I can't explain it enough how lucky I was being a teenager in the 80s watching music videos on MTV was a huge part of all of our lives. I feel sad for the younger generation that they never know the excitement and joy of going to a record store to buy music
I get what you mean, streaming has killed it for most but you still can. I take my daughter to record fairs and record shops quite often. I bought her a turntable for Xmas and we hunt vinyl together.
Every Tuesday I would spend my high school lunch break at the local record store to see what was released. I’d always buy a 45 or two with my lunch money.
"Is that a boy or a girl?" was the question on every astonished parents' lips, the first time Boy George appeared on TV. He was a wonderful phenomenon. This is a classic & brings me right back to 1983. Love it!!!
Hahahaha. I wasn't a teenager when this came out, in fact I had teenage children, but loved George, and his look. But then I've always been very open minded.
A couple of hick comedians did a silly song called" Where's The Dress" talking about if it made them as popular as Boy George they'd be willing to cross dress.
I must have been 7 or 8 years old the first time I saw this. I'm sure we were all watching Friday night Videos because we didn't have MTV yet. I remember being confused....but then my dad must have walked into the room because I heard his voice behind me say, "What the fuck is that?" So then I realized that he wasn't gonna be able to answer any questions I had. 😄
Boy George was about 40 years ahead of his time and never once (to my knowledge) backed down from being his authentic self. Really deserves a lot more credit for his vision, courage, and musical talent.
Boy George was and is very talented. His appearance was quite unusual in the '80s, when the preppy/yuppie look was popular, or the Asian-influenced edgy look. There was a lot of creativity in music at the time, breaking away from the progressive rock and disco sounds of the '70s. This was a very pop-style song, played a lot on the radio and in the bars where people went to dance. The '80s were a great time to be young!
There were a lot of funk and soul influences around, which spawned a pile of bassists in the pop, Nick Beggs, Mark King, John Taylor, George Anderson and others. Of course there was the more electronic dance sound as well with Kraftwerk and Donna Summer / Giorgio Moroder being the foundation.
I remember the first time I saw Culture Club. I saw them on MTV and remember thinking it was a girl with a deep voice. Living in rural Indiana I had never seen anyone male dress like that. Loved the music though this was my first exposure to this way of life for people
Boy George walked so many LGBTQ folks could fly! This was so outside the norm at the time and many people were so critical and all around terrible towards him. He was extremely brave to just be himself because most people were afraid at that time. There were real consequences to being anything other than hetero-normative: death, ostracized, fired, imprisoned, assault. The 80s were fun in many ways but it was not an accepting time for LGBTQ.
I interviewed Boy George for a magazine years ago. He came out in jeans and large jumper and he had a good layer of stubble on his chin. Not what I expected! Smashing guy to interview, I liked him.
"The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back."" - Boy George
Boy George (George O'Dowd is his real name) was a club kid of the late 1970s into the early 80s, and because of that became one of the most unapologetically unique pop stars of the 1980s. He was thoght to be gay in the 80s, but told people he was bi...but later came out definitely gay later. He is an amazing songwriter as well as a performer. In the late 1990s or early 2000s, he wrote a musical called 'Taboo' that was a hit in London, but kinda died here in the States during its Broadway run. He later has become a judge for 'The Voice' both in the UK and Australia. The other members of Culture Club were in the video as the gamblers at the table, and the ones who sang along during the choruses. They called themselves Culture Club because the breakdown was as follows: an androgynous gay Irish man on vocals (George), a black Englishman of Jamaican descent on bass guitar (Mikey Craig), a blonde Englishman on guitar and keyboards (Roy Hay), and a Jewish Englishman on drums (Jon Moss).
Boy George broke barriers when he appeared on MTV with his look. And we loved him for it. This song tore up the radio and MTV in late 1983 right when summer was winding down and we were all headed back to high school. Big seller for that year...stayed on the charts for 6 weeks. The 80's were perfect...spent all summer on the lake every single year....learned to water ski in the late 70's so by the time the 80's rolled in we were tearing up some waves. Kid Rock's All Summer Long reflects exactly what it was like for us on the lake in the 80's. Best music...best memories...best times spent with family and friends.
As someone growing up the 80's, there was definitely tension, and there wasn't as much acceptance as there is today. But we had fun, the music was great and I absolutely miss the fashion. A great time to be alive.
Growing up listening to acts like Culture Club I sort of took it for granted but looking back Lex's description of the 80's 'oozing creativity' is spot on.
'80s flashback when I was a kid 😆. Boy George and Culture Club were a fun poppy R&B new wave (sometimes reggae) group like Howard Jones, Dead or Alive, ABC, Fine Young Cannibals, Soft Cell, Kajagoogoo (Limahl), Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Thompson Twins, etc. They had lots of good songs and videos. Should check them out more. I think yall will like a lot of their stuff. "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Time", "Church of The Poison Mind", "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" are some yall should look at first. Boy George was quite the character lol very confident, too.
This was back when MTV started showing music videos (the birth of music videos) excluding old television spots. So, the visuals were very important, the fashion had begun to change before the videos, but it took off like a rocket and went crazy for the visuals. I called it shock value and it's only grown to this day. My circle of friends were into heavy rock at the time and we laughed at Boy George and the likes (New Wave genre). Got to admit I sing along and enjoy it now just as well as disco.
