13 Songs Filled with HURT

Reading Time: 14 min read

13 Songs Filled with HURT features music by Dan Jarman, Jazmine Sullivan, John Mellencamp, Lizzo, Reneé Rapp, and Teddy Pendergrass.

I don’t want anybody to get HURT! Who wishes to inflict pain? Not us (me) here at The Musical Hype. That said, we present to you something truly hurtful and hurt-filled: 13 Songs Filled with HURT. No pain will be inflicted by listening to these hurt songs, but the hurt is perceptible! The keyword should be obvious: HURT, HURT, HURT, HURT ♾️. 13 Songs Filled with HURT features music by Dan Jarman, Jazmine Sullivan, John Mellencamp, Lizzo, Reneé Rapp, and Teddy Pendergrass. So, let’s avoid the hurt ourselves as we dive into these hurt-laden songs!

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1. Dan Jarman, “boys hurting boys”

2. Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”

3. David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”

4. Reneé Rapp, “Tummy Hurts”

5. Del Water Gap, “Hurting Kind”

6. Jazmine Sullivan, “Hurt Me So Good”

7. The Gap Band, “Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”

8. Teddy Pendergrass, “It Don’t Hurt Now”

9. Cigarettes After Sex, “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby”

10. P!nk, “Hurts 2B Human” (Ft. Khalid)

11. John Mellencamp, “Hurts So Good”

12. Alicia Keys, “Every Little Bit Hurts”

13. The Manhattans, “Hurt”

1. Dan Jarman, “boys hurting boys”

“boys hurting boys” // Dan Jarman // 2024

“Boys hurting boys / It’s the vibe of summer.” Sigh, that vibe is sus Dan Jarman 😏, but you speak the truth. “Boys hurting boys” marks the debut single for the pop singer/songwriter and he delivers the goods. He penned the sunny-sounding song while Olli Daffarn and SoundSetters produced. Even with the ‘hurt’ happening between boys, specifically him and his ex-bf, Jarman seems at peace with the breakup.

“Up late-night drinking / Midnight and falling / In the dark in your flat,” he sings nostalgically, continuing, “Now you’re back in Chicago / I’ve got your heart though / Bet you miss dancing like that.” Notably, these recurrent lyrics find Jarman ascending into his powerful upper register. He’s more dynamic as he recollects the past. “Time to leave the past / In the past.” Truer words have never been spoken. Dan sings more cool, calm, and collected in the verses. He sounds breezy – ‘cool like summer’ – never breaking a sweat. He sings tuneful melodies with ease, confessing the end of their romance. “My obsession with you / Is slowly dying,” he admits. Oh, snap! Later, he provides perfect evidence of their incompatibility beyond the past:

“It’s meant to be, meant to be

What, like Jekyll and Hyde?

You and me, you and me

Scorpio, Gemini

Can’t you see, can’t you see

It’s time for new storylines.”

Out with the old, in with the new… boy ♂ 🤭! “Boys hurting boys” is sweet – the song, not the practice of breaking up! Delightful, this pop joint benefits from warm production, set in a major key, strong songwriting, and a sublime vocal performance by Dan Jarman. Breakups aren’t advocated unnecessarily but sound enticing with “Boys hurting boys” as the model 😜!

Appears in 🔻:

Dan Jarman, boys hurting boys: Beaming with Pride 🏳️‍🌈 38 (2024)

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2. Lizzo, “Truth Hurts”

Cuz I Love You [Deluxe] // Nice Life / Atlantic // 2019

“I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch / Even when I’m crying crazy…” Sigh, Lizzo kicked some serious ass throughout 2019, PERIOD. Her album, Cuz I Love You, was filled with hits, though none bigger than Grammy-winning gem, “Truth Hurts,” which only appears on deluxe editions of the album. “Truth Hurts” materialized years earlier, but didn’t make its impact until 2019, earning the no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. What makes “Truth Hurts” the certified bop that it is? It’s a combination of a feisty attitude (“Why’re men great ‘til they gotta be great?”), robust sung vocals, relatable songwriting (“You’re ‘posed to hold me down, but you’re holding me back”), and slick production work (Ricky Reed). Lizzo tells this loser the truth, even though it hurts, and she’s kicked his ass to the curb. Perhaps what makes this among the best songs of 2019 is the hilarity of the record, further accentuated by the music video, not to mention the BET Awards performance where Lizzo broke out the flute… Epic.

