{{short description|1984 single by Bronski Beat}} {{about|the Bronski Beat song|the Dustin Lynch song|Small Town Boy (song)|other uses|Small Town Boy (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox song | name = Smalltown Boy | cover = Small Town Boy (Bronski Beat) single coverart.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Bronski Beat | album = The Age of Consent | B-side = * "Memories" * "Infatuation" (12") | released = 25 May 1984 (UK)<ref>{{cite magazine|date=19 May 1984|title=New Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1984/Music-Week-1984-05-19.pdf|magazine=Music Week|page=14|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> | recorded = | studio = The Garden (London) | genre = * Synth-pop<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Gina |last= Vivinetto |title= Pop Icon Jimmy Somerville: A Career Overview |magazine= The Advocate |date= 9 March 2015 |access-date= 9 May 2015 |url= http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/03/09/pop-icon-jimmy-somerville-career-overview}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author= MarkWilson |title= Emilie Simon Releases "Smalltown Boy" |magazine= AltSounds |date= 18 May 2011 |access-date= 10 May 2015 |url= http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/129612-emilie-simon-releases-smalltown-boy.html |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110830144704/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/129612-emilie-simon-releases-smalltown-boy.html |archive-date= 30 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last= Treble Staff|title= A History of Synth-Pop in 50 Essential Songs|website= Treble|date= May 11, 2020|url= https://www.treblezine.com/50-essential-synth-pop-songs-history/|accessdate= August 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last= Classic Pop Staff|title= Top 40 synth-pop songs|website= Classic Pop|date= 27 March 2025|url= https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/top-40-synth-pop-songs/}}</ref> * hi-NRG<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Barry |last= Walters |title= His beat goes on |magazine= The Advocate |date= 20 June 2000 |page= 115 |issn= 0001-8996 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CGMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA115 |quote= As Bronski Beat's falsetto leader, Somerville made gay politics a hot pop topic with such hi-NRG dance floor staples as "Why?" and "Smalltown Boy"}}</ref><ref name="Block">{{cite web|url=http://www.monkeychicken.com/AdamBlock/1986_12_9somerville.pdf|title=A Clarion Call from England's Communards: Syl's New "Attraction"|magazine=The Advocate|author=Adam Block|date=9 December 1986|access-date=23 December 2022|quote=The trio had met as friends and performed as a hoot, but their first single, "Smalltown Boy" (an autobiographical tale of a gay youth fleeing homophobia for the tolerance of the big city), became a Hi-NRG disco fave on both sides of the Atlantic.}}</ref> * disco<ref name="Block" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xr7r |title=Smalltown Boy by Bronski Beat |newspaper=BBC |access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref> | length = * 5:02 (album version) * 3:58 (single version) * 9:00 (12" version) | label = London | writer = * Steve Bronski * Jimmy Somerville * Larry Steinbachek | producer = Mike Thorne | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Why? | next_year = 1984 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|88sARuFu-tc|"Smalltown Boy"}}}} }}
"'''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.
==Composition== "Smalltown Boy" features "ominous" discordant notes, an "electro-pop pulse", and falsetto vocals.<ref name="SB">{{Cite web |last=Gould |first=David |date=30 September 2019 |title=Smalltown Boy — Bronski Beat's 1984 hit was a heartfelt cry for liberation |url=https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/smalltown-boy.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Financial Times |language=en-gb}}</ref> According to the Bronski Beat member Larry Steinbachek, it emerged from an attempt to cover the 1977 Sex Pistols song "Pretty Vacant" using an octave pattern sequenced on a Roland MC-202 synthesiser.<ref name="CA" />
The lyrics describe a young man who is bullied and decides to leave home.<ref name="SB" /> In the ''Financial Times'', David Gould wrote that it combines the hi-NRG tempo of 1980s gay clubs with "plaintive" lyrics.<ref name="SB" /> Ian Wade, the author of ''1984: The Year Pop Went Queer'', interpreted the line "the love that you need will never be found at home" as a rebuke to the "family values" culture that demonised homosexuality at the time.<ref name="WB">{{Cite news |last=Flynn |first=Paul |date=2024-06-30 |title=Why Bronski Beat's anthem of gay culture resonates 40 years on |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/30/bronski-beats-smalltown-boy-gay-culture-resonates-40-years-on |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}</ref> The singer, Jimmy Somerville, said he was embarrassed by the song for many years, as he felt his lyrics were inferior.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deevoy |first=Adrian |date=2014-07-17 |title=Jimmy Somerville: 'Jesus Christ! Alan Shearer – what a little sex bomb!' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jul/17/jimmy-somerville-smalltown-boy-bronski-beat-communards-interview |access-date=2024-04-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==Music video== The music video for "Smalltown Boy" was directed by Bernard Rose, who had directed the video for "Relax", by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, another band whose co-founders are gay, the previous year.