I have loved this song since I heard it in the 80s and Boy George is beyond talented! I also wanted to add that The beads in Lex's hair is so beautiful and Lex's smile would brighten anyone's day!! She's a keeper and pray your relationship is blessed with an eternal love 💕💖💖
Culture Club was one of the biggest British acts of the eighties! Boy George was very unique and we loved this about him! He has a somewhat soulful voice ! Check out their hits, Time, Church of the Poison Mind, Miss Me Blind, and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?, etc! In the video: It was a gambling boat, the song is about a lover who is a chameleon and switches up and is disloyal! The eighties were amazing because could be whoever you wanted to be and be accepted!❤️❤️
I also suggested "Miss Me Blind" and "Time". They both get me dancing and singing like I'm 14 again! I actually listed to an extended remix of Miss Me Blind just this morning and was rocking out! I hope they react to them, because I gotta see if Lex reacts like I think she will. 😄
I grew up in the 80's watching men dressed like women and wearing make-up and I turned out "Normal". It didn't make me want to dress like that or wear make-up, so people these days need to relax and stop getting offended by everything. The Karens would go into meltdown if the 80's came back!!
Depends on where you're from I suppose. I always liked Boy George but he was universally mocked in the rural area I grew up in. Trust me, people were offended.
People pretended to be offended, but the dude somehow sold a bazillion records. Same with boys wearing earrings. End of the world, until it wasn't. Go back to the 60s. Long haired boys? Armageddon! And today? Boys in slips, girls with bald heads and indefinite pronouns. Shocking! Terrifying! But the world will go on spinning and the teens of tomorrow will devise new ways to freak out old people. I guarantee it.
@@danrudnick5252 Someone always going to be offended by something, it's not news or something to be concerned about. Everyone around me knew George Michael was gay when he was in Wham and none of us cared.
Helen Terry is the prominent female voice in the backing vocals. She did some solo records back then as well. The album Colour By Numbers is almost a Greatest Hits album in itself.
My whole teenage years was in the 80's I can not explain how very nice the 80's was. The words would not make sense as in todays world everything is drama, while in the 80's drama was something that was very rare even in my GANG filled youth as my Father was a biker and I joined at a young age as well. The 80's was so laid back like a true mix of the 60's love and the 70's movement with a twist of FUN. I wish everyday I could relive the 80's if only I could turn back time. People will never know what they missed in the 80's if they did not live it. I am one of the luckiest people alive going through what I went through good and bad because the 80's was awesome.
Culture Club was the quintessential 80's band...Completely unique with more than a few classic songs jammed into their relatively short career...Their ace in the hole was, of course, Boy George...When the song "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" came out, we just couldn't quite figure out what to make of him...The make-up and the clothes made you blink a few times, but his unmistakable voice was awesome was what made the group special...
It’s funny how your body remembers trauma. When this song was popular I was going thru the most stressful and heartbreaking time of my life…hearing this song and seeing the video on the first 10 seconds my heart sunk . Even though it has been so many years ago and mentally I have moved on but physically. Wow.
Boy George once explained about the song: "The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. "It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back." Boy George wrote most of the band's lyrics, and many of his words were inspired by his relationship with the group's drummer, Jon Moss. Their difficult romantic/professional relationship was also the inspiration for the line: "You're my lover, not my rival" in 'Karma Chameleon'. The relationship was hidden to the public, so it became an outlet for Boy George to communicate with him through their songs.
Videos all day everyday in the 80’s. Cable has not available in my neighborhood. I had to watch a local UHF station after school for videos, of Friday Night Videos on NBC or Saturday nights on TBS.
OMG!! Hard to believe there are people who don't know who Boy George is!! Let's me know just how old I'm getting!! Boy George was one of the top international icons of the 80's. An original 'club kid' of the 70's in England, whose voice and writing talent plus that star quality 'IT factor' catapulted him to pop culture stardom. HE started the 'gender bender' look of the 80's. Do a lot more Culture Club, especially their first 2 albums, after that drugs, alcohol and relationships destroyed them and almost killed George. But, they got back together many times since their heyday, still touring with loads of new music since then. Boy George is clean and sober, healthy and happy, but went through all the horrors of stardom we hear about. Enjoy, beautiful voice, up there with Freddie and Ronnie Dio, not quite that high on the vocal God scale, but a beautiful natural talent. PS: the video is supposed to take place in Mississippi, supposed to be southern bells, gentlemen and a con man who was stealing from the dignified people. A simple but great video. It was actually filmed on the River Thames in London although it was supposed to be Mississippi. Budget.
I wouldn’t have been caught dead listening to culture club in the 80s. I would hear the songs on the radio now and then but didn’t pay much attention. I bought a greatest hits CD in the 2000s and really started listening to it. I came to the conclusion that they were pretty damn talented and smart. They definitely made millions back in the day!
I saw this on MTV while I was exercising to any music I could find. I was the mother of a teenager at the time. Had never seen anything like him. But I liked it and he had a great voice.
I've just realised that Brad & Lex are basically Mulder & Scully - only with the character traits gender reversed. That would really explain how you complete one another so well, and why I like you so much :-)
As an 80s metal and southern rock guy, this was one if those guilty pleasure or hidden favorites that I liked and didn't tell anybody lol Now I still like it and everybody knows lol
I was 11 when this came out and remember it being a massive hit. Boy George was one of the iconic group of artists that represent the 80s, along with MJ, Prince, Madonna, Wham, Duran Duran, Bon Jovi and quite a few others.
I was a kid when this came out, and I remember remarking to my mom, "she's pretty", and she told me Boy George was a guy, and so then I was just like, "okay, well, he's pretty!". And he was. And it worked. The music of Culture Club is just so fun and iconic and quintessentially 80s. I loved the androgyny of the 70s and 80s mostly British performers. It was fun and different, and it didn't detract from their music at all. And such good music it was! This is why growing up in the 80s was great. We had such good, diverse music to listen to.
