Listen to this when
Smalltown Boy
For everyone who had to leave to finally belong. 🚆
Who it's for
Jimmy Somerville's falsetto tells of a young gay man bullied and misunderstood who leaves his small town and family.
Rejected, leaving→Mourned, hopeful
Feelings it meets
What it is
"Smalltown Boy" was Bronski Beat's debut single, released in May 1984, and appears on their debut album The Age of Consent. It was written by Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek. It tells the story of a young man who is bullied and leaves his hometown, and its music video shows a homophobic attack that drives him to leave for London.
Where to find it
All major streaming services.
Before you start
Heads up: Homophobic bullying and family rejection.
Age: Suggested 13+
Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series, “Self-Reliance”
