People often recall the shock and fascination that Boy George’s appearance generated when the song first aired.
Released in 1982, it was Culture Club's third attempt at a hit. A last-minute slot on Top of the Pops after Shakin' Stevens pulled out catapulted the song to No. 1 in the UK.
Boy George was initially against releasing it as a single, fearing it was "too personal". He wrote the lyrics about his tumultuous secret relationship with Jon Moss and former partner Kirk Brandon. Recommended Reading
“The perfectly plucked eyebrows and smokey-eyed androgyny donned by lead singer Boy George was too much for some viewers” www.songsthatsavedyou.com
While listeners were drawn to the smooth melody, the lyrics addressed themes of homophobia and victimization . The music video, depicting Boy George "on trial" for being different, was a bold statement during the early MTV era.