While the British (along with other European) artists adopted androgynous looks most often, by the mid-80s a lot of North American acts were pretty damned androgynous too (esp. in the hair metal and new wave genres - Poison's members were downright pretty). Androgyny wasn't uncommon as an urban fashion style either. I remember lots of pretty and very androgynous guys and girls around on city streets and in clubs up until grunge and hiphop really became the norm, and even then it still persisted in goth and some other subcultures. As a Gen Xer, I honestly do not understand how anyone who grew up around the same time as me, constantly exposed to androgyny and with it being considered rather fun, edgy and iconic of our youth, can be uptight or emotional fragile about gender nonconformity today. It's like having the generation who grew up in the 1920s with speakeasies and flappers complaining about the loose morals of the 1950s early rock and roll era... just plain silly.
Wife here..Loved Loved him...as part of the MTV Generation ( born 1970 to 1989)..He had constant rotation on said channel...Lex.. and Brad, you're right about ( no tension) within gender fluidity at the time...Though our parents would be like is that a boy or girl??..Ok..no big deal
Boy George was just a big hit I never thought anything in the 80s about his look or anything, to me it was all theatrics and being a rock singer. Every singer had thier own thing and 80s had such great music and my grandmother loved this song, when it came or I played it
The song’s meaning, in Boy George’s own words: “The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back." I think many people back then were intrigued by his dress/look, and definitely some people criticized it at the time, it wasn’t all acceptance. The common phrase at the time was “gender bender”, applied to George, Annie Lennox, and a couple of others. But it was a bit more innocent then, simply dressing as the opposite gender, and not making it about sexuality or transitioning. We also didn’t judge friends, relatives, and co-workers based on their politics… in fact, we often didn’t know what someone’s politics were. Simpler times.
Oh, pleez - - it was just a catchy riff about about how his occasional BF (Jon, the drummer) would be with him one minute, then would be running off with another female groupie, the next. (e.g., "you come and go" )
Culture Club did two things that were huge at the time: blue eyed soul (Eurythmics, Simply Red, etc.) and androgyny. Boy George was a legit superstar and, although his heroin addiction pushed him out of the limelight, he gave us some of the catchiest, sweetest music of the 80s.
Culture Club has excellent music! So many you should check out. "Time (Clock of the Heart)" and "Miss Me Blind" are awesome! Their first US hit, "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me?" came out when MTV was just catching on, but I had only heard it on the radio. One day, while in the kitchen, my dad and high school boyfriend were watching MTV in the den. I heard it come on and ran in to watch. When I first saw Boy George, I was utterly confused but spellbound. In my small town GA world, I'd never seen anyone like him. He really opened doors for the LGBTQ community. I think his phenomenal voice made many people take note and learn about the lifestyle. I'm glad I got to watch the birth of acceptance happen. What a great time to be alive!
Freakin LOVE that you guys did a Culture Club song. You would make my day if you watched I'll Tumble For Ya...the cutest video of all time. Love me some Boy George
Never knew the meaning of this song, but watching the full video i think ive seen something that helps explain it. The boat is called the chameleon and the pickpocket got his karma when he was made to walk the plank.
Actually the song is about the affair he had with his bandmate and most of their hits were in the same fashion. Culture Club's Behind the Music video explains this and is a must watch for any of their fans.
I think lex with her beautiful enthusiasm,great nature positive outlook and most importantly her imagination should try and write a fantasy children book I think she would kill it
Favorite memory ever was when I was in college right on campus heading to the parking lot, windows down, BLASTING this song. A total stranger pulled up to the red light beside me with her windows down, she heard this song from my car, and we jammed out to the chorus together before the light changed. Magical moment. Music is great.
The difference between being gay, gender fluid, etc in the 80s, as compared to now, is that it was NOT the "buzz trend". It was still very much an undercover, hiding in the dark type of thing. People were still struggling for rights, etc. Boy George was FAAAAAMOUS. There werent a bunch of reality and youtube stars then, so the only idols and personalities were strictly Hollywood and the music biz. He blew the lid off of a lot of things and created a much needed dialog around homosexuality. All of a sudden you had teens coming out left and right. Before that it was crickets. I mean crickets.
@John Palmer Elton John, Freddie Mercury. Everybody was aware but we didn’t need to make a big deal of it. You would have to be a narcissist to think people gave a damn about your sexuality, because in the end nobody is that important. Still want to know what rights people didn’t have in the 80’s. If you are talking about gay marriage, that’s not a right, it’s a religious ritual. Why the government is involved in recognizing it is baffling to me. It’s suppose to be a separation of church and state. Other than that issue, straight, gay all had the same rights. That is where the problems begin, when one group thinks they should have more rights than the others and that is exactly what we see from current day lunatics in the lgbtq++lmnop community. If you think there is a right somebody doesn’t have, feel free to list it. Keep in mind I do reply back.
@@chrissede2270 Oh and i "respond back" as well. Since you seem to be confused, let me help.. As a 56 year old gay man from Atlanta, I was there at the peak of civil rights movements for gay people during the onset and rise of the aids epidemic. People were marching across the entire nation for civil rights protections behind this "gay disease", as they called it, and its stigma. It was the birth of "Act Up" who marched on wall street as well. Pride parades, although already established, took on a whole new meaning. Not to mention, these same civil rights marches, calling for protection, were also calling for issues of discrimination so profound that gay men were the target of several serial killers, such as Juan Chavez, and Jeffrey Dahmer, along with every other gay man and teen that was murdered for his orientation, but yet no justice and no rights. So how bout THAT for a "response"? Now what you got?
@@chrissede2270 They were the exceptions and to be fair a lot of people didn't realise that Freddie was gay, until AIDS got him. And you clearly have no concept of the shame of being homosexual back in the day. Peope on the whole did give a damn, whatever you may think.
Beavis & Butthead is forever ingrained in my mind when I hear this song, when Boy George sings the 'I'm a man' part, Butthead all confused says 'you're a man!?'🤣
I wish you could come with me to the eighties! Every decade before and since has been awesome, but the eighties were quite magical. Something for everyone!
