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Real Men (song)

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Wikipedia article




"'Real Men'" is a song by British singer-songwriter and musician Joe Jackson, which was released in 1982 as the lead single from his fifth studio album 'Night and Day'. It was written by Jackson, and produced by Jackson and David Kershenbaum. The song became a hit only in the Dutch language area and Australia. In the Dutch Top 40 it reached the 15th position, and in the Flemish Radio 2 Top 30 it reached the 25th position. "Real Men" reached No. 89 in the UK and No. 6 in Australia. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Steve Barron. The song was covered by Tori Amos on her 2001 album of gender-swapped covers, 'Strange Little Girls'.

Background



Jackson has described "Real Men" as being about the "age old battle of the sexes". He told 'Billboard' in 1982: "I think your average male has had his masculinity and supremacy threatened to the point where he's not sure what it is he's supposed to do. Intelligent, forward thinking, in the sexual arena, is being done by women. It's all about the way stereotypes have reversed, turned upside down and become meaningless." The song has also been described as examining the themes of sexuality and male sexual attraction to other men.

Critical reception



In a review of 'Night and Day', Susan Molloy of 'The Sydney Morning Herald' described "Real Men" as "lyrically one of the most outrageous songs for a long time" which "seemingly ends with a plea for grass-roots heterosexuality". Mike Day of 'The Age' considered "Real Men" to be a "superbly grandiose creation" with "Phil Spector-style piano", a "wailing vocal chorus that is vintage Springsteen", "echoing drums" and lyrics that "cut a swathe through male chauvinism".

Alan Kellogg of the 'Edmonton Journal' noted the "sheer lyric depth" and "brittle intensity", adding it was "a song for the Eighties if there ever was one". Stephen Holden of 'Rolling Stone' commented: "The album's loveliest song, "Real Men," solemnly blends string chamber music with echoes of Phil Spector, as Jackson sorts out the contradiction between the traditional male role of warrior and today's macho gay culture."

In 2015, Kevin Wuench of 'Tampa Bay Times' said of the song's lyrical message: ""Real Men" is not so much pro-gay song but more an open-ended song that asks the listener to make their own definition of what makes a real man". Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described the song as "haunting" in a retrospective review of 'Night and Day'.

Track listing



;7" single

#"Real Men" - 4:03

#"Chinatown" - 4:26

;7" single (Spanish promo)

#"Real Men" - 4:03

;12" single (The Real Men E.P., Dutch release)

#"Real Men" - 4:05

#"El Cancer" - 6:06

#"El Blanco" - 3:52

#"Un Otro Mundo" - 4:00

Chart performance



Weekly charts



Year-end charts



Personnel



* Joe Jackson vocals, keyboards

* Graham Maby bass

* Larry Tolfree drums

* Sue Hadjopoulos percussion

* Ed Rynesdal violin

;Production

* Joe Jackson producer, mixing

* David Kershenbaum producer, mixing

* Michael Ewasko engineer

;Other

* Gary Green photography

References



Category:1982 songs

Category:1982 singles

Category:Joe Jackson (musician) songs

Category:LGBT-related songs

Category:Songs about New York City

Category:Songs written by Joe Jackson (musician)

Category:Song recordings produced by David Kershenbaum

Category:A&M Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Steve Barron

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