"Bow Down Mister" is a song written by English singer Boy George, under the pseudonym "Angela Dust", and recorded by his first musical group following his departure from Culture Club, Jesus Loves You. Inspired by a trip George took to India, the song is a tribute to the Hare Krishna movement and incorporates the Hare Krishna mantra. Indian singer Asha Bhosle performs the female vocals on the song but is uncredited on the single release.
"Bow Down Mister" was released on 11 February 1991 as the fourth single from the project's only studio album, The Martyr Mantras (1991). It reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart and became a bigger hit in several mainland European countries, especially in Austria and Germany, where the song reached the top 10.
Boy George wrote "Bow Down Mister" shortly after taking a trip to India.[3] George was intrigued that the song was perceived as radical to the public, as this was not his intention; however, he went on to explain, "That is unless you consider a song that encourages love instead of hate as being radical. I am continually amazed at how, with all of the knowledge we have as humans, we continue to be so small-minded."[4] The track was written as an ode to the Hare Krishna movement,[2] a Hindu religious organisation whose members dedicate their thoughts and actions to the Hindu deity Krishna, and the song recites the Hare Krishna mantra several times during the bridge.[5] Indian playback singerAsha Bhosle is featured as the female vocalist on the recording.[6] During an interview, Bhosle stated that "Bow Down Mister" was the best song she had contributed to and that she continues to cherish it.[7]
Critical receptionedit
Billboard writer Larry Flick called the song "thoroughly original and refreshing" and praised its "anthemic" melody but found the song "too offbeat" for UK hit radio.[2][4] In the same magazine, a review of the parent album called the homage "quirky".[8]AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann referred to "Bow Down Mister" as one of the "oddest" songs on The Martyr Mantras.[9] Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week, writing, "Boy George's latest project is so bizarre it's not surprising that it takes a little time to reveal its full potency. But there's much to admire here, with some haunting Indian singing before the track resolves itself as a worthy dancefloor contender."[10] Chris Mellor from Record Mirror noted, "Indian dance music, hippy chic George Harrison style Hare Krishna chants mingle with beautiful sitars and Boy George's inimitable vocal style to create something quite stunning."[11] Another editor, Phil Cheeseman felt that it has "a terrible line [...] about Hindus knowing the score, not enormously subtle given the current flare-up of religious and caste violence in India."[12]
Chart performanceedit
On the UK Singles Chart, "Bow Down Mister" debuted at number 69 on 17 February 1991, taking a total of five weeks to peak at number 27 on 17 March 1991.[13] It spent three more weeks in the top 100 before dropping out in early April.[13] The same month, the track appeared on the French Singles Chart at number 41, rising to a peak of number 29 on two occasions and spending 13 weeks on the chart.[14] In late May, the single entered the Austrian and German Singles Chart. In Austria, it rose to number two and totalled 22 weeks in the top 30, ending 1991 as the country's 10th-highest-selling single.[15][16] Meanwhile, in Germany, it peaked at number six for two weeks, logged 27 weeks in the top 100, and finished the year at number 17 on Germany's year-end chart.[17][18] In Switzerland, it reached number 15,[19] while in the Flanders region of Belgium, it debuted at its peak of number 44.[20] On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Bow Down Mister" rose to number 20 in August 1991 and was ranked Europe's 73rd-best-performing hit of the year.[21][22]
^"Jesus Loves You: Album & single reviews and then some..." boygeorgefever.com. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
^ abcdFlick, Larry (30 March 1991). "Music Meet Face-Off: Labels, Pools Still Discordant" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 13. p. 39. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^"Music Monitor – First Quarter 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 3. 19 January 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^ abFlick, Larry (2 February 1991). "Boy George Is Back on the Dance Charts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 5. p. 35. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^Bradley Hagerty, Barbara (22 May 2008). "What You Need to Know About Hare Krishnas". NPR. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^"Asha Bhosle". Cindy Byram PR. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
^Site administrator (14 August 2000). "Asha Bhosle to perform with Boy George in Wembley, London". India Today. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
^"Album Reviews – Dance" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 6. 9 February 1991. p. 78. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^Ruhlmann, William. "AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
^Jones, Alan (16 February 1991). "Mainstream: Singles — Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 6. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
^Mellor, Chris (9 February 1991). "DJ Directory — Hot Vinyl". Record Mirror. p. 37. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^Cheeseman, Phil (6 April 1991). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 16. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
down, mister, song, written, english, singer, george, under, pseudonym, angela, dust, recorded, first, musical, group, following, departure, from, culture, club, jesus, loves, inspired, trip, george, took, india, song, tribute, hare, krishna, movement, incorpo. Bow Down Mister is a song written by English singer Boy George under the pseudonym Angela Dust and recorded by his first musical group following his departure from Culture Club Jesus Loves You Inspired by a trip George took to India the song is a tribute to the Hare Krishna movement and incorporates the Hare Krishna mantra Indian singer Asha Bhosle performs the female vocals on the song but is uncredited on the single release Bow Down Mister Single by Jesus Loves Youfrom the album The Martyr MantrasB side Love Hurts Yes It Doz U Blighter Mix Released11 February 1991 1991 02 11 1 GenreAcoustic pop 2 house 2 Length6 32 album version LabelMore Protein VirginSongwriter s Angela DustProducer s Bruce ForestJesus Loves You singles chronology One on One 1990 Bow Down Mister 1991 Generations of Love 1991 Audio Bow Down Mister on YouTube Bow Down Mister was released on 11 February 1991 