I used to love this song when I was a little kid and it’s funny it was on one night that my dad was lit and he got up on the picnic table and was dancing and singing along to it that shit was hilarious
So much great music in the 80's and it didn't matter what you liked, it was all there for you...even on the radio and even on TV. There used to be a channel on cable called MTV that played music videos, kinda like a jukebox but had mini movies to go along with the song 💡👍❗️
It's about time y'all did Culture Club - they were huge in eighties. I'm surprised that you chose this song though. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is probably their most known song. "Time (The Clock of the Heart" is probably their smoothest song. "Miss Me Blind" is probably their most danceable. "The War Song" was pretty much the end of their careers. As far as the gender fluidity and androgenous appearance - Yeah, that was a big part of the 8O's Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Soft Cell, Broski Beat, Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys,... Everyone pretty much assumed that they were gay.
Hi guys! Boy George. What can you say. He liked dressing up in the most interesting ways. Very creative. His voice is smooth like butter. He’s talented and is a very likeable person. The 80's. It’s a vibe.
Even as an emerging metalhead back then, I recognized the talent there and catchy, danceable tune. My dad actually liked this song, I think he said it reminded him a little of the 50s rock sound he grew up with. Yep, weird video...but that was the 80s for ya, lol.
This song was so popular back in the day. I remember people scoffing at him looking and dressing like a woman, but he was unapologetic and his talent was undeniable. He didn’t confuse, he clearly states “I’m a man”, but he wasn’t ashamed of being a man wanting and feeling like wanting to dress like a woman. A far cry from cross dressers today that insist on making you deny your own eyes. I rather call you what you prefer if you tell me no problem, you want to be called a woman that’s fine, but don’t have us deny real women, and don’t force us to share in your belief form. Just like religion, believe what you want, people will respect your wishes and rituals, but don’t force through law or societal pressure a person to do so. Respect to Boy George, a true pioneer and role model for others like him. He did it the right way.
I was in Junior High when this song came out. And one of my classmates was named Guy George. *That poor kid caught hell.* ☹ I even heard a counselor say it once.
Culture Club put out a whole string of big hits in the 80s. From my memory it's seems like everyone liked, regardless of taste. Boy George was super talented and not just a gimmick.
Had a truck driving friend, being in a truck constantly, the radio on all the time. He just loved the culture club til he saw them on MTV. He couldn't believe the voice came from that. He never listened to the radio again.
I can't explain it enough how lucky I was being a teenager in the 80s watching music videos on MTV was a huge part of all of our lives. I feel sad for the younger generation that they never know the excitement and joy of going to a record store to buy music
Same here
Same here🖐️🙂
I get what you mean, streaming has killed it for most but you still can. I take my daughter to record fairs and record shops quite often. I bought her a turntable for Xmas and we hunt vinyl together.
Absolutely...we were the lucky generation....i was 13 when this was on...Gold times..😀
Every Tuesday I would spend my high school lunch break at the local record store to see what was released. I’d always buy a 45 or two with my lunch money.
"Is that a boy or a girl?" was the question on every astonished parents' lips, the first time Boy George appeared on TV. He was a wonderful phenomenon. This is a classic & brings me right back to 1983. Love it!!!
Or in the 90's when this video appeared on Bevis and Butthead. "I'm a man".. Then Butthead responds, "You're a what?"
Hahahaha. I wasn't a teenager when this came out, in fact I had teenage children, but loved George, and his look. But then I've always been very open minded.
A couple of hick comedians did a silly song called" Where's The Dress" talking about if it made them as popular as Boy George they'd be willing to cross dress.
I must have been 7 or 8 years old the first time I saw this. I'm sure we were all watching Friday night Videos because we didn't have MTV yet. I remember being confused....but then my dad must have walked into the room because I heard his voice behind me say, "What the fuck is that?" So then I realized that he wasn't gonna be able to answer any questions I had. 😄
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Had the pleasure of working on this video back in the day, filmed over one day on the River Thames at the Old Hammer studios at Bray near Windsor UK.
Boy George was about 40 years ahead of his time and never once (to my knowledge) backed down from being his authentic self. Really deserves a lot more credit for his vision, courage, and musical talent.
Amen
You said that ohhh so well Shaun. I totally agree.
And what do we say about David Bowie? It is obvious that Boy George is influenced by him.
@@bluebull399I think they're just gay
HELL yeah
Boy George was and is very talented. His appearance was quite unusual in the '80s, when the preppy/yuppie look was popular, or the Asian-influenced edgy look. There was a lot of creativity in music at the time, breaking away from the progressive rock and disco sounds of the '70s. This was a very pop-style song, played a lot on the radio and in the bars where people went to dance. The '80s were a great time to be young!
he makes art these days
There were a lot of funk and soul influences around, which spawned a pile of bassists in the pop, Nick Beggs, Mark King, John Taylor, George Anderson and others. Of course there was the more electronic dance sound as well with Kraftwerk and Donna Summer / Giorgio Moroder being the foundation.
I remember the first time I saw Culture Club. I saw them on MTV and remember thinking it was a girl with a deep voice. Living in rural Indiana I had never seen anyone male dress like that. Loved the music though this was my first exposure to this way of life for people
I remember people being shocked at the look of Boy George. Lol!
@@larryharmes4489 I’m in rural Indiana as well!
The 80’s was an explosion of sounds and colours.
I have never felt older than when Lex said Boy George looked normal. Times have changed.
They have no concept of how things have changed in 40 years.
Ikr!
The first time I saw him at that time (probably this video) I was like 😳. I can remember his look being discussed in class one day around this time.
Ha, so true.
