kissing to be clever

Culture Club caused an international sensation and really made us want to cry with the sophisticated dance pop of their blockbuster debut.  The band consisted of Mikey Craig on bass, Roy Hay on guitar and keyboards, Jon Moss on drums and percussion, and androgynous lead singer Boy George (George O'Dowd). When they realized the cultural diversity of their lineup, with an Irish transvestite as the lead singer, a black Briton on bass, an Anglo-Saxon on guitar and keyboards, and a Jewish drummer; they decided on the name Culture Club. They recorded demos for EMI; but the label was not impressed. Virgin Records signed them and secured producer Steve Levine to help them fill out their sound and finish their album. Virgin released 'Kissing to be Clever' in the UK; and it was distributed by Epic Records around the world. The band exploded to international success with the third single, 'Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?'. Boy George remembers: "Our first two singles failed. That single was our last chance. But I threatened to leave if they released it. I didn't think it was us; it wasn't club music. It wouldn't stand up to Spandau Ballet. But I was wrong. It was so personal in a way that our other songs weren't. It was about Jon. All the songs were about him, but they were more ambiguous."

'Kissing to be Clever' went to twenty-two in Italy, fourteen in the US, twelve in Australia, eight in Germany, six in Austria, five in the UK, three in Sweden and Norway, and number two in France and New Zealand. In 1983, Culture Club won a Grammy for Best New Artist and a BRIT award for Best British Newcomer.






http://www.culture-club.co.uk/










Boy George says:  "'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me' is a really well constructed song. It's probably the only proper song we've got with proper chord sequences and keyboard changes in it. It's just very musical. The most powerful songs in the world are love songs. They apply to everyone - especially kids who fall in and out of love more times than anyone else. At the end of the day, everybody wants to be wanted."    The single went to twenty-four in Belgium; twenty-three in Japan; two in Denmark, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the US; and number one in Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and on the European Hot 100.

Give me time to realize my crime
Let me love and steal
I have danced inside your eyes
How can I be real

Do you really want to hurt me
Do you really want to make me cry
Precious kisses, words that burn me
Lovers never ask you why

In my heart the fire's burnin'
Choose my colour, find a star
Precious people always tell me
That's a step, a step too far

Do you really want to hurt me
Do you really want to make me cry
Do you really want to hurt me
Do you really want to make me cry

Words are few, I have spoken
I could waste a thousand years
Wrapped in sorrow, words are token
Come inside and catch my tears

You've been talkin', but believe me
If it's true you do not know
This boy loves without a reason
I'm prepared to let you go

If it's love you want from me
Then take it away
Everything is not what you see
It's over again

Do you really want to hurt me
Do you really want to make me cry
Do you really want to hurt me
Do you really want to make me cry








"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" bounded to number nine in the US and five in Canada.










"Time (Clock of the Heart)" ticked to sixteen in Germany; ten in the Netherlands; nine in Austria and Switzerland; eight in Australia; four in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand; three in the UK, and two in the US.









"Take Control"






























'Kissing to be Clever' 
full album:




All tracks by Culture Club.

Side One
"White Boy" [Dance Mix] – 4:40
"You Know I'm Not Crazy" – 3:36
"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" – 2:36
"Take Control" – 3:09
"Love Twist" [Featuring Captain Crucial] – 4:23
Side Two
"Mistery Boy (Suntory Hot Whisky Song)" 
"Boy Boy (I'm the Boy)" – 3:50
"I'm Afraid of Me" – 3:16
"White Boys Can't Control It" – 3:43
"Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" – 4:22