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"You Don't Know"
Single by Cyndi Lauper
from the album Sisters of Avalon
B-side	"Mother" (Extended Mix)
Released	October 2, 1996 (Japan) January 20, 1997 (U.K.) April 15, 1997 (U.S.)
Recorded	1996
Length	5:14
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Cyndi Lauper Jan Pulsford
Producer(s)	Cyndi Lauper Jan Pulsford Mark Saunders
Cyndi Lauper singles chronology
"Come On Home" (1995) "You Don't Know" (1996) "Sisters of Avalon" (1997)
Music video
"You Don't Know" on YouTube

"You Don't Know" is a song by American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, released by Epic as the first single from Lauper's fifth album, Sisters of Avalon (1997). Remixes of the song were made by several producers such as Tony Moran and Junior Vasquez. It peaked at number 27 in the UK, while peaking at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The song contains the word "bullshit" and was not edited out of the UK singles as is typical. While performing on several UK shows, such as Noel's House Party, she skipped the word. The music video for the song was directed by Lauper.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Lauper unveils her new Sisters Of Avalon collection, offering a tune that is far more biting and intelligent than fluffy past hits like "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and "She Bop". If programmers can move beyond the singer's old cartoonish image, they will discover an artist and music worthy of placement alongside the likes of Alanis Morissette." He added further, "The original version of "You Don't Know" unfolds with a jittery funk beat and jangly guitars that deserve a listen at modern rock radio. Redrafted by Tony Moran, the song becomes an anthemic disco revelation that popsters will love. Add the underground club perspective of remixers Prince Quick Mix and Junior Vasquez, and you have a single that aims to hit every possible mark. The next step is for people to listen."

Kevin Courtney from Irish Times said, "The unusual girl is back at last, and that Hazel O'Connor-on-helium voice still has that girlie edge, but as the song builds in intensity, she sounds in danger of totally eclipsing Bonnie Tyler in the overkill department, and when she prances around in her new video, she looks like she's stuck in a jerky 1980s movement. A pleasant, nondescript attempt at resurgence from a lady out of time." Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian commented, "And who else could endow the word 'bullshit' with such fervour while denouncing US politics on "You Don't Know"?" A reviewer from Music Week gave it four out of five, noting that "Lauper's trademark vocal performance is more restrained for this nicely produced, acoustic-style pop song. A certain airplay hit, expect massive sales success, too."

Music video

The accompanying music video for the song was recorded in Washington Square, New York City in the beginning of September 1996. Lauper directed it herself. The little Japanese boy who closes the video is called Grayson. The 6-year-old boy was hand-picked by Lauper.

Track listing

• US CD single

1. "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) – 4:06
2. "You Don't Know" (TM's Single Remix) – 4:23
3. "That's What I Think" – 4:38

• US CD maxi-single

1. "You Don't Know" (Single Mix) - 4:06
2. "You Don't Know" (TM's Single Remix) - 4:23
3. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) - 3:34
4. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know It All Mix) - 10:06
5. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) - 7:51

• Japanese CD single

1. "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) – 3:59
2. "You Don't Know" (Album Version) – 5:14
3. "Mother" (Extended Version) – 6:11

• European CD single

1. "You Don't Know" (Album Version) - 5:14
2. "Mother" (Extended Mix) - 6:12

• UK CD single (The Junior Vasquez Mixes) / European CD maxi-single

1. "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) – 4:06
2. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) – 7:45
3. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Dub) – 6:45
4. "Mother" (Extended Mix) – 6:12

• UK Limited Edition CD single

1. "You Don't Know" (Album Version) - 5:13
2. "Time After Time" - 3:58
3. "True Colors" - 3:46
4. "I Drove All Night" - 4:11

• Australian CD single

1. "You Don't Know" (Radio Edit) - 4:06
2. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) - 7:51
3. "You Don't Know" (Tribal Beats) - 4:33
4. "Mother" (Extended Mix) - 6:12

• US 12"

A1. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know It All Mix) - 10:00

A2. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know You're in the Hole Dub) - 5:30

B1. "You Don't Know" (Prince Quick Mix's Amped Up Pass) - 6:35

B2. "You Don't Know" (Junior's Riff Dub) - 6:09

• European 12"

A1. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix Edit) - 3:44

A2. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Remix) - 7:51

A3. "You Don't Know" (Junior Vasquez Dub) - 6:46

B1. "You Don't Know" (Album Version) - 5:14

B2. "You Don't Know" (TM's Single Remix) - 4:23

B3. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know It All Mix) - 10:06

B4. "You Don't Know" (TM's Know You're in the Hole Dub) - 5:33

Official versions

1. Junior Vasquez Dub – 6:45
2. Junior Vasquez Remix Edit – 3:34
3. Junior's Riff Dub – 6:09
4. Prince Quick Mix's Amped Up Pass – 6:35
5. Radio edit – 3:59
6. Tony Moran's Know It All Mix – 10:00
7. Tony Moran's Know You're in the Hole Dub – 5:30
8. Tony Moran's Single Remix – 4:23
9. Tribal Beats – 4:33

Charts

References

1. "Cyndi Lauper – You Don't Know (1996, CD)". Discogs. 1996-10-02.
2. Flick, Larry (1997-03-22). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
3. Courtney, Kevin (1997-02-07). "Single File". Irish Times.
4. Sullivan, Caroline (1997-02-14). "Music: This week's pop CD releases". The Guardian.
5. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1997-01-11. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
6. "Response from ARIA re: chart in inquiry, received 3 March 2017". Imgur.com. Retrieved 2017-04-09.
7. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 26 January 1997 - 01 February 1997". Official Charts Company.
8. "Cyndi Lauper | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
9. "Billboard". 1997-05-10.
10. "Cyndi Lauper - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.
11. "Cyndi Lauper | Awards". AllMusic.
12. "National Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 6. February 8, 1997. p. 31. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
13. "European Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 9. March 31, 1990. p. 21. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
14. "National Airplay" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 10. March 8, 1997. p. 31. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

• Cyndi Lauper songs
• 1997 singles
• Songs written by Cyndi Lauper
• Songs written by Jan Pulsford
• 1996 songs
• Epic Records singles
• Pop ballads