The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” is one of the defining songs of early-1980s synth-pop, a dramatic, catchy and wonderfully theatrical single that helped bring electronic music into the mainstream. Released in 1981 as the final single from the album Dare, it became a massive international hit and established The Human League as one of the era’s most important new wave acts.

Written by Philip Oakey, Jo Callis, and Philip Adrian Wright, the song is built around synthesizers, electronic percussion, and a deliberately cool production style. What really sets it apart, though, is the vocal interplay between Oakey and Joanne Catherall. Their contrasting voices create a conversational quality that makes the song feel almost like a miniature relationship drama unfolding over a dance beat.

The unusual structure was a major part of its appeal. Rather than presenting a straightforward love song, “Don’t You Want Me” tells its story from two conflicting perspectives. Oakey and Catherall don’t necessarily agree about what happened between them, giving the song a tension that makes repeated listens more interesting.

The production is unmistakably early-’80s, but it has aged remarkably well. The crisp synthesizers, electronic rhythm and instantly recognizable melody still sound energetic rather than dated.

“Don’t You Want Me” became a No. 1 hit in both the United States and United Kingdom and helped make Dare a landmark album of the synth-pop era. More than four decades later, its chorus remains instantly recognizable.

It is catchy, dramatic, slightly strange and incredibly memorable—the perfect combination for a pop classic.