Karma Chameleon by Culture Club is a song that has left an indelible mark on the music scene since its release on September 5, 1983. This song is part of Culture Club’s second album, Colour by Numbers, which was produced by Steve Levine. The song is a 1980s new wave, country, and soul song. Karma Chameleon is about authenticity and the consequences of not being true to oneself.
Boy George, the lead singer of Culture Club, explained that Karma Chameleon is about the fear of alienation and the importance of being true to oneself. He wrote the song while on vacation in Egypt, and it reflects his thoughts on the nature of karma and justice.
The other members of Culture Club, including Jon Moss, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, and Phil Pickett, contributed to the songwriting process. Initially, the band was hesitant to record the song because they felt it sounded too much like a country tune, but they eventually embraced its unique sound.
The music video for Karma Chameleon is as memorable as the song itself. Directed by Peter Sinclair, the video was filmed on Desborough Island in Weybridge during the summer of 1983.
Karma Chameleon reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for six weeks. It became the best-selling single of 1983 in the UK, selling 1.38 million copies. The song also topped the charts in numerous other countries, including the United States, where it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1984. This made it Culture Club’s biggest hit and their only US number-one single.
Karma Chameleon has also been featured in various films, television shows, and commercials. Its inclusion in these media highlights the song’s broad appeal and its ability to evoke fun. The song is a perfect fit for a wide range of contexts, from romantic comedies to advertisements.
Lyrics for Karma Chameleon by Culture Club
There’s a loving in your eyes all the way
If I listened to your lies would you say
I’m a man without conviction
I’m a man who doesn’t know
How to sell a contradiction
You come and go
You come and go
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green
Didn’t hear your wicked words every day
And you used to be so sweet I heard you say
That my love was an addiction
When we cling our love is strong
When you go you’re gone forever
You string along
You string along
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green
Every day is like survival
You’re my lover not my rival
Every day is like survival
You’re my lover not my rival
I’m a man without conviction
I’m a man who doesn’t know
How to sell a contradiction
You come and go
You come and go
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
You come and go
You come and go
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my dream
Red, gold and green
Red, gold and green