Remember MJ’s WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING? Part of the bridge was “You’re a vegetable!” ? My friends and I were 15 and we’d just laugh, keep dancing, and point to each other, telling everybody they were vegetables. Man, those were great days.
Yes, I agree - "Do you really want to hurt me" would be a great song to see Britt react to ... although, the original video is somewhat ... questionable, lol. Just not sure how black people in blackface would come across these days. Granted, I think the video is trying to convey that things we once considered commonplace are now taboo ... and things and people we accept today were once considered unacceptable.
The song is about the fear of being rejected or alienated for being different or not fitting in. The singer, Boy George, uses the metaphor of a chameleon, an animal that changes its color to blend in with its surroundings, to describe someone who changes their personality or appearance to please others. The word karma refers to the idea that actions have consequences, and that being dishonest or unfaithful will eventually backfire. The chorus of the song says: “Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and go. Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams, red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green.” This means that the singer wishes that the person he loves would be more consistent and compatible with him, instead of changing their colors like a chameleon. The colors red, gold, and green are also associated with the Rastafari movement, which Boy George was influenced by at the time
The person, he’s describing is hiding behind a false facade. Abusing the relationship one moment then claiming they love him. What But like most people, their actions betray their subtly. The singer is the one trying to appease his lover, but the lover keeps changing to hide their falseness. Boy George doesn’t talk much about the damaging relationship he was having at the time he wrote the song, although he does admit it when talking about the song, “Do you really want to hurt me”. A song about his troubled relationship as well as society’s attitudes towards homosexuality in the eighties.
In an interview, Culture Club frontman Boy George explained: "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."
Girl you not stupid it took me 40yrs to get the meaning of this song. It the Alienation one feels by not standing up what you believe in and trying to fit in by all means in a nutshell.
@@damodeste I was still in grade school when this came out. I never realized what it was about. But, Boy George has gotten better over the years like a fine wine.
Girl, lol . All of us 80’s kids are over here like-- we just only jammed to this song every time it came on MTV and on our Boomboxes as we were locked up in our bedroom just singing along after memorizing the written lyrics that was included with the booklet that came with the cassette. No analyzing needed for 80’s songs. Just sit back , or rather get up and sing and dance to all the amazing songs that was of the greatest decade ever! The beat, the instrumental, the talent of awesome singing voices, just everything about that era of songs, and videos!
Nothing was ever questioned in the 80s. We get danced and enjoyed the show. What an awesome time to live in. Nothing was shoved down people's throats like today. The Boy was awesome
I had a friend who was the toughest, straightest, truck driving ex-marine sergeant you could ever meet, and he loved this song. Loved the voice and the music, didn't worry about the look.
His name is BOY GEORGE. He is an Icon. Young people did start to dress like him in the 80's. This group was HUGE in the 80's. They still tour. Boy George also has a number of solo albums and is also a highly in demand DJ and remixer. He's also a coach on the British version of "The Voice" along with the amazing Tom Jones.
Red, Gold and Green are colors important in Rastafarianism. Culture Club, like many of the British groups coming out of the era of post-punk, were steeped in reggae music and the attendant Rasta beliefs in that culture. Red - signifies the blood of those killed for the cause of the African community, throughout history. Gold - signifies the vast wealth and riches which belong to the African continent. Green - signifies the lushness and hope of the Earth namely that of the Promised Land of Ethiopia.
@@Gwennedd well the song about alienation (according to boy george), he's singing about love (not africa or reggae), and he was in a gay relationship with his drummer at the time... so i'm going to go with my theory since it fits 3 different ways not just with the colors; which were the LGB colors
In an interview, Culture Club frontman Boy George explained: "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.
Can't help with the lyrics, I always just enjoyed how melodic this song was. Boy George's look was controversial for mainstream audiences, but it helped make Culture Club famous. My #1 takeaway is Boy George's voice -- OMG, to this day I think he has the sweetest male voice in music. Many overlook how beautiful his singing voice is because they're distracted by makeup, video production from that era, or working out the lyrics, but if you were to listen to this song again, or react to another song from that era (Do You Really Want To Hurt Me), tune everything out and listen to his singing. Gorgeous. Deep Dive: Listen to how his voice has ... matured ... since back in the day. Search for: Boy George, Culture Club - Everything I Own (Live)
Agreed. I was a kid when the song came out and we all liked it. But we talked about Boy George more. Now this song comes on and it’s an absolute must listen. And I often find myself closing my eyes and singing along, being mesmerized at how he still has what I’d also consider one of the best voices in male performers.
Agreed. His vocals rival a few singers with very pure vocal tones. Mitch Grassi being one. Boy George's clear tones really show in "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me".
TBH it's really just one of many 80s fun videos that you can't analyze too deeply. Boy George is an 80s icon. His style and fashion was his way of expression. One of a kind. Check out more of his music. Definitely worth more reactions. Primarily a fun 80s sound and style.
One interesting thing about Culture Club: They had a longer continuous run on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart from '82-'85 (or '86) than Michael Jackson. Of course, Michael did it with Thriller and The Victory album with his brothers and We Are the World, Culture Club did it over 4 albums.
Culture Club was a part of the New Romantic movement in the 80s, inspired in part by the glam rock of David Bowie and others. In many ways, the band was one of representation at that time...the singer Boy George (Irish and gay, when the Irish in the UK were not seen in the best light, and homosexuality was a crime), the bassist Mikey Craig (a black Briton), the guitarist-keyboardist Roy Hay (blond and English), and Jon Moss (Jewish, and, besides Boy George, probably the best looking guy of the bunch). All three of them were playing cards with the pickpocket in the video. A lot of what made Culture Club so popular, besides their amazing music, was the flamboyance of Boy George, who caused some straight men to question their sexuality. They were definitely controversial, but that was one of the things I always loved about them.
