We Will Dance Again (song)

"We Will Dance Again"
Song by Boy George
Language
  • English
  • Hebrew
Released26 July 2026 (2026-07-26)
GenreReggae
Length3:18
Boy George singles chronology
"Superstar"
(2026)		 "We Will Dance Again"
(2026)
Official audio
"We Will Dance Again" on Instagram

"We Will Dance Again" (Hebrew: עוד נרקוד, romanized: Od Nirkod) is a song by Boy George self-released on his Instagram and X profiles on 26 July 2026. In response to the song's reception, Boy George withdrew from the role of King Herod in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar taking place in the same year.

Background

The phrase "We Will Dance Again" has been used to voice support for victims of the October 7 attacks and their loved ones. It was used as the title for a 2024 documentary film about the attacks.[1][2]

Prior to the song's release, Boy George performed alongside Senhit with the song "Superstar" for San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which had been boycotted by multiple countries due to Israel's participation.[3] He had previously spoken at a demonstration in London against antisemitism.[4]

Composition and writing

"We Will Dance Again" is a macaronic reggae[5] song containing lyrics in English and Hebrew,[6] along with an alternate title in Hebrew, "עוד נרקוד"[7] ("Od Nirkod").[8] Boy George stated that he utilised generative AI to assist with writing the song and that he "would struggle to write [it] with a human".[9][10] The song's lyrics criticise the pro-Palestinian movement, including musicians who have criticised Israel.[2]

Release

The song was released on 26 July 2026 exclusively on Boy George's profiles on Instagram and X, accompanied with the message "Shalom", and was not published on music streaming services.[11] It was later added to Bandcamp[12] before being deleted along with Boy George's profile on the service.[13] He later stated that he had severed his working partnership with the head of his record label BGP (Boy George Presents), calling his rejection of the song "gutless".[14][15][16]

Reception

"We Will Dance Again" was criticised for denying the genocide in Gaza committed by Israel.[17][18] Martyn Ware, musician and founder of the Human League and Heaven 17, described the song as "an overtly pro-genocide, anti-Palestinian piece of musical propaganda".[17] Former member of the Scottish Parliament Tommy Sheridan called George "shameful", "shameless" and "a disgrace".[19] Actor Patrick Clanton, who appeared alongside Boy George in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge!, said, "Y'know, I used to defend his performance in our show, but fuck it. He was a terrible performer and I was embarrassed to be in the show with him. Boy, Bye!"[20]

The song was praised by Neil McCormick in The Daily Telegraph, who described the song as "blunt [and] provocative".[21]

The negative publicity led to Boy George withdrawing from his role as King Herod in the 2026 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium,[22][23] in which he was due to appear in selected August performances,[24][25] with Richard Armitage taking his place.[26] Boy George defended the song, saying that the idea that he "feel[s] no compassion for Palestinians is both untrue and absurd" and accusing the mass media of "giv[ing] a free pass" to people "deny[ing] the suffering of Israelis".[18][27][28]

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Hannah (28 July 2026) [27 July 2026]. "Boy George releases pro-Israel anthem 'We Will Dance Again' honoring Oct. 7 victims". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (27 July 2026). "'You say genocide, I say war': Boy George releases pro-Israel song, We Will Dance Again". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Stolworthy, Jacob (31 July 2026). "Boy George quits Jesus Christ Superstar after pro-Israel song backlash". The Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Jones, Damian (29 July 2026). "Boy George says he used Al to create his controversial new pro-Israel reggae song 'We Will Dance Again'". NME. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  5. ↑ St. Martin, Emily (31 July 2026). "Boy George exits 'Jesus Christ Superstar' production after releasing pro-Israel reggae song". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Dayan, Linda (28 July 2026). "British Singer Boy George Defends Israel's post-October 7 Gaza War in New Song". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (31 July 2026). "Boy George pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstar after releasing pro-Israel song". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Hartog, Kelly (28 July 2026). "'If you're ever confused: I stand with the Jews,' Boy George releases pro-Israel song". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (31 July 2026). "Boy George Pulls Out of London Production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' In Wake of Backlash to AI-Generated 'We Will Dance Again' Song". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Gillis, Drew (28 July 2026). "Boy George says his genocide-denying song was created with AI". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Pilley, Max (27 July 2026). "Boy George shares pro-Israel song 'We Will Dance Again'". NME. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  12. ↑ Morris, Lauren (2 August 2026). "Boy George splits from music label manager over pro-Israel song: 'We are done'". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Breihan, Tom (3 August 2026). "Bandcamp Removes Boy George's AI Pro-Israel Reggae Song". Stereogum. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Pilley, Max (1 August 2026). "Boy George parts ways with "gutless" record label manager who refused to release pro-Israel song". NME. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (3 August 2026). "Boy George Fires Label Manager After Reported Rift Over AI-Generated Pro-Israel Reggae Song: 'Really Does Not Hurt to Say Goodbye'". Billboard. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Ludlow, Mark (1 August 2026). "Boy George splits from label manager over pro-Israel song". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  17. 1 2 O'Connor, Roisin (28 July 2026). "Boy George met with fierce backlash over song that backs Israel's military attacks". The Independent. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  18. 1 2 Pilley, Max (31 July 2026). "Boy George responds to "genocide denier" criticism after pro-Israel song 'We Will Dance Again': "I come from a place of peace"". NME. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  19. ↑ Aboudari, Sofia (28 July 2026). "'Sold your soul': Boy George faces backlash over song denying Gaza genocide". The New Arab. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Luxford, Victoria (29 July 2026). "'Moulin Rouge' actor says he was embarrassed to co-star with "terrible actor" Boy George". NME. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  21. ↑ McCormick, Neil (28 July 2026). "Boy George's new pro-Israel song might not be his best, but it is his bravest". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  22. ↑ "Boy George pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstar, after releasing pro-Israel single". The Times of Israel. 31 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Millman, Ethan (30 July 2026). "Boy George Drops Out of London 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Production After Stirring Controversy With AI-Generated Pro-Israel Song". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Hemley, Matthew (23 February 2026). "Boy George among six actors to share Herod role in Jesus Christ Superstar". The Stage. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  25. ↑ "UK singer Boy George pulls out of musical after pro-Israel song backlash". France 24. 31 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  26. ↑ Marshall, Alex (31 July 2026). "Boy George Pulled From West End Show Days After Releasing Pro-Israel Reggae Song". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Morris, Lauren (1 August 2026). "Boy George speaks out after quitting Jesus Christ Superstar over pro-Israel song backlash". The Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "Boy George defends pro-Israel song, says critics ignore Israelis' suffering". The Times of Israel. 1 August 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
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