<ref name="VB">{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Lyndsay |date=2019-06-26 |title=How '80s LGBTQ band Bronski Beat's haunting 'Smalltown Boy' made a difference: 'It was very bold' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/how-80-s-lgbtq-band-bronski-beats-smalltown-boy-made-a-difference-it-was-very-bold-183833092.html |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Yahoo! News |language=en-US}}</ref> Rose said Bronski Beat felt "Relax" was too mainstream and upbeat, and wanted to convey a more serious message.<ref name="VB" /> The ''Independent'' described the "Smalltown Boy" video as "stark" and "grounded".<ref name="BB">{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Kevin EG |date=2021-12-16 |title=The story of Bronski Beat's Smalltown Boy |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/bronski-beat-smalltown-boy-song-b1973552.html |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> The original concept was to base the video on a cottaging scene, but this was vetoed by the London Recordings executive Colin Bell.<ref name="WB" /> The video was filmed at a leisure centre in East London.<ref name="WB" />
In the video, a boy (played by Somerville) and his friends are at a leisure centre, watching a young man in Speedos dive into a pool. When the man smiles, the boy is encouraged and later makes a pass at him in the changing room. However, the man reacts badly, and he and his friends later follow the boy and gay-bash him. As a policeman explains the incident to the boy's parents (outing him in the process), his mother breaks down and his father becomes angry to the point of almost striking the boy, who then resolves to leave his "small town" for London. As he leaves, his mother hugs him, but while his father gives him money, he refuses to shake his hand. On the train the boy is joined by other members of Bronski Beat. They smile and laugh as they disembark in London to start their new life.<ref name="BB" /><ref name="WB" />
Rose said the video depicted a common experience for gay people and that Bronski Beat wanted to draw attention to homophobia.<ref name="VB" /> Wade likened it to the films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach.<ref name="WB" /> Bell said it created opportunities for later videos with gay themes by artists such as Pet Shop Boys and George Michael.<ref name="WB" />
==Reception== Bell was unafraid to market "Smalltown Boy" as a gay record, and said "that was the point".<ref name="WB" /> According to Bell, the first time it was played in a gay club, Heaven, in London, the "response was extraordinary" and the audience slowed down to listen.<ref name="WB" /> Reviewing the single on release, ''Spin'' said it "fashioned a young man's bitter memories of being driven away from home, alienated from his family, and persecuted by his friends, into a sweetly moving pop song".<ref>{{cite magazine| magazine= Spin | title=Spins|url={{Google books|id=9ugCQfxwym0C|page=33|plainurl=yes}} |author=James Truman | date=May 1985|issue=1|page=33}}</ref>
"Smalltown Boy" reached number three on the UK singles chart<ref name="UK3" /> and number one in the Netherlands and Belgium.<ref name="NL" /><ref name="BEL" /> It reached the top 10 in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland and West Germany. It reached number 48 in the US pop chart and was a number-one US dance hit.<ref name="awards" /> After the success, Bronski Beat released their debut album, ''The Age of Consent''.<ref name="SB" />
==Legacy== "Smalltown Boy" is associated with the rise of British gay culture in the 1980s, alongside hits by the closeted George Michael and the openly gay Frankie Goes to Hollywood.<ref name="WB" /> Writing in the ''Observer'' for its 40th anniversary, Paul Flynn wrote: {{"'}}Smalltown Boy' documents in empathetic, kitchen-sink detail the feelings of rejecting one archaic value system and moving to the big gay city to find your own... [It has] resisted fossilisation."<ref name="WB" /> He concluded that it "can still make reasonable claims to being the British national anthem of gay", and counted it among the work of other major figures in British gay history, such as Oscar Wilde, Joe Orton, Derek Jarman and Peter Tatchell.<ref name="WB" />
Reviewing the ''Age of Consent'' reissue for ''Pitchfork'' in 2017, Laura Snapes wrote that {{"'}}Smalltown Boy' remains a perfect song. It is nimble and crushing, forlorn and relieved, frail yet determined."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=26 November 2017 |title=Bronski Beat: The Age of Consent |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bronski-beat-the-age-of-consent/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2022, ''Rolling Stone'' named it the 163rd-greatest dance song,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dolan |first1=Jon |last2=Lopez |first2=Julyssa |last3=Matos |first3=Michaelangelo |last4=Shaffer |first4=Claire |date=22 July 2022 |title=200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/200-greatest-dance-songs-of-all-time-1372888 |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=30 October 2022}}</ref> and ''Time Out'' ranked the 12th-best "gay songs to celebrate pride all year long in 2022", writing that it "takes the pain of rejection and makes it danceable".