“I put the sing in single

Ain’t worried ‘bout a ring on my finger

So, you can tell your friend, ‘Shoot your shot’ when you see ‘em

It’s okay, he already in my DMs.”

Appears in 🔻:

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3. David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”

“Baby Don’t Hurt Me” // Warner Music UK Limited // 2023

Question: “What is love?” That is a deep, deep question. Back in 1993, Haddaway had an incredible song about it: “What Is Love”. Well, 30 years after the Haddaway classic, David Guetta, Anne-Marie, and Coi Leray sample it on their collaborative single, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”. Anne-Marie (singing) and Coi Leray (rapping) handle the vocal duties on this dance-pop cut. Meanwhile, Guetta, alongside Toby Green, and Mike Hawkins handles the production. The backdrop is slick as you’d expect, with the beat and rhythmic synths thriving. Even though “What is Love” fuels the chorus of the song (performed by Anne-Marie), there are also original lyrics. Anne-Marie performs the first verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and during the drop. The love – well, mostly the sex – is lit. The love is sus – a bit sketchy – judging by the lyrics. Coi Leray takes a similar approach, focusing on the sexual endeavors, asserting, “On my body, he givin’ me kisses / I’m wet when I’m with him, I pop it like Adderall.” Day-um, girl! Both ladies make their modus operandi crystal clear, propelled by an ear-catching backdrop. All in all, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” is an enjoyable dance/pop joint. Is it the second coming? No, but it doesn’t need to be either. Guetta remains a great producer. The decision to sample Haddaway was a smart one. Anne-Marie does her thing, while Coi Leray takes it even more risqué. Won’t change lives but should give a playlist – particularly the sex playlist – a spark.

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4. Reneé Rapp, “Tummy Hurts”

Snow Angel // Interscope // 2023

“Maybe I should try religion / ‘Cause, Jesus, you’re hard to rely on.” Reneé Rapp doesn’t mince her words on “Tummy Hurts.” She continues singing in the first verse, “I’d never find you in the kitchen / You couldn’t even pay rent for three months.” Ooh-wee! “Tummy Hurts” is the 9^th track from her 2023 LP, Snow Angel.

Rapp penned “Tummy Hurts” alongside Delacey and producer Alexander 23. Alexander 23 assembles a winning instrumental for Rapp to paint upon. She sings beautifully and authentically in this ballad of utter regret. In the second verse, she feels unappreciated by him: “I just want some recognition / For having good tits and a big heart.” In the chorus, the bellyache arrives:

“Now my tummy hurts, he’s in love with her

But for what it’s worth, they’d make beautiful babies

And raise ‘em up to be a couple of

Fucking monsters, like their mother and their father

Eventually, 2043

Someone’s gonna hurt their little girl like their daddy hurt me.”

Oh, snap! Notably, the deluxe edition of her album features a remix of the song featuring Grammy-winner Coco Jones.

Appears in 🔻:

13 Sickening BELLY Songs (2024)

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5. Del Water Gap, “Hurting Kind”

Del Water Gap // Del Water Gap / Mom+Pop // 2021

“Is our love the hurting kind?” That is a great question, Del Water Gap (S. Holden Jaffe). The indie-pop musician continues singing in the first verse of “Hurting Kind,” “I fear to say it is, but I’m just guessing.” Word. A fabulous singer and songwriter, Jaffe shines on the fourth track from his 2021 self-titled album. He penned and produced “Hurting Kind” alongside Gabe Goodman, and Mike Adubato. Some of the instrumental highlights include distorted guitar, programming, synths, and the drum groove. Jaffe sings expressively bringing the tuneful melodies and poetic, reflective lyrics to life. His best moment arrives in the chorus, particularly the end:

“‘Til it kills us, we can live a lie

If we ignore it, we can be fine

If we learn our love is the hurting kind

I’ll let it devour me.”