as the fourth single from the project s only studio album The Martyr Mantras 1991 It reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart and became a bigger hit in several mainland European countries especially in Austria and Germany where the song reached the top 10 Contents 1 Background and meaning 2 Critical reception 3 Chart performance 4 Track listings 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 ReferencesBackground and meaning editBoy George wrote Bow Down Mister shortly after taking a trip to India 3 George was intrigued that the song was perceived as radical to the public as this was not his intention however he went on to explain That is unless you consider a song that encourages love instead of hate as being radical I am continually amazed at how with all of the knowledge we have as humans we continue to be so small minded 4 The track was written as an ode to the Hare Krishna movement 2 a Hindu religious organisation whose members dedicate their thoughts and actions to the Hindu deity Krishna and the song recites the Hare Krishna mantra several times during the bridge 5 Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle is featured as the female vocalist on the recording 6 During an interview Bhosle stated that Bow Down Mister was the best song she had contributed to and that she continues to cherish it 7 Critical reception editBillboard writer Larry Flick called the song thoroughly original and refreshing and praised its anthemic melody but found the song too offbeat for UK hit radio 2 4 In the same magazine a review of the parent album called the homage quirky 8 AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann referred to Bow Down Mister as one of the oddest songs on The Martyr Mantras 9 Alan Jones from Music Week named it Pick of the Week writing Boy George s latest project is so bizarre it s not surprising that it takes a little time to reveal its full potency But there s much to admire here with some haunting Indian singing before the track resolves itself as a worthy dancefloor contender 10 Chris Mellor from Record Mirror noted Indian dance music hippy chic George Harrison style Hare Krishna chants mingle with beautiful sitars and Boy George s inimitable vocal style to create something quite stunning 11 Another editor Phil Cheeseman felt that it has a terrible line about Hindus knowing the score not enormously subtle given the current flare up of religious and caste violence in India 12 Chart performance editOn the UK Singles Chart Bow Down Mister debuted at number 69 on 17 February 1991 taking a total of five weeks to peak at number 27 on 17 March 1991 13 It spent three more weeks in the top 100 before dropping out in early April 13 The same month the track appeared on the French Singles Chart at number 41 rising to a peak of number 29 on two occasions and spending 13 weeks on the chart 14 In late May the single entered the Austrian and German Singles Chart In Austria it rose to number two and totalled 22 weeks in the top 30 ending 1991 as the country s 10th highest selling single 15 16 Meanwhile in Germany it peaked at number six for two weeks logged 27 weeks in the top 100 and finished the year at number 17 on Germany s year end chart 17 18 In Switzerland it reached number 15 19 while in the Flanders region of Belgium it debuted at its peak of number 44 20 On the Eurochart Hot 100 Bow Down Mister rose to number 20 in August 1991 and was ranked Europe s 73rd best performing hit of the year 21 22 Track listings editUK 12 inch single 23 A Bow Down Mister Sitari Bizzari Mix 6 24 B Bow Down Mister Floating in the Ganges Grid Mix 7 04 French maxi single 15 Bow Down Mister A Small Portion 2 B Polite Mix 3 59 Bow Down Mister Nayana Banana Govinda Goulash Mix 6 25 Love Hurts Yes It Doz U Blighter Mix 3 59 German 7 inch single 15 A Bow Down Mister A Small Portion 2B Polite Mix 3 59 B Love Hurts Yes It Doz U Blighter Mix 3 59Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1991 Peakposition Austria O3 Austria Top 40 15 2 Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 20 44 Europe Eurochart Hot 100 21 20 France SNEP 14 29 Germany Official German Charts 17 6 Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 19 15 UK Singles OCC 13 27 Year end charts edit Chart 1991 Position Austria O3 Austria Top 40 16 10 Europe Eurochart Hot 100 22 73 Germany Official German Charts 18 17References edit Jesus Loves You Album amp single reviews and then some boygeorgefever com Retrieved 26 July 2021 a b c d Flick Larry 30 March 1991 Music Meet Face Off Labels Pools Still Discordant PDF Billboard Vol 103 no 13 p 39 Retrieved 11 November 2020 Music Monitor First Quarter 1991 PDF Music amp Media Vol 8 no 3 19 January 1991 p 8 Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Flick Larry 2 February 1991 Boy George Is Back on the Dance Charts PDF Billboard Vol 103 no 5 p 35 Retrieved 11 November 2020 Bradley Hagerty Barbara 22 May 2008 What You Need to Know About Hare Krishnas NPR Retrieved 11 November 2020 Asha Bhosle Cindy Byram PR Retrieved 20 January 2020 Site administrator 14 August 2000 Asha Bhosle to perform with Boy George in Wembley London India Today Retrieved 20 January 2021 Album Reviews Dance PDF Billboard Vol 103 no 6 9 February 1991 p 78 Retrieved 11 November 2020 Ruhlmann William AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann AllMusic Retrieved 11 November 2020 Jones Alan 16 February 1991 Mainstream Singles Pick of the Week PDF Music Week p 6 Retrieved 6 April 2023 Mellor Chris 9 February 1991 DJ Directory Hot Vinyl Record Mirror p 37 Retrieved 10 August 2021 Cheeseman Phil 6 April 1991 Albums Record Mirror p 16 Retrieved 14 December 2022 a b c Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Jesus Loves You Bow Down Mister in French Les classement single Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b c d Jesus Loves You Bow Down Mister in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Jahreshitparade Singles 1991 in German Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Jesus Loves You Bow Down Mister in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 1991 in German GfK Entertainment Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Jesus Loves You Bow Down Mister Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Jesus Loves You Bow Down Mister in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 8 no 32 10 August 1991 p 21 Retrieved 11 November 2020 a b Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1991 PDF Music amp Media Vol 8 no 51 52 21 December 1991 p 21 Retrieved 11 November 2020 Bow Down Mister UK 12 inch single sleeve Jesus Loves You More Protein 1991 PROT 8 12 614 006 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bow Down Mister amp oldid 1197504572, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
