“Smalltown Boy” is the debut single by the British synth-pop band Bronski Beat, released in May 1984 by London Recordings. It was included on Bronski Beat’s debut album, The Age of Consent (1984).
“Smalltown Boy” features electronic instrumentation, falsetto vocals and lyrics describing a young man who decides to leave home. The music video, directed by Bernard Rose and filmed in East London, depicts a boy who leaves home after being gay-bashed.
“Smalltown Boy” reached number three on the UK singles chart and number one in the Netherlands and Belgium. A gay anthem, it remains associated with the rise of British gay culture in the 1980s. It received positive reviews, and in 2022 Rolling Stone named it the 163rd-greatest dance song. It has been covered by numerous acts, and a series of remixes were issued for the 40th anniversary in 2024.
