Bronski Beat
Bronski Beat was a very popular Scottish synth pop trio of the 1980s.
Read Full Bio ↴Bronski Beat was a very popular Scottish synth pop trio of the 1980s.
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.
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.
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Bronski Beat Lyrics
Ain't Necessarily So Da ra da am de ra am de Ba ra…
C We stand here trapped and so angry These walls are crumblin'…
Cadillac Car Sell me your soul And I'll make you a star Fantasies turne…
Close to the Edge Ooooh. Close to the edge, close to the edge And I won't…
Do It Truthdare doubledare Shake your body Lose your mind We set o…
Don't Leave Me This Way Don't leave me this way I can't survive, I can't stay…
Dr John Truthdare Doubledare Gotta be careful who I meet tonight …
Hard rain Turn your head look around you, Can't you see things are…
Heat Wave Hey we're headin' for a summer heat wave Boys we're headin'…
Heatwave Hey we're headin' for a summer heat wave Boys we're headin'…
Hit That Perfect Searching for some company Feel the rhythm Dance with me. Th…
I Feel Love I love to love you baby I love to love you…
I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me Oh it's so good, oh it's so good, oh it's…
I Feel Love Medley: Love To Love You Baby / I Feel Love / Johnnie Remember Me I love to love you baby I love to love you…
I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me Oh it's so good, oh it's so good, oh it's…
I Love the Nightlife Please don't talk about love tonight Please don't talk about…
In My Dreams Truth dare double dare I start crying In my dreams Can't sle…
Infatuation/Memories Hundreds & Thousands (Somerville/Steinbachek/Bronski) Oooh…
It Ain't Necessarily So It ain't necessarily so It ain't necessarily so The tings th…
Junk He can't take the street no more Street too full full…
Love & Money Work for money Spend money Spend for love Love for money Pa…
Love to Love You Baby / I Feel Love / Johnnie Remember Me I love to love you baby I love to love you…
Medley: I Feel Love Ooh, love to love you, baby I love to love you,…
Memories Bronski Beat Age Of Consent Infatuation / Memories Hundre…
Need A Man Blues He-e-hey! I got those need a man blues Driving me mad I go…
No Difference Mmmmhhh A promise never kept by the one's you loved You we…
No More War No more war please No more destruction of innocent life No m…
Puit D'Amour La la la la la la la La la la La la…
Punishment For Love Truthdare doubledare Rejected for no reason He finds it easy…
Run from Love Love is strong won't let you go Hunts you down it…
Screaming My man love my first love My closetness and pain My lying…
Slow Down Hey! you be the wheels, I be the spokes baby You…
Small Town Boy To your soul To your soul Cry Cry Cry You leave in …
Smalltown Boy To your soul To your soul Cry Cry Cry You leave in the morn…
Smalltown Boy (Akustic Mix) You leave in the morning With everything you own In a little…
Smalltown Boy Original To your soul To your soul Cry Cry Cry You leave in …
This Heart Truthdare doubledare I've been working On the line To earn m…
Truthdare Doubledare Truthdare doubledare Why don't you listen to the preacher, p…
We Know How It Feels Truthdare doubledare How can they be so cruel, When they cal…
Why Contempt in your eyes As I turn to kiss his lips Broken…
Why ? Contempt in your eyes As I turn to kiss his lips Broken…
Why? Contempt in your eyes As I turn to kiss his lips Broken…