When Bananarama were still struggling to make money in their early years, they even performed the song at a beauty contest in Hawaii.
It has appeared in several television commercials, and was covered by other acts, such as Ace of Base, who had an international hit with it (their version reached gold in the US).
"Cruel Summer '89" was released in 1989, and given a new jack swing makeover, featuring Dallin and Woodward's vocals as a duo for the first time.
The music video was directed by Brian Simmons, and shot primarily in the Dumbo section of New York City's Brooklyn borough in mid-1983.
"[11] After an exhausting morning shooting in the city in brutal August heat, the band returned to the tavern for lunch.
In the video, Bananarama members are depicted as working at a Texaco gas station and are picked up by a man driving a Mack truck.
A different "dancier" version of the song (known as the Big Bonus mix on the album), produced by Stephen Hague, Jonas "Joker" Berggren, Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg, and Johnny Jam & Delgado, was released on mainland Europe.
In the United Kingdom, the song reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, matching the peak of the original Bananarama version.
Quentin Harrison of Albumism described the song as an "engaging cover" in his retrospective review of Flowers, and added that "one variant is closer to the originating take, albeit with a spike of hip-hop flavor for a bit of modish spunk", while "the second rendition is a surprisingly danceable, Spanish flecked trip.
[34] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "the act that gave the such ABBA-esque ditties as "All That She Wants" and "The Sign" turns its attention toward Bananarama, faithfully covering one of that group's bigger '80s-era hits.
Producers Cutfather & Joe bring a few new rhythm ideas to the table dropping the tempo to a jeep-inspired funk beat and injecting an ear-tickling keyboard twist or two.
"[35] Kelly Pickerel from Daily Kent Stater said she liked this remake better than Bananarama's original, noting that "it’s also one of those songs you can never get out of your head as soon as you hear it".
[37] A reviewer from Entertainment Weekly commented that "it's clear what Ace of Base Svengali Jonas Berggren is aiming for — the iridescent sonic symmetry of Swedish forebears ABBA.
[40] Gary Shipes from The Stuart News wrote in his review, that "the bubble-gum juvenilia of the original is replaced with updated hardware and a contemporary dance arrangement that launches the arc the rest of the CD will follow.
At once melancoholic and jovial, the band's driving rhythmic force leaves no option but to fill dance floors on a dime.
[42] Additionally, it climbed into the top 20 in Scotland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where "Cruel Summer" reached its highest position as number 16.