Karma Chameleon

The 1980s hit 'Karma Chameleon' by Boy George and his band Culture Club is a vibrant mix of pop and new wave musical styles, and its lyrics are just as colorful as its melody. The song speaks to the nature of change and inconsistency in relationships, using the metaphor of a chameleon to describe a lover who is fickle and ever-changing. The chameleon's ability to change colors is likened to the lover's tendency to come and go, altering their feelings and presence unpredictably.

The chorus, with its catchy repetition of 'Karma Karma Karma Karma Karma Chameleon,' suggests a belief in karma, the idea that actions have consequences. The song implies that the lover's inconsistent behavior will eventually come back to them. The desire for a straightforward, honest relationship is expressed through the lines 'Loving would be easy if your colours were like my dream / Red, gold and green.' These colors symbolize a longing for something more stable and true than the chameleon-like behavior currently experienced.

The song also touches on themes of identity and self-awareness. The protagonist describes themselves as 'a man without conviction,' someone who struggles with their own contradictions and perhaps lacks a strong sense of self. This internal conflict mirrors the external inconsistency faced in their relationship. The repeated lines 'You're my lover, not my rival' emphasize a yearning for partnership and unity, rather than the adversarial dynamic that seems to be present.