Indeed “Boy George,” who wrote the song, noted that the other band members did not like it at first, because they thought that – get this – it sounded too much like a Country song! Their video probably contributed to this sense.
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Below are two covers by bands from Argentina which I believe bring some of this out. Included are my comments on those postings, an additional thought, and pertinent additional material.
IRONICA:
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ROMANTIC & BLUE:
An additional thought, based on this second cover, is that perhaps simply having a female voice for the bridge alone would be sufficient for Country appeal. You’d be the judge.
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And, of course, the original group’s performance at a Country bar on “The A-Team”:
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Playlist of covers of this song, including these and by the 1980s young peoples show, “Kids, Incorporated.”
