Tainted Love by Soft Cell is a Cover Song
“Tainted Love” was originally performed by Gloria Jones in 1964. Jones’ version of the song was the B-side of another song and was not a commercial success.
Soft Cell’s version of “Tainted Love” was released in 1981 and became an instant hit. The Soft Cell duo of Marc Almond and David Ball took the song in a new direction by incorporating electronic instruments and a slower, more melancholic tempo. Almond’s vocals are haunting and emotional and their version of “Tainted Love” became an anthem for anyone who ever felt trapped in a toxic relationship. Soft Cell’s cover of “Tainted Love” spent 43 weeks in the charts and became one of the top-selling singles of the year.
Here's the original song by Gloria Jones:
Here's the cover song version by Soft Cell:
<< Here's a live performance by Gloria Jones
Other artists have since covered Tainted Love, ranging from Marilyn Manson to Rihanna. We’ve included more covers below. Listen to them all and let us know which you like best.
Also, if there’s a good cover version that we should add, tell us! Leave us a comment in the comment section with the name of the artist and a link to their performance.
Thomas Law
An underground remix style from Impedance
Which is your favorite? Is there another cover song that we should add? Let us know in the comments.