Boy George walked so many LGBTQ folks could fly! This was so outside the norm at the time and many people were so critical and all around terrible towards him. He was extremely brave to just be himself because most people were afraid at that time. There were real consequences to being anything other than hetero-normative: death, ostracized, fired, imprisoned, assault. The 80s were fun in many ways but it was not an accepting time for LGBTQ.
I interviewed Boy George for a magazine years ago. He came out in jeans and large jumper and he had a good layer of stubble on his chin. Not what I expected! Smashing guy to interview, I liked him.
"The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back."" - Boy George
That's his second definition he originally said it was about his boyfriend at the time the guitarist
@@johnbattle7518 since when did he date the guitarist lol, it was Jon Moss the drummer
@@alexchristianmusic Who cares not a big fan made a mistake
@@johnbattle7518 i'm sorry but i care since i am a huge fan
@@alexchristianmusic but I don't, not that big of a deal two fudge packs
Boy George (George O'Dowd is his real name) was a club kid of the late 1970s into the early 80s, and because of that became one of the most unapologetically unique pop stars of the 1980s. He was thoght to be gay in the 80s, but told people he was bi...but later came out definitely gay later. He is an amazing songwriter as well as a performer. In the late 1990s or early 2000s, he wrote a musical called 'Taboo' that was a hit in London, but kinda died here in the States during its Broadway run. He later has become a judge for 'The Voice' both in the UK and Australia.
The other members of Culture Club were in the video as the gamblers at the table, and the ones who sang along during the choruses. They called themselves Culture Club because the breakdown was as follows: an androgynous gay Irish man on vocals (George), a black Englishman of Jamaican descent on bass guitar (Mikey Craig), a blonde Englishman on guitar and keyboards (Roy Hay), and a Jewish Englishman on drums (Jon Moss).
Boy George broke barriers when he appeared on MTV with his look. And we loved him for it. This song tore up the radio and MTV in late 1983 right when summer was winding down and we were all headed back to high school. Big seller for that year...stayed on the charts for 6 weeks. The 80's were perfect...spent all summer on the lake every single year....learned to water ski in the late 70's so by the time the 80's rolled in we were tearing up some waves. Kid Rock's All Summer Long reflects exactly what it was like for us on the lake in the 80's. Best music...best memories...best times spent with family and friends.
As someone growing up the 80's, there was definitely tension, and there wasn't as much acceptance as there is today. But we had fun, the music was great and I absolutely miss the fashion. A great time to be alive.
Growing up listening to acts like Culture Club I sort of took it for granted but looking back Lex's description of the 80's 'oozing creativity' is spot on.
'80s flashback when I was a kid 😆. Boy George and Culture Club were a fun poppy R&B new wave (sometimes reggae) group like Howard Jones, Dead or Alive, ABC, Fine Young Cannibals, Soft Cell, Kajagoogoo (Limahl), Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Thompson Twins, etc. They had lots of good songs and videos. Should check them out more. I think yall will like a lot of their stuff. "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Time", "Church of The Poison Mind", "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" are some yall should look at first. Boy George was quite the character lol very confident, too.
I think what I loved the most about this was Lex's happiness...natural, unapologetic. So free to just express happiness. Very contagious!
This was back when MTV started showing music videos (the birth of music videos) excluding old television spots. So, the visuals were very important, the fashion had begun to change before the videos, but it took off like a rocket and went crazy for the visuals. I called it shock value and it's only grown to this day. My circle of friends were into heavy rock at the time and we laughed at Boy George and the likes (New Wave genre). Got to admit I sing along and enjoy it now just as well as disco.
I have loved this song since I heard it in the 80s and Boy George is beyond talented! I also wanted to add that The beads in Lex's hair is so beautiful and Lex's smile would brighten anyone's day!! She's a keeper and pray your relationship is blessed with an eternal love 💕💖💖
Still one of my 86-year old Mother's favourite songs of all time! It was all over the airwaves back in the day, some good memories
Culture Club was one of the biggest British acts of the eighties! Boy George was very unique and we loved this about him! He has a somewhat soulful voice ! Check out their hits, Time, Church of the Poison Mind, Miss Me Blind, and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?, etc! In the video: It was a gambling boat, the song is about a lover who is a chameleon and switches up and is disloyal! The eighties were amazing because could be whoever you wanted to be and be accepted!❤️❤️
I also suggested "Miss Me Blind" and "Time". They both get me dancing and singing like I'm 14 again! I actually listed to an extended remix of Miss Me Blind just this morning and was rocking out! I hope they react to them, because I gotta see if Lex reacts like I think she will. 😄
I grew up in the 80's watching men dressed like women and wearing make-up and I turned out "Normal". It didn't make me want to dress like that or wear make-up, so people these days need to relax and stop getting offended by everything.
The Karens would go into meltdown if the 80's came back!!
Glam era Bowie, Annie Lennox, Grace Jones, Sylvester, New Romantics, Goths, Glams, hair bands..... they would go nuts
They did, remember Tipper Gore?....
Depends on where you're from I suppose. I always liked Boy George but he was universally mocked in the rural area I grew up in. Trust me, people were offended.
People pretended to be offended, but the dude somehow sold a bazillion records.
Same with boys wearing earrings. End of the world, until it wasn't.
Go back to the 60s. Long haired boys? Armageddon!
And today? Boys in slips, girls with bald heads and indefinite pronouns. Shocking! Terrifying!
But the world will go on spinning and the teens of tomorrow will devise new ways to freak out old people. I guarantee it.
@@danrudnick5252 Someone always going to be offended by something, it's not news or something to be concerned about. Everyone around me knew George Michael was gay when he was in Wham and none of us cared.
Helen Terry is the prominent female voice in the backing vocals. She did some solo records back then as well. The album Colour By Numbers is almost a Greatest Hits album in itself.
I was blessed to see Culture Club in the 80s and 2021. Boy George is awesome in concert...
