It wasn't a wow song for me at the time, I think his unusual image did help the quick popularity. I've grown to realise it's a nice song though, pleasant. I think they did bigger songs that didn't get to the top, like Victims. But by then the group weren't the latest thing anymore, so less hype.

Closing thoughts on tonight's show...

...


...


...


Nope, I've got nothing.

Tomorrow night's doesn't look the most mouthwatering either.

The very scene.

They wouldn't, it's a river.

So you do at the very least agree that it is bugging a woman about her late husband's decision.

I thought ''Do You Really Want To Hurt Me'' was Culture Club's best song, and a deserved No 1. I don't believe hype was the significant reason for its success, either.

I don't know, but the poor girl was in trouble in the late 80s, when she was hit by a smooth criminal...

Annie Christian was a whore .....

RIP Prince.

cant remember danger games at all...shaky had all that money but one pair of white shoes....i wonder if boy george could really sing or was a lot of techonology involved...he sounds awful singing live.

Anyone know a link for the Mike Smith show?

Sure I saw one the other day, but can't find it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTtQWa4B2K4&t=4s

Not a very interesting show.

Struggling to think of a highlight really.

Was Eddy Grant the next noumber one?

I wouldn't have minded Chicago, Fat Larry's Band, Mari Wilson, Tears for Fears or Spandau Ballet getting to No1 in this period, so it's hard to say Culture Club didn't have competition in the top 10. I don't begrudge it getting to No1, it has musical merit. But everybody always talks about seeing Boy George on TOTP, so it's hard to say the image had no effect in making it noticed.

A few people moaned about a few posts between myself and Little Girl of 7.

Not as bad as the last half dozen or so pages of grumpy old gits saying "I Don't Like This Song" ad infinitum.

Ta very much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrnIkjkooBM

Well, I was late in again, so had to have a quick catch up & read of the forum comments:-



Yep - I'm another 'Fame' hater - couldn't see the appeal in 1982 & still can't see it now!


Ha! - I never realised how much enthusiasm & energy Toyah has onstage until watching these reruns!! - She could light up a small town with all that energy!!


Wow - I remember that episode like it was yesterday! - But surely you don't LittleGirl?! Unless you've been watching the repeats!


It wasn't Jimmy Savile was it?!

- Great song though - whoever her father was!


I agree - great song - one of their best!

Well, overall another below average episode! - Shakey is like a bad cold - that keeps coming back year after year - Culture Club, Toyah & Kid Creole were the highlights! 4.5/10 from me!

Ah right, so pestering women is just your thing.

Noted.

Debbie Allen's vocal is outstanding on that song

There were repeats of Grange Hill from the late 70s/early 80s on BBC2 in the mid 90s.

Yep, Sunday mornings - loved watching those! About time they were shown again.

I remember the Sunday morning ones in the mid 90s (as well as the original ones) - but I have only ever seen up to the first 3 or 4 years.

BIB - he apparently does now.

I note Sarah Greene provided a similar response to a longstanding poster on this thread on the same topic 4 hours ago.

https://twitter.com/RealSarahGreene/...ies?lang=en-gb

Of course the Culture Club song is one of their best, it's not one of their worst.

Funny reading before about the Dollar song. First people were saying 'not very good at all' then gradually it changed 'hey, this actually isn't so bad is it?'. It was like the initial response was largely based on the production and incredulity that that production was made in 1982. It's the storyline approach that you can get (particularly with critics) that things either progress or regressive according to whether a preferred aspect is in evidence. But different productions can be valid. Even if it wasn't as good as Mirror Mirror or Who Were You With in the Moonlight, it was ok. The musical substance like the melody, beyond whether the production is thought cool or not, wasn't that bad. Whereas some like Videotheque but is that really just because it's more a production people expect from Trevor Horn? It's big and loud but the music doesn't seem to have that great a melody, it feels a bit stunted.

And on Abba, well it's quite possible to like things from them both in the 80s and 70s, you don't have to choose. I do find The Day Before You Came quite deliberate and cold sounding and on the long side. It's rather simple like some Leonard Cohen songs, or if you want a folk song even. Performance and arrangement can lift some songs like that, but too deliberate and something can sound dirge-like. You either buy into the atmosphere or you don't, and I can see why it's more a cult song.