Cruel To Care (Voice Memo)

"**Cruel To Care (Voice Memo)**," also referred to as simply "Cruel To Care," is a song by Swedish pop singer LÉON from her self-titled debut album, *LÉON* (2019). It was released alongside the album on 1 March 2019 under LÉON Recordings.

## Background & composition

"Cruel To Care" was written entirely by LÉON. There are no production credits for the track due to the final version being an iPhone recording of LÉON singing the song while playing the guitar. LÉON said it was nice to include a song so stripped back on the album.

It was written during a morning when LÉON had been hungover and "feeling sorry" for herself: "I just had no voice kind of, and I was like having a bunch of hungover anxiety. I tend to get a lot of that. I was just like sitting in my bed and then I played a bit on the guitar. [...] I ended up singing something and put words on it."

She brought the original recording to her producer with the intention of working on it, but decided last minute to keep it as a voice memo, stating it to be more personal that way. She explained her decision in an interview with Schön!: "I tried to picture how it would sound if it was produced, but I didn’t really like the idea of putting a bunch of things on top of it. It felt special the way it was and I didn’t want to mess with the feeling of it."

"Cruel To Care" is one of LÉON's favorites on the album.

## Release

During the week leading up to the release of *LÉON*, LÉON posted a snippet of her singing the song with a caption explaining some of the song's background.

"Cruel To Care" was officially released on 1 March 2019 alongside the rest of the album.

## Lyrics

**[Intro]**

I gave you up, I let you go

**[Verse 1]**

I gave you up, I let you go

I've been thinking twice

Thought you should know

I gave you all I had 'til I was broke

But new lovers, new lives start feeling old

**[Pre-Chorus]**

I know it is typical

I was change, changing my mind

I know, in effect, I called to see if she's around

**[Chorus]**

But am I wrong to want you?

Am I cruel to care?

For a moment, I could hold you

I could take you there

I've been looking for whatever remedy

But jealousy is getting the best of me

So am I wrong to want you?

Am I cruel to care?

Am I cruel to care? Mmh

**[Verse 2]**

Now she's sleeping in your bed

Same pillow where I would rest my head

And talk you through the night, your dream, and making plans

If she's the one, I won't stand in your way, your way

**[Pre-Chorus]**

And I know it's so typical

I was change, changing my mind

I know, in effect, I called to see if she's around

**[Chorus]**

But am I wrong to want you?

Am I cruel to care?

For a moment, I could hold you

I could take you there

I've been looking for whatever remedy

But jealousy's getting the best of me

So am I wrong to want you?

Am I cruel to care?

Now am I cruel to care?

Oh, cruel to care

**[Non-lyrical vocal outro]**

## Videos

### Official videos

LÉON - Cruel To Care (Audio)Official audio
### Live performances

Main article: Live Performances
LÉON — Cruel To Care (Clip)Instagram clip (Feb. 24, 2019)
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Nied, Mike. “LÉON Talks Colorful Debut Album, ‘Want You Back,’ and More: Interview.” *Idolator*, 5 Mar. 2019, www.idolator.com/7714495/leon-interview-album-touring.
2. ↑ Bjella, Braden. “Interview | Léon.” *Schön! Magazine*, 19 Apr. 2019, schonmagazine.com/interview-leon.
3. ↑ Phillips, Aimee. “LÉON.” *EUPHORIA.*, 8 Oct. 2019, www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2019/10/interviews-leon-interview.