Victims (song)
Encyclopedia
"Victims" is a single
from UK band Culture Club
's album Colour by Numbers
, released in 1983. As with most early Culture Club singles, the song is about Boy George's then publicly unknown relationship with drummer Jon Moss.
Although previous single
"Karma Chameleon
" had been a huge hit single
in many countries, "Victims" only charted in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Germany. It peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart
. In Ireland it peaked at #2, and in Australia it peaked at #4.
The single was not released in countries like United States, Canada and Japan, where they released "Miss Me Blind" instead; reportedly, Epic felt that the song was too depressing.
Its B-Side was the then unreleased track "Colour by Numbers", which is the title of the album but not included on it. An instrumental version was also issued on the 12", re-named "Romance Revisited". Both extra tracks are now available on the 2003 remastered version of Colour by Numbers
.
An early demo version of the song was released re-titled "Shirley Temple
Moment" on the Culture Club box set. The track is a candid glimpse of the relationships within the band as they argue viciously amongst one another between takes, before Boy George finally walks out. It is notable also for the different lyrics which appear in the first verse:
Boy George re-recorded the song himself, now as a solo artist, in a folk arrangement and with his older voice, in 2002. That version can be found on the Culture Club box set that was out the same year.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from UK band Culture Club
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 album Colour by Numbers
Colour by Numbers
Colour by Numbers is the second album by New Wave band Culture Club, released in 1983.-Overview:The album features several international hits such as "Church of the Poison Mind" and the worldwide hit "Karma Chameleon" which had sales of over one million in the United Kingdom alone...
, released in 1983. As with most early Culture Club singles, the song is about Boy George's then publicly unknown relationship with drummer Jon Moss.
Although previous single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Karma Chameleon
Karma Chameleon
"Karma Chameleon" is a song by British New Wave band Culture Club, featured on the group's 1983 album Colour by Numbers. The song spent three weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1984, becoming the group's biggest hit and only US #1 among their many top ten hits...
" had been a huge hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in many countries, "Victims" only charted in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Germany. It peaked at #3 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 ...
. In Ireland it peaked at #2, and in Australia it peaked at #4.
The single was not released in countries like United States, Canada and Japan, where they released "Miss Me Blind" instead; reportedly, Epic felt that the song was too depressing.
Its B-Side was the then unreleased track "Colour by Numbers", which is the title of the album but not included on it. An instrumental version was also issued on the 12", re-named "Romance Revisited". Both extra tracks are now available on the 2003 remastered version of Colour by Numbers
Colour by Numbers
Colour by Numbers is the second album by New Wave band Culture Club, released in 1983.-Overview:The album features several international hits such as "Church of the Poison Mind" and the worldwide hit "Karma Chameleon" which had sales of over one million in the United Kingdom alone...
.
An early demo version of the song was released re-titled "Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
Moment" on the Culture Club box set. The track is a candid glimpse of the relationships within the band as they argue viciously amongst one another between takes, before Boy George finally walks out. It is notable also for the different lyrics which appear in the first verse:
Boy George re-recorded the song himself, now as a solo artist, in a folk arrangement and with his older voice, in 2002. That version can be found on the Culture Club box set that was out the same year.
Charts
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart | 3 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 2 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 4 |