The War Song
Encyclopedia
"The War Song" is the first single from Culture Club
's 1984 Waking Up with the House on Fire
album. The song became the group's seventh top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart
, peaking at number two.. It reached number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100
and hit the top three in many countries including Canada
(#7), Italy (#3) and Australia (#2)
While being very popular at the time, it was not appreciated by some music critics for some weakness in the lyrics and less original arrangements. The following singles from its parent album ("The Medal Song" in Europe, "Mistake No.3" in Americas) were not as popular as that song. The music video was very popular, showing hundreds of kids as skeletons, Boy George showing his new flame-red hair and some other wigs. Some of its military and fashion elements were used by Madonna for her American Life video in 2003.
The song was released with a different B-Side in many countries, the B-Side being "The War Song" in Spanish, French, Japanese or German. It was available in two different extended versions, a new thing in the Culture Club discography. Its 7" picture disc has been shelved for an unknown reason and the only remaining copies are very rare. It is the picture disc that sells with the highest price in record stores and on eBay, usually between US$ 250 and 1000.
It was Culture Club's last UK top 5 hit before 1998's "I Just Wanna Be Loved".
Boy George
once joked about the song: "It ruined my career", mentioning often that he is not proud of this song. It has also been excluded from some music compilations of the band, while remaining a firm fan favourite. The song has never been performed live by Culture Club since 1985 and has never been performed live by Boy George as a solo artist.
A. The War Song
B. La Cancion De Guerra
Released in France and Canada
A. The War Song
B. La Chanson De Guerre
A1. The War Song (Ultimate Dance Mix)
B1. The War Song (Shriek Mix)
B2. La Cancion De Guerra
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
's 1984 Waking Up with the House on Fire
Waking Up with the House on Fire
Waking Up with the House on Fire is the third album by New Wave band Culture Club, released in 1984.-Overview:While Waking Up with the House on Fire did reach platinum status in the US it was considered to be a disappointment compared to the 4X platinum status of the groups last album Colour by...
album. The song became the group's seventh top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, peaking at number two.. It reached number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and hit the top three in many countries including Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(#7), Italy (#3) and Australia (#2)
While being very popular at the time, it was not appreciated by some music critics for some weakness in the lyrics and less original arrangements. The following singles from its parent album ("The Medal Song" in Europe, "Mistake No.3" in Americas) were not as popular as that song. The music video was very popular, showing hundreds of kids as skeletons, Boy George showing his new flame-red hair and some other wigs. Some of its military and fashion elements were used by Madonna for her American Life video in 2003.
The song was released with a different B-Side in many countries, the B-Side being "The War Song" in Spanish, French, Japanese or German. It was available in two different extended versions, a new thing in the Culture Club discography. Its 7" picture disc has been shelved for an unknown reason and the only remaining copies are very rare. It is the picture disc that sells with the highest price in record stores and on eBay, usually between US$ 250 and 1000.
It was Culture Club's last UK top 5 hit before 1998's "I Just Wanna Be Loved".
Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
once joked about the song: "It ruined my career", mentioning often that he is not proud of this song. It has also been excluded from some music compilations of the band, while remaining a firm fan favourite. The song has never been performed live by Culture Club since 1985 and has never been performed live by Boy George as a solo artist.
7"
Released at least in UK, USA, Australia, SpainA. 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, USAA1. The War Song (Ultimate Dance Mix)
B1. The War Song (Shriek Mix)
B2. La Cancion De Guerra