''U Can Never B2 Straight'' is a 2002 album by

Boy George George Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an English singer, songwriter, DJ, author and mixed media artist. Best known for his soulful voice and his androgynous appearance, Boy George has been the lead singe ...

. The album includes acoustic songs from George's London play ''

Taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

'', new and previously unreleased songs, as well as selected songs taken from his albums '' Cheapness and Beauty'' and ''

The Martyr Mantras ''The Martyr Mantras'' is the only studio album by Jesus Loves You (band), Jesus Loves You and the fourth studio album by Boy George. It was credited to Jesus Loves You worldwide except in North America, where it was credited to Boy George upon ...

'', the latter from when George was part of the band Jesus Loves You.

Album overview

The album includes 16 songs (8 previously unreleased), each dedicated to someone in particular or in general. Three songs are dedicated to George's ex-boyfriend Michael Dunne ("If I Could Fly", "Losing Control" and "The Deal"), whereas "Unfinished Business" is for

Kirk Brandon Kirk Brandon (born 3 August 1956) is an English musician best known as the leader of the bands Theatre of Hate and Spear of Destiny and a former lover of Boy George. Musical career Brandon's music career started in 1978, in Clapham, south Londo ...

(who took George to court for this song, but lost). The hidden track "Out of Fashion" was taken out as a single in

remix A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...

ed form as a collaboration with dance duo

Hi-Gate Hi-Gate is the dance music pairing of BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules, and Paul Masterson. History In 1998, Masterson sent Jules a copy of a track he had just finished, which would later become known as 'Yomanda – "Synth and Strings"'. Jules noted ...

; a version of the song is also featured on the ''Taboo'' musical soundtrack. Another track which was released as video-only was the opener "Ich Bin Kunst", a song dealing with the late performance artist

Leigh Bowery Leigh Bowery (26 March 1961 – 31 December 1994) was an Australian performance artist, club promoter, and fashion designer. Bowery was known for his flamboyant and outlandish costumes and makeup as well as his (sometimes controversial) perform ...

, a great friend of George's, whose character he took on in his musical. (George would re-record the song again as Bowery in a more campy and

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

-style arrangement for the 2004 Broadway cast recording of the musical.) ''U Can Never B2 Straight'' includes all the acoustic ballads originally on George's 1995 album ''Cheapness and Beauty'', including the single "Il Adore", as well as "Same Thing in Reverse" (a different version from the dance remix which reached No. 1 on the US

Billboard Dance Chart Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as th ...

). "Same Thing in Reverse" is dedicated in the booklet credits to '

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...

and all scared, pretty homosexuals'... The song "Julian", a new song, is also featured on the EP ''Straight'', a CD which was included with George's 2005 autobiography of the same name. The album also contains the following three tracks: "She Was Never He", taken from the 1999 fan-requested compilation '' The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit''; "Fat Cat", originally on

Culture Club Culture Club are an English pop band formed in London in 1981. The band comprises Boy George (lead vocals), Roy Hay (guitar and keyboards), Mikey Craig (bass guitar) and formerly included Jon Moss (drums and percussion). Emerging in the New ...

's 1999 reunion album ''

Don't Mind If I Do ''Don't Mind If I Do'' is the fifth album by the British new wave band Culture Club, released in 1999 by Virgin Records. The album was released only in Europe and Japan, though some promo copies also circulated in Australia. Overview ''Don't ...

'', and the popular

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

-inspired "

Bow Down Mister "Bow Down Mister" is a song written by English singer Boy George, under the pseudonym "Angela Dust", and recorded by his first musical group following his departure from Culture Club, Jesus Loves You. Inspired by a trip George took to India, the ...

", which gave George one of his last UK chart successes after splitting from Culture Club.

Reviews

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

gave the album 4.5 stars out of 5. It also got four stars from '' Q'' magazine.

Track listing

#"Ich Bin Kunst" (2002) (song from the musical ''Taboo'') – 2:38 (Boy George,

Kevan Frost Kevan Frost is a British Tony Award and Drama Desk Award–nominated composer, musician, and record producer. He is recognised for his work with the musical ''Taboo''; composing the musical score for the production alongside Boy George. This earn ...

) #"St. Christopher" (2002) (new song) – 3:46 (Boy George, Kevan Frost) #"She Was Never He" (1996) (unreleased mixed version) – 3:33 (Boy George,

John Themis John Themis is an Australian-born musician, songwriter and record producer, best known for his long-term work with Boy George and Culture Club, collaborating on many of their songs and albums since the 1990s. He also worked on ''Taboo'', a music ...

) #"Cheapness & Beauty" (1995) (acoustic version taken from the "Il Adore" single) – 3:47 (Boy George, John Themis) #"Fat Cat" (1999) (acoustic version) – 3:24 (Boy George, Emily Themis) #"If I Could Fly" (1995) (taken from ''Cheapness and Beauty'') – 4:08 (Boy George, John Themis) #"Unfinished Business" (1995) (taken from ''Cheapness and Beauty'') – 3:36 (Boy George, John Themis) #"Julian" (2002) (new song) – 3:39 (Boy George, Kevan Frost) #"Wrong" (2002) (new song originally in ''Taboo'') – 4:07 (Boy George, Kevan Frost) #"Letter to a School Friend" (1996) (unreleased) – 3:49 (Boy George, John Themis) #"The Deal" (2002) (old live favourite performed circa 1991–93) – 4:41 (Boy George, John Themis) #"Losing Control" (1992–2002) (unreleased version adapted from a 1992 Jesus Loves You country demo) – 3:15 (Boy George, John Themis) #"Same Thing in Reverse" (1995) (from ''Cheapness and Beauty'') – 3:35 (Boy George, John Themis) #"Il Adore" (1995) (from ''Cheapness and Beauty'') – 6:14 (Boy George, John Themis) #"

" (1991) (from Jesus Loves You's ''

'') (Boy George) - 6:30 #*"Out of Fashion" (2002) (acoustic version of a song from ''Taboo'') – hidden bonus track - 6:30 (begins after 28 seconds of silence, following "Bow Down Mister") Boy George,

Paul Masterson Paul Kevin Masterson is a Northern Irish DJ and record producer, originally from Belfast and now living in London. He is best known for recording as Yomanda. He is also part of the dance music duo Hi-Gate, along with BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jul ...

Judge Jules Julius O'Riordan (born 1966), better known by his stage name Judge Jules, is a British dance music DJ, record producer and entertainment lawyer. He is known for his DJ activities, music production and long-running radio show which achieved glob ...

Personnel

Ich Bin Kunst

dedicated to

, Nicola and Christine Bateman *

: co-production *

: keyboards, drum programming & brass arrangements;

mix Mix, mixes or mixing may refer to: Persons & places * Mix (surname) ** Tom Mix (1880-1940), American film star * nickname of Mix Diskerud (born Mikkel, 1990), Norwegian-American soccer player * Mix camp, an informal settlement in Namibia * Mix ...

at ''Frosty Bros. Studio'' (Kev's flat); co-production *

Ben Castle Ben Castle (born 1973) is a British jazz musician, the younger son of television presenter and entertainer Roy Castle (1932–1994) and his wife Fiona (born 1940). He placed first in the Jazz category of the 2003 International Songwriting Comp ...

: saxophone &

brass Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...

arrangements In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestr ...

*Raul D'Olivera: trumpet *Mike Innes:

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

St. Christopher

dedicated to Chris Manning *Boy George: co-production *Kevan Frost: backing vocals,

acoustic guitar An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...