This is one of those things that could have only happened in the 80's and that is simply why the 80's were so magical.
ABSOLUTELY 💯
Thanks for reacting to the actual video, love this song, his voice and Culture Club.
I love this song. It's on my 80's playlist. He's called Boy George and he was a judge on The Voice UK. I love the 80's too.
In UK only one season, if i'm not wrong. And in Australia in a few seasons.
My whole teenage years was in the 80's I can not explain how very nice the 80's was. The words would not make sense as in todays world everything is drama, while in the 80's drama was something that was very rare even in my GANG filled youth as my Father was a biker and I joined at a young age as well. The 80's was so laid back like a true mix of the 60's love and the 70's movement with a twist of FUN. I wish everyday I could relive the 80's if only I could turn back time. People will never know what they missed in the 80's if they did not live it. I am one of the luckiest people alive going through what I went through good and bad because the 80's was awesome.
I grew up as a kid in the 80's and loved this song so much and I still do. This song will always have a special place in my heart.
Culture Club was the quintessential 80's band...Completely unique with more than a few classic songs jammed into their relatively short career...Their ace in the hole was, of course, Boy George...When the song "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" came out, we just couldn't quite figure out what to make of him...The make-up and the clothes made you blink a few times, but his unmistakable voice was awesome was what made the group special...
80s pop was something else man, people grew up in the 80s must be so lucky
It’s funny how your body remembers trauma. When this song was popular I was going thru the most stressful and heartbreaking time of my life…hearing this song and seeing the video on the first 10 seconds my heart sunk . Even though it has been so many years ago and mentally I have moved on but physically. Wow.
That Just The Way You Are song (Billy Joel) hits me like that for the same old memory-jogging reason. DE PRESS ING.
Boy George once explained about the song: "The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing.
"It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back."
Boy George wrote most of the band's lyrics, and many of his words were inspired by his relationship with the group's drummer, Jon Moss.
Their difficult romantic/professional relationship was also the inspiration for the line: "You're my lover, not my rival" in 'Karma Chameleon'.
The relationship was hidden to the public, so it became an outlet for Boy George to communicate with him through their songs.
Loved this.. 80's videos didn't have to make sense...it was very artsy original. Glad I grew up then.
Videos all day everyday in the 80’s. Cable has not available in my neighborhood. I had to watch a local UHF station after school for videos, of Friday Night Videos on NBC or Saturday nights on TBS.
Now THIS is 80's Music 🎶 🥰💕
More please 🙏
OMG!! Hard to believe there are people who don't know who Boy George is!! Let's me know just how old I'm getting!! Boy George was one of the top international icons of the 80's. An original 'club kid' of the 70's in England, whose voice and writing talent plus that star quality 'IT factor' catapulted him to pop culture stardom. HE started the 'gender bender' look of the 80's. Do a lot more Culture Club, especially their first 2 albums, after that drugs, alcohol and relationships destroyed them and almost killed George. But, they got back together many times since their heyday, still touring with loads of new music since then. Boy George is clean and sober, healthy and happy, but went through all the horrors of stardom we hear about. Enjoy, beautiful voice, up there with Freddie and Ronnie Dio, not quite that high on the vocal God scale, but a beautiful natural talent. PS: the video is supposed to take place in Mississippi, supposed to be southern bells, gentlemen and a con man who was stealing from the dignified people. A simple but great video. It was actually filmed on the River Thames in London although it was supposed to be Mississippi. Budget.
I wouldn’t have been caught dead listening to culture club in the 80s. I would hear the songs on the radio now and then but didn’t pay much attention. I bought a greatest hits CD in the 2000s and really started listening to it. I came to the conclusion that they were pretty damn talented and smart. They definitely made millions back in the day!
I saw this on MTV while I was exercising to any music I could find. I was the mother of a teenager at the time. Had never seen anything like him. But I liked it and he had a great voice.
Culture Club was lit. Miss me blind, move away, the war song, it’s a miracle are some more of their bangers
I've just realised that Brad & Lex are basically Mulder & Scully - only with the character traits gender reversed. That would really explain how you complete one another so well, and why I like you so much :-)
Lol I get it
💯
Great analogy. Now you just have to explain to them who Mulder & Sculler are. ;)
I totally see that.. The skeptic and the true believer..
@@DanSolo871 Yep we’re that old
As an 80s metal and southern rock guy, this was one if those guilty pleasure or hidden favorites that I liked and didn't tell anybody lol Now I still like it and everybody knows lol
Culture Club was one of the best bands of the 1980s. They had many hits during that decade. Boy George had a very smooth, velvety voice.
I was 11 when this came out and remember it being a massive hit. Boy George was one of the iconic group of artists that represent the 80s, along with MJ, Prince, Madonna, Wham, Duran Duran, Bon Jovi and quite a few others.
One of my favorite CC songs.
I was a kid when this came out, and I remember remarking to my mom, "she's pretty", and she told me Boy George was a guy, and so then I was just like, "okay, well, he's pretty!". And he was. And it worked. The music of Culture Club is just so fun and iconic and quintessentially 80s. I loved the androgyny of the 70s and 80s mostly British performers. It was fun and different, and it didn't detract from their music at all. And such good music it was! This is why growing up in the 80s was great. We had such good, diverse music to listen to.
While the British (along with other European) artists adopted androgynous looks most often, by the mid-80s a lot of North American acts were pretty damned androgynous too (esp. in the hair metal and new wave genres - Poison's members were downright pretty). Androgyny wasn't uncommon as an urban fashion style either. I remember lots of pretty and very androgynous guys and girls around on city streets and in clubs up until grunge and hiphop really became the norm, and even then it still persisted in goth and some other subcultures.
