The first studio album from George Alan O'Dowd in nearly two decades, This Is What I Do begins appropriately enough with "King of Everything," a surging, late-period Elton John-inspired power ballad/anthem that finds the newly refurbished (chemically and spiritually) pop icon trying to make amends with pretty much everybody. Boy George has spent the majority of his time away from the studio in the headlines, and This Is What I Do spends the majority of its just under an hour running time explaining why, apologizing, and wondering "What's the word on the street/Have I lost my crown/Or will I be king again." George's voice, once a throaty, alternately cocky and pleading croon that could melt the paint off of the walls, now smolders at a much lower level, and that huskiness lends a mournful and bluesy patina to the 12-track collection that dutifully reflects the artist's newfound maturity. George may have lost a little of his edge, but he's still a commanding presence, even if his reputation precedes him in a way that does him no favors. Songs like the breezy country-soul confection "It's Easy" and the richly detailed, autobiographical "Live Your Life" suggest an artist whose rebirth may blossom via the death-cheating, soulful singer/songwriter route, while more propulsive numbers like "Bigger Than War," which is almost a dead ringer for the Sopranos theme (Alabama 3's "Woke Up This Morning"), show that the former Karma Chameleon hasn't lost his ability to shape-shift. That said, much of This Is What I Do is so mired in rote recovery-speak and murky midtempo reggae (the last six tracks are nearly interchangeable) that it never manages to leave any emotional footprints in the listener's head. Sure it's mature, soulful, and often beautiful, but it's also mostly forgettable.The first studio album from George Alan O'Dowd in nearly two decades, This Is What I Do begins appropriately enough with "King of Everything," a surging, late-period Elton John-inspired power ballad/anthem that finds the newly refurbished (chemically and spiritually) pop icon trying to make amends with pretty much everybody. Boy George has spent the majority of his time away from the studio in the headlines, and This Is What I Do spends the majority of its just under an hour running time explaining why, apologizing, and wondering "What's the word on the street/Have I lost my crown/Or will I be king again." George's voice, once a throaty, alternately cocky and pleading croon that could melt the paint off of the walls, now smolders at a much lower level, and that huskiness lends a mournful and bluesy patina to the 12-track collection that dutifully reflects the artist's newfound maturity. George may have lost a little of his edge, but he's still a commanding presence, even if his reputation precedes him in a way that does him no favors. Songs like the breezy country-soul confection "It's Easy" and the richly detailed, autobiographical "Live Your Life" suggest an artist whose rebirth may blossom via the death-cheating, soulful singer/songwriter route, while more propulsive numbers like "Bigger Than War," which is almost a dead ringer for the Sopranos theme (Alabama 3's "Woke Up This Morning"), show that the former Karma Chameleon hasn't lost his ability to shape-shift. That said, much of This Is What I Do is so mired in rote recovery-speak and murky midtempo reggae (the last six tracks are nearly interchangeable) that it never manages to leave any emotional footprints in the listener's head. Sure it's mature, soulful, and often beautiful, but it's also mostly forgettable.false2023-12-27 05:03:46This Is What I Do20132013-01-012013-01-0154Ballad;Pop;Pop Rock;Reggae;Rock;Reggae-Pop1149462248321aa1bdf7e-df1f-4d50-8c77-dea23adf3e712787bddf-6439-4c73-8162-5f4a1e5fa03057de8ad3-1752-45d2-af96-3a4e2e7e4907/media/data/media4/Music/Boy George/This Is What I Do (2013)/folder.jpgBoy GeorgeAlbumArtist/config/metadata/People/B/Boy George/folder.jpgBoy GeorgeArtist/config/metadata/People/B/Boy George/folder.jpgBoy GeorgeBoy GeorgeGeorge Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an English singer, songwriter, actor, DJ and lead singer of the English pop band Culture Club. He began his solo career in 1987. Boy George grew up in Eltham and was part of the New Romantic movement which emerged in the late 1970s to early 1980s. His androgynous look and style of fashion was greatly inspired by glam rock pioneers David Bowie and Marc Bolan. He formed Culture Club with Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss in 1981. The band's second album Colour by Numbers (1983) sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Their hit singles include "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)", "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Church of the Poison Mind", "Karma Chameleon", "Victims", "Miss Me Blind", "It's a Miracle", "The War Song", "Move Away" and "I Just Wanna Be Loved".
Boy George was the lead singer of Jesus Loves You between 1989 and 1992. He has performed with Culture Club in reunion shows since 1998, and began his career as a DJ in the mid 1990s. Outside of music, Boy George has been involved in many activities, among them songwriting, DJing, writing books, designing clothes and photography. He has also made several appearances in television, most recently appearing as a contestant on the 22nd UK series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in November 2022, eventually finishing in 8th place.
As a solo artist, Boy George has released nine studio albums, five compilation albums and forty-eight singles. He has also released seven DJ albums, three EPs and a soundtrack album. His solo hit songs include "Everything I Own", "Bow Down Mister", "Generations of Love" and "Love Is Leaving" and "The Crying Game", from the soundtrack for the film of the same name. He was featured as a vocalist on the 1984 charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and was the last artist featured on the song to record his lines. Boy George's music features several genres, including pop, new wave, soul, soft rock, disco and reggae. He has received several awards as a solo artist and as a member of Culture Club. In 2001, he was voted 46th in a BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. In 2015, Boy George received an Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Services to British Music.