Homosapien (song)

"Homosapien"
Single by Pete Shelley
from the album Homosapien
B-side
  • "Keat's Song"
  • "Love in Vain" (1982)
ReleasedSeptember 1981 (UK)
Recorded1981
Genre
Length3:24
LabelGenetic (Island Records) WIP6720
Songwriter(s)Pete Shelley
Producer(s)Martin Rushent, Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley singles chronology
"Homosapien"
(1981) 		"I Don't Know What It Is"
(1981)

"Homosapien" is a song by English musician Pete Shelley. It was the first single from his album of the same title, released in 1981, and his first single as a solo performer after rising to fame with Buzzcocks.

Shelley wrote the song in 1974, before forming the Buzzcocks in 1976.[3][4] Originally intended as a demo track for a Buzzcocks' song, "Homosapien" was recorded in one day with producer Martin Rushent, who would later go on to produce The Human League.[3][5] The track adopted a synth pop sound in contrast to the Buzzcocks' harsh guitar riffs.[6]

The single was a big hit in Australia and Canada, reaching the Top 10 in both countries, as well as being a modest hit in New Zealand. Although it failed to cross over to singles charts in Europe or the United States, it was a popular dance track in clubs across both territories and reached number 14 on the Billboard Club Play Singles chart.

The song reportedly was banned by the BBC for its "explicit reference to gay sex" with the lyrics "homo superior / in my interior".[7] Shelley denied this was the intention.[8] However according to then BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale, "Its then risqué lyrics were noted at the time. Didn't stop me playing it on my radio show."[9]

  1. ^ Evans, Richard (August 6, 2024). "1981.4". Listening to the Music the Machines Make: Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Omnibus Press. p. 298. ISBN 978-1-915841-45-2.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Green Circles was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "The Quietus | Features | A Quietus Interview | I Hate Finishing Things When I Don't Have To: Pete Shelley Interviewed". The Quietus. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  4. ^ McGartland 9.
  5. ^ Tennant, vi
  6. ^ "'You Know Me': Buzzcocks' Pete Shelley Gave Punk A Heart". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  7. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (2007-06-29). "Readers recommend: songs about homosexuality". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  8. ^ Hilderbrand 429.
  9. ^ "BBC TV - Punk and New Wave Years with Annie Nightingale". Retrieved 20 November 2020.