An ’80s New Wave Classic Track is Suddenly Back on Everyone’s Playlist
- IAAM Radio
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Cure’s ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ is getting a big social media push.
One of the biggest new wave hits of the 1980s is seeing a resurgence in popularity, placing it among the Top 50 of TikTok’s most-streamed songs.
According to TikTok’s featured song list, “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure is holding strong on the charts. The song is currently at the number 45 position.
It sits among some of today’s more recognizable tunes. However, listeners appear to resonate with the lyrics written 45 years ago by Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, and Lol Tolhurst that tell the story of a man hiding his sadness after losing his romantic partner.
Fan videos appear to latch onto one section of the song’s lyrics. They are using these words and the music to convey a particular meaning in their clips.
“So I try to laugh about it
Cover it all up with lies
I try to laugh about it
Hiding the tears in my eyes
‘Cause boys don’t cry
Boys don’t cry.”
The Cure had a huge career beyond ‘Boys Don’t Cry’
The Cure had many other iconic hits along with “Boys Don’t Cry.” Some of these include “Lovesong,” “Friday I’m in Love,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Pictures of You,” and “Close to Me”. “Lullaby,” “A Forest,” “In Between Days,” and “Why Can’t I Be You?” were also massive successes.
In a 2004 Rolling Stone interview, Robert Smith revealed why he thinks “Boys Don’t Cry” still resonates today, even though he was just a teen with no world experience when he initially penned the lyrics. He explained, “The pop songs like ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ are naive to the point of insanity. But considering the age I was and the fact that I had done nothing apart from go to school, no real life experience, everything was taken from books – some of them are pretty good.”
He added, “Even at that young age, I was very pissed off. I had dreamed of making an album, and suddenly, we were making it, and my input was being disregarded. I decided from that day on, we would always pay for ourselves and therefore retain total control.”
The band is best known for its distinctive goth rock, post-punk, and pop sound. Over the decades, The Cure has become iconic for their moody, introspective lyrics, atmospheric guitar work, and Smith’s signature voice and makeup style.
The Cure was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 by Trent Reznor. During his speech, Reznor said of the band, “They’ve changed the face of popular music indelibly in their 40-year history without ever having to compromise their sound or aesthetic.”
The Cure continues to tour and has performances planned through 2028, their 50th anniversary .
DJ Taz's Take: Great band, amazing songs.