Smalltown Boy

"Smalltown Boy" is the debut single of the British synthpop 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.

The song is a popular '80s anthem and was a huge commercial success, reaching number 3 in the band's native UK. As well, it was a number one hit in Holland and Italy, and hit the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, and Switzerland. The track reached number 48 in the U.S. pop chart and was a #1 U.S dance hit.

1 Song meaning
2 Music video
3 Track listings and formats
4 Cover versions
5 Borrowed riff
6 Certifications
7 Charts
8 References

Song meaning

The song addresses key issues in 1980s homosexual culture. It addresses family rejection for being homosexual and homophobia in British society - and can extend to that of other countries also - of the time. It also deals with loneliness and bullying through societal and familial rejection.

A subsequent promotional music video was made, and a "young gay man" (Jimmy Somerville, lead singer of Bronski Beat) was used to depict these issues.

Music video

The narrative music video features band member Jimmy Somerville as the boy who has experienced the issues described in the lyrics. In the beginning of the clip, he is seen on a train, contemplating his childhood and the events that have caused him to leave his parents' home: at a local swimming pool, his friends (played by band members Larry Steinbachek and Steve Bronski) dare him to chat up a man that he fancies, for which he is later attacked in an alley by a gang of homophobes, and a policeman brings him back to his home. It is implied that the boy's parents learn of his homosexuality for the first time through this incident and are shocked but only the father seems unsupportive. The boy then catches a train to London, on which he is reunited with his friends. The video ends with "friends" Steinbachek and Bronski joining him.

Track listings and formats

7" single BITE 1

"Smalltown Boy" - 3:58
"Memories" - 2:55

7" single 820 091-7

"Smalltown Boy" - 3:58
"Memories" - 3:00

12" single BITEX 1

"Smalltown Boy" - 9:00
"Infatuation/Memories" - 7:38

12" single 820 996-1

"Smalltown Boy" - 9:00
"Infatuation/Memories" - 7:38

12" single 9-29 017

"Smalltown Boy" - 9:00
"Infatuation/Memories" - 7:38

12" single MCA-23521

"Smalltown Boy" - 9:00
"Infatuation/Memories" - 7:42

12" single LDSPX 215

"Smalltown Boy" - 9:00
"Infatuation/Memories" - 7:38

Cover versions

In 1996, it was covered by The Nylons on their album Run for Cover. This version featured only vocals and percussion.
In 1996, Depressive Age, a German metal band, covered the song on their Electric Scum album.
The Wounded, a Dutch Doom/Gothic Metal band, also covered "Smalltown Boy" on their debut album The Art of Grief in 2000.
In 2000, Rosetta Stone covered "Smalltown Boy" on the 80's cover album, Unerotica.
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" from 2002.
Paradise Lost, a Gothic Metal band from England, covered "Smalltown Boy" and released it as a bonus track on their 2002 Symbol of Life album.
In, 2005, Swedish singer September sampled the tune in "Cry for You".
In 2006, The Fire covered "Smalltown Boy" and they registered the videoclip. This cover is on the album Loverdrive.
In 2006, Supermode released "Tell Me Why", containing melodic samples from "Smalltown Boy" and lyrics from another Bronski Beat track titled "Why?".
In 2007, José González covered "Smalltown Boy" and released it as a B-side on the single for his own "Down the Line".
In 2008, Atrocity, a German metal band, covered the song on their Werk 80 II album.
In 2009, And One covered "Smalltown Boy" and it was released on the Bodypop 1.5 album along with other iconic 80's tracks.
In 2009, Delain, a symphonic female-fronted metal band, covered "Smalltown Boy" on the re-release of their album, April Rain.
In 2010, Sharon Corr covered the song for her debut solo album Dream of You.
Herman Düne, formally known as Andre Human Dune, have covered "Smalltown Boy" and their version was featured in a British TV drama, Skins, in the ninth episode of the third series.
In 2011, Electrelane covered the song live on the few shows of their summer reunion tour.

Borrowed riff

The memorable riff from "Smalltown Boy" can be heard in a number of other songs, with the inclusion of:

In 1993, the Real McCoy included the riff in their song "Automatic Lover (Call for Love)".
In 1995, German DJ and producer Marc Trauner (under his Wonderboy alias) sampled the tune in "Wave Of Rave".^[1]
In 2009, The Presets remixed Cagedbaby's "Hello There". The remix included the riff from "Smalltown Boy".
The German TV show Disco Deluxe remixed Destiny's Child's "Say My Name" with the riff of "Smalltown Boy" so it was playing while Destiny's Child was singing.
A very similar riff to Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy" can be heard in the Groove Armada track "History", with lead vocals from Will Young.
In 2006, Axwell and Steve Angello, under the Supermode alias, remixed the song, producing "Tell Me Why".
In 2007, Daft Punk included the riff in the track "Too Long/Steam Machine", which appeared on their Alive 2007 live album.
In 2009, Delain, a symphonic female-fronted metal band, covered "Smalltown Boy" (single) not yet on album acording official site's

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Canada^[2]	Gold	1 March 1985	50,000
UK^[3]	Silver	1 July 1984	200,000

Charts

Chart (1984/1985)	Peak position
Australia ARIA Singles Chart	7
Canada (RPM) ^[4]	9
Dutch Top 40 Singles Chart^[5]	1
French SNEP Singles Chart^[6]	8
Irish Singles Chart	4
Italian Singles Chart^[7]	1
Swiss Singles Chart^[6]	2
UK Singles Chart^[8]	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100^[9]	48
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play^[9]	1
Chart (1991)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart ¹ ^[10]	32

¹ Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat, 1991 remix

References

^ Wonderboy's Wave Of Rave at Discogs.
^ Canada certifications cria.ca (Retrieved 21 September 2008)
^ UK certifications Bpi.co.uk (Retrieved 21 September 2008)
^ "Canada RPM Chart". Collections Canada. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm.
^ "De Nederlandse Top 40, week 34, 1984". http://www.radio538.nl/web/show/id=44685/chartid=6016. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Smalltown Boy" in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved 5 January 2008)
^ Hit parade Italia Hit parade Italia (Retrieved 30 May 2008)
^ "Smalltown Boy", UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 21 September 2008)
^ ^a ^b Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved 21 September 2008)
^ "Smalltown Boy" (1991 release), UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved 21 September 2008)

Preceded by "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood	Dutch Top 40 number-one single 25 August 1984 – 1 September 1984	Succeeded by "Careless Whisper" by George Michael
Preceded by "Loverboy" by Billy Ocean	Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single 16 February 1985	Succeeded by "Sugar Walls" by Sheena Easton