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.
Put It Down
Culture Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put it down, they move this town
They follow with their eyes
Ice cold kisses, fierce surprise
A good, a good disguise
Is all you need to bleed a situation
Pull it back and put on attack
Admission in your eyes
Ice cold kisses compromise
A good, a good disguise
Is all you need to bleed a situation
Let go
Put it down they move this town
They follow with their eyes
Ice cold kisses terrorize
A good, a good disguise
Is all you need to bleed a situation
(I could pull it with a bullet)
Down in seven, shine a light boy
(I could pull it with a bullet)
What a wasted revolution
(I could pull it with a bullet)
I'm a white boy, need confusion
(I could pull it with a bullet)
We're all out together, together forever
Put it down, they move this town
They follow with their eyes
Ice cold kisses, fierce surprise
A good, a good disguise
Is all you need to bleed a situation
(I could pull it with a bullet)
Down in seven, shine a light boy
(I could pull it with a bullet)
What a wasted revolution
(I could pull it with a bullet)
I'm a white boy, need confusion
(I could pull it with a bullet)
We're all out together, together forever
The song "Put It Down" by Culture Club is a fast-paced, high-energy track that seems to be about the power of a good performance. The lyrics describe a show, and how the performer gets the audience engaged and excited. The chorus repeats the phrase "put it down," which may refer to the performer putting down an amazing show or to the audience putting down their doubts and inhibitions and getting into the moment.
The verses describe the effect that the performance has on the audience. They are mesmerized and follow with their eyes as the performer gives them "ice cold kisses," which could be interpreted as powerful or intense performances. The lyrics also hint at the performer putting on a good disguise, which could be interpreted as the performer putting on a persona or character to engage the audience.
The bridge of the song repeats the phrase "I could pull it with a bullet" four times. This line could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be a metaphor for the performer pulling off an amazing show with such force that it feels like a gunshot, or it could be referring to using a gun to make a statement.
Overall, the song is about the power of a great performance and how it can bring people together and create a shared experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Put it down, they move this town
The singer is urging someone to take action that will affect the town and its people.
They follow with their eyes
The people in town are paying attention to what is happening.
Ice cold kisses, fierce surprise
There is a sense of danger lurking, even in the seemingly innocent moments.
A good, a good disguise
All it takes to manipulate a situation is to appear trustworthy.
Is all you need to bleed a situation
Once you gain people's trust, you can easily exploit their vulnerabilities.
You know
The singer is addressing someone who is aware of how things work in this town.
Pull it back and put on attack
If you want to make a significant impact, you need to be strategic and aggressive.
Admission in your eyes
If you're honest with yourself, you'll see that your actions have consequences.
Ice cold kisses compromise
Even when you're trying to do the right thing, you might have to make difficult sacrifices.
Let go
The artist is telling someone to stop holding back and make a move.
(I could pull it with a bullet)
The singer is acknowledging that violence is an option, but not necessarily the best one.
Down in seven, shine a light boy
The artist is suggesting a way to take action that will reveal the truth.
What a wasted revolution
The singer laments that previous attempts to change things were unsuccessful.
I'm a white boy, need confusion
The singer is acknowledging their privilege and expressing a desire to subvert it.
We're all out together, together forever
The singer is calling for unity and solidarity in the face of a common struggle.
Ice cold kisses terrorize
The sense of danger mentioned earlier has escalated to something truly frightening.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEORGE ALAN O'DOWD, JONATHAN AUBREY MOSS, MICHAEL EMILE CRAIG, ROY HAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose Orge Iglesias
Preciosa canción...nunca la había escuchado......cargada de ritmo..OLE!!!! 💓💓
Marc Sound
I love the early CC vibe. George's voice was phenomenal. He ALSO sounded flawless in the mid 90's. The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit was such a good album
Jason Blitz
INDEED! x
Michael Roccia
THIS IS THE REAL CULTURE CLUB THIS SOUND!!!
Jason Blitz
@Teach Asia Specialists Kissing To Be Clever is why I have forever remained a Culture Club lover. It's simply a masterpiece +
Teach Asia Specialists
@Jason Blitz that I totally agree with. I didn't really like colour by numbers album or waking up..... Kissing to be clever was truly who they were.
Jason Blitz
@Teach Asia Specialists I wish Culture Club had never became as commercial as they did. Karma Chameleon made them too mainstream.
Teach Asia Specialists
I totally agree. This is truly them before they became commercial. I just love these sounds.
Michael Roccia
I wish they still sounded like this
Jason Blitz
So do I, sigh.