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.
Love Is Love
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is everywhere you go
You don't have to touch it to feel
Love is every second we steal
Love is love is nothing without you
Love is love is everything you do
Open up your eyes
And you will see
You don't have to touch it to be
Wrapped up in emotion like me
Everyone must feel how I do, yeah
Love is just to be close to you
Love is love is nothing without you
Love is love is everything you do
Open up your eyes
And you will see
Love is love is everything to me
And you know that love is love
It's written in black and blue
And everything you say
Must bring her closer, closer to you
Ba-ba (ooh), ba-ba (ooh), ba-ba (ooh)
You don't have to touch it to know
Love is everywhere that you go
You don't have to touch it to feel
Love is every second we steal
Love is love is nothing without you
Love is love is everything you do
Open up your eyes
And you will see
Love is love is everything to me
Love is love is nothing without you
Love is love is everything you do
The lyrics of Culture Club's "Love Is Love" convey a universal message about the nature of love. The song's opening lines declare that love is omnipresent and doesn't require physical touch to perceive its power. Rather, the song suggests that love is evident in everyday moments and fleeting emotions that we experience. The second verse continues this theme by emphasizing the universality of love; the singer says that everyone must feel as he does about the power and importance of love. The chorus repeats the central refrain that love is everything to the singer and that it would be nothing without the person they love.
The song's final chant affirms that the power of love is indescribable, and it is written not just in words but also in action. The lyrics of "Love Is Love" are straightforward, but the song's message is powerful and speaks to the needs and desires of anyone who has experienced the joy and heartbreak that love can bring. Love is something that we all share and that brings us together, and the universal appeal of the song has made it an enduring classic.
Interestingly, "Love Is Love" was originally a B-side to Culture Club's single "Karma Chameleon." Still, it eventually became a hit in its own right and was later covered by other artists, including Boy George's solo version. The song's message of unity and acceptance has made it a popular choice for LGBTQ+ events and Pride celebrations.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't have to touch it to know
Love can be sensed without physical contact
Love is everywhere you go
Love exists in all places
You don't have to touch it to feel
Love can be felt without physical contact
Love is every second we steal
Love is present in every moment we spend together
Love is love is nothing without you
Love loses its meaning without the presence of the beloved
Love is love is everything you do
All actions expressing love are important
Open up your eyes
Be attentive
And you will see
Love is visible to those who wish to see it
Love is love is everything to me
Love holds immense value to me
You don't have to touch it to be
Love can be experienced without physical contact
Wrapped up in emotion like me
Engulfed in overwhelming emotions like me
Everyone must feel how I do, yeah
Everyone should experience the intensity of my emotions
Love is just to be close to you
Being close to the beloved is what love is about
And you know that love is love
The meaning of love is universal
It's written in black and blue
It is evident and undeniable
And everything you say
Every word uttered
Must bring her closer, closer to you
Should draw the beloved closer to you
Ba-ba (ooh), ba-ba (ooh), ba-ba (ooh)
Background vocals
Love is love is nothing without you
Love is meaningless without the presence of the beloved
Love is love is everything you do
Every action to express love holds significance
Open up your eyes
Focus on the present
And you will see
Perceive the reality
Love is love is everything to me
Love is crucial for me
Love is love is nothing without you
The beloved is an inseparable part of love
Love is love is everything you do
All the actions involved in love make it complete
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE ALAN O'DOWD, JONATHAN AUBREY MOSS, MICHAEL EMILE CRAIG, ROY ERNEST HAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind