Peak
48
Weeks
16
Score
1,005
Chart Year
1985
The music video for "Smalltown Boy" was directed by Bernard Rose, who had directed the video for "Relax", by another openly gay band, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, the previous year.[11] Rose said Bronski Beat felt "Relax" was too mainstream and upbeat, and wanted to convey a more serious message.[11] The Independent described the "Smalltown Boy" video as "stark" and "grounded".[12] The original concept was to base the video on a cottaging scene, but this was vetoed by the London Recordings executive Colin Bell.[9] The video was filmed at a leisure centre in East London.[9] In the video, a boy (played by Somerville) makes a pass at a man and is gay-bashed. As a policeman explains the incident to the boy's parents (outing him in the process), his mother breaks down and his father becomes angry to the point of almost striking the boy, who then resolves to leave his "small town" for London. As he leaves, his father gives him money but refuses to shake hands. On the train the boy is joined by other members of Bronski Beat. They smile and laugh as they disembark in London to start their new life.[12][9] Rose said the video depicted a common experience for gay people and that Bronski Beat wanted to draw attention to homophobia.[11] Wade likened it to the films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach.[9] Bell said it created opportunities for later videos with gay themes by artists such as Pet Shop Boys and George Michael.
This song is a semi-autobiographical story of Jimmy Somerville, who was lead singer of the band at the time. The song covers the oppression of homosexuals in provincial Scotland in the early 1980s. The music video was groundbreaking in its depiction of what the song meant. It showed Somerville being attacked by a homophobic gang and being brought home by police to the family whom he is attempted to run away from. It was among the 125 videos selected by Channel 4 to be voted into their top 100. This was Bronski Beat's debut on the British charts. >>
You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face Mother will never understand why you had to leave But the answers you seek will never be found at home The love that you need will never be found at home Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Pushed around and kicked around, always a lonely boy You were the one that they'd talk about around town as they put you down And as hard as they would try they'd hurt to make you cry But you never cried to them, just to your soul No, you never cried to them, just to your soul Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away (Crying to your soul) Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry Cry, boy, cry, boy, cry You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 22, 1984 | 86 | 40 |
| 2 | Dec 29, 1984 | 86 | 40 |
| 3 | Jan 5, 1985 | 73 | 53 |
| 4 | Jan 12, 1985 | 67 | 59 |
| 5 | Jan 19, 1985 | 63 | 63 |
| 6 | Jan 26, 1985 | 59 | 67 |
| 7 | Feb 2, 1985 | 56 | 70 |
| 8 | Feb 9, 1985 | 53 | 73 |
| 9 | Feb 16, 1985 | 53 | 73 |
| 10 | Feb 23, 1985 | 51 | 75 |
| 11 | Mar 2, 1985 | 49 | 77 |
| 12 | Mar 9, 1985 | 48 | 78 |
| 13 | Mar 16, 1985 | 53 | 73 |
| 14 | Mar 23, 1985 | 74 | 52 |
| 15 | Mar 30, 1985 | 94 | 32 |
| 16 | Apr 6, 1985 | 99 | 27 |