| "The War Song" | ||||
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| Single by Culture Club | ||||
| from the album Waking Up with the House on Fire | ||||
| B-side | "La Cancion de Guerra", "La Chanson de Guerre" "Der Kriegsgesang" "Senso Hantai" |
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| Released | 1984 | |||
| Format | 7" 12" |
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| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Genre | New Wave, pop | |||
| Length | 4:14 | |||
| Label | Virgin Records Epic Records (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Culture Club | |||
| Producer | Steve Levine | |||
| Culture Club singles chronology | ||||
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"The War Song" is the first single from Culture Club's 1984 Waking Up with the House on Fire album. The song became the group's seventh top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two.[1]. It reached number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and hit the top three in many countries including Canada (#7), Italy (#3) and Australia (#2)
While being very popular at the time, it was not appreciated by some music critics for some weakness in the lyrics and less original arrangements. The following singles from its parent album ("The Medal Song" in Europe, "Mistake No.3" in Americas) were not as popular as that song. The music video was very popular, showing hundreds of kids as skeletons, Boy George showing his new flame-red hair and some other wigs. Some of its military and fashion elements were used by Madonna for her American Life video in 2003.
The song was released with a different B-Side in many countries, the B-Side being "The War Song" in Spanish, French, Japanese or German. It was available in two different extended versions, a new thing in the Culture Club discography. Its 7" picture disc has been shelved for an unknown reason and the only remaining copies are very rare. It is the picture disc that sells with the highest price in record stores and on eBay, usually between US$ 250 and 1000.
It was Culture Club's last UK top 5 hit before 1998's "I Just Wanna Be Loved".
Boy George once joked about the song: "It ruined my career", mentioning often that he is not proud of this song. It has also been excluded from some music compilations of the band, while remaining a firm fan favourite. The song has never been performed live by Culture Club since 1985 and has never been performed live by Boy George as a solo artist.
Contents |
A. The War Song
B. La Cancion De Guerra
A. The War Song
B. La Chanson De Guerre
A1. The War Song (Ultimate Dance Mix)
B1. The War Song (Shriek Mix)
B2. La Cancion De Guerra
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