I love the "besides Boy George..." haha yes, George catch all the attention. His androgynous beauty was atractive and Jon was the stereotypical good looking guy
We never thought about this too much, we just enjoyed the song and his performance. We enjoyed Boy George, he had some great songs in the 80's and we didn't care one bit about him or his lifestyle, etc. The 80's were so much more fun and less complicated.
OMG so true. She totally overthought it and missed the point. Which is >>> its fun catchy pop music. It’s a song you sing along to and enjoy. I swear, I don’t know what’s wrong with these younger people, they can’t listen to music and enjoy melody, and harmony anymore. The music today is so bad is warping their abilities so appreciate catchy hit songs. They all act like it’s an exam or a pop quiz or something. Clueless
according to wikipedia: In an interview, Culture Club frontman Boy George explained: "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."
It became the second Culture Club single to reach the top of the UK Singles Chart. The record stayed at number one for six weeks and became the UK's biggest-selling single of the year 1983 🔥
Red Gold and Green are the colors of a United Africa. The video was set right after the end of slavery in Mississippi. He is singing about a 'Civil War' between himself and the drummer, who was a closeted gay man. The 2 were having a relationship, yet Boy George (the singer) wanted more. Most of the songs tend to be about their relationships, yet catchy and fun to sing to.
Thank you! I would also say the song is a bit about his sexuality and gender presentation -- the "contradiction." A big part of this band's popularity and notoriety revolved around Boy George's look. I mean, he had to call himself "Boy"!
no, he isnt. "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 georges own words.
@@stephen2583 Well, he said many things over the years. I've seen and read other things where Boy George claimed most of the songs are about his turbulent relationship with Jon Moss, the drummer. So much was done back then to blur sexual lines to stay in the good graces of fans and music companies. One could be dumped really quickly. No matter what, it's a fantastic song, although, probably the most over-played. Much of the band's other stuff has been largely forgotten, except maybe Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.
The amount of artistry demonstrated by Boy George and Culture Club was unprecedented and as unique and refreshing as you might think it was. No one had seen or heard anything like it. I was young enough to not even clock that he was openly gay for like 4 years :)
Late to the party so I am sure people have said this already, but Boy George was/is the lead singer of the UK punk/jazz/rock/funk/soul/reggae fusion band Culture Club. The were HUGE in 1980s UK. Boy George was openly gay in the 1980s and was a national treasure in the UK. This is probably one of their biggest hits. It was my very first album as a child growing up in Nigeria thanks to my sister who was in school in the UK at the time. I was drawn to the look and style of Boy George in this video because it was just so crazy different. The music was also just AMAZING! You are right about the lyrics of the song, it is about sociopaths who are able to manipulate people to get their way causing destruction to everyone around them as they chase after fame, money, power and control. They are chameleons but at some point they get caught out and karma come back to bite them. It may be after a ton of bodies have been left in the wake of their sociopathy and they may never have the self awareness to recognise that their downfall at the hands of karma is a product of them being sociopaths. This is where the lines "Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams. Red gold and green, red gold and green" and "Everyday is like survival, you're my lover not my rival". The song is probably about someone Boy George dated or something (i only learned decades later he was gay when I found out that was even a thing after moving to the UK). This would explain why I was always tripped by the lines "I'm a man (a man) without conviction. I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know. How to sell (to sell) a contradiction. You come and go, you come and go." However, now I think about it, I think it is a reference to maybe a break up conversation between Boy and that person he was dating. The line "I'm a man without conviction" being the words of the sociopath the song is about, and the lines "I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know. How to sell (to sell) a contradiction, You come and go you come and go" is Boy George's response as someone who is open hearted wore his heart on his sleeves. As for "Red Gold and Green", these are the colours of reggae which was a huge influence in UK music in the late 60s - 80s as many cultures from the Caribbean islands, especially Jamaica moved to the UK for work. It was also around the time Bob Marley was blowing up so that style took over UK youth culture and was reflected in the music. You should see Musical Youth too, not as out there as Culture Club but they too are a reflection of that immigrant culture naturally blending into UK culture through the youth. While Afrobeat is not taking hold in the UK, Caribbean music culture still is huge influence It's quite funny and amazing seeing the younger generation discovering the music and music videos I grew up listening to and watching. You should react to Grady Harrell's Belinda, Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchy, A-Ha's - Take on Me, Toto's Africa, Nik Kershaw's - Don Quixote, Culture Club's - Do you want to hurt me? 80s had the best music because it was all raw and not mechanical/coporate. The closest thing in the 1990s UK was the Hardcore/Jungle/Brum n Bass scene
Your quizzical expressions at the start of the video on seeing good ol' Boy George in 1870 Mississippi are cracking me up! LOLLLLL That's the look many had when he burst on the scene in the 1980s.
I was thirteen and walked a half mile to my friend's house to meet all my other friends because he was the first one to get Mtv (at the time it was in a pay channel tier) and this video was playing when I arrived. I remember saying "that is one of the ugliest broads I have ever seen".
That's Boy George!! "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.
George saved me as a gay teen in the 80s. There a huge catalogue here. Boy George is the singer, Culture Club these four together. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me next.
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.
I saw Culture Club a few years ago in a show with some other 80s bands. While I liked them, I was there because of another band. But when these guys came on, Boy George stole the show. He was genuine, entertaining, and he joked with members of the crowd, some of which he claimed to recognize from being at other shows. Some he even knew by name. He even took time to explain the jist of the band to people on the audience who weren't familiar with them. An absolute gem onstage
I'm a huge fan of CC so there's some things to say about it: Yes, the song is literally a metaphor about Karma. If you're a Chameleon and change your colours at your convenience, karma's gonna get you. Buuuut actually the song (like almost every song in CC) was about the relationship Boy George (the lead singer, the guy with that unique syle) has with Jon Moss. (the drummer in the band) So he's talking about how Jon was soo diferent with him everytime. Sometimes he love George, but many others times they was hating each other and had a toxic relationship. Also Jon never accept he's sexuality and always wanted to their relationship being oculted. "Every day it's like survivor, you're my lover, not my rival" You should react to Do You Really Want To Hurt or Time by them. Boy George was a very unique icon and pioneer at the time. He was so controversial and his androgynous confused people about if he was a man or a woman. lol iconic Btw don't take that seriously the video lol George and many artist don't like some of their videos at the 80's just so random.