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kryza |first=Andy |date=21 January 2022 |title=The 50 best gay songs to celebrate Pride all year long |url=https://www.timeout.com/music/best-gay-songs |access-date=21 February 2022 |magazine=Time Out}}</ref> In 2023, ''Rolling Stone'' named "Smalltown Boy" the 38th-most inspirational LGBTQ song,<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ilana|last=Kaplan|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-inspirational-lgbtq-anthems-pride-songs-1234773829|title=The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=28 June 2023|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> and in 2025 ''Billboard'' named it the 56th-greatest LGBTQ+ anthem.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Lynch |first1=Joe |last2=Daw |first2=Stephen |last3=Dailey |first3=Hannah |last4=Rowley |first4=Glenn |last5=Jocelyn |first5=Hannah |last6=Villa |first6=Lucas |date=4 June 2025 |title=The 100 Greatest LGBTQ+ Anthems of All Time |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/lgbtq-anthems-queer-pride-songs/ |access-date=20 June 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
In 2024, Wade said "Smalltown Boy" was still popular with young people: "There are still some kids who are terrified in their own homes. For the teenager wondering whether they'll get fucked or stabbed by the person they chose to look at across the classroom, 'Smalltown Boy' still means something."<ref name="WB" /> Bell said "Smalltown Boy" was the record he was proudest of signing.<ref name="WB" />
A remix by Stephen Hague was released on 24 December 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Robin |date=15 December 1990 |title=This Week – The Next Seven Days in View: Releases |magazine=Record Mirror |page=28 |issn=0144-5804}}</ref> For the song's 30th anniversary in 2014, Somerville released a new version, "Smalltown Boy Reprise".<ref>{{cite web |date=22 June 2014 |title=Watch Jimmy Somerville Re Record Small Town Boy |url=http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2014/06/22/jimmy-somerville-smalltown-boy-reprise-2014-video/ |access-date=6 June 2015 |work=Slicing Up Eyeballs}}</ref> A series of remixes were issued for the 40th anniversary in 2024, and the song became popular on the social media service TikTok.<ref name="WB" /> It remains part of British gay culture, and posters with its lyrics were posted across London for the 2024 Pride event.<ref name="WB" />
"Smalltown Boy" was sampled by the German band Real McCoy in their 1994 song "Automatic Lover (Call for Love)".<ref name="NT">{{cite news |date=26 July 2015 |title=Kate Ryan delivers a new take on 'Smalltown Boy' |url=https://www.outinperth.com/kate-ryan-delivers-a-new-take-on-smalltown-boy/ |access-date=7 August 2018 |newspaper=OutInPerth}}</ref> The Swedish DJs Steve Angello and Axwell, as Supermode, sampled "Smalltown Boy" in their 2006 track "Tell Me Why".<ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Cameron |date=13 May 2015 |title=Brandon Flowers says new solo album The Desired Effect is eighties pop rock |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/brandon-flowers-says-new-solo-album-the-desired-effect-is-eighties-pop-rock/news-story/30c9081b672b146c9ca80424e7230588 |access-date=1 September 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney, New South Wales}}</ref> The German industrial metal band Oomph! paid homage to "Smalltown Boy" in their 2012 song {{lang|la|italic=no|"Kleinstadtboy"}}.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=2 June 2012 |title=Oomph! – Des Wahnsinns fette Beute : Review |url=https://www.burnyourears.de/electro-industrial/17465-oomph-des-wahnsinns-fette-beute.html |access-date=21 April 2018 |magazine=Burn Your Ears Webzine |language=de}}</ref> In 2015, the American singer Brandon Flowers sampled "Smalltown Boy" in his song "I Can Change",<ref>{{cite web |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=1 May 2015 |title=Brandon Flowers samples '80s hit on new song |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a645284/brandon-flowers-has-sampled-a-classic-80s-hit-on-his-new-song/ |access-date=29 August 2018 |website=Digital Spy}}</ref> and the Belgian singer Kate Ryan released a cover.<ref name="NT" /> In 2020, the gay country singer Orville Peck released a cover of "Smalltown Boy".<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/orville-peck-smalltown-boy-1041059/</ref> In 2024, the Knocks and Perfume Genius collaborated on a cover of "Smalltown Boy" for its 40th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |date=2024-09-04 |title=Perfume Genius and the Knocks Cover Bronski Beat’s "Smalltown Boy" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/perfume-genius-and-the-knocks-cover-bronski-beats-smalltown-boy-listen/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>
"Smalltown Boy" was also reimagined in Igor Drljaca's acclaimed 2020 sci-fi short film The Archivists, starring Noah Reid. In the dystopian narrative, musicians discover a damaged vinyl copy, transcribe it from a phonograph, and perform a haunting re-imagined version.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/879718402 |title=The Archivists (2020) |publisher=Toronto International Film Festival |date=2020-09-10 |access-date=2026-03-16}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''7" single BITE 1''' #"Smalltown Boy" – 3:58 #"Memories" – 2:55
* '''7" single 820 091-7''' #"Smalltown Boy" – 3:58 #"Memories" – 3:00 {{col-2}} * '''12" single BITEX 1 / 820 996-1 / 9-29 017 / LDSPX 215''' #"Smalltown Boy" – 9:00 #"Infatuation/Memories" – 7:38
* '''12" single MCA-23521''' #"Smalltown Boy" – 9:00 #"Infatuation/Memories" – 7:42 {{col-end}}
==Personnel== Credits sourced from ''Electronic Soundmaker'' and ''Sound on Sound''.<ref name="CA">{{cite journal | url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/consenting-adults/3416 | title=Consenting Adults | journal=Electronic Soundmaker | date=December 1984 | issue=Dec 1984 | pages=26–27 | last1=Reed | first1=Tony }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jenkins |first1=Mark |date=February 1986 |title=Perfect Beat |url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/perfect-beat/1549 |journal=Sound on Sound |issue=Feb 1986 |pages=40–45}}</ref>
*Jimmy Somerville – vocals *Steve Bronski – Yamaha DX7 and Memorymoog synthesisers, Roland MC-202 Microcomposer, LinnDrum programming *Larry Steinbachek – Pro-One and Memorymoog synthesisers, Roland MC-202 Microcomposer, Linn 9000 programming
==Charts==
===Weekly charts=== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1984–1985) !Peak<br>position |- |Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-09-03-OCR-Page-0012.pdf|title=Top 3 in Europe}}</ref> |align="center"|2 |- |Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |authorlink= David Kent (historian) |year= 1993 |title= Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition= Illustrated |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= St Ives, N.S.W. |page= 46 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6}}</ref> |align="center"|8 |- {{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy|access-date=22 July 2013|refname="BEL"}} |- {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|9|chartid=9533|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- |Europe (Europarade Top 40)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1984/Music-Week-1984-09-15-IDX-10.pdf|title=Europarade}}</ref> |align="center"|3 |- |Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/84/M&M-1984-09-03-OCR-Page-0016.pdf|title=Eurochart}}</ref> |align="center"|15 |- {{single chart|France|8|artist=Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|4|song=Smalltown Boy|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- |Italy (''Musica e dischi'')<ref name="CL">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bronski Beat".</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |Italy (''Discografia Internazionale'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62|title=Billboard|date=24 November 1984|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref> |align="center"|2 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|1|year=1984|week=34|access-date=4 July 2020|refname="NL"}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|5|artist=Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|UK|3|date=19840623|refname="UK3"|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="awards">{{cite web|title= Bronski Beat – Awards |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 22 July 2013 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bronski-beat-mn0000624107/awards}}</ref> |align="center"|48 |- |US Hot Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref name="awards"/> |align="center"|1 |- |US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref name="awards"/> |align="center"|4 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite magazine|title= CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 16, 1985 |magazine=Cash Box|url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850316.html |archive-date= 1 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121001104825/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19850316.html}}</ref> |align="center"|32 |- {{single chart|West Germany|3|artist=Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy|songid=1134|access-date=22 July 2013}} |} {{col-2}} {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1991) !Peak<br>position |- |Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-02-23.pdf|title=Music & Media: Europe's Music Radio Newsweekly. Volume 8. Issue 8.|date=23 February 1991|first=|last=|work=Music & Media|at=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=BPI Communications|access-date=9 June 2023|quote=}} (see section 'European Hot 100 Singles', p. 31)</ref> |align="center"|83 |- {{single chart|Germany|28|artist=Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy (1991 Remix)|songid=14510}} |- {{single chart|Ireland2|16|song=Small Town Boy|refname=1991Ireland|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|72|artist=Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat|song=Smalltown Boy (1991 Remix)}} |- |Spain Airplay<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/90s/91/MM-1991-04-06-OCR-Page-0036.pdf|title=National Airplay}}</ref> |align="center"|19 |- {{single chart|UK|32|date=19910209|refname="UK32"|access-date=22 July 2013}} |- |UK Airplay (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-02-23.pdf|title=Playlist Chart|magazine=Music Week|date=23 February 1991|page=iii|access-date=22 October 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|25 |} {|class="wikitable" |+ '94 Remix (with John Foster's vocal) !Chart (1994) !Peak<br>position |- |Italy (''Musica e dischi'')<ref name="CL" /> |align="center"|22 |} {|class="wikitable" !Chart (2013) !Peak<br>position |- {{single chart|UK|95|artist=Bronski Beat|date=20131128|refname="UK95"|access-date=10 