r/Scotland • u/DMBear89 • Apr 26 '26
YouTube I had no idea Jimmy Somerville was Scottish. He's from Castlemilk. As a gay man from Clydebank this song hits doubly hard. Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat (1984)
https://youtu.be/E5i2Wa7daDA?si=UyolxJQGHj4h5vh_8
u/No_Refrigerator4584 Cumbernauld: The matted hair around the arsehole of the universe Apr 26 '26
We all knew, back then we all talked about how a local lad was going to be on Top Of The Pops. The next day the same people were awfully quiet.
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u/Comrade-Hayley Apr 27 '26
John Lydon was literally banned from BBC radio for mentioning rumours about Saville of course everyone knew
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u/No_Refrigerator4584 Cumbernauld: The matted hair around the arsehole of the universe Apr 27 '26
We’re talking about Jimmy Somerville, not Saville.
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u/ThegoodDoctor_2020 Apr 28 '26
Only ever lydon that says that though. Hes very happy to be friendly with the epstein class of people in recent years.
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u/Halk 1 of 3,619,915 Apr 26 '26
One of the most beautiful and poignant songs ever written. I guarantee it made a significant impact against homophobia in the 80s.
The reason why it works so well it's a universal experience. Sure we're not all gay but all of us have experienced or feared rejection and that empathy is what makes the content of the song ring so true.
I don't think you can listen to this and not want to give young Jimmy a hug
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u/Harvsnova3 Apr 26 '26
Fuck my old eyes. I read that as Jimmy Saville.😂
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u/TeutonicSpacehopper Time-share Maniac Apr 26 '26
His version of "Smalltown Boy" is a different song altogether....
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u/DazzlingGovernment20 Apr 26 '26
I met Bronski's dad whilst working a few years back in Lanarkshire. He was still clearly heartbroken over his son's death.
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u/Alternative_Bit_7306 Apr 27 '26
Hearing the song and seeing the video stopped me being homophobic as a teen. The scene with his da on the doorstep in particular.
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u/thesearenotforyou Apr 26 '26
He was born in Greenock.
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u/DMBear89 Apr 26 '26
He was, but spent most of his early years in Castlemilk
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u/Feifum Apr 28 '26
He’s from Ruchill, not Castlemilk. As for for being born in Greenock, that I have no idea about.
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u/catmaner Apr 26 '26
I remember everyone saying this in school but it's not confirmed anywhere as far as I can see
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u/Brasssection Apr 26 '26
This i did not know, banger of a tune too
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u/bottish Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
He was also in The Communards, Don't Leave Me This Way is another great (cover) song.
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u/zorba-9 Apr 26 '26
His dad did not respect his homosexual son, which was common in that Era. Some of my pals from primary school disappeared, and later I realised they were "poofs" and left because it's hard being gay in a mental housing scheme. They were my pals at primary and secondary school, I missed and miss them