Us kids had debates in school all the time about whether Boy George was a boy or girl. The consensus was he was a girl because why would a guy need to name themselves “Boy.” Also, the voice. We all knew no guy could sing that smooth at that pitch like that.
I always thought the song was about his secret relationship and he didn't want to out him. He (the lover) was living a secret life like a chameleon, he comes and goes, he comes and goes.
To have a guy call himself Boy George, dress like a woman, and be openly gay (or as close as anyone ever was at the time) in the 80s was almost revolutionary.
I was nine when this came out. My dad bought the record. He was a blues fan, Beatles, Stones, Dylan. But he also like new music. I recall the video in heavy circulation on MTV as well in the years that followed. What I don't remember, was any controversy at all. The world didn't work that way back then. The song was a huge success, and was regularly played at our middle school dances at a private catholic school.
This was right around the apex of Culture Club's popularity. CC and Eurythmics came out around approximately the same time and androgyny was definitely a thing--Annie Lennox with her flame colored buzz cut and George with his makeup and raids (by the time of their next album, he'd gone for a more glam look with a quasi-Rita Heyworth style). They had a fantastic backup singer on this album, Helen Terry, who was featured most prominently on "It's a Miracle" and "Church of the Poisoned Mind."
This is how I know upbringing is a massive influence. I grew up in the midwest, as a 90's kid, with my parents owning this record, and playing it quite often. Never once crossed my mind that this could be controversial. It was just fun music. I can almost vividly remember the days I realized some people care about another person's sexuality and race. And until this day it still boggles my mind as to how or why. To this day my favorite thing is when someone is their absolute selves and comfortable in their skin. It's a beautiful and joyful thing to witness.
Music Videos in the 80's were more about visuals than story. They rarely told a complete narrative and almost never had anything to do with what the song was about. It is so funny seeing younger generations looking at 80's videos and trying to find a story in it and then trying to relate it to the song's lyrics. And it is not that they were not creative. 80's music videos were at the peak of creativity and created by some on the great filmmakers of our time. You have to look at them more as surreal experimental films than narrative films. Anyway, always love your reactions and how intuitive you always are!
I laughed at her confusion. Watching random music videos with songs that had no relevance to the visuals was fun. It was the weird, quirky, unabashed creative work of people that gave me happiness.
I was hoping you'd explain it for me 😀. Seeing this video on MTV over & over decades ago I loved the music but never understood it. I remember him on the Phil Donahue show and people were outraged at his looks. I adore the way you express yourself about music.
Every time I see a new video I realize how much I missed you when you were bringing that precious baby into the world...and the world is blessed more so by both of you...I thank you!
This came out when I was in high school, and my mom HATED most all music that I listened to. However ... she couldn't resist this catchy tune! I remember her coming into my room and singing along when it came on my radio. ETA: Culture Club is the band's name. His name is Boy George.
Song is about George and the drummer. They had an affair but drummer isn't gay. George loved him and wanted the drummer to chose one life and not be both ways. He was a chameleon, changing from women to George back and forth
I don't believe that his song was intended to have too much read into it. The point is, did you enjoy it, did you like the music? I realize that there was a little meaning behind the song, but did you enjoy it? I think that was what was important.
We took the term. He's a man. With a grin. It was about the music. I mean, when Freddie Mercury and Elton John came oit was like no s***What a surprise still love their music. And that's all Me and my friends cared about!
Britt one of the things about 1980’s music videos was that often they had nothing to do with the song. If they wanted it to be played on MTV they sometimes were just mean’t to be interesting and in this case colorful.
Boy George is the lead singer for the band Culture Club. He had a secret romance with the drummer, many of their songs referenced aspects of their relationship and were woven into the lyrics.
The 80's and th4e 90's prepared us to what's going on now. We we so open to diversity and people that look different. Don't look too much into ..just have fun!!! Lol Lol
Rumor has it the song was written in dedication for Culture Club's drummer Jon Moss who Boy George was rumored to have a relationship with at the time.
Boo, if you try to make sense of a Culture Club video, you are going to end up with a headache.😂😂😂 The group is called Culture Club, the lead singer is BOY GEORGE. He is one of the pretty boys of the 80's. There were four, Prince, Boy George, George Michael, and Michael Jackson. In the eighties, we loved them all, because each had their own look and sound that no one could duplicate. So Prince was Prince, Boy was Boy, George M was George M, and MJ was MJ. Damn I just realized...Boy George is the only one still with us. RIP... PRINCE...,GEORGE MICHAEL..., and MICHAEL JACKSON. You are missed.❤❤❤
The 80s, we just had fun with the music. Didn’t take it too seriously.Culture Club was the groups name. My daughter wanted to be a clown for Halloween one year and by the time my sister and I was done with her, she looked like Boy George.
He definitely broke barriers at that very popular worldwide boy George was at that time the biggest star on the planet 🌎 they made quite a few hits back then ❤
The singer is Boy George the band is Culture Club. The videos in the 80s were not always about what the song is about. The video directors just did whatever they wanted.
This video was a classic example of how a lot of videos in the 80s tried to tell a story with certain parts of the narrative coming from parts of the lyrics, but not really having anything to do with what the song was actually about (in my opinion). Phil Collins also had a video about the insanity of the music video creation around a son'g lyrics but not its meaning in Billy, Don't You Lose My Number if you get a chance to check it out.
