| Let's Go to Bed | |
| Cover: | Letsgotobed_cov.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The Cure |
| B-Side: | Just One Kiss |
| Released: | 23 November 1982[1] |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 3:33 |
| Label: | Fiction |
| Producer: | Chris Parry |
| Prev Title: | The Hanging Garden |
| Prev Year: | 1982 |
| Next Title: | The Walk |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
"Let's Go to Bed" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as a stand-alone single by Fiction Records in November 1982. In the aftermath of the dark Pornography, Robert Smith returned from a month-long detox in the Lake District to write the song, the antithesis to what the Cure currently represented. It was later included on the album Japanese Whispers, which compiles the band's three singles from 1982 to 1983 and their five B-sides.
The single was only a minor success in the UK, peaking at No. 44,[2] but became a Top 20 hit in Australia in 1983, reaching No. 15 in Australia (for two weeks)[3] and No. 17 in New Zealand.[4]
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Robert Smith discussed the initial reaction when playing the song to Fiction Records: However, the song became a success much to Smith’s surprise.
On 15 March 1983, the song was the first broadcast for the pioneering Boston-based alternative rock radio station WFNX. When WFNX was sold and ceased broadcasting on 20 July 2012, "Let's Go to Bed" was selected as the station's final broadcast.[5]
Chris True of AllMusic described the song as "antic, herky-jerky new wave pop",[6] while also observing it as 'poppier than former singles, but still maintains a dark edge. The moody atmospherics and percussive elements of the Cure of old are traded in for offbeat melodies and quirky dance beats." He also said "The song has an almost childlike approach". further stating that the "production feels like kids are trying out new toys."
Pitchfork called it "bratty, funky synthpop".[7] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it 19 on their list "100 Best Songs of 1982".[8]
The song's music video was the band's first collaboration with Tim Pope,[9] who would go on to direct several more videos for the group. The video features members Robert Smith and Lol Tolhurst, who at that point were the only members of the Cure – the only instance in the band's history where the band officially had a two-person lineup.[10] Pope's video treatment displayed the band's more whimsical side, something absent from the band's early work. In his book, Tolhurst also recalls that he was dancing naked behind the screen as a shadowy silhouette.[11] He also says that the music videos soon helped the band's fortunes: "As we soon found out, some heavy rotation on MTV, together with our rigorous touring, would start to accelerate the rise of the band."
7-inch vinyl
12-inch vinyl
US 7-inch vinyl
US 12-inch vinyl
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 15 | |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 17 | |
| United Kingdom (OCC) | 44 | |
| US Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80[12] | 32 |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] | 94 |
|---|
