At their height, the band comprised distinctive and diminutive Scottish singer Jimmy Somerville, backed by fellow Scot Steve Bronski and Londoner Larry Steinbacheck, both of whom played keyboards and percussion.
Formed in 1983, their debut hit came the following year - the striking tale of a boy who was cast away by his family and neighbours for being gay. Called Smalltown Boy, it peaked at Number 3 in the UK and was accompanied by a memorable video of Somerville leaving home, forlornly eating an apple on a train, being attacked by a homophobic gang and being returned to his family by the police.
The song quickly established the trio as an outlet for gay issues – all three members were homosexual – and the follow-up single Why? pursued the same energetic and electronic formula musically, while the lyrics focussed more centrally and darkly on anti-gay prejudice. Again, it made the Top 10 in the UK.
At the end of 1984, the trio released an album which was provocatively titled The Age Of Consent. The sleeve inside listed the varying ages of consent for homosexual sex in different nations around the world. At the time, the age of consent for gay men in the UK was 21.
A third single was released from it, again causing controversy. It Ain't Necessarily So, the George and Ira Gershwin classic (from Porgy and Bess) which questions the authenticity of Biblical tales, reached the UK Top 20. Playing the clarinet solos in the song was Richard Coles, with whom Somerville would later team up to form The Communards.
In 1985, the trio joined up with Marc Almond to record a version of the Donna Summer classic I Feel Love. The full version was actually a medley, also incorporating snippets of "Love to Love You Baby" and "Johnny Remember Me." It reached Number 3 in the UK charts, equaling the feats of "Smalltown Boy," and was memorably described by one critic as "the gayest record ever made".
Following the remix album Hundreds & Thousands, Somerville quit the band, stating he wanted a career which was "more political". Presumably this related to internal politics rather than the lyrical direction of the band, as his new project relied almost entirely on unpolitical songs and cover versions – and they were a huge success in doing so. He teamed up with Coles to form The Communards and in 1986 outsold all other singles in the UK with their version of Don't Leave Me This Way.
Bronski Beat recruited John Foster as Somerville's replacement. A very catchy single called Hit That Perfect Beat managed to equal the two previous biggest hits by reaching Number 3 in the UK charts. In 1986, they released their second album, Truthdare Doubledare.
In 1989, Jonathan Hellyer became lead singer, and the band extensively toured the U.S. and had one minor hit with the song Cha Cha Heels, a one-off collaboration sung by American actress and singer Eartha Kitt.
Bronski Beat released their third and final album, Rainbow Nation, in 1995. They split that year.
The songs "Smalltown Boy" and "Why" were sampled by producers Steve Angello and Axwell under the moniker Supermode (originally Supermongo) for their song "Tell Me Why". "Tell Me why" peaked at #13 on the UK singles chart.
In 2018, London Records issued a remastered and expanded 2CD edition of their debut, The Age of Consent. Remastered from the original 1984 analogue tapes, it includes demos, BBC sessions, remixes and unreleased tracks.
I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me
Bronski Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love
I feel love, I feel love, I feel love
I feel love, I feel love, I feel love
Oh what'll it be, oh what'll it be, oh what'll it be
Oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love
I feel love, I feel love, I feel love
I feel love, I feel love
Johnny, remember me?
Johnny, why don't you remember me?
Johnny, I feel love for you
Johnny, I love you, why don't you come back
The lyrics to Bronski Beat and Marc Almond's song, "I Feel Love," express the joy and happiness that comes with being in love. The repetition of the lyrics "Oh it's so good" and "Oh I'm in love" convey the overwhelming feeling of happiness and ecstasy that love brings. The repeated line "I feel love" represents an affirmation of the powerful emotions that love evokes. The lyrics express a desire for someone to come back, as evidenced by the plea to "Johnny" in the final lines of the song. Overall, the lyrics convey pure and unbridled passion, demonstrating the euphoric feeling that comes with being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh it's so good, oh it's so good, oh it's so good
The way I feel right now is absolutely amazing.
Oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love
My affection for someone is so strong that I cannot help but express it over and over.
I feel love, I feel love, I feel love
I am experiencing a deep and powerful attachment to this person, and I want to convey that feeling as strongly as possible.
I feel love, I feel love, I feel love
My connection to this person is too intense and emotionally charged to simply convey in a single or even a few words.
Oh what'll it be, oh what'll it be, oh what'll it be
I am contemplating the future and what it may hold in my relationship with this individual, and I am open to whatever comes my way.
You an' me, yeah
Between the two of us, we share a special and unique bond that cannot be replicated or undone.
Oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love, oh I'm in love
My devotion and desire for this other person is unwavering and cannot be quenched easily or quickly.
I feel love, I feel love, I feel love
The emotional connection between myself and this individual is so strong that it must be expressed repeatedly and forcibly in order to be understood.
I feel love, I feel love
My romantic feelings for this person are so profound that they cannot be contained easily in mere words or expressions.
Johnny, remember me?
I am addressing this person by name and seeking to evoke a recollection of our shared history and experiences.
Johnny, why don't you remember me?
It is painful to think that this person may have forgotten me, as our relationship meant so much to me.
Johnny, I feel love for you
Despite any pain or disappointment I may feel, my feelings of affection and attachment for this person remain undiminished and strong.
Johnny, I love you, why don't you come back
I am expressing both my emotions and wishes to this person directly, and hoping that they may rekindle our connection.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PHILLIP MITCHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cristyelen ambrozio
Oh it's so good
Oh it's so good
Oh it's so good
Oh I'm in love
Oh I'm in love
Oh I'm in love
I feel love
I feel love
I feel love
I feel love
I feel love
I feel love
Oh what'll it be
Oh what'll it be
Oh what'll it be
You an me yeah
Oh I'm in love
Oh I'm in love
Oh I'm in love
I fell love
I fell love
I fell love
I fell love
I fell love
Johnny remember me
Johnny why don't you remember me
Johnny I feel love for you
Johnny
I love you
Why don't you come back
Pete Beatminister
I always amazes me how Donna Summer came out with a track like this in the 70s, long before synth pop even existed.
Alberto Herrera
I totally agree.
capitancloss87
Thanks to maestro Giorgio Moroder
Jernej Demšar
@capitancloss87 Exactly.
A
Giorgio Moroder
Stuart Littlewood
Best version ever. Absolutely beautiful.
Migs M
100%
Raphael Zanca
The 80's...The best of music forever!!
orbital808080
I spent the winter of '85 listening to this incredible album on vinyl. A masterpiece and I was a Metallica head. Brilliant
Sm00th Life
This is a great tune. A worthy version of a classic dance anthem. A tune that goes on to reach new heights when you thought it just couldn't. 3:10 !