As a Gen Xer, I honestly do not understand how anyone who grew up around the same time as me, constantly exposed to androgyny and with it being considered rather fun, edgy and iconic of our youth, can be uptight or emotional fragile about gender nonconformity today.
It's like having the generation who grew up in the 1920s with speakeasies and flappers complaining about the loose morals of the 1950s early rock and roll era... just plain silly.
@@paranoidrodent Agreed.
Wife here..Loved Loved him...as part of the MTV Generation ( born 1970 to 1989)..He had constant rotation on said channel...Lex.. and Brad, you're right about ( no tension) within gender fluidity at the time...Though our parents would be like is that a boy or girl??..Ok..no big deal
Boy George was just a big hit I never thought anything in the 80s about his look or anything, to me it was all theatrics and being a rock singer. Every singer had thier own thing and 80s had such great music and my grandmother loved this song, when it came or I played it
Super intelligent and whipsmart funny, George has given some great interviews. He’s still outrageous today!
The song’s meaning, in Boy George’s own words: “The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back."
I think many people back then were intrigued by his dress/look, and definitely some people criticized it at the time, it wasn’t all acceptance. The common phrase at the time was “gender bender”, applied to George, Annie Lennox, and a couple of others. But it was a bit more innocent then, simply dressing as the opposite gender, and not making it about sexuality or transitioning. We also didn’t judge friends, relatives, and co-workers based on their politics… in fact, we often didn’t know what someone’s politics were. Simpler times.
That is a really sugar coated warped view of how the 80s was for queer people.
Oh, pleez - - it was just a catchy riff about about how his occasional BF (Jon, the drummer) would be with him one minute, then would be running off with another female groupie, the next. (e.g., "you come and go" )
@@you2449 exactly, I thought he was the guitarist but you're right he was the drummer
I thought it was about him and his on and off Bf.
@@dsmkrotj4990 it was
18 years old when this came out.. ohh I wish I could go back in time for 1 day in the 80s.. wonderful care free times
"do you really want to hurt me" is another great song of them
Judd Lander on Harmonica. He made this song amazing.
Culture Club did two things that were huge at the time: blue eyed soul (Eurythmics, Simply Red, etc.) and androgyny. Boy George was a legit superstar and, although his heroin addiction pushed him out of the limelight, he gave us some of the catchiest, sweetest music of the 80s.
A great 80’s song is Smalltown boy by Bronski Beat. It reached number 1 on the U.S dance chart and number 3 in U.K so it was big hit.
Check out Paradise Lost's cover of it, really good imo.
@@CLJ7696 thanks will try it
I think this video shows how it should have been everyone free and equal.💚
Culture Club has excellent music! So many you should check out. "Time (Clock of the Heart)" and "Miss Me Blind" are awesome!
Their first US hit, "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me?" came out when MTV was just catching on, but I had only heard it on the radio. One day, while in the kitchen, my dad and high school boyfriend were watching MTV in the den. I heard it come on and ran in to watch. When I first saw Boy George, I was utterly confused but spellbound.
In my small town GA world, I'd never seen anyone like him. He really opened doors for the LGBTQ community. I think his phenomenal voice made many people take note and learn about the lifestyle. I'm glad I got to watch the birth of acceptance happen. What a great time to be alive!
Have not heard that song since the 80's..I can wait another 40 years to hear it again!
Freakin LOVE that you guys did a Culture Club song. You would make my day if you watched I'll Tumble For Ya...the cutest video of all time. Love me some Boy George
Never knew the meaning of this song, but watching the full video i think ive seen something that helps explain it. The boat is called the chameleon and the pickpocket got his karma when he was made to walk the plank.
Actually the song is about the affair he had with his bandmate and most of their hits were in the same fashion. Culture Club's Behind the Music video explains this and is a must watch for any of their fans.
@@BayushiGemma I thought that was only what 'do you really want to hurt me' was about. Thanks.👍
@@alfredkar Yeah man after I watched that special I can't look at their music without thinking of the deeper meaning.
Boy George had a stand-out voice in the 80s. His speaking voice is actually quite deep, but when he sings, it's melodic and sweet.
Boy George was a chameleon and never tried to be anyone but himself.
Took many people time to come around.
He's a hero of mine.
That is one hell of a contraction. Don't you see?
There will never be another 80s...it was just super unique and fun
I'll never forget the first time I heard this song, I was on a bus in Livorno Italy.
The 80's was a great music and music video decade.
Boy George was massive in the 80's both in the UK and US...part of the Brit Invasion with Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Steve Strange etc...
I think lex with her beautiful enthusiasm,great nature positive outlook and most importantly her imagination
should try and write a fantasy children book I think she would kill it
Lex uses a part of her brain that most of us can't even open. Lol definitely thinks outside the box
I agree. Lex totally understood everything.
Favorite memory ever was when I was in college right on campus heading to the parking lot, windows down, BLASTING this song. A total stranger pulled up to the red light beside me with her windows down, she heard this song from my car, and we jammed out to the chorus together before the light changed. Magical moment. Music is great.
The difference between being gay, gender fluid, etc in the 80s, as compared to now, is that it was NOT the "buzz trend". It was still very much an undercover, hiding in the dark type of thing. People were still struggling for rights, etc. Boy George was FAAAAAMOUS. There werent a bunch of reality and youtube stars then, so the only idols and personalities were strictly Hollywood and the music biz. He blew the lid off of a lot of things and created a much needed dialog around homosexuality. All of a sudden you had teens coming out left and right. Before that it was crickets. I mean crickets.
Well there were the Village People... :)
@John Palmer Elton John, Freddie Mercury.
Everybody was aware but we didn’t need to make a big deal of it. You would have to be a narcissist to think people gave a damn about your sexuality, because in the end nobody is that important.