Iconic Boy George! British artist who was “coming out” in this video ( although probably had already in England. You need to look him up if interested). See, they had “colors” then. He is still with us as a handsome, mature, very wealthy and well adjusted man ( also a judge on Britain’s Got Talent. I do believe it’s that’s the one). Someone will correct me if I’m wrong. 😉 Boy George is referring to a Chameleon ( a type of lizard that can change its colors to suit its surroundings, to blend in, so to say ), hence the name of the song .😎🤓☺️
Boy George is his name, Culture Club is the groups name. he was enormous in the early to mid 80's. he was his generation's Liberace, personally i think he had one of the greatest pure voices in the decade of the 80's. he's still around, he a coach on the Voice Australia (or was last i checked) my thought is the only people who ever had reason to hate on him are those who hate him for no actual reason. the guy is an Icon.
For me the best George O' Dowd [ aka Boy George ] song is Crying Game from the movie of the same name after he left Culture Club . The band has reformed and are still doing gigs in 2024 as Culture Club with George as lead singer .
You should check out their first hit, "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" Nice mellow reggae beat. That's the first time many of us saw Boy George, and it was a revelation.
everyone will give a long meaning to this song, but breaking it down to bare bones, "Don't try to fit in and be something you aren't, just be yourself"
A tip for watching 80's music videos: don't expect them to have anything to do with the song. This song isn't about a riverboat gambler; that's just the concept the videographer came up with. As you keep watching music videos of that decade, you'll be amazed at the odd visuals that come up. You may think that's strange, that the band would make videos that were unrelated to the song - wouldn't that be confusing? Here's the thing: it wasn't, at all. In the 80's, radio was still the main way people heard music, so by the time a song hit MTV (the channel where music videos were released), everybody knew the song already. So when they made videos, they needed visuals that would draw and hold the audience's attention, and that often involved coming up with stories and characters to make the song interesting to watch. This song's lyrics are very internal, being about attitude and self-image, things that are hard to dramatize. So why try? Tell a story about gamblers and fancy girls instead! This trend went to some crazy places - try "Safey Dance" and "She Blinded Me With Science", both big 80's hits with bizarre videos. There's a cheerfulness to the half-baked goings-on that can be quite addictive. :)
Culture Club is the band, the lead singer is Boy George. He wrote the song. According to 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." It reflects George’s frustration with his then lover’s (another band member) insistence that they keep their relationship on the down-low because he was closeted and they were both males. (Boy George was out.). “Red, gold and green” refers to the colors of African liberation, imagery that was popular at the time and that George references as a general reference to liberation and equality. Although androgyny and gender bending had an established history in rock and pop by the time of Culture Club’s first hit (1982’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”) his style and unapologetic embrace of effeminacy were very controversial at the time. The video was filmed in the UK, but depicts an imagined 1870s Mississippi that has more racial, gender, and sexual equality than actual history.
We didn’t take stuff seriously back then. We just danced.
Isn't that the truth!
Yes and we just enjoyed life without feeling the need to figure everything out.
I hear that!
Yes this!!!
Remember MJ’s WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING? Part of the bridge was “You’re a vegetable!” ? My friends and I were 15 and we’d just laugh, keep dancing, and point to each other, telling everybody they were vegetables. Man, those were great days.
BOY GEORGE SLAYING VOCALS MAKEUP HAIR WHEN MTV FIRST STARTED HE SHOOK EVERYONE 💯
Basically, what he's saying in this song is that "When you try to be everything to everyone, you become nothing to no one."
The best short and to the point explanation of this song! 👍
love that explanation
Perfect explanation!
Super talented singer - groundbreaking - and of course his iconic hit "Do you really want to hurt me" - gorgeous.
Yes, I agree - "Do you really want to hurt me" would be a great song to see Britt react to ... although, the original video is somewhat ... questionable, lol. Just not sure how black people in blackface would come across these days. Granted, I think the video is trying to convey that things we once considered commonplace are now taboo ... and things and people we accept today were once considered unacceptable.
The song is about the fear of being rejected or alienated for being different or not fitting in. The singer, Boy George, uses the metaphor of a chameleon, an animal that changes its color to blend in with its surroundings, to describe someone who changes their personality or appearance to please others. The word karma refers to the idea that actions have consequences, and that being dishonest or unfaithful will eventually backfire. The chorus of the song says: “Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and go. Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams, red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green.” This means that the singer wishes that the person he loves would be more consistent and compatible with him, instead of changing their colors like a chameleon. The colors red, gold, and green are also associated with the Rastafari movement, which Boy George was influenced by at the time
Thank you! I was trying to find a way of saying just that!
I absolutely love Boy George and have since my teens in the 80s.
The person, he’s describing is hiding behind a false facade. Abusing the relationship one moment then claiming they love him. What But like most people, their actions betray their subtly. The singer is the one trying to appease his lover, but the lover keeps changing to hide their falseness. Boy George doesn’t talk much about the damaging relationship he was having at the time he wrote the song, although he does admit it when talking about the song, “Do you really want to hurt me”. A song about his troubled relationship as well as society’s attitudes towards homosexuality in the eighties.
Best explanation I've ever read about explaining this song.
In an interview, Culture Club frontman Boy George explained: "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."
Exactly 💯
I never tried to figure it out. I just vibed to it!
Girl you not stupid it took me 40yrs to get the meaning of this song. It the Alienation one feels by not standing up what you believe in and trying to fit in by all means in a nutshell.
@@damodeste I was still in grade school when this came out. I never realized what it was about. But, Boy George has gotten better over the years like a fine wine.
When Boy George sang “I’m a man” your confusion cracked me up.
