He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)
"He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)" is a pop song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and recorded by The Crystals under the guidance of Phil Spector in 1962.
The song
Goffin and King wrote the song after discovering that singer Little Eva was being regularly beaten by her boyfriend.[1] 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.[1]
Phil Spector's arrangement was ominous and ambiguous.[1]
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It was a brutal song, as any attempt to justify such violence must be, and Spector’s arrangement only amplified its savagery, framing Barbara Alston’s lone vocal amid a sea of caustic strings and funereal drums, while the backing vocals almost trilled their own belief that the boy had done nothing wrong. In more ironic hands (and a more understanding age), 'He Hit Me' might have passed at least as satire. But Spector showed no sign of appreciating that, nor did he feel any need to. No less than the song’s writers, he was not preaching, he was merely documenting." |
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Upon its initial release, "He Hit Me" received some airplay, but then there was a widespread protest of the song, with many concluding that the song was an endorsement of spousal abuse.[1] The song soon became played only rarely on the radio, as now.
The 1930 Frank Borzage film Liliom contains the line "He hit me and it felt like a kiss" in its final scene. The film was not a success and there's nothing to suggest that Goffin or King had seen it. However the two Brill building writers could hardly have avoided knowing Carousel, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and one of their most famous. The exact same phrase is not only used, it is a crucial part of the resolution of the plot.
Covers and references
- Courtney Love's band, Hole, played a cover of the song as part of their MTV Unplugged performance. Love introduced the song by saying "This is a really sick song. It's one of those Spector songs and it was written by Carole King, which...you have to think." (King didn't, however, write the lyrics—her husband Gerry Goffin did.) At the end of the song, Love commented "Nice feminist anthem."
- The Brooklyn band Grizzly Bear sang the song during the 2007 headlining tour for their album, Yellow House.[4] They also recorded the song during a Daytrotter session in February 2007, to be made available online for download.[5] A studio version of the song was released on the band's Friend EP, while a live take was released as the B-side to "While You Wait for the Others" on the Live on KCRW 7".
- The song was played in its entirety on the September 26, 2007 episode of The Tom Leykis Show titled 'The One They Won't Play'. The subject of the show's hour was in relation to Phil Spector's writing and production of the song, and the fact that he got married in the period between being accused of the murders and the end of his trial.
- The Batman graphic novel, and animated series episode, Mad Love, about the origins of Harley Quinn, refer to this song. When Harley Quinn is asked how it felt to give everything to a man who abused her, she said it felt like a kiss.
- Amy Winehouse had frequently mentioned the song as one of her all-time favourite tracks and biggest influences.
- In 2008, Glasvegas released a Christmas EP titled "A Snowflake Fell and It Felt Like A Kiss," the title being a homage to the Crystals.
- The Cardigans song "And Then You Kissed Me" rewrites and reinterprets "He Hit Me".
- The Antony and the Johnsons song "Fistful of Love" deals with nearly identical themes of love and abuse, yet in this version the gender of the song's characters are ambiguous.
- Solo artist Unwoman covered this song in her 2009 album The Keys.[6]
- Amy Rigby's song "Dancing With Joey Ramone" lists "He Hit Me (and it Felt Like a Kiss)" as one of the songs they danced to in her dream.
References
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| Albums |
Twist Uptown · He'a a Rebel · The Crystals Sing the Greatest Hits, Volume 1
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| Singles |
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| Related topics |
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Book:The Crystals
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