Top Video #3: Culture Club — The War Song

When Culture Club first hit the airwaves in the U.S. with Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?, no one knew if Boy George was a man or woman. As time went on, we learned he was a man, he said that he was bisexual, and then eventually came out as a full-on gay man. And a drag queen at that...having an affair with hottie drummer Jon Moss seen in this video with that manly scar and shoulder pads for days. Remember Boy George's acceptance speech on the Grammy's via satellite? "What can I say, America, you know a good drag queen when you see one!" Believe it or not, that was scandalous back in the day.

There were so many Culture Club hits from which to choose. I've selected The War Song because it's a great song and video, features the voice of the powerhouse female backup singer Helen Terry, and it has a lot of meaning even in today's world. Side note: This was the first time I actually thought Boy George was beautiful (when he's wearing the red curly wig).

The third in the countdown is the second directed by Russell Mulcahy. Culture Club sings The War Song.

Chorus:
War war is stupid
And people are stupid
And love means nothing
In some strange quarters

War war is stupid
And people are stupid
And I heard them banging
On hearts and fingers


People fill the world
With narrow confidence
Like a child at birth
A man with no defense
What's mine is my own
I won't give it to you
No matter what you say
No matter what you do

Now were fighting in our hearts
Fighting in the street
Won't somebody help me?

(Chorus)

War!

Man is far behind
In the search for something new
Like a Philistine
We're burning witches too
This world of fate
Must be designed for you
It matters what you say
It matters what you do

Now were fighting in our hearts
Fighting in the street
Won't somebody help me?

(Chorus)

War!

After the bird has flown
He walked ten thousand miles back home

You can't do that to me, no
You can't do that to me
You can't do that to me, no
You can't do that to me

War!

War!

In this heart of mine
I'll find a place for you
For black or white
For all the children too
Now we're fighting in our hearts
Fighting in the street
Won't somebody help me?

(Chorus)

No more war. Say "No more war." Say "War."
Senso hantai*, senso hantai*.
Say "No more war," Say "No more war"
No more war, say "No more war."

* Japanese translation: "Against the war."

Bonus: Boy George — The Crying Game
The awesome title song from one of my all-time favorite movies. So deep on so many levels.

Remember the marketing campaign that encouraged people who'd seen the movie to keep "the secret"? The movie's pivotal big reveal was named the top most shocking moment in movie history! When the movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 1993, many wondered how Jaye Davidson would appear at the awards show. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor but movie promoters didn't want anyone to know he wasn't a woman.

I know all there is to know about the crying game
I've had my share of the crying game
First there are kisses, then there are sighs
And then before you know where you are
You're sayin' goodbye

One day soon I'm gonna tell the moon about the crying game
And if he knows maybe he'll explain
Why there are heartaches, why there are tears
And what to do to stop feeling blue
When love disappears

First there are kisses, then there are sighs
And then before you know where you are
You're sayin' goodbye

Don't want no more of the crying game
Don't want no more of the crying game
Don't want no more of the crying game
Don't want no more of the crying game

I've added the "top video" label to all 10 videos for easy searching in the future.
*