Their first album, 1982's Kissing to Be Clever, became a major international hit, spawning the hit singles "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (which went 'all the way' in the BBC-Charts in late 1982), "Time (Clock of the Heart)", and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya". Unique in his eccentric manner of dress and androgynous look, Boy George became a worldwide celebrity.
Their second album, 1983's Colour By Numbers also did extremely well, giving the band its second number one hit in the UK with "Karma Chameleon." Karma Chameleon reached No.1 in many countries and they even starred in UK's Top of the Pops in September 1983. However, trouble was brewing within the Culture Club camp. Unknown to the public, George was having an affair with drummer Jon Moss. The affair (which lasted over four years) was often problematic and the pressure to hide the relationship started to take its toll.
The band also started to lose its place musically. Their next album, 1984's Waking Up With the House on Fire was a major disappointment. Though the band gained a small comeback with 1986's From Luxury to Heartache (thanks to the hit "Move Away"), both George's and Jon's fights created much tension, eventually leading to the breakup of the band. Around this time, George also became addicted to heroin, which created a frenzy with the tabloids. Eventually, George would let go of the habit and begin his solo career. A minor hit from the "Hiding Out" soundtrack called "Live My Life" peaked at U.S. #40. While George scored several hits in Europe and finally hit the U.S. top 20 with 1992's "The Crying Game", he was never able to reach the success he achieved with Culture Club.
In 1998, the band put their problems aside and decided to do a reunion tour. Kicked off with a performance on VH1 Storytellers, the tour was a major success. Shortly after, Culture Club recorded a new album titled Don't Mind If I Do. Though never released in the U.S., the first single, "I Just Wanna Be Loved" (UK #4), was featured on a compilation based around the Storytellers performance.
The band went on to tour for a few more years. Recently, however, Culture Club has been inactive, largely due to Boy George's concentration on his successful career as a DJ. In late 2006, Culture Club announced a reunion - albeit, without Boy George as lead singer.
Karma Chameleon
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I listen to your lies, would you say
I'm a man (a man) without conviction
I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know
How to sell (to sell) a contradiction
You come and go, you come and go
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
You come and go, you come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green
Didn't hear your wicked words every day
And you used to be so sweet, I heard you say
That my love (my love) was an addiction
When we cling (we cling), our love is strong
When you go (you go), you're gone forever
You string along, you string along
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
You come and go, you come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green
Every day is like survival (survival)
You're my lover (my lover), not my rival
Every day is like survival (survival)
You're my lover (my lover), not my rival
I'm a man (a man) without conviction
I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know
How to sell (to sell) a contradiction
You come and go, you come and go
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
You come and go, you come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
You come and go, you come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
You come and go, you come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
The lyrics to Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" use the imagery of colors to symbolize different emotions and experiences in a tumultuous relationship. The opening lines describe the singer's love interest as having "desert loving in [their] eyes all the way", suggesting a deep passion or a longing for something unattainable. However, the singer is wary of this person's "lies", and admits that he himself is "a man without conviction", uncertain of how to navigate these conflicting feelings.
The chorus of the song is the repeating refrain of "Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon", which serves to highlight the cyclical, unpredictable nature of the relationship. The line "loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams / red, gold, and green" suggests that the singer wishes his love interest would be more transparent or predictable - the colors red, gold, and green are commonly associated with passion, wealth, and growth respectively.
The second verse continues the theme of deception, with the singer describing how he "didn't hear [his love interest's] wicked words every day" and how the person he once knew as "so sweet" has now become someone who "string[s] along". The final verse once again highlights the singer's lack of certainty, with him admitting that he doesn't know how to "sell a contradiction" and that the other person comes and goes in a way that confuses and frustrates him.
Overall, "Karma Chameleon" can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the unpredictability of love and the importance of being true to oneself. The colorful imagery of the song serves to emphasize the emotional complexity of romantic relationships, with each color representing a different aspect of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Desert loving in your eyes all the way
I see a reflection of a barren and desolate environment within your eyes.
If I listen to your lies, would you say
If I heed your dishonest words, would you admit to the deceit?
I'm a man (a man) without conviction
I am a person who lacks the courage of his own convictions.
I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know
I do not possess the knowledge to navigate through issues.
How to sell (to sell) a contradiction
I do not understand how to present opposing concepts convincingly.
You come and go, you come and go
You enter my life, and then vanish just as easily.
Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon
The karmic cycle continues to revolve and bring changes, just like the chameleon changes its colors to adapt.
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dreams
It would be easier to love if you shared the same ideals as I do.
Red, gold, and green, red, gold, and green
The colors of passion, wealth, and growth are what I envision as the perfect colors for a relationship.
Didn't hear your wicked words every day
In the past, your malicious words were not constantly spoken to me.
And you used to be so sweet, I heard you say
You were once tender and loving when you spoke to me.
That my love (my love) was an addiction
I was given to understand that my love for you was comparable to an addiction.
When we cling (we cling), our love is strong
Our bond is strengthened when we are together.
When you go (you go), you're gone forever
However, when you depart, it seems to be a permanent farewell.
You string along, you string along
You string me along throughout our time together without any clear direction.
Every day is like survival (survival)
Every day feels like a battle for survival when I am with you.
You're my lover (my lover), not my rival
Despite the difficulties, you are still my lover rather than my adversary.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: George Alan O'Dowd, Jonathan Aubrey Moss, Michael Emile Craig, Roy Ernest Hay, Philip Stuart Pickett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind