Smalltown Boy
{{short description|1984 single by Bronski Beat}}
{{about|the Bronski Beat song|the Dustin Lynch song|Small Town Boy (song)|other uses|Small Town Boy (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Smalltown Boy
| cover = Small Town Boy (Bronski Beat) single coverart.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bronski Beat
| album = The Age of Consent
| B-side =
- "Memories"
- "Infatuation" (12")
| released = 25 May 1984 (UK){{cite magazine|date=19 May 1984|title=New Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1984/Music-Week-1984-05-19.pdf|magazine=Music Week|page=14|access-date=16 June 2022}}
| recorded =
| studio = The Garden (London)
| genre =
- Synth-pop{{cite magazine|first= Gina |last= Vivinetto |title= Pop Icon Jimmy Somerville: A Career Overview |magazine= The Advocate |date= 9 March 2015 |access-date= 9 May 2015 |url= http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/03/09/pop-icon-jimmy-somerville-career-overview}}{{cite magazine|author= MarkWilson |title= Emilie Simon Releases "Smalltown Boy" |magazine= AltSounds |date= 18 May 2011 |access-date= 10 May 2015 |url= http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/129612-emilie-simon-releases-smalltown-boy.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110830144704/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/129612-emilie-simon-releases-smalltown-boy.html |archive-date= 30 August 2011}}
- hi-NRG{{cite magazine|first= Barry |last= Walters |title= His beat goes on |magazine= The Advocate |date= 20 June 2000 |page= 115 |issn= 0001-8996 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CGMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA115 |quote= As Bronski Beat's falsetto leader, Somerville made gay politics a hot pop topic with such hi-NRG dance floor staples as "Why?" and "Smalltown Boy"}}{{cite web|url=http://www.monkeychicken.com/AdamBlock/1986_12_9somerville.pdf|title=A Clarion Call from England's Communards: Syl's New "Attraction"|magazine=The Advocate|author=Adam Block|date=9 December 1986|access-date=23 December 2022|quote=The trio had met as friends and performed as a hoot, but their first single, "Smalltown Boy" (an autobiographical tale of a gay youth fleeing homophobia for the tolerance of the big city), became a Hi-NRG disco fave on both sides of the Atlantic.}}
- disco{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xr7r |title=Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat |newspaper=BBC |access-date=23 December 2022}}
| length =
- 5:02 (album version)
- 3:58 (single version)
- 9:00 (12" version)
| label = London
| writer =
| producer = Mike Thorne
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Why?
| next_year = 1984
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|88sARuFu-tc|"Smalltown Boy"}}}}
}}
"Smalltown Boy" is the debut single by the British synth-pop band Bronski Beat, released in May 1984 by London Recordings. It was included on their debut album, The Age of Consent (1984). The lyrics describe a young man who decides to leave home because "the love that you need will never be found" there; the story in the song's music video is that he makes this decision after being gaybashed. "Smalltown Boy" is regarded as a gay anthem and is associated with the rise of British gay culture in the 1980s. The music video was directed by Bernard Rose and filmed in East London. In 2022, Rolling Stone named it the 163rd-greatest dance song. There were made many remixes and samples from this song like Tell me Why recorded by Supermode (Steve Angello and Axwell & Ingrosso), Meduza and Gotta Believe performed by Damian Grace and Jordan Force.
Composition
"Smalltown Boy" features "ominous" discordant notes, an "electro-pop pulse", and falsetto vocals.{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=David |date=30 September 2019 |title=Smalltown Boy — Bronski Beat's 1984 hit was a heartfelt cry for liberation |url=https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/smalltown-boy.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Financial Times |language=en-gb}} According to the Bronski Beat member Larry Steinbachek, it emerged from an attempt to cover the 1977 Sex Pistols song "Pretty Vacant" using an octave pattern sequenced on a Roland MC-202 synthesiser.
The lyrics describe a young man who is bullied and decides to leave home. In the Financial Times, David Gould wrote that it combines the hi-NRG tempo of 1980s gay clubs with "plaintive" lyrics. Ian Wade, the author of 1984: The Year Pop Went Queer, interpreted the line "the love that you need will never be found at home" as a rebuke to the "family values" culture that demonised homosexuality at the time.{{Cite news |last=Flynn |first=Paul |date=2024-06-30 |title=Why Bronski Beat's anthem of gay culture resonates 40 years on |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/30/bronski-beats-smalltown-boy-gay-culture-resonates-40-years-on |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}} The singer, Jimmy Somerville, said he was embarrassed by the song for many years, as he felt his lyrics were inferior.{{Cite news |last=Deevoy |first=Adrian |date=2014-07-17 |title=Jimmy Somerville: 'Jesus Christ! Alan Shearer – what a little sex bomb!' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jul/17/jimmy-somerville-smalltown-boy-bronski-beat-communards-interview |access-date=2024-04-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Music video
The music video for "Smalltown Boy" was directed by Bernard Rose, who had directed the video for "Relax", by another openly gay band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, the previous year.{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Lyndsay |date=2019-06-26 |title=How '80s LGBTQ band Bronski Beat's haunting 'Smalltown Boy' made a difference: 'It was very bold' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/how-80-s-lgbtq-band-bronski-beats-smalltown-boy-made-a-difference-it-was-very-bold-183833092.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Yahoo! News |language=en-US}} Rose said Bronski Beat felt "Relax" was too mainstream and upbeat, and wanted to convey a more serious message. The Independent described the "Smalltown Boy" video as "stark" and "grounded".{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Kevin EG |date=2021-12-16 |title=The story of Bronski Beat's Smalltown Boy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/bronski-beat-smalltown-boy-song-b1973552.html |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The Independent |language=en}} The original concept was to base the video on a cottaging scene, but this was vetoed by the London Recordings executive Colin Bell. The video was filmed at a leisure centre in East London.
In the video, a boy (played by Somerville) makes a pass at a man and is gay-bashed. As a policeman explains the incident to the boy's parents (outing him in the process), his mother breaks down and his father becomes angry to the point of almost striking the boy, who then resolves to leave his "small town" for London. As he leaves, his father gives him money but refuses to shake hands. On the train the boy is joined by other members of Bronski Beat. They smile and laugh as they disembark in London to start their new life.
Rose said the video depicted a common experience for gay people and that Bronski Beat wanted to draw attention to homophobia. Wade likened it to the films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. Bell said it created opportunities for later videos with gay themes by artists such as Pet Shop Boys and George Michael.
Reception
Bell was unafraid to market "Smalltown Boy" as a gay record, and said "that was the point". According to Bell, the first time it was played in a gay club, Heaven, in London, the "response was extraordinary" and the audience slowed down to listen. Reviewing the single on release, Spin said it "fashioned a young man's bitter memories of being driven away from home, alienated from his family, and persecuted by his friends, into a sweetly moving pop song".{{cite magazine| magazine= Spin | title=Spins|url={{Google books|id=9ugCQfxwym0C|page=33|plainurl=yes}} |author=James Truman | date=May 1985|issue=1|page=33}}
"Smalltown Boy" reached number three on the UK singles chart and number one in the Netherlands and Belgium. It reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and West Germany. It reached number 48 in the US pop chart and was a number-one US dance hit. After the success, Bronski Beat released their debut album, The Age of Consent.
Legacy
"Smalltown Boy" is associated with the rise of British gay culture in the 1980s, alongside hits by the closeted George Michael and the openly gay Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Writing in the Observer for its 40th anniversary, Paul Flynn wrote: {{"'}}Smalltown Boy' documents in empathetic, kitchen-sink detail the feelings of rejecting one archaic value system and moving to the big gay city to find your own... [It has] resisted fossilisation." He concluded that it "can still make reasonable claims to being the British national anthem of gay", and counted it among the work of other major figures in British gay history, such as Oscar Wilde, Joe Orton, Derek Jarman and Peter Tatchell.
Reviewing the Age of Consent reissue for Pitchfork in 2017, Laura Snapes wrote that {{"'}}Smalltown Boy' remains a perfect song. It is nimble and crushing, forlorn and relieved, frail yet determined."{{Cite web |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=26 November 2017 |title=Bronski Beat: The Age of Consent |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bronski-beat-the-age-of-consent/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} In 2022, Rolling Stone named it the 163rd-greatest dance song,{{cite magazine |last1=Dolan |first1=Jon |last2=Lopez |first2=Julyssa |last3=Matos |first3=Michaelangelo |last4=Shaffer |first4=Claire |date=22 July 2022 |title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888 |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=30 October 2022}} and Time Out ranked it number 12 in its list of the "50 Best Gay Songs to Celebrate Pride All Year Long in 2022", writing that it "takes the pain of rejection and makes it danceable".{{cite magazine |last=Kryza |first=Andy |date=21 January 2022 |title=The 50 best gay songs to celebrate Pride all year long |url=https://www.timeout.com/music/best-gay-songs |access-date=21 February 2022 |magazine=Time Out}} In 2023, Rolling Stone named "Smalltown Boy" the 38th most inspirational LGBTQ song.{{cite magazine|first=Ilana|last=Kaplan|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-inspirational-lgbtq-anthems-pride-songs-1234773829|title=The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=28 June 2023|access-date=16 October 2024}} In 2024, Wade said it was still popular with young people: "There are still some kids who are terrified in their own homes. For the teenager wondering whether they'll get fucked or stabbed by the person they chose to look at across the classroom, 'Smalltown Boy' still means something." Bell said "Smalltown Boy" was the record he was proudest of signing.
A remix by Stephen Hague was released on 24 December 1990.{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Robin |date=15 December 1990 |title=This Week – The Next Seven Days in View: Releases |magazine=Record Mirror |page=28 |issn=0144-5804}} For the song's 30th anniversary in 2014, Somerville released a new version, "Smalltown Boy Reprise".{{cite web |date=22 June 2014 |title=Watch Jimmy Somerville Re Record Small Town Boy |url=http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2014/06/22/jimmy-somerville-smalltown-boy-reprise-2014-video/ |access-date=6 June 2015 |work=Slicing Up Eyeballs}} A series of remixes were issued for the 40th anniversary in 2024, and the song became popular on the social media service TikTok. It remains part of British gay culture, and posters with its lyrics were posted across London for the 2024 Pride event.
