Why? (Bronski Beat song)

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"Why?"
File:WhySingle.jpg
Single by Bronski Beat
from the album The Age of Consent
Released 1984
Format
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)
Label London Records
Producer(s) Mike Thorne
Bronski Beat singles chronology
"Smalltown Boy"
(1984)		 "Why?"
(1984)		 "It Ain't Necessarily So"
(1984)

"Why?" is a single by British synthpop trio Bronski Beat and appeared on their 1984 album The Age of Consent.

The song, recorded at RPM Studios, NYC and mixed at Townhouse Studio, 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, peaking at No. 6, also reaching the top 10 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.

Track and format listing

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

Chart performance

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".[25]

In media

The song was utilized as a soundtrack by Peugeot for French language advertisements of the Peugeot 205 hatchback range. The recording itself was in English. "Why?" was also featured in the soundtrack of the 1986 Bill Sherwood sleeper hit film Parting Glances starring John Bolger. It was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 film Pride.

References

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  5. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0524." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Bronski Beat – Why?". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Why?". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bronski Beat - Why search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bronski Beat – Why?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Bronski Beat – Why?". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bronski Beat – Why?". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Archive Chart: 1984-10-06" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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