Still want to know what rights people didn’t have in the 80’s. If you are talking about gay marriage, that’s not a right, it’s a religious ritual. Why the government is involved in recognizing it is baffling to me. It’s suppose to be a separation of church and state. Other than that issue, straight, gay all had the same rights. That is where the problems begin, when one group thinks they should have more rights than the others and that is exactly what we see from current day lunatics in the lgbtq++lmnop community.
If you think there is a right somebody doesn’t have, feel free to list it. Keep in mind I do reply back.
@@chrissede2270 Oh and i "respond back" as well. Since you seem to be confused, let me help.. As a 56 year old gay man from Atlanta, I was there at the peak of civil rights movements for gay people during the onset and rise of the aids epidemic. People were marching across the entire nation for civil rights protections behind this "gay disease", as they called it, and its stigma. It was the birth of "Act Up" who marched on wall street as well. Pride parades, although already established, took on a whole new meaning. Not to mention, these same civil rights marches, calling for protection, were also calling for issues of discrimination so profound that gay men were the target of several serial killers, such as Juan Chavez, and Jeffrey Dahmer, along with every other gay man and teen that was murdered for his orientation, but yet no justice and no rights. So how bout THAT for a "response"? Now what you got?
Boy George is a disgusting, horrible creep of a person. Giving him credit for anything makes me cringe
@@chrissede2270 They were the exceptions and to be fair a lot of people didn't realise that Freddie was gay, until AIDS got him. And you clearly have no concept of the shame of being homosexual back in the day. Peope on the whole did give a damn, whatever you may think.
Ooooo I love Culture Club! His voice!
I was so lucky to grow up when I did. We had the best pop music and the best metal and hair metal bands. Glad you two can appreciate it now.
Boy Geroge has an amazing voice. This might have been the first song i heard from him
Brad sporting a CAKE shirt now after getting hooked on them through reaction vids 😂
Beavis & Butthead is forever ingrained in my mind when I hear this song, when Boy George sings the 'I'm a man' part, Butthead all confused says 'you're a man!?'🤣
I wish you could come with me to the eighties! Every decade before and since has been awesome, but the eighties were quite magical. Something for everyone!
I used to love this song when I was a little kid and it’s funny it was on one night that my dad was lit and he got up on the picnic table and was dancing and singing along to it that shit was hilarious
We all love George. He sometimes gets into trouble with the law, but he's still an icon. He was in an episode of the A-Team as well.
Back then musician's were always making cameos on TV. Sad that doesn't happen anymore.
So much great music in the 80's and it didn't matter what you liked, it was all there for you...even on the radio and even on TV. There used to be a channel on cable called MTV that played music videos, kinda like a jukebox but had mini movies to go along with the song 💡👍❗️
4:26 This part kicks in, and I'm ten or eleven years old again. 👍❤
It's about time y'all did Culture Club - they were huge in eighties.
I'm surprised that you chose this song though.
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is probably their most known song. "Time (The Clock of the Heart" is probably their smoothest song. "Miss Me Blind" is probably their most danceable. "The War Song" was pretty much the end of their careers.
As far as the gender fluidity and androgenous appearance - Yeah, that was a big part of the 8O's
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Soft Cell, Broski Beat, Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys,... Everyone pretty much assumed that they were gay.
Hi guys! Boy George. What can you say. He liked dressing up in the most interesting ways. Very creative. His voice is smooth like butter. He’s talented and is a very likeable person. The 80's. It’s a vibe.
Even as an emerging metalhead back then, I recognized the talent there and catchy, danceable tune. My dad actually liked this song, I think he said it reminded him a little of the 50s rock sound he grew up with. Yep, weird video...but that was the 80s for ya, lol.
I love my rock music but it must be said Boy George was and still is a fantastic singer especially live.
I grew up listening to Boy George in the 80's ! Great memories! ❤ Lexie's smile is intoxicating! I love it ❤✌🏽
The chill era of the 80s
This song was so popular back in the day. I remember people scoffing at him looking and dressing like a woman, but he was unapologetic and his talent was undeniable. He didn’t confuse, he clearly states “I’m a man”, but he wasn’t ashamed of being a man wanting and feeling like wanting to dress like a woman. A far cry from cross dressers today that insist on making you deny your own eyes. I rather call you what you prefer if you tell me no problem, you want to be called a woman that’s fine, but don’t have us deny real women, and don’t force us to share in your belief form. Just like religion, believe what you want, people will respect your wishes and rituals, but don’t force through law or societal pressure a person to do so. Respect to Boy George, a true pioneer and role model for others like him. He did it the right way.
The 38th best selling single of all time in the UK.
Boy George also had a solo hit in the 90s, ‘The Crying Game ‘ from the movie of the same name.
Yes ✨ being a teen in the 80s was pretty magical 🕊️💗🎶🔊💞 We just loved Everyone
Brad's face says it all , brain overload, Boy george got to him.
Spent 3 weeks at number 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984.
They don't realise that George was the only one NOT in a costume!
I think the video has a lot of 'Mardi Gras' from New Orleans. It would be like Mardi Gras on a Mississippi steamer in 1870.
George has one of the sweetest voices in the world! More culture club! Also you should really check out king park from the band La Dispute!
I was in Junior High when this song came out. And one of my classmates was named Guy George.
*That poor kid caught hell.*
☹
I even heard a counselor say it once.
Culture Club put out a whole string of big hits in the 80s. From my memory it's seems like everyone liked, regardless of taste. Boy George was super talented and not just a gimmick.
So lucky I was a kid when he came out!
Bro these guys are 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Had a truck driving friend, being in a truck constantly, the radio on all the time. He just loved the culture club til he saw them on MTV. He couldn't believe the voice came from that. He never listened to the radio again.
Number one hit for them!
Feel-good pop, and there ain't nothing wrong with that.