"Smalltown Boy" was sampled by the German band Real McCoy in their 1994 song "Automatic Lover (Call for Love)".{{cite news |date=26 July 2015 |title=Kate Ryan delivers a new take on 'Smalltown Boy' |url=https://www.outinperth.com/kate-ryan-delivers-a-new-take-on-smalltown-boy/ |access-date=7 August 2018 |newspaper=OutInPerth}} The Swedish DJs Steve Angello and Axwell, as Supermode, sampled "Smalltown Boy" in their 2006 track "Tell Me Why".{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Cameron |date=13 May 2015 |title=Brandon Flowers says new solo album The Desired Effect is eighties pop rock |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/brandon-flowers-says-new-solo-album-the-desired-effect-is-eighties-pop-rock/news-story/30c9081b672b146c9ca80424e7230588 |access-date=1 September 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney, New South Wales}} The German industrial metal band Oomph! paid homage to "Smalltown Boy" in their 2012 song {{lang|la|italic=no|"Kleinstadtboy"}}.{{cite magazine |date=2 June 2012 |title=Oomph! – Des Wahnsinns fette Beute : Review |url=https://www.burnyourears.de/electro-industrial/17465-oomph-des-wahnsinns-fette-beute.html |access-date=21 April 2018 |magazine=Burn Your Ears Webzine |language=de}} In 2015, the American singer Brandon Flowers sampled "Smalltown Boy" in his song "I Can Change", {{cite web |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=1 May 2015 |title=Brandon Flowers samples '80s hit on new song |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a645284/brandon-flowers-has-sampled-a-classic-80s-hit-on-his-new-song/ |access-date=29 August 2018 |website=Digital Spy}} and the Belgian singer Kate Ryan released a cover. In 2020 the queer country music artist Orville Peck released a cover of "Smalltown Boy" as a single.https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/orville-peck-smalltown-boy-1041059/ In 2024, The Knocks and Perfume Genius collaborated on a cover of "Smalltown Boy" to celebrate its 40th anniversary.https://pitchfork.com/news/perfume-genius-and-the-knocks-cover-bronski-beats-smalltown-boy-listen/
Track listing
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- 7" single BITE 1
- "Smalltown Boy" – 3:58
- "Memories" – 2:55
- 7" single 820 091-7
- "Smalltown Boy" – 3:58
- "Memories" – 3:00
{{col-2}}
- 12" single BITEX 1 / 820 996-1 / 9-29 017 / LDSPX 215
- "Smalltown Boy" – 9:00
- "Infatuation/Memories" – 7:38
- 12" single MCA-23521
- "Smalltown Boy" – 9:00
- "Infatuation/Memories" – 7:42
{{col-end}}
Personnel
Credits sourced from Electronic Soundmaker and Sound on Sound.{{cite journal | url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/consenting-adults/3416 | title=Consenting Adults | journal=Electronic Soundmaker | date=December 1984 | issue=Dec 1984 | pages=26–27 | last1=Reed | first1=Tony }}{{cite journal |last1=Jenkins |first1=Mark |date=February 1986 |title=Perfect Beat |url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/perfect-beat/1549 |journal=Sound on Sound |issue=Feb 1986 |pages=40–45}}
- Jimmy Somerville – vocals
- Steve Bronski – Yamaha DX7 and Memorymoog synthesisers, Roland MC-202 Microcomposer, LinnDrum programming
- Larry Steinbachek – Pro-One and Memorymoog synthesisers, Roland MC-202 Microcomposer, Linn 9000 programming
Charts
=Weekly charts=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ '94 Remix (with John Foster's vocal) !Chart (1994) !Peak |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)
|align="center"|22 |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2013) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|UK|95|artist=Bronski Beat|date=20131128|ref=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bronski+Beat|access-date=10 May 2015}} |
| Ireland (IRMA){{Cite web|url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bronski+Beat|title=irishcharts.com - Discography Bronski Beat|website=www.irish-charts.com}}
| align=center| 62 |
| class="wikitable"
|+ "Smalltown Boy (Reprise)" !Chart (2014) !Peak |
| Ireland (IRMA){{Cite web|url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jimmy+Somerville|title=irishcharts.com - Discography Jimmy Somerville|website=www.irish-charts.com}}
| align=center| 51 |
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (2024) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|UK|51|date=20240607|ref=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20240607/7501/|access-date=30 August 2024}} |
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
=Sales and certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=Bronski Beat|title=Smalltown Boy|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1985}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=France|nocert=true|salesamount=300,000|salesref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|artist=Bronski Beat|title=Smalltown Boy|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Bronski Beat|title=Smalltown Boy|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|id=5991-1387-1|access-date=13 December 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|0dQ49LT_UFU|Runaway (Smalltown Boy)}}
{{Bronski Beat}}
{{Jimmy Somerville}}
{{Kate Ryan}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Jimmy Somerville
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Thorne
Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in the Netherlands