While the LGBT community continues to fight for basic human rights in many places in 2026, much of the world has come a very long way in terms of acceptance since the 1980s, when hate crimes were rampant and HIV was looked on by some politicians as a disease not even worth studying, much less trying to cure.
This was the cultural climate when a synth-pop band from England decided to take a stand not just with their debut album, but indeed with their very first single.
The trio of instrumentalists Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek and vocalist Jimmy Somerville came together to form Bronski Beat in 1983, and by 1984 they were already releasing their first LP on London Records.
The set’s title, The Age Of Consent, was a reference to the UK’s decision to keep homosexual acts illegal for anyone under 21, even though that law had been changed in other European nations already. Somerville’s native country of Scotland in particular remained hostile towards and restrictive of those who were out of the closet.
The song that announced Bronski Beat’s arrival on the music scene found Somerville telling the tale of a young man whose mistreatment in his hometown forces him to leave for greener pastures elsewhere. And while the music video lays it out plainly that the youth in question, played by Somerville, is clearly being harassed for being gay, the lyrics are also broad enough that the song can serve as a supportive anthem for anyone who has been bullied for being different.
Somerville later said that he felt he could have done a better job on the words, telling The Guardian, “It’s strange because I spent maybe 15 years being a bit embarrassed by that song because I thought it wasn’t that good compared to other lyricists’ words.” But even if you agree that the lyrics are lacking, Somerville more than makes up for any shortcomings with the emotion in his falsetto delivery.
While the song was more of an underground favorite in America, it hit #3 on the pop charts in the UK and became a touchstone for the country’s gay culture.
Bronski Beat leave behind the small-minded hate and level up to the big time on “Smalltown Boy” at #37.