I'll Tumble POLL Ya: The Culture Club Singles Poll

War war is stupid
And people are stupid
And love means nothing
In some strange quarters

this sounded a lot stupider to me when i was 15 than it does now, tbh.

― us_odd_bunny_lady (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 1 July 2009 05:47 (3 years ago) Permalink

The problem with that verse is that you hear it and think the "some strange quarters" line applies to the whole thing, but really it is just supposed to apply to the "love means nothing" line. It never made sense to me until I saw it written out JUST NOW.

― Maltodextrin, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 06:29 (3 years ago) Permalink

x-post

It's known as a stupid lyric for all time etc. but I never had a problem with it putting the issue right front. Considering the Wars that the U.S. and U.K. started that decade, and the Wars that had ended in the prior decade, "War is stupid and people are stupid" always seemed like a sensible thing to say.

Watching the video right now, I wonder if some of the backlash could have to do with Boy George going from a regular girl to a glamour girl, rather than the profoundness of his lyrics, (vs. Frankie, Sting, and Bruce(Starr) of the era)

I still voted "Karma Chameleon" and like "Do You Really". The thread make me want to youtube "Time" because I only have a vague memory of the chorus at this point.

― james k polk, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 06:35 (3 years ago) Permalink

Do You Really... is far and away my favourite song of theirs. I love the 12" version, too. Ahh... all those titles are so evocative of the time.

Boy George bought my dad a cup of tea on a train going from London to Manchester in 1983.

― Daniel Giraffe, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 09:52 (3 years ago) Permalink

ooh you're such a bitch

― which was a bit synth-cheese-tastic for my tastes (Bimble), Sunday, 5 July 2009 05:27 (3 years ago) Permalink

Boy George bought my dad a cup of tea on a train going from London to Manchester in 1983.

Much better than sex, you know :)

― Geir Hongro, Sunday, 5 July 2009 17:16 (3 years ago) Permalink

Very easily "Time (Clock of the Heart)," the most gut-wrenching musical evocation of what it feels like for a gay man to be in love with a straight/"bisexual"/closeted/questioning man. Tears my fucking heart out.

Second best is "The War Song" where punk happens again, sort of.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 5 July 2009 18:18 (3 years ago) Permalink

So many great catchy singles.
Time > Church of the Poison Mind > Miss Me Blind > It's a Miracle > Do You Really Want to Hurt Me > Karma Chameleon > I'll Tumble 4 Ya > Victims > the rest

― LeRooLeRoo, Monday, 6 July 2009 17:51 (3 years ago) Permalink

― velko, Monday, 6 July 2009 17:53 (3 years ago) Permalink

Wasn't their first single technically "I'm Afraid Of Me" b/w "Murder Rap Trap"? (Still have an Oct 1982 New York Rocker issue in which it's reviewed.)

― xhuxk, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 03:37 (6 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

No, it was "White Boy".

I've no idea how it goes.

― Mark G, Monday, 6 July 2009 17:56 (3 years ago) Permalink

― Eazy, Monday, 6 July 2009 17:57 (3 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

― System, Tuesday, 7 July 2009 23:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

No one's voting for "The War Song" are they?

― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 7 July 2009 23:39 (3 years ago) Permalink

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

― System, Wednesday, 8 July 2009 23:01 (3 years ago) Permalink

Alex voted for "The War Song"!

― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 8 July 2009 23:04 (3 years ago) Permalink