Don't Talk to Strangers (Hedley song)

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"Don't Talk to Strangers"
Single by Hedley
from the album The Show Must Go
ReleasedOctober 27, 2009
Recorded2009
GenrePop rock
Length3:34
LabelUniversal Music Canada
Songwriters
ProducerHowes
Hedley singles chronology
"Cha-Ching"
(2009) 		"Don't Talk to Strangers"
(2009) 		"Perfect"
(2010)
Music video
"Don't Talk to Strangers" on YouTube

"Don't Talk to Strangers" is a song by Canadian pop rock band Hedley. It was released as the second single on October 27, 2009, from their third studio album, The Show Must Go. The song at number 11 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song received the SOCAN Music No. 1 Song Award in 2010.

Composition

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"Don't Talk to Strangers" was written by Hedley and Jason Van Poederooyen while production was handled by Brian Howes who also co-wrote the track.[1][2] The song is a rap-influenced track,[3] and features a more darker refrain.[4] Speaking about the song, Hoggard stated;

"That song may or may not have been inspired by a cougar experience. This was one of those videos where the plot unfolded as we delved into the lyrics. My favourite part is actually the bridge. It's kind of like Nine Inch Nails. It's just a really fun song."[5]

Music video

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The music video was released in November 2009 and was directed by Colin Minihan.[6] The premise of the video tells a story of why you shouldn't talk to strangers, as "they could kidnap you and torture you with jumper cables."[7] The video has the band being kept hostage by a psychotic but attractive middle-aged woman. She uses the band for entertainment and sexual pleasure, killing them and throwing them into the back of her trunk in the end.[8] Chart Attack compared the video to 1967 comedy drama film, The Graduate.[7]

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations for "Don't Talk to Strangers"
Year Organization Award Result Ref(s)
2010 SOCAN Music Awards SOCAN No. 1 Song Award Won [9]

Charts

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Release history

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Release history for "Don't Talk to Strangers"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Canada October 27, 2009 Contemporary hit radio Universal Music Canada [14]

References

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  1. ^ The Show Must Go (booklet). Hedley. Universal Music Canada. 2009.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Kerry Doole (August 1, 2010). "Howe's He Do it". SOCAN Magazine. Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  3. ^ "Hedley - Melodic Bio". Melodic. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Dana Krook. "What's Important To Hedley". Faze. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Trevor Morelli (March 19, 2010). "Hedley Are OK With Cougars". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Don't Talk To Strangers (2009) by Hedley". imvdb.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Hedley — "Don't Talk To Strangers"". Chart Attack. November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on August 22, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Don't Talk To Strangers - Making Of". YouTube. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Betty Nygaard King (May 21, 2015). "Hedley - The Canadian Encyclopedia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hedley Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  11. ^ "Hedley History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  12. ^ "Hedley Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  13. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: 2010 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  14. ^ @Hedleyonline (October 27, 2009). "To clarify only track u get instantly with the pre-order is 'Don't Talk To Strangers' - the bonus track and everything else come Nov. 17" (Tweet) – via Twitter.