Tainted Love was originally written by Ed Cobb and recorded by Gloria Jones in 1965. The song gained prominence and popularity with the Soft Cell cover version in 1981, becoming a global hit. This synth-driven rendition of Tainted Love fused elements of new wave and electronic pop music, discussing themes of love and disenchantment. The emotive vocal performance, complemented by minimalist electronic arrangements, made the song an emblem of the 8 ... See more [+] 0s.