& brass arrangements; mix at ''Frosty Bros. Studio'' (Kev's flat); co-production *Ben Castle: saxophone &

*Raul D'Olivera: trumpet *Mike Innes:

*Sharleen Hector: backing vocals

She Was Never He

dedicated to Natasha and Jody *Boy George: co-production *John Themis: guitars, backing vocals, co-production; mix at ''Mayfair Studios'' *Kevan Frost: backing vocals *Alan Branch: engineer

Cheapness & Beauty

dedicated to all tattooed car thieves – dedicated to

Jon Moss Jonathan Aubrey Moss (born 11 September 1957) is an English drummer, best known as a member of the 1980s new wave group Culture Club. He has also played with other bands, including London, the Nips, the Damned and Adam and the Ants. Early li ...

*Jessica Corcoran: production *John Themis: guitars, backing vocals, strip & remix *Zee Asha: backing vocals *Alan Branch: engineer

Fat Cat

dedicated to all sexually confused straight boys? *John Themis: guitars, production; mix at home *Emily Themis, Katherine Themis: backing vocals

If I Could Fly

dedicated to Michael Dunne *Jessica Corcoran: production *John Themis: guitars &

string String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

; mix at ''Abbey Road Studios'' *Nick Ingman: string arrangements *London Chamber Orchestra:

strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

Unfinished Business

dedicated to

*Jessica Corcoran: production & mix *John Themis: guitars,

& mix

Julian

dedicated to Julian *Boy George: co-production *Kevan Frost: acoustic guitar, backing vocals and co-production; mix at ''Frosty Bros. Studio'' (Kev's flat)

Wrong

dedicated to Luke and all dreamers *Boy George: co-production *Kevan Frost: acoustic guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals and co-production; mix at ''Frosty Bros. Studio'' (Kev's flat) *Pete Adams: piano &

Hammond Hammond may refer to: People * Hammond Innes (1913–1998), English novelist * Hammond (surname) * Justice Hammond (disambiguation) Places Antarctica * Hammond Glacier, Antarctica Australia *Hammond, South Australia, a small settlement in South ...

*Liz Chi: Chinese violin "edu" solo *Joel Pott, Sharleen Hector, John Gibbons: backing vocals

Letter To A School Friend

dedicated to Miss Carter and Michael Crome *John Themis: guitars, production; mix at ''Mayfair Studios'' *Zee Asha, Linda Duggan, Mary Pearse: backing vocals *Richie Stevens: drums *Winston Blisset: bass *Peter Adams: keyboards *Alan Branch: engineer

The Deal

dedicated to Michael Dunne *Boy George: co-production *Kevan Frost: acoustic guitar, keyboards, backing vocals and co-production; mix at ''Frosty Bros. Studio'' (Kev's flat) *Liz Chi: violins & violin solo *Sarah Chi: violins Sharleen Hector, John Gibbons: backing vocals

Losing Control

dedicated to Michael Dunne *John Themis: guitars, keyboards, bass, backing vocals, production & mix *Sugar Hajishakalli:

bouzouki The bouzouki (, also ; el, μπουζούκι ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', from Greek ), also spelled buzuki or buzuci, is a musical instrument popular in Greece. It is a member of the long-necked lute family, with a round body with a flat top and ...

*Andy Kyriacou: drums *Jimmy "Mixologist" Sarikas: engineer

Same Thing In Reverse

dedicated to Eminem and all scared, pretty homosexuals *John Themis: guitars, backing vocals *Zee Asha: backing vocals *Jessica Corcoran: production & mix

Il Adore

dedicated to Stevie Hughes and all the lost boys *Jessica Corcoran: production *John Themis: guitars, string arrangements; mix at ''Abbey Road Studios'' *Nick Ingram: string arrangements *London Chamber Orchestra: strings *Christopher Warren Green: violin solo

Bow Down Mister

dedicated to Lord Krishna and John Richardson & family *Bruce Forest: production *Soho Krishna Temple, London Gospel Choir & Basil: special thanks

References

{{Authority control 2002 albums Boy George albums Virgin Records albums