# Strange Attraction

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1996 single by The Cure

"Strange Attraction" Single by The Cure from the album Wild Mood Swings Released 8 October 1996 Recorded 1995 Genre Synth pop[1] Length 4:20 Label Elektra Composers Perry Bamonte, Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, and Jason Cooper Lyricist Robert Smith Producers Robert Smith Steve Lyon The Cure singles chronology "Mint Car" (1996) "Strange Attraction" (1996) "Gone!" (1996)

"**Strange Attraction**" is the third single released by the English rock band [the Cure](/source/The_Cure) on their tenth studio album *[Wild Mood Swings](/source/Wild_Mood_Swings)* (1996). It was only released on [Elektra Records](/source/Elektra_Records) as a single in the United States and Australia on 8 October 1996.[2]

## History

No music video was filmed to promote the single, believed to be because Robert Smith felt the last video for a single release exclusively in the US, "[Fascination Street](/source/Fascination_Street)", was not what the band were aiming for.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Because of that "Strange Attraction" remains the only The Cure single (not counting original mix of "Boys Don't Cry") without a music video. Every other single made by the band has received a music video.

## Reception

Chris Gerard of [Metro Weekly](/source/Metro_Weekly) dismissed the song as "one of the band’s weaker attempts at a pop hit",[3] Aidin Vaziri of *[Houston Chronicle](/source/Houston_Chronicle)* called it "light [synthesizer pop](/source/Synth-pop)"[4]*[Trouser Press](/source/Trouser_Press)* called the song "a disappointing romance with a letter-writing fan — stands out for sharing subtle and credible emotions in a most attractive setting."[5]

## Track listing

1. "Strange Attraction [Adrian Sherwood Album Mix]"

1. "The 13th" [Feels Good Mix]

1. "This is a Lie" [Ambient Mix]

1. "Gone!" [Critter Mix]

1. "Strange Attraction" [Strange Mix]

## Personnel

**The Cure**

- [Robert Smith](/source/Robert_Smith_(musician)) – vocals, guitar

- [Simon Gallup](/source/Simon_Gallup) – bass

- [Perry Bamonte](/source/Perry_Bamonte) – keyboards

- [Roger O'Donnell](/source/Roger_O'Donnell) – keyboards

- [Jason Cooper](/source/Jason_Cooper_(musician)) – drums

**Technical**

- Steve Lyon – production, [engineering](/source/Audio_engineering)

- Robert Smith – production

- [Adrian Maxwell Sherwood](/source/Adrian_Sherwood) – mixing

- Ian Cooper – [mastering](/source/Audio_mastering)

## Charts

Chart (1996) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[6] 145

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Vaziri, Aidin (5 May 1996). ["The Cure Keeps Its Edge"](http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/The-Cure-Keeps-Its-Edge-2983730.php). *[Houston Chronicle](/source/Houston_Chronicle)*. Retrieved 20 September 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Cure, "Strange Attraction", Master Release"](http://www.discogs.com/Cure-Strange-Attraction/master/32079). Retrieved 3 January 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Gerard, Chris (16 October 2013). ["The Cure's "Wild Mood Swings" revisited"](https://www.metroweekly.com/2013/10/the-cures-wild-mood-swings-rev/). *Metro Weekly*. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Vaziri, Aidin (5 May 1996). ["The Cure Keeps Its Edge"](http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/The-Cure-Keeps-Its-Edge-2983730.php). *[Houston Chronicle](/source/Houston_Chronicle)*. Retrieved 20 September 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Cure"](https://trouserpress.com/reviews/cure/). *Trouser Press*. Retrieved 18 April 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 September 2016"](http://i.imgur.com/11R0bwv.gif). Imgur.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.

v t e The Cure Robert Smith Simon Gallup Roger O'Donnell Jason Cooper Reeves Gabrels Andy Anderson Perry Bamonte Michael Dempsey Matthieu Hartley Pearl Thompson Phil Thornalley Lol Tolhurst Boris Williams Studio albums Three Imaginary Boys Seventeen Seconds Faith Pornography The Top The Head on the Door Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me Disintegration Wish Wild Mood Swings Bloodflowers The Cure 4:13 Dream Songs of a Lost World Live albums Concert: The Cure Live Entreat Show Paris Bestival Live 2011 Compilations Boys Don't Cry Japanese Whispers Standing on a Beach/Staring at the Sea Galore Greatest Hits Join the Dots Remix albums Mixed Up Torn Down Mixes of a Lost World Extended plays The Peel Sessions Festival 2005 Hypnagogic States EP Video releases The Cure in Orange Trilogy Festival 2005 Tours The Cure: 'Reflections' Shows of a Lost World Related articles Discography Songs Band members Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure Babacar COGASM Fools Dance The Glove Levinhurst The Magazine Spies Presence Shelleyan Orphan Siouxsie and the Banshees Nocturne Hyæna Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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