello Award. It was Fahey's first musical outing since leaving Bananarama, and initially a solo project...

. It was written by group member Siobhan Fahey

Siobhan Fahey

Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...

, Fahey's husband Dave Stewart

David A. Stewart

David Allan Stewart , often known as Dave Stewart, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his work with Eurythmics. He is usually credited as David A. Stewart, to avoid confusion with other musicians named "Dave Stewart".-Early life:Stewart was born in Sunderland,...

 (under the pseudonym Manu Guiot), and American drummer Steve Ferrera. Marcella Detroit

Marcella Detroit

Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...

 did not co-write the song due to being heavily pregnant at the time, and only contributed vocals. The song's title is not cited in the lyics.

Released in October 1991, it was the first single off their second album Hormonally Yours

Hormonally Yours

Hormonally Yours is the second album released by pop duo Shakespears Sister. The album, released on London Records in 1992, became a critical and commercial success in the UK and achieved a modest level of success in the U.S...

. The single failed to gain much radio airplay and was not a success, peaking at #59 in the UK. It was, however, the group's first charting single on the American charts, peaking at #22 on the Modern Rock Tracks

Modern Rock Tracks

Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...

 chart.

In the wake of the group's success with Stay, the song was re-released as a two-part CD single set in the UK as the album's fourth single in July 1992, in a slightly remixed form and with a new single cover art. This time it was a better success, peaking at #32 in the UK.

The music video, directed by Sophie Muller

Sophie Muller

Sophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...

, was critically acclaimed and depicts Fahey and Detroit spoofing classic melodramas such as Sunset Boulevard and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (film)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1962 American psychological thriller film produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The screenplay by Lukas Heller is based on the novel of the same name by Henry Farrell...

, and also referencing Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. Many critics consider it the greatest American film of all time, especially for its innovative cinematography, music and narrative structure. Citizen Kane was Welles' first feature film...

. The song was used in the 2009 Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman

Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...

 comedy "Motherhood".

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	59
Chart (1992)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	32
U.S. Modern Rock Tracks Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...	22

Track listing

1991 release

7" single

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Original Lp Version) - (4:06)
2. "Black Sky" (LP Version) - (4:16)

CD single

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Original Lp Version) - (4:06)
2. "Black Sky" (The Black Widow Mix) - (5:51)
3. "You're History" - (4:31)

12" single

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Original Lp Version) - (4:06)
2. "Black Sky" (LP Version) - (4:16)
3. "Black Sky" (The Black Widow Mix) - (5:51)

   Remixed by Alan Moulder

   Edited by Razor Tong

4. "Black Sky" (The Black Dub) - (4:32)

   Remixed by Alan Moulder

   Edited by Razor Tong

1992 release

7" single

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Remix) - (4:03)
2. "Moonchild" - (4:27)

UK Limited Edition CD 1 Single LONCD322

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Remix) - (4:03)
2. "Moonchild" - (4:27)
3. "Are We In Love Yet" (Live) - (3:42)

UK CD 2 Single LOCDP322

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Remix) - (4:03)
2. "Stay" (Acoustic Version) - (3:47)
3. "Black Sky" (The Green Eyed Dub) - (5:54)
4. "Break My Heart" (You Really) (Acidic Mix) - (6:24)

German CD single

1. "Goodbye Cruel World" (Remix) - (4:03)
2. "Moonchild" - (4:27)
3. "Stay" (Acoustic Version) - (3:47)

Personnel

Shakespear's Sister

• Siobhan Fahey
  Siobhan Fahey
  Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
  
   - Vocals
• Marcella Detroit
  Marcella Detroit
  Marcella Detroit is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter. She was a member of the band Shakespears Sister, along with Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama. Detroit's soprano voice provided lead vocals on their biggest hit, "Stay," which was No...
  
   - Vocals, Guitars & Keyboards

Additional Personnel

• Sophie Muller
  Sophie Muller
  Sophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...
  
   - Art Direction & Photography
• Lawrence Dunmore - Design & Art Direction
• Mike Owen - Front Cover & Flower Photography
• Juergen Teller
  Juergen Teller
  Juergen Teller is an artist and fashion photographer.-Life and career:Teller studied at the Bayerische Staatslehranstalt für Photographie in Munich, Germany...
  
  - Additional Photography