"Why?"
Single by Bronski Beat
from the album The Age of Consent
Released14 September 1984[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:04 (album version)
  • 3:55 (7" version)
  • 7:46 (12" version)
  • 5:11 (12" version, remixed by Steve Bronski & Larry Steinbachek)
  • 6:19 (remix)
LabelLondon Records
Songwriter(s)Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville, Larry Steinbachek
Producer(s)Mike Thorne
Bronski Beat singles chronology
"Smalltown Boy"
(1984)		 "Why?"
(1984)		 "It Ain't Necessarily So"
(1984)
Music video
"Bronski Beat - Why ? (Official Music Video)" on YouTube

"Why?" is a single by British synth-pop band Bronski Beat and appeared on their 1984 album The Age of Consent.

The song, recorded at RPM Studio in New York City and mixed at Townhouse Studios in London, pursued an energetic musical formula, while the lyrics focused more centrally on anti-gay prejudice. The song opens with a questioning vocal by frontman and vocalist Jimmy Somerville and the shattering of breaking glass. It was the trio's second Top 10 success in the UK, throughout Europe and in Australia and is today considered a popular gay anthem.

Single cover

The drawing for the single cover, of a man with his head in his hands, was drawn for the band by Glasgow artist Robert McAulay, who was associated with the band at the time.

Reception

Reviewing the song for Melody Maker, Adam Sweeting described it as "all rather twisted and tragic, especially when sung by those painfully keening vocals (the song is dedicated to murdered gay playwright Drew Griffiths). Like Soft Cell before them, the Bronskingtons suit this frugal format better than most, basically because they've had the guts to go the whole hog". Sweeting adds that "what would be predictable electroboredom in more ineffectual outfits here takes on the status of obsession, building busily towards a tense and involving climax".[8]

Reviewing for Smash Hits, Dave Rimmer wrote "this was written for Martin, a friend of the Bronskis who was hounded out of the country by his boyfriend's irate and violent parents" and described it as "a worthy follow-up to "Smalltown Boy"".[9] Dave Ling for Number One agreed with this last point and wrote that the song "could almost be a sequel to their debut, continuing the tale of a young gay suffering humiliation and animosity as he tries to live his life".[10]

In Record Mirror, the song was described as "flowing with unchained melodies, and dealing a deadly double blow to your heart and (shoe) souls" and that "it sounds something akin to Sylvester meets Pigbag in a battle for dancefloor supremacy".[11] John Leland of Spin agreed, "another slice of aerobics bounce music that goes for a burn Jane Fonda never heard of. This cut glistens with the hip smoothness that made Bronski Beat, along with Sade, the most important new act in dance music."[12]

Track and format listing

12" Vinyl US release – MCA Records MCA-23538
No.TitleLength
1."Why?" (Extended Mix)7:45
2."Why?" (Radio Edit)4:04
3."Cadillac Car"7:35

Charts

Certifications and sales

In France, the single reportedly sold at least 300,000 copies.[39]

Cover versions

  • In 2006, Supermode released "Tell Me Why", containing lyrics from "Why?" and melodic samples from another Bronski Beat track entitled "Smalltown Boy".
  • British electronic musician Andi Fraggs has been performing "Why?" on his live shows and has named it his "favourite gay anthem".[40]

References

  1. 1 2 "News". Record Mirror. 8 September 1984. p. 4. Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via Flickr.
  2. 1 2 Flynn, Paul (28 September 2023). "Only one kind of music makes clubbers dress up like this". Evening Standard.
  3. ↑ Olsen, Eric (15 August 2003). "Bronski Beat: The Age of Consent". Blogcritics. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Vivinetto, Gina (9 March 2015). "Pop Icon Jimmy Somerville: A Career Overview". The Advocate. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Cromelin, Richard (17 February 1985). "BRONSKI BEATEN BY FALSETTO OVERKILL". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ↑ Chin, Brian (6 October 1984). "Dance Trax". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Phares, Heather. "Original Soundtrack – Edge of 17". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (15 September 1984). "Singles" (PDF). Melody Maker. p. 27. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Rimmer, Dave (13–26 September 1984). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 25. Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via Google Sites.
  10. ↑ "Singles". Number One. 15 September 1984. p. 36. Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via Flickr.
  11. ↑ "Singles". Record Mirror. 15 September 1984. p. 14. Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via Flickr.
  12. ↑ John Leland (July 1985). "Singles". Spin. No. 3. p. 32.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "Bronski Beat – Why?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0524." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  16. ↑ European Playlist Reports
  17. ↑ https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1984/Music-Week-1984-10-27-IDX-16.pdf Europarade]
  18. ↑ Eurochart Top 100 Singles
  19. ↑ "Bronski Beat – Why?" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  20. ↑ https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-10-29-OCR-Page-0006.pdf EUROPEAN PLAYLIST REPORTS]
  21. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Why?". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bronski Beat".
  23. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 42, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Bronski Beat – Why?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  25. ↑ "Bronski Beat – Why?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  26. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  27. ↑ EUROPEAN PLAYLIST REPORTS
  28. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  29. ↑ "Bronski Beat – Why?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  30. ↑ EUROPEAN PLAYLIST REPORTS
  31. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  32. 1 2 "Bronski Beat – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  33. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  34. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  35. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  36. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1984" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  38. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1984". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015.
  39. 1 2 "TOP – 1985". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  40. ↑ "Looking forward to..." 3 July 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012 – via Facebook.
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