Girl, lol . All of us 80’s kids are over here like-- we just only jammed to this song every time it came on MTV and on our Boomboxes as we were locked up in our bedroom just singing along after memorizing the written lyrics that was included with the booklet that came with the cassette. No analyzing needed for 80’s songs. Just sit back , or rather get up and sing and dance to all the amazing songs that was of the greatest decade ever! The beat, the instrumental, the talent of awesome singing voices, just everything about that era of songs, and videos!
The booklets that came with cassettes were the best!
Unfortunately, the lyrics printed were tiny. I could barely read them let alone sing along.
Metal heads were into the lyrics. Priest, Maiden, Queensryche…
Pop has never been about that.
No need to Dr.Phil the song just jamm out.
yah I jammed to this song back in they day, no idea what it was about, and didnt care lol
Nothing was ever questioned in the 80s. We get danced and enjoyed the show. What an awesome time to live in. Nothing was shoved down people's throats like today. The Boy was awesome
I had a friend who was the toughest, straightest, truck driving ex-marine sergeant you could ever meet, and he loved this song. Loved the voice and the music, didn't worry about the look.
His name is BOY GEORGE. He is an Icon. Young people did start to dress like him in the 80's. This group was HUGE in the 80's. They still tour. Boy George also has a number of solo albums and is also a highly in demand DJ and remixer. He's also a coach on the British version of "The Voice" along with the amazing Tom Jones.
3000% accurate.
I saw them in Nashville a couple years ago… so much fun!
BOY? Any true man would question that.
@@tdhooper3886 Why? He's totally a man. A really smart. intelligent, talented, rich one, and he's pretty masculine too. What's your problem?
@@lamusiclover2264 Yeah, totally masculine . Especially the eye shadow and lipstick
Red, Gold and Green are colors important in Rastafarianism. Culture Club, like many of the British groups coming out of the era of post-punk, were steeped in reggae music and the attendant Rasta beliefs in that culture. Red - signifies the blood of those killed for the cause of the African community, throughout history. Gold - signifies the vast wealth and riches which belong to the African continent. Green - signifies the lushness and hope of the Earth namely that of the Promised Land of Ethiopia.
Promised land of Ethiopia??? Hilarious 🤣🤣😂😂
Boy George really looks Ethiopian.
Red, gold and green are the original LGB color before it was LGBTQ+2S.
@@YTsupportsZionaziGenocide , I looked this up and found that it's not likely, BUT...the colours were significant to Reggae culture.
@@Gwennedd well the song about alienation (according to boy george), he's singing about love (not africa or reggae), and he was in a gay relationship with his drummer at the time...
so i'm going to go with my theory since it fits 3 different ways not just with the colors; which were the LGB colors
In an interview, Culture Club frontman Boy George explained: "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.
And yet in an interview John the drummer said the song was about their affair.
Can't help with the lyrics, I always just enjoyed how melodic this song was. Boy George's look was controversial for mainstream audiences, but it helped make Culture Club famous. My #1 takeaway is Boy George's voice -- OMG, to this day I think he has the sweetest male voice in music. Many overlook how beautiful his singing voice is because they're distracted by makeup, video production from that era, or working out the lyrics, but if you were to listen to this song again, or react to another song from that era (Do You Really Want To Hurt Me), tune everything out and listen to his singing. Gorgeous. Deep Dive: Listen to how his voice has ... matured ... since back in the day. Search for: Boy George, Culture Club - Everything I Own (Live)
Agreed.
I was a kid when the song came out and we all liked it. But we talked about Boy George more.
Now this song comes on and it’s an absolute must listen. And I often find myself closing my eyes and singing along, being mesmerized at how he still has what I’d also consider one of the best voices in male performers.
Agreed. His vocals rival a few singers with very pure vocal tones. Mitch Grassi being one. Boy George's clear tones really show in "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me".
TBH it's really just one of many 80s fun videos that you can't analyze too deeply. Boy George is an 80s icon. His style and fashion was his way of expression. One of a kind. Check out more of his music. Definitely worth more reactions. Primarily a fun 80s sound and style.
For sure. We just had fun with the music!
One interesting thing about Culture Club: They had a longer continuous run on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart from '82-'85 (or '86) than Michael Jackson. Of course, Michael did it with Thriller and The Victory album with his brothers and We Are the World, Culture Club did it over 4 albums.
Culture Club was a part of the New Romantic movement in the 80s, inspired in part by the glam rock of David Bowie and others. In many ways, the band was one of representation at that time...the singer Boy George (Irish and gay, when the Irish in the UK were not seen in the best light, and homosexuality was a crime), the bassist Mikey Craig (a black Briton), the guitarist-keyboardist Roy Hay (blond and English), and Jon Moss (Jewish, and, besides Boy George, probably the best looking guy of the bunch). All three of them were playing cards with the pickpocket in the video. A lot of what made Culture Club so popular, besides their amazing music, was the flamboyance of Boy George, who caused some straight men to question their sexuality. They were definitely controversial, but that was one of the things I always loved about them.
I love the "besides Boy George..." haha yes, George catch all the attention. His androgynous beauty was atractive and Jon was the stereotypical good looking guy
" Do you really want to hurt me ? " will help explain Boy George. Another great song is " The Church of the Poison Mind ".
Boy George was so talented, such a beautiful voice.
Still is, he's currently starring in moulin rouge on Broadway NYC
This is one of the best pop songs of all time. No more. No less. 🤣😂
This
Simple as that lol
We never thought about this too much, we just enjoyed the song and his performance. We enjoyed Boy George, he had some great songs in the 80's and we didn't care one bit about him or his lifestyle, etc. The 80's were so much more fun and less complicated.
OMG so true.
She totally overthought it and missed the point.
Which is >>> its fun catchy pop music.
It’s a song you sing along to and enjoy.
I swear, I don’t know what’s wrong with these younger people, they can’t listen to music and enjoy melody, and harmony anymore.
The music today is so bad is warping their abilities so appreciate catchy hit songs.
