Why? (Bronski Beat song)

The song, recorded at RPM Studios, NYC and mixed at Townhouse Studio, London, pursued an energetic musical formula, while the lyrics focused more centrally on anti-gay prejudice. The song opens with a questioning vocal by frontman and vocalist Jimmy Somerville and the shattering of breaking glass. It was the trio's second Top 10 success in the UK, peaking at No. 6, also reaching the top 10 throughout Europe and in Australia and is today considered a popular gay anthem.

Single cover

The drawing for the single cover, of a man with his head in his hands, was drawn for the band by Glasgow artist Robert McAulay, who was associated with the band at the time.

Track and format listing

12" Vinyl US release - MCA Records MCA-23538
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Why?" (Extended Mix)	7:45
2.	"Why?" (Radio Edit)	4:04
3.	"Cadillac Car"	7:35

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1984–85)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	3
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)^[6]	3
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[7]	31
France (SNEP)^[8]	8
Germany (Official German Charts)^[9]	5
Ireland (IRMA)^[10]	6
Italy (FIMI)^[11]	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[12]	2
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[13]	6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[14]	11
Poland (LP3)^[15]	27
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[16]	7
Spain (AFYVE)^[17]	10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[18]	7
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[19]	6
US Hot Dance Club Play^[20]	27
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales^[20]	20

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[21]	23
Italy (FIMI)^[11]	51
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[22]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[23]	26

Chart (1985)	Position
France (IFOP)^[24]	46

Cover versions

In 2006, Supermode released "Tell Me Why", containing lyrics from "Why?" and melodic samples from another Bronski Beat track entitled "Smalltown Boy".
British electronic musician Andi Fraggs has been performing "Why?" on his live shows and has named it his "favourite gay anthem".^[25]

In media

The song was utilized as a soundtrack by Peugeot for French language advertisements of the Peugeot 205 hatchback range. The recording itself was in English. "Why?" was also featured in the soundtrack of the 1986 Bill Sherwood sleeper hit film Parting Glances starring John Bolger. It was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 film Pride.

References

↑ Vivinetto, Gina (9 March 2015). "Pop Icon Jimmy Somerville: A Career Overview". The Advocate. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
↑ Phares, Heather. "Original Soundtrack – Edge of 17". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ Olsen, Eric (15 August 2003). "Bronski Beat: The Age of Consent". Blogcritics. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
↑ "Ultratop.be – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 20 oktobber 1984" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0524." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
↑ "Lescharts.com – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "Officialcharts.de – Bronski Beat – Why?". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Why?". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
1 2 "I singoli più venduti del 1984" (in Italian). Hit Parade Italia. Creative Commons. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bronski Beat - Why search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "Charts.org.nz – Bronski Beat – Why?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "WHY? – Bronski Beat" (in Polish). LP3. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bronski Beat – Why?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
↑ "Archive Chart: 1984-10-06" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
1 2 "Bronski Beat – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
↑ "TOP – 1985" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
↑ "Looking forward to...". Facebook. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.

Jimmy Somerville

Studio albums

Bronski Beat	The Age of Consent (1984) Rainbow Nation (1995)

The Communards	Communards (1986) Red (1987)

Read My Lips (1989) Dare to Love (1995) Manage the Damage (1999) Home Again (2004) Suddenly Last Summer (2009) Homage (2015)

Remix albums

Bronski Beat	Hundreds & Thousands (1985)

Root Beer (2000)

Live albums

The Communards	Storm Paris (1988)

Compilations

The Communards	Heaven (1993) Het Beste Van The Communards (2005) The Platinum Collection (2006)

Best (1989) The Singles Collection 1984/1990 (1990) Master Series (1991) The Very Best of Jimmy Somerville, Bronski Beat and The Communards (2001) The Essentials (2002) For a Friend: The Best of Bronski Beat, The Communards & Jimmy Somerville (2009) Dance & Desire: Rarities & Videos (2014)

Other albums

Fine Young Cannibals (1985)
(VA) Red Hot + Blue (1990)
(OST) Orlando (1993)
Plagiarism (1997)
Another Gay Soundtrack (2006)
Clubland 10 (2006)

Extended plays

Bright Thing (2010)
Momentum (2011)

Singles

Bronski Beat	"Smalltown Boy" (1984) "Why?" (1984) "It Ain't Necessarily So" (1984) "I Feel Love" with Marc Almond (1985) "Run from Love" (1985) "Smalltown Boy ('94 Remix)" (1994) "Why? (1995 Remix)" (1995)

The Communards	"You Are My World" (1985) "Disenchanted" (1986) "Don't Leave Me This Way" (1986) "So Cold the Night" (1986) "You Are My World ('87 Remix)" (1987) "Tomorrow" (1987) "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1987) "For a Friend" (1988) "There's More to Love" (1988)

"Suspicious Minds" with Fine Young Cannibals (1986) "The Last Infanta" with Uno (1988) "Comment te dire adieu?" with June Miles-Kingston (1989) "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" (1990) "Read My Lips (Enough Is Enough)" (1990) "To Love Somebody" (1990) "Smalltown Boy ('91 Remix)" (1991) "Run from Love ('91 Remix)" with Claudia Brücken "Coming" (1993) "Gimme Shelter" with Voice of the Beehive (1993) "Heartbeat" (1995) "Hurt So Good" (1995) "By Your Side" (1995) "Star" with The Weather Girls (1996) "Safe" (1997) "Dark Sky" (1997) "The Number One Song in Heaven" with Sparks (1997) "Something to Live for" (1999) "Lay Down" (1999) "Why? (Almighty Mix)" (2000) "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (2001) "It's So Good" (2004) "Come On" (2004) "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (2004) "You & Me" with Blue Ray (2007) "I Believe in Love (Remix)" with Arthur Baker (2011)

Other songs	"Love to Love You Baby" (1985) "Johnny Remember Me" (1985} "Lover Man" (1986) "Do They Know It's Christmas?" with Band Aid II (1989) "From This Moment On" (1990) "Someday We'll Be Together" (1995) "But Not Tonight" (2004) "I Was Born This Way" (2006) "Tell Me Why" (2006)

Video albums

Bronski Beat	The First Chapter (1985)

The Communards	The Video Singles (1986) Live at Full House Rock Show (2006)

The Video Collection 1984/1990 (1990)

Filmography

Ahí Te Quiero Ver (TV series) (1987)
Looking for Langston (1989)
Orlando (1992)
Lexx: "Girltown" (TV series) (2000)

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