First Time Hearing | Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy Reaction

[@shanewheal9069]

As a closeted gay man in New Zealand in the 80s when this song came out . I had hope. Especially when it went top 10.

[@jerrycote659]

❤

[@mikkifly]

Things have changed a lot since then.❤

[@lyngusrobb5323]

That voice...once you hear it, you never forget it. It saturates your senses. ❤

[@ksenchy]

This song is a masterpiece story, beat and vocal wise

[@njg247]

Jimi Somerville is something else and when he went on to form The Communards, he created equally fabulous music. His voice and storytelling are particularly haunting in For a Friend by The Communards. I recommend you explore.

[@direlyon]

Voice,story...this song describes so much who he is...such a good person...very courageous testimony

[@lindasalaki9404]

You are so right Stan, his voice, the story and the beat ❣️🎵🎶✌️😎

[@richardhargrave6082]

Even after all these years, Jimmy Somerville's voice still sounds extraordinary. Great reaction, you got the sentiment of the song spot on

[@65alef]

Brano stupendo con una tematica che per tanti è ancora tabù. Sono genitore di un ragazzo gay ed ogni volta che vedo questo video mi si stringe il cuore perché comprendo la sofferenza di un giovane che non si sente accettato e tanta tristezza per quei genitori che non riescono ad accettare la vera natura del loro figlio. Un figlio che deve essere amato per ciò che è e non per quello che si vorrebbe che fosse 🏳️‍🌈

[@matfrusher2090]

Jimmys voice is fantastic. Don't leave this way is one of his best

[@luckyleprechaun-e7h]

bronski beat really hit the jackpot with this song. they created an instant classic. it just works like gangbusters. the beat-that you speak of-is incredible. you are drawn in immediately when that beat kicks in. and those starting cords are such a brilliant set up. they are pensive, dark, troubled. they set the stage. and then the gift of jimmy somerville being the artist to introduce this song, that voice, that voice! gorgeous! soulful! haunting! haunted! beautiful! other-worldly really. so much in his sound. and then what he physically looks like. again, otherworldly, he is at once angelic looking, boyish, sweet, vulnerable. a major part of why this song reached and moved so many people is the combination of jimmy somerville's stunning voice, but also what he looks like. somerville moves you when you watch him in the video. there is something dear and sad about him physically. you want to protect him. you want him not to be hurt when you watch this video. one is frightened for his safety in every way. one is devastated when his father rejects him so. let alone seeing him set-up to be bashed and beaten physically. it is just devastating. his whole story is written on his face as he looks out the window, alone on the train. thank heavens he is joined by his chums on the train. his new chosen family in the big city where he's had to flee. like so many of us have had to also do. if the video had ended with somerville alone on the train, it would have been too tragic! we would have been made too sad by the story. it is already heartwrenching, but it does leave us with hope for what jimmy somerville can find and do in his new life. I cannot express strongly enough just how radical and how revelatory this song and video was to young gay men and women at the time. I was 16 years old when this song was released. I was in the Bible Belt of the midwest. a kind of hellscape for me, personally. to have this be played on mtv, and also at clubs and such over the next few years-again, I cannot express how important this was for me. Bronski Beat were giving the world this story at a time when nobody else was going near this subject. I will always be so grateful for bronski beat being so bold and so truthful at such a key time in my own life. thanks for posting and looking at this powerful and important song. also, it is just a killer dance song on any level sonically alone. it is classic for a reason. I have liked and subscribed. thanks again.

[@caroljshepherd3848]

And he can do that live! . . . Still. ❤

[@horstschafer1839]

Thanks, great rememberance to the days we programmed the keybord notes to this song on our Commodore 128 Computer, nearly 40 years ago. 2 days of work, just for fun. 😅

[@sixpakshaker88]

It is one of the songs that made me an ally to the gay cause.

[@luckyleprechaun-e7h]

thank you.

[@simon3745]

There's a live version on KZbin from a couple of years ago, it's even better than the official song.

[@paulsmith7791]

Great reaction 👍

[@neosapienz7885]

So weird this song didn’t even get close to the US Top 40 (48) but it’s still played on the radio 40 years later.

[@deepfriedscotsman2860]

Jimmy Somerville another great Scottish singer

[@donlevy6919]

It definitely was an important video for the gay community at the time. Very groundbreaking.