A relatable, universal sentiment, Del Water Gap. Love makes us all do crazy things, ‘hurting kind’ or not.

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6. Jazmine Sullivan, “Hurt Me So Good”

Heaux Tales Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe // RCA // 2022

On “Jazzy’s Tale,” from Heaux Tales Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe, Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Jazmine Sullivan finally tells her story. Here, she’s extremely vulnerable, speaking about “Growing up a brown-skinned girl, a fat girl / Essentially growing up feeling undesirable.” She goes on to describe earning validation via a relationship, but things went south, teaching her another lesson: “It’s a sad, scary, and vulnerable place when you need to feel love so much that you’re willing to accept anything.” “Jazzy’s Tale” superbly prefaces the hurt song at hand, standout, “Hurt Me So Good.” On the soulful record, Sullivan is complacent because she feels she must be. “I leave you when you’re wrong, but don’t stay away for long,” she asserts in the first verse, continuing, “You make it so hard in making this house a home.” Later, she asks, “So why the hell I can’t leave you?” It’s a question that so many women ask themselves, subjecting themselves to unnecessary pain just to feel love. I have no doubt many women, and perhaps, some men, will relate to this one.

Appears in 🔻:

Hurt: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 26 (2023)

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7. The Gap Band, “Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)”

The Gap Band III // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1980

“I never, ever had a lover / Who put the pedal to the metal / And burn rubber on me, Charlie / Oh, no, no, no!” Simply put, there are some songs you simply CAN’T resist. “Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” from The Gap Band – Charlie Wilson, Ronnie Wilson, and Robert Wilson – is one such song. It appears as the third track from the collective’s 1980 album, The Gap Band III. Led by Charlie (the sole surviving member), The Gap Band were noted for their funkiness. After revving the motorcycle up on the intro, the listener is treated to one of the funkiest grooves of all time. There is no way your body won’t move while partaking in this rubber burning! In addition to the groove, the synths are electrifying, while the rhythmic identity of this joint is one of its biggest selling points.

“You took my money, you took my time / Made me think everything was fine / Then you upped and ran away / And made me just go crazy.” NOT nice, girl! It’s not only the instruments that make “Burn Rubber On Me” a celestially funky experience. The entertaining lyrics, as well as the soulful, nuanced lead vocals by the man who delivers them, Charlie Wilson, are a vibe on their own! The robustness of his instrument is awe-inspiring – the man is a beast 💪! “Just because you’re not for real / Why you wanna hurt me, girl?” YEAH! This girl has it out for him, judging by all the stuff she does to him 😬. Tuneful melodies, ample personality, and the irresistibly, infectious chorus make “Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” one of the true gems of the 1980s. It deserved a better showing than its no. 84 peak on the Billboard Hot 100, sigh.

Appears in 🔻:

Hurt: 3 to 5 BOPS No. 26 (2023)

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8. Teddy Pendergrass, “It Don’t Hurt Now”

Life Is a Song Worth Singing // Sony Music Entertainment // 1978

“I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat / I’d just sit at home, and I’d weep.” Sigh, the late, great Teddy Pendergrass (1950 – 2010) was “down bad” on “It Don’t Hurt Now”. “It Don’t Hurt Now” is the sixth track from Life Is a Song Worth Singing, one of four platinum-certified albums by the late, great soul musician. The good news for Teddy, we learn as the track progresses, is “But now all that has changed / I’ve found someone to ease my pain.” Good news! “It Don’t Hurt Now” was written by Sherman Marshall and Ted Wortham. Marshall also produced this highlight from the Teddy Pendergrass catalog.