They all act like it’s an exam or a pop quiz or something. Clueless
That's our boy "boy George" check their song "Do you really want to hurt me"
Great song.
"Victims"!
according to wikipedia: In an interview, Culture Club frontman Boy George explained: "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."
This song was before True Colors of Cyndi Lauper early 80's. He later become a judge @"The Voice Australia".
It became the second Culture Club single to reach the top of the UK Singles Chart. The record stayed at number one for six weeks and became the UK's biggest-selling single of the year 1983 🔥
He was so ahead of his time. Brilliant guy
Red Gold and Green are the colors of a United Africa. The video was set right after the end of slavery in Mississippi. He is singing about a 'Civil War' between himself and the drummer, who was a closeted gay man. The 2 were having a relationship, yet Boy George (the singer) wanted more. Most of the songs tend to be about their relationships, yet catchy and fun to sing to.
Thank you!
I would also say the song is a bit about his sexuality and gender presentation -- the "contradiction." A big part of this band's popularity and notoriety revolved around Boy George's look. I mean, he had to call himself "Boy"!
no, he isnt. "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 georges own words.
@@stephen2583 Well, he said many things over the years. I've seen and read other things where Boy George claimed most of the songs are about his turbulent relationship with Jon Moss, the drummer. So much was done back then to blur sexual lines to stay in the good graces of fans and music companies. One could be dumped really quickly. No matter what, it's a fantastic song, although, probably the most over-played. Much of the band's other stuff has been largely forgotten, except maybe Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.
That's what I heard him say on an interview
He wasn’t closeted at all,he didn’t even keep the vacuum cleaner in there
The amount of artistry demonstrated by Boy George and Culture Club was unprecedented and as unique and refreshing as you might think it was. No one had seen or heard anything like it. I was young enough to not even clock that he was openly gay for like 4 years :)
Late to the party so I am sure people have said this already, but Boy George was/is the lead singer of the UK punk/jazz/rock/funk/soul/reggae fusion band Culture Club. The were HUGE in 1980s UK. Boy George was openly gay in the 1980s and was a national treasure in the UK. This is probably one of their biggest hits. It was my very first album as a child growing up in Nigeria thanks to my sister who was in school in the UK at the time. I was drawn to the look and style of Boy George in this video because it was just so crazy different. The music was also just AMAZING!
You are right about the lyrics of the song, it is about sociopaths who are able to manipulate people to get their way causing destruction to everyone around them as they chase after fame, money, power and control. They are chameleons but at some point they get caught out and karma come back to bite them. It may be after a ton of bodies have been left in the wake of their sociopathy and they may never have the self awareness to recognise that their downfall at the hands of karma is a product of them being sociopaths. This is where the lines "Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dreams. Red gold and green, red gold and green" and "Everyday is like survival, you're my lover not my rival".
The song is probably about someone Boy George dated or something (i only learned decades later he was gay when I found out that was even a thing after moving to the UK). This would explain why I was always tripped by the lines "I'm a man (a man) without conviction. I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know. How to sell (to sell) a contradiction. You come and go, you come and go." However, now I think about it, I think it is a reference to maybe a break up conversation between Boy and that person he was dating. The line "I'm a man without conviction" being the words of the sociopath the song is about, and the lines "I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know. How to sell (to sell) a contradiction, You come and go you come and go" is Boy George's response as someone who is open hearted wore his heart on his sleeves.
As for "Red Gold and Green", these are the colours of reggae which was a huge influence in UK music in the late 60s - 80s as many cultures from the Caribbean islands, especially Jamaica moved to the UK for work. It was also around the time Bob Marley was blowing up so that style took over UK youth culture and was reflected in the music. You should see Musical Youth too, not as out there as Culture Club but they too are a reflection of that immigrant culture naturally blending into UK culture through the youth. While Afrobeat is not taking hold in the UK, Caribbean music culture still is huge influence
It's quite funny and amazing seeing the younger generation discovering the music and music videos I grew up listening to and watching.
You should react to Grady Harrell's Belinda, Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchy, A-Ha's - Take on Me, Toto's Africa, Nik Kershaw's - Don Quixote, Culture Club's - Do you want to hurt me? 80s had the best music because it was all raw and not mechanical/coporate. The closest thing in the 1990s UK was the Hardcore/Jungle/Brum n Bass scene
Your quizzical expressions at the start of the video on seeing good ol' Boy George in 1870 Mississippi are cracking me up! LOLLLLL That's the look many had when he burst on the scene in the 1980s.
What would be more hilarious is for her to watch any random 80’s music video that had nothing to do with the lyrics or the intent of the song.
This singer's name is "Boy George" and this was a unique look when he first appeared.
I was thirteen and walked a half mile to my friend's house to meet all my other friends because he was the first one to get Mtv (at the time it was in a pay channel tier) and this video was playing when I arrived. I remember saying "that is one of the ugliest broads I have ever seen".
“Unique” is a massive understatement. 😂
That's Boy George!!
"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.
Boy George was the performer that my sister argued to my mother "You just don't understand him..."
My favorite lyric "You're my lover, not my rival" I've loved too many women who would NOT understand that.
George saved me as a gay teen in the 80s. There a huge catalogue here. Boy George is the singer, Culture Club these four together. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me next.
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.
