Smalltown Boy

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“Smalltown Boy”
“Smalltown Boy” cover
Single by Bronski Beat
from the album The Age of Consent
Released June 1984
Format 12"
Recorded The Garden Studio, London, 1984
Genre New Wave
Length 5:02
Label London Records
Writer(s) Bronski Beat
Producer Mike Thorne
Bronski Beat singles chronology
"Smalltown Boy"
(1984)		 "Why?"
(1984)

"Smalltown Boy" is the debut single of the British group Bronski Beat, released in June 1984. It would also appear on the band's debut album The Age of Consent, released in December 1984. It reached #3 in the UK and #48 in the US. The song is a popular gay anthem and was a huge success worldwide.

Contents

[edit] Song meaning

The song's meaning is about a boy with related topics (such as homophobia, loneliness, and family misunderstanding). He makes friends, but is attacked by a gang of homophobes and a policeman brings him back to his home. He catches a train, where he is reunited with his friends. This plot is depicted in the video.

[edit] Music video

The music video features band member Jimmy Somerville as the boy who has the issues seen above. In the video, he is seen making friends (played by band members Larry Steinbachek and Steve Bronski) near a swimming pool and they overlook the people swimming. They are later briefly seen at the changing room near the pool. The video ends with Somerville back on the train like during the very start, only with Steinbachek and Bronski with him.

[edit] Formats and track listings

7" Single
  1. "Smalltown Boy" (3:58)
  2. "Memories" (3:00)
12" Maxi
  1. "Smalltown Boy" (9:00)
  2. "Infatuation"
  3. "Memories"

[edit] Cover versions

  • In 2007, José González covered "Smalltown Boy" and released it as a b-side on the single for his own "Down the Line".
  • In 2006, Supermode released "Tell Me Why", containing melodic samples from "Smalltown Boy" and lyrics from another Bronski Beat track titled "Why?".
  • Paradise Lost, a Gothic Metal band from England, covered "Smalltown Boy" and released it as a bonus track on their Symbol of Life album.
  • The Wounded, a Dutch Doom/Gothic Metal band, also covered "Smalltown Boy" on their debut album The Art of Grief.
  • The Hot Stewards, a Dutch/German/Danish rockgroup covered "Smalltown Boy" on their debut EP "The Very Best of The Hot Stewards".
  • French alternative rock band Indochine often perform Smalltown Boy in concert and a live recording of the song is available on the single release of their song Marilyn.
  • In 1996, Tori Amos used part of the song while preforming "Father Lucifer" on Late Night with David Letterman, singing the chorus "Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away".
  • In 2008, Atrocity, a German metal band covered the song on their Werk 80 II album.
  • In, 2008, Swedish singer September sampled the tune in Cry for You.

[edit] Chart performance

Country Peak
position
Australia 7
France 8[1]
Italy 1[2]
Switzerland 2[1]
US 48
UK 3

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Smalltown Boy" in various Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved January 5, 2008)
  2. ^ |- |The Netherlands |align="center"|1<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=6016 |title=De Nederlandse Top 40, week 34, 1984 |accessdate=2008-02-27}}</li></ol></ref>
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