I felt like a 'smalltown boy' who grew up in sheltered suburbia. Then in the 80's when I went to dance clubs in San Francisco or Los Angeles this song would play and I would think it was for 'me'--the 'smalltown boy'.
Bronski Beat was the name of a popular British synthpop trio who achieved success in the mid 1980s, particularly with this 1984 chart hit "Smalltown Boy". All members of the group were openly homosexual and their songs reflected this, often containing political commentary on gay-related issues. Although many groups in the early to mid-80s had an openly gay image, Bronski Beat was one of the first groups to address the issues of gay people. At the height of their popularity the band consisted of singer Jimmy Somerville backed by Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek, both of whom played keyboards and percussion. Somerville went on to have success as lead singer of 'The Communards' and as a solo artist.
The 'Smalltown Boy' song addresses key issues in 1980s homosexual culture. It addresses family rejection for being homosexual and homophobia in British society - and can extend to that of other countries also - of the time. It also deals with loneliness through societal and familial rejection.
The promotional music video (above) was made, and a "young gay man" (Jimmy Somerville, lead singer of Bronski Beat) was used to depict these issues.
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