Throughout “It Don’t Hurt Now,” Pendergrass delivers robust, soulful vocals. He gives his all as he recalls the heartbreak and pain he experienced. “It used to be every night / I would cry my heart out over you,” he sings in the first verse. In the second, he adds, “It used to be every time / I would hear a sad song, I would die.” Bummer! But, as previously stated, he reveals the pain is gone. As tuneful as the melodies are in the verses and pre-chorus, the chorus is where Pendergrass’ bread is buttered. Of course, this is also where he shares:

“And it don’t hurt now (No, not now)

Baby it don’t hurt now (No, not now)

Well, there’s no more sleepless nights

No more heartaches, no more fights

And it don’t hurt now, not now.”

Besides dynamic vocals and relatable songwriting, “It Don’t Hurt Now” benefits from exquisite production. This is a Philly soul record through and through. It features lush orchestration with the horns and strings, alongside the rhythm section, as well as smooth, celestial background vocals supporting Pendergrass’ marvelous lead. “It Don’t Hurt Now” is one of Teddy’s best. It wasn’t a pop hit, but that doesn’t diminish its excellence.

Appears in 🔻: 

Teddy Pendergrass, It Don’t Hurt Now: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 115 (2024)

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9. Cigarettes After Sex, “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby”

I. (EP) // Cigarettes After Sex // 2012 

“Whispered something in your ear / It was a perverted thing to say.” Perverted, huh? Greg Gonzalez, the front man of dream/ ambient pop Cigarettes After Sex continues, “But I said it anyway / Made you smile and look away.”  While saying something perverted could be a potential problem, in the case of “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby”,  the vibe is these are two people who like/love one another.  On this highlight from I. (EP) released in 2012, Gonzalez makes it clear he won’t do anything to hurt her; he’ll protect her at all costs!  

“Nothing’s gonna hurt you baby 

As long as you’re with me you’ll be just fine 

Nothing’s gonna hurt you baby 

Nothing’s gonna take you from my side.” 

Considering its status as ambient, dream pop, “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You” has a calming, chill, and smooth vibe. Gonzalez sings with ease, never forcing things. This approach amplifies the sexiness as well as the pureness of this romance. In the second verse, things end freakily – “always ends in a hazy shower scene.” But there are also lighter moments, such as listening “To that silly 90’s R&B” and simply “laughing in the microphone and singing / With our sunglasses on to our favorite songs.”  Ah, to be in love!  Cigarettes After Sex deliver the perfect romantic and sexy song with “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby”.  There’s a hint of risqué but Gonzalez and company don’t cross the lines… too much. Perhaps characterizing it as classy is an overstatement, but there’s lots to like about this decade-old-plus gem.  

Appears in 🔻: 

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10. P!nk, “Hurts 2B Human” (Ft. Khalid)

Hurts 2B Human // RCA // 2019

“God, it hurts to be human / Without you, I’d be losing / And someday, we’ll face the music / God, it hurts to be human.” P!nk excels at her craft – NO CAP! Even so, her 2019 album, Hurts 2B Human flew under the radar. Regardless, the LP provided welcome additions to the Grammy winner’s illustrious catalog. One such addition is the title track, “Hurts 2B Human,” where she is assisted by Grammy-nominated R&B artist, Khalid. After singing the first verse by herself, Khalid arrives on the second, providing a stunning contrast. Vocal chemistry is a strong suit when the artists join forces in the chorus section. Also, worth noting, they trade lines during the bridge, before rejoining on the lyrics, “Maybe then you’d understand / How it hurts to be human, oh.” In addition to P!nk and Khalid, “Hurts 2B Human” was written by Eskeerdo, Scott Harris, Uffie, and Teddy Geiger while Jorgen Odegard handles the production.

