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.
The Dream
Culture Club Lyrics
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The dream takes you by the hand
Inside emotions that you might not feel
If by some notion the dream was not real
The dream, the dream, the dream
Watching the colors as they run
Figures you mold like the sun
You may be nowhere until you have seen
The dream, the dream, the dream whoa
Oh what have I done?
Close my eyes and I dream of some world
It could be magic, it could be tragic
Hee, dream
The dream, the dream, the dream whoa
"The Dream" by Culture Club is a song that explores the mysterious and often surreal world of dreaming. Like Alice in Wonderland, the dream takes you by the hand and leads you down a path of unexpected emotions and experiences. The song suggests that in the world of dreams, we are able to experience things that we might not otherwise feel in our waking lives. The dream is a powerful force that can transport us to places we've never been and allow us to see the world in a whole new way.
The lyrics describe the dream as a sensory experience, with colors running and figures molding like the sun. The dream is not limited to pleasant experiences, as lovers and devils alike can dream. The song suggests that until you have experienced the dream, you may be nowhere. It speaks to the transformative and enlightening power of dreams.
Overall, the song suggests that dreams are a powerful force in our lives and that they have the ability to shape our experiences and shape who we are as people. The dream may be magical or tragic, but it is always a force to be reckoned with.
Line by Line Meaning
Like Alice in Wonderland
Just like Alice in the fictional storybook, the dream takes you to a surreal, imaginative world.
The dream takes you by the hand
The dream guides you to this imaginative world as if holding your hand.
Inside emotions that you might not feel
The dream unleashes emotions that you might not experience in real life.
If by some notion the dream was not real
If the dream was not real, then the emotions felt inside it would be too, unreal.
The dream, the dream, the dream
Repetition of this line emphasizes the importance of the dream.
Watching the colors as they run
Imagining the colors running in your mind's eye while in the dream.
Figures you mold like the sun
You can have control and shape the figures that you see in your dream, like how a clay artist molds clay.
Lovers can dream, devils can dream
Anyone can experience this imaginative world of dreams, be it people in love or villains.
You may be nowhere until you have seen
Without experiencing a dream, you wouldn't have had that surreal feeling, as if you had been transported to another place.
Oh what have I done?
This line suggests that something within the dream had caused the person to ponder on their actions while dreaming.
Close my eyes and I dream of some world
By closing your eyes, you can enter and experience a different, imaginative world.
It could be magic, it could be tragic
A dream can be either magical or tragic, depending on the experiences it presents to you.
Hee, dream
An exclamation of emotional excitement towards a dream.
The dream, the dream, the dream whoa
Repeating the line one more time at the end of the song is a reminder of the important aspect of the song and refocuses the attention on the dream.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JONATHAN AUBREY MOSS, ROY ERNEST HAY, MICHAEL EMILE CRAIG, GEORGE ALAN O'DOWD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind