Smalltown Boy

"Smalltown Boy"
Single by Bronski Beat
from the album The Age of Consent
B-side	"Memories" "Infatuation" (12")
Released	June 1984
Format	7" single, 12" maxi
Recorded	The Garden Studio, London, 1984
Genre	New Wave, Synth Pop
Length	3:58 (single version)
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 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. It reached number 3 in the UK and number 48 in the U.S. The song is a popular gay anthem and was a huge success worldwide.

Song meaning

The song is about a gay boy who faces homophobia, loneliness, and family misunderstanding.

Music video

The music video features band member Jimmy Somerville as the boy who has the issues seen above. 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. 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 riding on the train to London as he was in the beginning, but this time Steinbachek and Bronski join him.

Track listings

7" single

1. "Smalltown Boy" — 3:58
2. "Memories" — 3:00

12" maxi

1. "Smalltown Boy" — 9:00
2. "Infatuation"
3. "Memories"

Cover versions

• In 1996, it was covered by The Nylons on their album Run For Cover. This version featured only vocals and percussion.
• Depressive Age, a German technical thrash band, included a cover of the song on their 1996 album 'Electric Scum' and also released the cover as a single in 1997.
• 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.
• In 2001, Supernichts, a German Punk Band, covered the song on their album 'Chaosübersehgenie'.
• 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 in 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, Sharon Corr revealed she covered the song for her debut solo album.
• In 2009, Delain, a symphonic female-fronted metal band covered "Smalltown Boy" in the re-release of their album, April Rain.
• In 2009, The Gadsdens covered a melodic pop version of "Smalltown Boy".

Borrowed Riff

The memorable riff from "Smalltown Boy" can be heard on a number of other songs.

• In 2003, the Real McCoy covered Dee D. Jackson's song "Automatic Lover (Call For Love)". This song includes the borrowed riff.
• In 2009, The Presets remixed Cagedbaby's "Hello There". The remix included the riff from "Smalltown Boy".

Certifications

Charts

¹ Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat, 1991 remix

References