Bow Down Mister

"Bow Down Mister" is a song written by English singer Boy George, under the pseudonym "Angela Dust", and recorded by his first musical group following his departure from Culture Club, Jesus Loves You. Inspired by a trip George took to India, the song is a tribute to the Hare Krishna movement and incorporates the Hare Krishna mantra. Indian singer Asha Bhosle performs the female vocals on the song but is uncredited on the single release.

"Bow Down Mister"
Single by Jesus Loves You
from the album The Martyr Mantras
B-side"Love Hurts" (Yes It Doz U Blighter Mix)
Released1991
Recorded1990
Genre
Length6:32 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Angela Dust
Producer(s)Bruce Forest
Jesus Loves You singles chronology
"One on One"
(1990)		 "Bow Down Mister"
(1991)		 "Generations of Love"
(1991)
Audio
"Bow Down Mister" on YouTube

"Bow Down Mister" was released in early 1991 as the fourth single from the project's only studio album, The Martyr Mantras (1991). It reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart and became a bigger hit in several mainland European countries, especially in Austria and Germany, where the song reached the top 10.

Background and meaning

Boy George wrote "Bow Down Mister" shortly after taking a trip to India.[2] George was intrigued that the song was perceived as radical to the public, as this was not his intention; however, he went on to explain, "That is unless you consider a song that encourages love instead of hate as being radical. I am continually amazed at how, with all of the knowledge we have as humans, we continue to be so small-minded."[3] The track was written as an ode to the Hare Krishna movement,[1] a Hindu religious organisation whose members dedicate their thoughts and actions to the Hindu deity Krishna, and the song recites the Hare Krishna mantra several times during the bridge.[4] Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle is featured as the female vocalist on the recording.[5] During an interview, Bhosle stated that "Bow Down Mister" was the best song she had contributed to and that she continues to cherish it.[6]

Critical reception

Billboard writer Larry Flick called the song "thoroughly original and refreshing" and praised its "anthemic" melody but found the song "too offbeat" for UK hit radio.[1][3] On the same magazine, a review of the parent album called the homage "quirky".[7] AllMusic reviewer William Ruhlmann referred to "Bow Down Mister" as one of the "oddest" songs on The Martyr Mantras.[8]

Chart performance

On the UK Singles Chart, "Bow Down Mister" debuted at number 69 on 17 February 1991, taking a total of five weeks to peak at number 27 on 17 March 1991.[9] It spent three more weeks in the top 100 before dropping out in early April.[9] The same month, the track appeared on the French Singles Chart at number 41, rising to a peak of number 29 on two occasions and spending 13 weeks on the chart.[10] In late May, the single entered the Austrian and German Singles Chart. In Austria, it rose to number two and totalled 22 weeks in the top 30, ending 1991 as the country's 10th-highest-selling single.[11][12] Meanwhile, in Germany, it peaked at number six for two weeks, logged 27 weeks in the top 100, and finished the year at number 17 on Germany's year-end chart.[13][14] In Switzerland, it reached number 15,[15] while in the Flanders region of Belgium, it debuted at its peak of number 44.[16] On the Eurochart Hot 100, "Bow Down Mister" rose to number 20 in August 1991 and was ranked Europe's 73rd-best-performing hit of the year.[17][18]

Track listings

UK 12-inch single[19]

A. "Bow Down Mister" (Sitari Bizzari Mix) – 6:24
B. "Bow Down Mister" (Floating in the Ganges – Grid Mix) – 7:04

French maxi-single[11]

  1. "Bow Down Mister" (A Small Portion 2 B Polite Mix) – 3:59
  2. "Bow Down Mister" (Nayana Banana Govinda Goulash Mix) – 6:25
  3. "Love Hurts" (Yes It Doz U Blighter Mix) – 3:59

German 7-inch single[11]

A. "Bow Down Mister" (A Small Portion 2B Polite Mix) – 3:59
B. "Love Hurts" (Yes It Doz U Blighter Mix) – 3:59

Charts

References
  1. Flick, Larry (30 March 1991). "Music Meet Face-Off: Labels, Pools Still Discordant" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103 no. 13. p. 39. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. "Music Monitor – First Quarter 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 3. 19 January 1991. p. 8. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. Flick, Larry (2 February 1991). "Boy George Is Back on the Dance Charts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103 no. 5. p. 35. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. Bradley Hagerty, Barbara (22 May 2008). "What You Need to Know About Hare Krishnas". NPR. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  5. "Asha Bhosle". Cindy Byram PR. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  6. Site administrator (14 August 2000). "Asha Bhosle to perform with Boy George in Wembley, London". India Today. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. "Album Reviews – Dance" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103 no. 6. 9 February 1991. p. 78. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  8. Ruhlmann, William. "AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  9. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  10. "Lescharts.com – Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  12. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1991" (in German). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  14. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  15. "Swisscharts.com – Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  16. "Ultratop.be – Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 32. 10 August 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles – 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 51–52. 21 December 1991. p. 21. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  19. "Bow Down Mister" – UK 12-inch single (Disc sleeve). Jesus Loves You. More Protein. 1991. PROT 8-12, 614 006.CS1 maint: others (link)
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