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About This Track
“Karma Chameleon” is a song from British band Culture Club. The song spent three weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1984 (see 1984 in music), becoming the group’s biggest hit and only US number one. The song hit number one in sixteen countries worldwide. In their home country, the single became Culture Club’s second song to top the UK singles chart, staying there for six weeks in September and October 1983 and becoming the biggest selling single of 1983. The single came from their 1983 Colour by Numbers album.
The B-side of “Karma Chameleon” is “That’s the Way (I’m Only Trying to Help You)” (in an alternate and shorter version). In an interview, Boy George explained: “The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It’s about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren’t true, if you don’t act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that’s nature’s way of paying you back.”
The prominent harmonica part was played by Judd Lander, who had been a member of Merseybeat group The Hideaways in the 1960s. He had also played the harmonica part on “Church of the Poison Mind”, and would later play on the Spice Girls 1996 hit “Say You’ll Be There”.
The song was originally to be called “Cameo Chameleon”. The band were recorded in interviews in late 1983 stating this was to be the title of their next single.
The B-side of “Karma Chameleon” is “That’s the Way (I’m Only Trying to Help You)” (in an alternate and shorter version). In an interview, Boy George explained: “The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It’s about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren’t true, if you don’t act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that’s nature’s way of paying you back.”
The prominent harmonica part was played by Judd Lander, who had been a member of Merseybeat group The Hideaways in the 1960s. He had also played the harmonica part on “Church of the Poison Mind”, and would later play on the Spice Girls 1996 hit “
Say You’ll Be There”.The song was originally to be called “Cameo Chameleon”. The band were recorded in interviews in late 1983 stating this was to be the title of their next single.
Send ‘Karma Chameleon’ Ringtone to Cell Similar Music
Play Culture Club RadioWith: Boy George, Dead Or Alive, Jesus Loves You, Spandau Ballet and more…
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Albums featuring this track
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Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
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The Best Of Culture Club
Culture Club Buy- Download Album
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Greatest Moments
Culture Club Buy- Download Album
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Shouts
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pepsicola13 wrote:
Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon
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bartleby7 wrote:
Boy George aint uncool dood.
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duraniejen77 wrote:
It's uncool but I can't help but like this song. Good memories of growing up in the 80s. :-)
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NitaD1 wrote:
Yippee..♫
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DavidBradford63 wrote:
Classic 80's pop.
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EwertonSCougo wrote:
Culture Club muito bom,lembra meus tempos de década de 80!Muitas saudades!
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lorendefect wrote:
Lame, Lame, Lame
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Zitro15 wrote:
Karma Chameleon is my favorite Culture Club song. It has a great beat to dance to.
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Rafa-Music wrote:
epic song
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Retro_Saiyan wrote:
Full of WIN!
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tymms2 wrote:
My absolute Favourite Artist!!!!
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BowieFreak wrote:
YAYI
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Marjo47 wrote:
good olden days this song reminds me of.
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zaynzaynzayn wrote:
mega huge at the time. such pure 80s kitsch glam.
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pasteluniverse1 wrote:
THE BEST 80S SONG :) [3]
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toastissocks wrote:
Love this song!! Boy George was odly hot!!!!! ♥
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gfdsagfdsagfdsa wrote:
hahahaha I like this song
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Krmgtsm7 wrote:
Christmas Day 1983 listening to this in my new tape recorder (Now That's What I Call Music Vol 01") ahhhhhh memories.
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Countorus wrote:
LOL
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HeyBoyGeorge wrote:
hell yeah!
Track Stats
885,441 Scrobbles
236,052 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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skeerywoofbear, CQRPHIL, alanguilancacal and 1 other person loved Culture Club – Karma Chameleon. 6 hours ago
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lisapw, Mobilicorpus, jordanf97 and 20 other people loved Culture Club – Karma Chameleon. yesterday evening
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luv41andall, norrie50, FunkyDung and 6 other people loved Culture Club – Karma Chameleon. Tuesday evening
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novira added Karma Chameleon to the playlist Only Hits6. Tuesday morning
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