I saw Culture Club a few years ago in a show with some other 80s bands. While I liked them, I was there because of another band. But when these guys came on, Boy George stole the show. He was genuine, entertaining, and he joked with members of the crowd, some of which he claimed to recognize from being at other shows. Some he even knew by name. He even took time to explain the jist of the band to people on the audience who weren't familiar with them. An absolute gem onstage
I'm a huge fan of CC so there's some things to say about it: Yes, the song is literally a metaphor about Karma. If you're a Chameleon and change your colours at your convenience, karma's gonna get you. Buuuut actually the song (like almost every song in CC) was about the relationship Boy George (the lead singer, the guy with that unique syle) has with Jon Moss. (the drummer in the band) So he's talking about how Jon was soo diferent with him everytime. Sometimes he love George, but many others times they was hating each other and had a toxic relationship. Also Jon never accept he's sexuality and always wanted to their relationship being oculted. "Every day it's like survivor, you're my lover, not my rival"
You should react to Do You Really Want To Hurt or Time by them. Boy George was a very unique icon and pioneer at the time. He was so controversial and his androgynous confused people about if he was a man or a woman. lol iconic
Btw don't take that seriously the video lol George and many artist don't like some of their videos at the 80's just so random.
Us kids had debates in school all the time about whether Boy George was a boy or girl. The consensus was he was a girl because why would a guy need to name themselves “Boy.”
Also, the voice. We all knew no guy could sing that smooth at that pitch like that.
I love this song too. Thank you for featuring this song. :)
I always thought the song was about his secret relationship and he didn't want to out him. He (the lover) was living a secret life like a chameleon, he comes and goes, he comes and goes.
Think it was the drummer he had a relationship with but of course he(drummer) denied it
To have a guy call himself Boy George, dress like a woman, and be openly gay (or as close as anyone ever was at the time) in the 80s was almost revolutionary.
"Do you really want to hurt me" is a really nice song by this group.
I was nine when this came out. My dad bought the record. He was a blues fan, Beatles, Stones, Dylan. But he also like new music. I recall the video in heavy circulation on MTV as well in the years that followed. What I don't remember, was any controversy at all. The world didn't work that way back then. The song was a huge success, and was regularly played at our middle school dances at a private catholic school.
This was right around the apex of Culture Club's popularity. CC and Eurythmics came out around approximately the same time and androgyny was definitely a thing--Annie Lennox with her flame colored buzz cut and George with his makeup and raids (by the time of their next album, he'd gone for a more glam look with a quasi-Rita Heyworth style). They had a fantastic backup singer on this album, Helen Terry, who was featured most prominently on "It's a Miracle" and "Church of the Poisoned Mind."
Britt! Do the CC’s Time (clock of the heart)!
It is truly their best song. It is timeless and never gets old!
Victims is a vocal masterclass.
This song was so fun. Boy George is great.
I rememeber this song was very popular for a time back in the 80's.
This is how I know upbringing is a massive influence. I grew up in the midwest, as a 90's kid, with my parents owning this record, and playing it quite often. Never once crossed my mind that this could be controversial. It was just fun music. I can almost vividly remember the days I realized some people care about another person's sexuality and race. And until this day it still boggles my mind as to how or why. To this day my favorite thing is when someone is their absolute selves and comfortable in their skin. It's a beautiful and joyful thing to witness.
I was born in the exact year and month it was published, September 1983. What a cool time
Always loved this song when it came on.
This was such A HUGE HIT!!! back in the 80's....HUGE....HUGE....HUGE...lol....
I could only imagine!!
The video was actually filmed on the River Thames, up stream from London, UK.
“Time” is beautiful
This song was huge in the dance clubs at the time.
Britt you know Auntee Dolly can play the hell out of a harmonic!
It's a love song or more the relationship struggles he was going through at the time with a member of the band. I'm sure I heard thats the case.
Music Videos in the 80's were more about visuals than story. They rarely told a complete narrative and almost never had anything to do with what the song was about. It is so funny seeing younger generations looking at 80's videos and trying to find a story in it and then trying to relate it to the song's lyrics.
And it is not that they were not creative. 80's music videos were at the peak of creativity and created by some on the great filmmakers of our time. You have to look at them more as surreal experimental films than narrative films. Anyway, always love your reactions and how intuitive you always are!
I laughed at her confusion. Watching random music videos with songs that had no relevance to the visuals was fun. It was the weird, quirky, unabashed creative work of people that gave me happiness.
Most of us listened to this song for years before ever seeing the video.
I was hoping you'd explain it for me 😀. Seeing this video on MTV over & over decades ago I loved the music but never understood it. I remember him on the Phil Donahue show and people were outraged at his looks. I adore the way you express yourself about music.
Every time I see a new video I realize how much I missed you when you were bringing that precious baby into the world...and the world is blessed more so by both of you...I thank you!
This came out when I was in high school, and my mom HATED most all music that I listened to. However ... she couldn't resist this catchy tune! I remember her coming into my room and singing along when it came on my radio.
ETA: Culture Club is the band's name. His name is Boy George.
Song is about George and the drummer. They had an affair but drummer isn't gay. George loved him and wanted the drummer to chose one life and not be both ways. He was a chameleon, changing from women to George back and forth
I don't believe that his song was intended to have too much read into it. The point is, did you enjoy it, did you like the music? I realize that there was a little meaning behind the song, but did you enjoy it? I think that was what was important.
I LOVE Boy George!! He is currently starring on Broadway as Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge. I would love to be able to go see it!!
He has always had such a beautiful voice! Always loved Boy George
Your facial expressions says all we need to know😵💫
We took the term. He's a man. With a grin.
It was about the music. I mean, when Freddie Mercury and Elton John came oit was like no s***What a surprise still love their music. And that's all Me and my friends cared about!
That's Boy George!!!!! We loved his music. He's been a judge on the voice, much love and appreciation from Kentucky ❤️🙏❤️🇺🇸
The lyric is "loving would come easy, if your colors were like my dream, red, gold and green... red gold and green "
Britt one of the things about 1980’s music videos was that often they had nothing to do with the song. If they wanted it to be played on MTV they sometimes were just mean’t to be interesting and in this case colorful.
Boy George is the lead singer for the band Culture Club. He had a secret romance with the drummer, many of their songs referenced aspects of their relationship and were woven into the lyrics.
