It’s hard to believe that 40 years have passed since Boy George’s iconic hit “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” was released. Where were you back then, or how old were you? I was just 13 (you can do the math!). I remember my obsession with collecting picture discs, and I vividly recall buying the picture disc of Boy George’s “Colour by Numbers” at Licorice Pizza in Downey.
This wasn’t my first time seeing Boy George perform, but each time brings a wave of nostalgia and joy. The ’80s truly marked the British Invasion in America, and Boy George and Culture Club were at the forefront of that era.
The concert at the Pacific Amphitheatre on August 21 offered a fresh twist on his classic songs. For instance, “Church of the Poison Mind” included a snippet of “I’m Your Man” by one of my favorite bands, Wham. The combination was unexpected yet brilliant; it never crossed my mind that these two songs would mesh so well together. Of course, I thought, only Boy George could pull this off.
His voice still resonated beautifully as he delivered stunning renditions of “Small Town Boy” by Bronski Beat and “Purple Rain” by Prince, both of which resonated deeply with the audience.
At one point, Boy George shared his thoughts on the upcoming U.S. election: “I’m looking forward to the (presidential) debate. No opinion. I just want drama!”
True to his style, the pop icon and DJ sported his trademark round hat and oversized outfit. He often chatted with the crowd before his songs. “This is a song about being a teenager. How dare I? Let me tell you, it’s grossly overrated,” he quipped before performing “Grossly Overrated.”
Boy George reflected on his fifth studio album, “Cheapness and Beauty”, released in 1995, saying, “It’s when I really loosened up and I was like, I’m going to write whatever I feel. In the beginning, it was very secretive, with a lot of metaphors. It was very like… if you know, you know. And if you don’t know, it doesn’t matter, right? Why do we all have to get in everyone’s business? Well, because of the bloody internet. Everyone’s gossiping, and of course, I’m one of them—but it’s okay if I do it. I’ve been doing it for a long time (laughs). But if you like a bit of cheapness and beauty, you want to shake your time still.”
During the encore, Boy George introduced his next song, “How To Be a Chandelier,” by reminiscing about Liberace: “I want to do this song because it’s about Liberace. Have you heard of Liberace? I used to love him when I was a kid. I wanted to go to Vegas and meet him. Now, when you go there, he’s nowhere to be seen. So I thought I would write a song about him because he’s one of those people who made me want to be an entertainer. I know the connection might seem weird, but I love ‘Chandelier.”
The show culminated with his timeless hit “Karma Chameleon,” igniting the crowd, mostly composed of Gen X and baby boomers, to dance like it was the ’80s all over again. His band was fantastic, and the backup singers, Nathalie Palmer and Vangelis Polydorou, showcased their incredible voices with solo performances that left the audience in awe.
It was a night filled with nostalgia, laughter, and the magic of music—a true celebration of Boy George’s legacy.
See setlist here.
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