fbpx
Wikipedia

The War Song

December 08, 2023

This article is about the song by Culture Club. For songs named "War", see War (disambiguation). For other uses, see war song (disambiguation).

"The War Song" is a song by British band Culture Club, featuring background vocals from Clare Torry. It was released as the lead single from the band's third album, Waking Up with the House on Fire (1984), in September 1984. The song became the group's seventh top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, the single peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Elsewhere, it reached the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Canada, and Ireland, peaking at number one in the latter country.

"The War Song"
Single by Culture Club
from the album Waking Up with the House on Fire
B-side"La cancion de guerra"
Released24 September 1984 (1984-09-24)[1]
GenreNew pop[2]
Length4:14
LabelVirgin, Epic
Songwriter(s)Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss
Producer(s)Steve Levine
Culture Club singles chronology
"It's a Miracle"
(1984) 		"The War Song"
(1984) 		"The Medal Song"
(1984)

Lead singer Boy George later stated on BBC3 that "most people are very ignorant politically and we're all told how glamorous war is."[3] The band mostly played the song live during the 1980s. The group played the song at a gig on New Year's Eve 2011. They also performed the song in 2014.[4]

B-side edit

In many countries, the single was released with a B-side consisting of a native-language version of the song, including those in Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. It was available in two different extended versions,[citation needed] a first in Culture Club discography. Its 7-inch picture disc was shelved, and remaining copies are very rare.[citation needed]

Critical reception edit

Cash Box said that "this strong anti-war statement is delivered with simple but effective words and a varied melody."[5] Billboard called it "an effervescent protest song, hard to disagree with."[6]

Music video edit

The music video was directed by Russell Mulcahy. Lead singer Boy George is shown with flame-red hair, a provocative new look at the time, as well as black, white, yellow and blue wigs. The ending of the video features hundreds of children dressed as skeletons, frolicking around Shad Thames, London. The video cost more than £100,000 to make.[citation needed] When Pete Burns of English band Dead or Alive saw the video, he sent Boy George a wreath.[citation needed]

Track listings edit

Depending on region, Spanish B-side "La cancion de guerra" is another alternate-language version, including French version "La chanson de guerra",[7] German version "Der Kriegsgesang",[8] and Japanese version "Sensō no uta" ("戦争のうた").[9]

7-inch single[10]

A. "The War Song" – 3:57
B. "La cancion de guerra" – 4:06

12-inch single[11]

A1. "The War Song" (ultimate dance mix) – 6:51
B1. "The War Song" (Shriek mix) – 6:16
B2. "La cancion de guerra"

Chart edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 22 September 1984. p. 30.
  2. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. ^ "Julian Baggini: Should pop stars do politics?". TheGuardian.com. 27 June 2006.
  4. ^ Caroline Sullivan (22 October 2014). "Culture Club review – Boy George puts his self-destruction behind him". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLVII, no. 18. 6 October 1984. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Singles Reviews". Billboard. 13 October 1984. p. 70. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  7. ^ The War Song (French 7-inch single vinyl disc). Culture Club. Virgin Records. 1984. 90149.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ The War Song (German 7-inch single vinyl disc). Culture Club. Virgin Records. 1984. 106 852.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ The War Song (Japanese 7-inch single vinyl disc). Culture Club. Virgin Records. 1984. 07VA-1001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ The War Song (UK 7-inch single vinyl disc). Culture Club. Virgin Records. 1984. VS 694.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ The War Song (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Culture Club. Virgin Records. 1984. VS 694-12.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 79. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0560." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  15. ^ "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 32. 5 November 1984. p. 14.
  16. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The War Song". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  21. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song". VG-lista.
  22. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (December 1984). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  23. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song". Singles Top 100.
  24. ^ "Culture Club – The War Song". Swiss Singles Chart.
  25. ^ "Culture Club: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Culture Club Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  27. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Culture Club – The War Song" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via Imgur.
  29. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1984". RPM. Retrieved 27 July 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  31. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. 26 January 1985. p. 37.
  34. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Culture Club – The War Song". Music Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  35. ^ "British single certifications – Boy George & Culture Club – The War Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 July 2022.

