The War Song

"The War Song" is a 1984 song by the British band Culture Club which features background vocals by Clare Torry. It was the lead single from the band's third album Waking Up with the House on Fire. The song became the group's seventh top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two.[1] In the U.S. the single peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100[2] and hit the top ten in many countries including Canada (#3), Ireland (#1), Italy (#3) and Australia (#2). While very popular at the time, it was not appreciated by some music critics for some weakness in the lyrics and less original arrangements.

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

"The War Song"
Single by Culture Club
from the album Waking Up with the House on Fire
B-side
  • "La Cancion de Guerra",
  • "La Chanson de Guerre"
  • "Der Kriegsgesang"
  • "Senso Hantai"
Released6 October 1984 (1984-10-06) (US)
Recorded1984
GenreNew wave, reggae fusion
Length4:14
LabelVirgin Records
Epic Records (US)
Songwriter(s)Roy Hay, Boy George, 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)

The song was assisted by a popular music video directed by Russell Mulcahy, which features hundreds of children dressed as skeletons, frolicing around Shad Thames, London. Lead singer Boy George is shown with his new flame-red hair, and also employs four wigs in black, white, yellow and blue. The video cost more than £100,000 to make.

When Pete Burns saw the video, he memorably sent Boy George a wreath.

In many countries, the single was released with a B-Side consisting of a native-language version (Spanish, French, Japanese or German) of the song. It was available in two different extended versions, a first in Culture Club discography. Its 7" picture disc was shelved, and the only remaining copies are very rare.

Boy George later joked about the song: "It ruined my career". It has also been excluded from some music compilations of the band. Though not performed live by Culture Club since 1985, it was performed on New Year's Eve 2011 when Culture Club reunited for a one-off gig. The band also played the song in 2014.[3]

It was Culture Club's last UK top 5 hit before 1998's "I Just Wanna Be Loved".

Chart
Chart (1984-1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 2
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[5] 4
Canada (RPM 100 Singles)[6] 3
Denmark (Hitlisten)[7] 6
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles) 3
France (SNEP)[8] 7
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 1
Israel (IBA)[10] 1
Italy (FIMI)[11] 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 5
Norway (VG-lista)[14] 5
Spain (AFYVE)[15] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 10
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 17
West Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 12

Track listing

7"
Released at least in UK, USA, Australia, Spain

A. The War Song
B. La Cancion De Guerra

Released in France and Canada

A. The War Song
B. La Chanson De Guerre

12"
Released at least in UK, Australia, Spain, USA

A1. The War Song (Ultimate Dance Mix)
B1. The War Song (Shriek Mix)
B2. La Cancion De Guerra

References
  1. Official Charts Company
  2. "The War Song - Culture Club". Billboard Hot 100. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  3. Caroline Sullivan (22 October 2014). "Culture Club review – Boy George puts his self-destruction behind him". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. "the war song - culture club". VRT (in Dutch). Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2013. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 1
  6. "Top Singles - Volume 42, No. 22, December 10, 1984". Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  7. https://www.ukmix.org/showthread.php?118921-Danish-Chart-Archive-Singles-1979-____-(B-T-IFPI-DK)/page5
  8. "Lescharts.com – Culture Club – The war song" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  9. "Ireland singles charts". Irishcharts.ie. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  10. https://www.ukmix.org/showthread.php?45645-Israel-Singles-Charts-1987-1995/page4
  11. "I singoli più venduti del 1984". HitParadeItalia (in Italian). Creative Commons. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
    10. The War Song - Culture Club [#3]
  12. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Culture Club" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  13. "Charts.nz – Culture Club – The war song". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  14. "Norwegiancharts.com – Culture Club – The war song". VG-lista.
  15. Salaverri, Fernando (December 1984). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  16. "Swedishcharts.com – Culture Club – The war song". Singles Top 100.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Culture Club – The war song". Swiss Singles Chart.
  18. "Culture Club: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  19. "Culture Club Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Culture Club – The war song". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 March 2019.


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