May 2015}} |- | Ireland (IRMA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bronski+Beat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624204817/http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bronski+Beat|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2023|title=irishcharts.com - Discography Bronski Beat|website=www.irish-charts.com}}</ref> | align=center| 62 |} {|class="wikitable" |+ "Smalltown Boy (Reprise)" !Chart (2014) !Peak<br>position |- | Ireland (IRMA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jimmy+Somerville|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624211814/http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Jimmy+Somerville|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2023|title=irishcharts.com - Discography Jimmy Somerville|website=www.irish-charts.com}}</ref> | align=center| 51 |} {|class="wikitable" !Chart (2024) !Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|UK|51|date=20240607|refname="UK51"|access-date=30 August 2024}} |} {{col-end}}
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1984) !Position |- |Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>{{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1984 |publisher= Kent Music Report |via= Imgur |issue= 548 |date= 31 December 1984 |access-date= 8 January 2022 |url= https://i.imgur.com/MyookoA.jpg}}</ref> |align="center"|59 |- |Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten 1984 |publisher= Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date= 4 July 2014 |url= http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1984 |language= nl}}</ref> |align="center"|12 |- |Europe (Europarade Top 40)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1985/Music-Week-1985-01-05-IDX-22.pdf|title=Europarade '84}}</ref> |align="center"|27 |- |France<ref name=top-france>{{cite web|title= TOP – 1984 |website= Top-france.fr |access-date= 4 July 2014 |url= http://www.top-france.fr/html/annuel/1984.htm |language= fr}}</ref> |align="center"|41 |- |Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|title= Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984 |publisher= Dutch Top 40 |access-date= 4 July 2014 |url= http://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1984 |language= nl}}</ref> |align="center"|15 |- |Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984 |publisher= Single Top 100. Hung Medien |access-date= 4 July 2014 |url= http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1984&cat=s |language= nl}}</ref> |align="center"|21 |- |Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|title= Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984 |publisher= Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien |access-date= 4 July 2014 |url= http://hitparade.ch/year.asp?key=1984 |language= de}}</ref> |align="center"|13 |- |UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite journal|title= Top 100 Singles |periodical= Music Week |publisher= Morgan-Grampian plc |location= London, England |page= 37 |date= 26 January 1985}}</ref> |align="center"|43 |- |West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|title= Jahrescharts – 1984 |website= Offiziellecharts.de |publisher= GfK Entertainment Charts |url= https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1996 |archive-date= 9 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150509002426/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1996 |language= de}}</ref> |align="center"|11 |}
{|class="wikitable" !Chart (1985) !Position |- |Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title= RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 |volume= 43 |issue= 16 |date= 28 December 1985 |access-date= 26 May 2018 |magazine= RPM |via= Library and Archives Canada |url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0619&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0619.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0619}}</ref> |align="center"|86 |} {{col-end}}
===Sales and certifications=== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=Bronski Beat|title=Smalltown Boy|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1985}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=France|nocert=true|salesamount=300,000|salesref=<ref name=top-france/>}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|artist=Bronski Beat|title=Smalltown Boy|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=2019}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Bronski Beat|title=Smalltown Boy|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|id=5991-1387-1|access-date=13 December 2024}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
==See also== *List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1984 *List of number-one dance singles of 1985 (U.S.)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlzxMLnTmb8 A Tribute To Jimmy Somerville, The Communards and Bronski Beat]; Ultimate Artistes (UK), Live performance on stage *{{YouTube|88sARuFu-tc|Official Video}}
{{Bronski Beat}} {{Jimmy Somerville}} {{Kate Ryan}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1984 songs Category:1984 debut singles Category:1991 singles Category:Bronski Beat songs Category:Songs written by Jimmy Somerville Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Thorne Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in the Netherlands Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles Category:LGBTQ-related songs Category:Songs about trains Category:London Records singles