December 08, 2023
song, this, article, about, song, culture, club, songs, named, disambiguation, other, uses, song, disambiguation, song, british, band, culture, club, featuring, background, vocals, from, clare, torry, released, lead, single, from, band, third, album, waking, w. This article is about the song by Culture Club For songs named War see War disambiguation For other uses see war song disambiguation The War Song is a song by British band Culture Club featuring background vocals from Clare Torry It was released as the lead single from the band s third album Waking Up with the House on Fire 1984 in September 1984 The song became the group s seventh top five hit on the UK Singles Chart In the United States the single peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 Elsewhere it reached the top 10 in several countries including Australia Canada and Ireland peaking at number one in the latter country The War Song Single by Culture Clubfrom the album Waking Up with the House on FireB side La cancion de guerra Released24 September 1984 1984 09 24 1 GenreNew pop 2 Length4 14LabelVirgin EpicSongwriter s Boy George Roy Hay Mikey Craig Jon MossProducer s Steve LevineCulture Club singles chronology It s a Miracle 1984 The War Song 1984 The Medal Song 1984 Lead singer Boy George later stated on BBC3 that most people are very ignorant politically and we re all told how glamorous war is 3 The band mostly played the song live during the 1980s The group played the song at a gig on New Year s Eve 2011 They also performed the song in 2014 4 Contents 1 B side 2 Critical reception 3 Music video 4 Track listings 5 Chart 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications 7 See also 8 ReferencesB side editIn many countries the single was released with a B side consisting of a native language version of the song including those in Spanish French German and Japanese It was available in two different extended versions citation needed a first in Culture Club discography Its 7 inch picture disc was shelved and remaining copies are very rare citation needed Critical reception editCash Box said that this strong anti war statement is delivered with simple but effective words and a varied melody 5 Billboard called it an effervescent protest song hard to disagree with 6 Music video editThe music video was directed by Russell Mulcahy Lead singer Boy George is shown with flame red hair a provocative new look at the time as well as black white yellow and blue wigs The ending of the video features hundreds of children dressed as skeletons frolicking around Shad Thames London The video cost more than 100 000 to make citation needed When Pete Burns of English band Dead or Alive saw the video he sent Boy George a wreath citation needed Track listings editDepending on region Spanish B side La cancion de guerra is another alternate language version including French version La chanson de guerra 7 German version Der Kriegsgesang 8 and Japanese version Sensō no uta 戦争のうた 9 7 inch single 10 A The War Song 3 57 B La cancion de guerra 4 0612 inch single 11 A1 The War Song ultimate dance mix 6 51 B1 The War Song Shriek mix 6 16 B2 La cancion de guerra Chart editWeekly charts edit Chart 1984 1985 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 12 2Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 13 4Canada Top Singles RPM 14 3Europe European Hot 100 Singles 15 3France SNEP 16 7Ireland IRMA 17 1Netherlands Dutch Top 40 18 5Netherlands Single Top 100 19 7New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 20 5Norway VG lista 21 5Spain AFYVE 22 4Sweden Sverigetopplistan 23 6Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 24 10UK Singles OCC 25 2US Billboard Hot 100 26 17West Germany Official German Charts 27 12 Year end charts edit Chart 1984 PositionAustralia Kent Music Report 28 51Belgium Ultratop 29 35Canada Top Singles RPM 30 67Netherlands Dutch Top 40 31 31Netherlands Single Top 100 32 30UK Singles OCC 33 31Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesCanada Music Canada 34 Gold 50 000 United Kingdom BPI 35 Silver 250 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone See also editList of anti war songsReferences edit New Singles Music Week 22 September 1984 p 30 Stanley Bob 13 September 2013 Yeah Yeah Yeah The Story of Modern Pop Faber amp Faber p 92 ISBN 978 0 571 28198 5 Julian Baggini Should pop stars do politics TheGuardian com 27 June 2006 Caroline Sullivan 22 October 2014 Culture Club review Boy George puts his self destruction behind him The Guardian Retrieved 29 August 2018 Reviews PDF Cash Box Vol XLVII no 18 6 October 1984 p 15 Retrieved 25 July 2022 Singles Reviews Billboard 13 October 1984 p 70 Retrieved 10 February 2023 The War Song French 7 inch single vinyl disc Culture Club Virgin Records 1984 90149 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 The War Song German 7 inch single vinyl disc Culture Club Virgin Records 1984 106 852 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 The War Song Japanese 7 inch single vinyl disc Culture Club Virgin Records 1984 07VA 1001 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 The War Song UK 7 inch single vinyl disc Culture Club Virgin Records 1984 VS 694 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 The War Song UK 12 inch single vinyl disc Culture Club Virgin Records 1984 VS 694 12 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 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 Illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 79 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Culture Club The War Song in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 14 December 2021 Top RPM Singles Issue 0560 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 27 July 2022 European Top 100 Singles Eurotipsheet Vol 1 no 32 5 November 1984 p 14 Culture Club The War Song in French Les classement single Retrieved 21 July 2013 The Irish Charts Search Results The War Song Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 27 July 2022 Nederlandse Top 40 week 44 1984 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 14 December 2021 Culture Club The War Song in Dutch Single Top 100 Culture Club The War Song Top 40 Singles Retrieved 21 July 2013 Culture Club The War Song VG lista Salaverri Fernando December 1984 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 Culture Club The War Song Singles Top 100 Culture Club The War Song Swiss Singles Chart Culture Club Artist Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 27 July 2022 Culture Club Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Offiziellecharts de Culture Club The War Song in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 19 March 2019 Kent Music Report No 548 31 December 1984 gt National Top 100 Singles for 1984 Kent Music Report Retrieved 12 January 2022 via Imgur Jaaroverzichten 1984 in Dutch Ultratop Retrieved 14 December 2021 Top 100 Singles of 1984 RPM Retrieved 27 July 2022 via Library and Archives Canada Top 100 Jaaroverzicht van 1984 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 14 December 2021 Jaaroverzichten Single 1984 in Dutch MegaCharts Retrieved 14 December 2021 Top 100 Singles Music Week 26 January 1985 p 37 Canadian single certifications Culture Club The War Song Music Canada Retrieved 27 July 2022 British single certifications Boy George amp Culture Club The War Song British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 27 July 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The War Song amp oldid 1180899288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.