Appears in 🔻:

13 Marvelous Human Songs (2021)

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11. John Mellencamp, “Hurts So Good”

American Fool // John Mellencamp / The Island Def Jam Music Group //1982

“When I was a young boy / Said put away those young boy ways / Now that I’m getting older, so much older / I long for those young boy days.” Oh, the nostalgia! John Mellencamp is rightfully considered to be one of the rock greats 🤘. He truly shined on his Grammy-winning rock classic, “Hurts So Good”, from his 1982 album, American Fool. Notably, “Hurts So Good” is the only Grammy that Mellencamp has ever won 🤯! Also, worth noting, it peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Hurts So Good” features an electrifying rock groove. The instrumental backdrop is marvelous, including the guitar riffs, which are a major selling point. The music serves up no shortage of exuberance or spirit. Likewise, Mellencamp serves up plenty of exuberance, spirit, and personality. His vocals are expressive, nuanced, and playful; he possesses a one-of-a-kind instrument. The best moment of “Hurts So Good,” unsurprisingly, is the tuneful, memorable chorus: “Hurts so good / Come on, baby, make it hurt so good / Sometimes love don’t feel like it should / You make it hurt so good.” The songwriting is just one of many reasons why “Hurts So Good” is a surefire classic – one of Mellencamp’s best!

Appears in 🔻:

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12. Alicia Keys, “Every Little Bit Hurts”

Unplugged // Sony Music Entertainment // 2005

Not every musical artist could release a successful unplugged album. By successful, I am referring to Unplugged, the 2005, Grammy-nominated, unplugged R&B album by Grammy winner, 🎙 Alicia Keys. The album debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, eventually earning platinum certification from the RIAA. Unplugged features originals and covers with one of the best covers being “Every Little Bit Hurts”. In Keys’ hands, “Every Little Bit Hurts” is introduced to a brand-new audience. Likely, unless you are extremely well-versed in early Motown, or younger, you may be unfamiliar with the original by Brenda Holloway. Keys retains the sanctity of the original, with modern recording technology playing a sizable role, as well as adding her pizazz. She’s commanding from the onset, infusing additional soulfulness towards the end –digging in and going for it! This is one way she truly distinguishes herself from the original. Also making this cover utterly brilliant is a magnificent recreation of the original orchestration and stellar production work. Does Keys try to usurp the original? No, she just strives to add her artistry to this epic classic soul gem. She does just that exceptionally.

Appears in 🔻:

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13. The Manhattans, “Hurt”

The Manhattans // Sony Music Entertainment // 1976

“Even though you’ve taken your love from me / Baby, I want you back…” WOO! When it comes to The Manhattans, the eponymous 1976 album by Grammy-winning R&B collective, The Manhattans, the song that, rightfully, receives the most attention is “Kiss and Say Goodbye”. “Kiss and Say Goodbye” was the sole no. 1 hit of The Manhattans’ career and the first of two top-10 hits. However, their gold-certified album has another fantastic single, “Hurt”, that received far less fanfare. “Hurt,” sadly, was NOT a pop ‘hit’ for the group, spending just two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at a modest no. 97. The single did perform better on the R&B songs chart, peaking at no. 10. Despite a lack of commercial success, “Hurt” marks one of many stellar songs from the New Jersey collective’s collection.

So, what makes the “Hurt” feel, rather, sound, so good? It’s the lush, warm sounds of 1970s Philly soul, baby! Bobby Martin produces this cover. Yes, you read right; “Hurt” is a cover. Written by Al Jacobs and Jimmie Crane, Roy Hamilton was the first to release it, back in 1954 🤯. Even so, the HIT version of “Hurt” arrived courtesy of Timi Yuro in 1961 – 15 years before The Manhattans version. While Gerald Alston and company aren’t credited with the definitive take, this soul-driven rendition is gorgeous. It’s the expressive lead vocals, coupled with rich vocal harmonies that help make it special. Of course, lyrics about a love lost that you desire back, as well as the promise, “I’ll never hurt you,” goes a long way to make a successful song too. Simply put on “Hurt”, Alston asserts, “Like no-one else could do / I would never, never hurt you.” PERIOD!

Appears in 🔻:

The Manhattans, Hurt: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 151 (2023)

~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~

13 Songs Filled with HURT (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, Cigarettes After Sex, Dan Jarman, Del Water Gap, Interscope, John Mellencamp, Mom+Pop, Nice Life, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, The Island Def Jam Music Group, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Music UK Limited; Anh Nguyen, Azra Tuba Demir, Ron Lach from Pexels]

13 Songs Filled with HURT | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on August 9, 2024August 9, 2024