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.
I Just Wanna Be Loved
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a picture of tonight
And keep it by your heart
Love has left us memories
There's no better way to part
I will find another love
Someone who won't bring me down
How you tried to level me
Fortunately I got wise this time
Fortunately I got me on my mind
Oh I just want to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
But I'm much too proud to say it loud
I just want to be loved
Don't want to beg you baby
But I'm much too proud to shout it loud, ooh
Take a piece of dignity
And use it in your life
Even though you hurt me
I still want you to survive
Love was never special
We were never down
You will always have someone
To bring you on the ground
Fortunately I got wise this time
Fortunately I got me on my mind
Oh I just want to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
But I'm much too proud to say it loud
I just want to be loved
Don't want to beg you baby
But I'm much too proud to shout it loud
Oh, when you love someone
Don't you know, love is blind
Oh, when you love someone
It'll be for all time, yeah that's right
Fortunately I got wise this time
Fortunately I got me on my mind
Oh I just want to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
But I'm much too proud to say it loud
I just want to be loved
Don't want to beg you baby
But I'm much too proud to shout it loud
I just want be loved
Oh I just want to be loved
Oh I just want to be loved
I need to be loved, yeah
I just want to be loved
Don't want to bind you baby
Love me, love me, love me, love me yeah
Just want to be loved
Oh I just want to be loved
Love me, love me, love me, love me, yeah
The lyrics of Culture Club's song 'I Just Wanna Be Loved' are about wanting to be loved without fighting or begging for it. The singer is reflecting on their past relationship, acknowledging that love has left them with memories and that there is no better way to part. They want to move on and find someone who will love them without bringing them down or trying to control them. The singer has realized that they need to focus on themselves and their own happiness, rather than trying to please their partner at the expense of their own well-being.
Despite the hurt they have experienced, the singer still cares for their ex-partner and wants them to thrive, encouraging them to take a piece of dignity and use it in their life. The singer acknowledges that love can be blind, but also emphasizes the importance of finding someone who truly loves and respects them. The repetition of the phrase "I just wanna be loved" throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desire for love and acceptance without conditions or complications.
Overall, the song is a beautiful reflection on the complexities of love, relationships, and self-worth. It encourages listeners to prioritize their own happiness and to seek love that is healthy and supportive.
Line by Line Meaning
Woah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Introducing the song with no particular meaning
Take a picture of tonight
Create a memory of this particular moment
And keep it by your heart
Treasure the memory for life
Love has left us memories
Although love is over, we have memories to look back to
There's no better way to part
When two people decide to end their love, creating memories is the best way to part
I will find another love
The singer will try to love another person
Someone who won't bring me down
The singer wants to find love with someone who won't hurt them
How you tried to level me
Your actions made me feel emotionally unstable
But you never stood your ground
The singer's ex-partner wasn't able to support the relationship.
Fortunately I got wise this time
The singer has learned from the past and will enter future relationships with greater knowledge
Fortunately I got me on my mind
The singer's focus is on theirself and their own well-being
Oh I just want to be loved
The singer wants to be loved
Don't want to fight you baby
The singer doesn't want to argue with their ex-love
But I'm much too proud to say it loud
The singer feels that expressing their need for love is a sign of weakness
Don't want to beg you baby
The singer doesn't want to ask for love
But I'm much too proud to shout it loud, ooh
The singer doesn't want to express their need for love in public
Take a piece of dignity
The singer exhorts their ex to act with dignity
And use it in your life
The singer wants their ex to take the lesson learned and apply it in their life
Even though you hurt me
The singer was hurt by their ex-partner but they still want them to be happy
I still want you to survive
The singer wants their ex to be successful
Love was never special
Love between the singer and their ex wasn't unique
We were never down
The singer feels that their relationship was never truly intimate
You will always have someone
The singer's ex-partner will find love in someone else.
To bring you on the ground
Their ex-partner will experience heartbreak just like the singer did
Oh, when you love someone
The singer reflects on the nature of love itself
Don't you know, love is blind
Love doesn't let us see the imperfections in our partners
It'll be for all time, yeah that's right
Love will last forever, no matter what.
I need to be loved, yeah
The singer understands their desire for love
Don't want to bind you baby
The singer doesn't want to force their partner to love them back
Love me, love me, love me, love me yeah
The singer repeats their desire to be loved
Just want to be loved
The artist wants love without any complications
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: F. O'DOWD, J. MOSS, M. CRAIG, R. HAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind