"By 1985, Bronski Beat had achieved breakout success following the release of their hit singles “Smalltown Boy” and “Why”, off their debut album The Age of Consent. However, tensions between vocalist Jimmy Sommerville and fellow founding members Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek began to escalate. The creative differences allegedly stemmed over Sommerville wanting to take the band in a more political direction, while also looking to explore musical sounds not beholden to commercial success."
"In the summer of '85, Sommerville quit the band and went on to form The Communards. Related* The new Bronski Beat Bronski and Steinbachek set out on finding a new lead vocalist, which seemed daunting considering the group had been so easily identified by Sommerville's amazing falsetto voice."
"The duo found their replacement with singer John Jøn Foster and Bronski Beat was back. The band reintroduced themselves with the release of the first track featuring Foster on lead vocals, Hit That Perfect Beat. The Hi-NRG new wave track dived head first into queer joy as it describes a celebratory night of finding someone to connect with at the club."
"“ Searching for some company/Feel the rhythm dance with me,” the dance anthem sets its mission from the start. While the chorus, Beat boy beat boy hit that perfect beat boy, feels like the command you can't resist and almost guarantees your success awaits. But one verse appears to keep perspective as to what was happening at the time with a veiled reference to the growing AIDS crisis. “ Too close for comfort too close for joy/Boys in the back room their hearts destroy/Touch and kiss a stranger if all else fails/Hiding from the danger that's been sent from hell ”"
By 1985, Bronski Beat reached breakout success with “Smalltown Boy” and “Why” from The Age of Consent. Tensions grew between vocalist Jimmy Sommerville and the founding members Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek. The differences centered on Sommerville pushing for a more political direction and for sounds not driven by commercial success. In the summer of 1985, Sommerville quit and formed The Communards. Bronski and Steinbachek then searched for a new lead vocalist and found John Jøn Foster. The band returned with “Hit That Perfect Beat,” a Hi-NRG new wave track about queer joy and finding connection at a club. Lyrics include a veiled reference to the AIDS crisis, while the video remains more neutral.
Read at Queerty
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