The first time I heard this song was a party at a house on Hinckley Road thrown by a girl who worked on the checkouts at Sainsbury’s on a Saturday.
At the time I was an impressionable fourteen year old but as my friends Mark and Melanie were a bit older I got invited to some of their friends’ parties and this was one such occasion. Someone put this record on and as I heard it I wandered over to the record player and took a look at the sleeve to see who it was. I can remember thinking that the picture on the sleeve – a shot of what I thought was a sweet looking girl singer against a yellow/orange background – was very appealing but you can imagine my surprise to discover (as I bought the 12 inch at Ainley’s Records near the cock tower the following week) and had a look on the back, that the nice girl was a actually called ‘Boy George’ to alleviate any gender confusion! Needless to say as we all know that was the START or it!
Having bought the song I played it time and time again and before long it was number one and Boy George was given to an unsuspecting world.
Looking back my love of all things ‘new romantic’ was born around this time and although most of my school friends were listening to Deep Purple and Motorhead it was with the friends I made at home that I discovered my love of synth sounds, drum machines, effects and smart attire. I have to admit I did sometimes go out wearing make up myself but then everyone else was doing it too (honestly!!)
The 1980s was a wonderful time in music with the rise of electronic music created by the invention of the synthesiser - the first genuinely ‘new’ instrument for nearly three hundred years - and although synthesisers had been around in the 1970s it was not until the early 80s that they became less expensive and began to used by younger musicians along with more sophisticated drum machines and more easily accessible multi track recording. There was also an explosion in tolerance and diversity and the recognition of the individual and their style, which allowed everyone (from kids to grannies) to embrace ‘Culture Club’ and enjoy the music without worrying too much about what everyone else thought or what they looked like.
This song reminds me of that party where I had a wonderful evening and those happy days….
Now listen to the song….
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