The 80's and th4e 90's prepared us to what's going on now. We we so open to diversity and people that look different. Don't look too much into ..just have fun!!! Lol Lol
Hello Britt Angelina had her concert last Friday night. There are about 5 songs. Princess of Ruins about the little girl she gave her shoes too❤
The Girl/Boy, doing the singing is known as 'Boy George'...Culture Club is the name of the Band.
Culture Club has some AWESOME music. You should react to, "Miss Me Blind". And yes, Boy George (the colorful lead singer) was way ahead of his time.
Rumor has it the song was written in dedication for Culture Club's drummer Jon Moss who Boy George was rumored to have a relationship with at the time.
Boo, if you try to make sense of a Culture Club video, you are going to end up with a headache.😂😂😂 The group is called Culture Club, the lead singer is BOY GEORGE. He is one of the pretty boys of the 80's. There were four, Prince, Boy George, George Michael, and Michael Jackson. In the eighties, we loved them all, because each had their own look and sound that no one could duplicate. So Prince was Prince, Boy was Boy, George M was George M, and MJ was MJ. Damn I just realized...Boy George is the only one still with us. RIP... PRINCE...,GEORGE MICHAEL..., and MICHAEL JACKSON. You are missed.❤❤❤
The 80s, we just had fun with the music. Didn’t take it too seriously.Culture Club was the groups name. My daughter wanted to be a clown for Halloween one year and by the time my sister and I was done with her, she looked like Boy George.
He definitely broke barriers at that very popular worldwide boy George was at that time the biggest star on the planet 🌎 they made quite a few hits back then ❤
The singer is Boy George the band is Culture Club. The videos in the 80s were not always about what the song is about. The video directors just did whatever they wanted.
This video was a classic example of how a lot of videos in the 80s tried to tell a story with certain parts of the narrative coming from parts of the lyrics, but not really having anything to do with what the song was actually about (in my opinion). Phil Collins also had a video about the insanity of the music video creation around a son'g lyrics but not its meaning in Billy, Don't You Lose My Number if you get a chance to check it out.
My mom rocked this bad in the ''80s. Definitely not a normal boomer my mom!❤
All his songs were about his lover in the band. That dark haired guy
I always picture this video as being the one viewed by the moving men sung about by Dire Straits “Money for Nothing”
Iconic Boy George! British artist who was “coming out” in this video ( although probably had already in England. You need to look him up if interested). See, they had “colors” then. He is still with us as a handsome, mature, very wealthy and well adjusted man ( also a judge on Britain’s Got Talent. I do believe it’s that’s the one). Someone will correct me if I’m wrong. 😉 Boy George is referring to a Chameleon ( a type of lizard that can change its colors to suit its surroundings, to blend in, so to say ), hence the name of the song .😎🤓☺️
The video takes place in 1830’s along the US Mississippi River boats. It was notorious for gamblers and cheats running the river boats
Boy George is his name, Culture Club is the groups name. he was enormous in the early to mid 80's. he was his generation's Liberace, personally i think he had one of the greatest pure voices in the decade of the 80's. he's still around, he a coach on the Voice Australia (or was last i checked) my thought is the only people who ever had reason to hate on him are those who hate him for no actual reason. the guy is an Icon.
This song just takes me back to grade school. 4th and 5th grades…
For me the best George O' Dowd [ aka Boy George ] song is Crying Game from the movie of the same name after he left Culture Club . The band has reformed and are still doing gigs in 2024 as Culture Club with George as lead singer .
You should check out their first hit, "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" Nice mellow reggae beat. That's the first time many of us saw Boy George, and it was a revelation.
Lol. I was a kid the first time this came on top of the pops. Confused the heck out of us!
In my opinion "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" was their best song. It was their first big hit and it really shows off Boy George's vocal talents.
Music was music then we didn't care what it was about as long as it was good!
Always fun on your channel.
I really don’t know what to say about your reaction 😂
My God it’s like your seeing an alien ❤
Love
Whoa! The rare video, reaction! 🙂
His name. The main singer is Boy George of the Culture Club 😮 England 🇬🇧
My Irish Catholic grandmother had 2 framed pictures in her kitchen; Pope John Paul II and Boy George.
Its a song that sounds good.
everyone will give a long meaning to this song, but breaking it down to bare bones, "Don't try to fit in and be something you aren't, just be yourself"
A tip for watching 80's music videos: don't expect them to have anything to do with the song. This song isn't about a riverboat gambler; that's just the concept the videographer came up with. As you keep watching music videos of that decade, you'll be amazed at the odd visuals that come up. You may think that's strange, that the band would make videos that were unrelated to the song - wouldn't that be confusing? Here's the thing: it wasn't, at all. In the 80's, radio was still the main way people heard music, so by the time a song hit MTV (the channel where music videos were released), everybody knew the song already. So when they made videos, they needed visuals that would draw and hold the audience's attention, and that often involved coming up with stories and characters to make the song interesting to watch. This song's lyrics are very internal, being about attitude and self-image, things that are hard to dramatize. So why try? Tell a story about gamblers and fancy girls instead! This trend went to some crazy places - try "Safey Dance" and "She Blinded Me With Science", both big 80's hits with bizarre videos. There's a cheerfulness to the half-baked goings-on that can be quite addictive. :)
Culture Club is the band, the lead singer is Boy George. He wrote the song. According to 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." It reflects George’s frustration with his then lover’s (another band member) insistence that they keep their relationship on the down-low because he was closeted and they were both males. (Boy George was out.).
“Red, gold and green” refers to the colors of African liberation, imagery that was popular at the time and that George references as a general reference to liberation and equality.
Although androgyny and gender bending had an established history in rock and pop by the time of Culture Club’s first hit (1982’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?”) his style and unapologetic embrace of effeminacy were very controversial at the time.
The video was filmed in the UK, but depicts an imagined 1870s Mississippi that has more racial, gender, and sexual equality than actual history.