Ep 3. Boy George

In Behind the Music Remastered, Season 2 Episode 3, we delve into the life and career of the iconic singer-songwriter Boy George. Boy George rose to fame as the lead singer of the band Culture Club in the 1980s with their hit singles such as "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" and "Karma Chameleon."

This episode takes us on a journey from Boy George's early childhood through his tumultuous career in the music industry. Through interviews with family, friends, and music industry insiders, we learn about the challenges Boy George faced as a gay man in the 1980s, including drug addiction, brushes with the law, and public reluctance to accept his unique style.

Viewers are shown the cultural impact of Boy George and Culture Club's music on the 1980s pop music landscape. The band, with its unique blend of pop and soul, challenged norms in both fashion and culture. We learn about Boy George's inspirations and influences, and the ways in which he and Culture Club changed the face of music and fashion during that era. The episode shows how the band’s music resonated across the globe, especially with the LGBT community and how they were willing to take risks and push boundaries.

The episode also highlights how Boy George did not let the stereotypes of the time hold him back. The musician had always been unapologetic about his gender identity, from the start of his career in the New Romantic and gay club scenes and remained so even as popular opinion started turning against him. He had always been open about his sexuality and his party lifestyle, and in the show, he shares why he chose to be so candid about his struggles with addiction and how he ultimately overcame them.

Throughout the episode, viewers also get an insight into Boy George’s personal life, including his relationships with band members and his romantic relationships, both in the spotlight and behind closed doors. We see him learn about himself as an individual and how that impacted both his musical creativity and his relationships.

However, the episode also shows the struggles that Boy George faced throughout his career. There were drawn-out legal battles with former bandmates, as well as his battle with addiction. The documentary also shows how the tabloids and press attacked him, including the limitations of popular culture at the time, and the public's general lack of acceptance towards openly LGBTQ+ people. Boy George experienced extremely low points and grueling trials in his life which he opens about in this Remastered episode.

Overall, Behind the Music Remastered, Season 2 Episode 3, is an engaging retrospective of the legendary Boy George. The episode focuses not just on the facts of his career, which include a staggering array of gold and platinum hits, but also on the person behind the public persona. It's a well-rounded deep-dive into the psychology that underpins one of the most unique and influential pop stars of the last 50 years. Fans of Culture Club and Boy George alike will greatly enjoy this episode.