CULTURE CLUB Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
I always thought this was Culture Club's debut, but as it transpired it was their 3rd single, but it was undoubtedly their breakthrough and it is 40 years exactly since 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me' was released. I remember it well and how much George's look was the focal point to the success of the song and the mania that ensued for the next few years. But the song is a terrific composition, production and vocal performance by Culture Club as a band. Reaching #1 in Britain and a heap of other countries, including Australia, the single went to #2 on the Billboard chart where it sat for 3 weeks. 'Kissing To Be Clever' was the long player and two further singles found their way onto the world charts into 1983: 'Time' (Clock Of The Heart) and 'I'll Tumble 4 Ya' (one of my favourites of theirs). 'Karma Chameleon' later that year would cement Culture Club as a bona fide pop superstar act.
Selling in excess of 50 million records, Culture Club have been together, broken up, reformed over the decades and Boy George remains an iconic figure in pop culture. The fashion, the androgyny, the gender bending and the fun of a lot of the music, was all still underpinned by a great voice and some terrific musicians and songwriting. Those 50 million records don't sell on a novelty alone.