Introduction
Belfast: A Disco Anthem with a Heavy Heart
Boney M.’s “Belfast” isn’t your typical party anthem. Released in 1977, amidst the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the song takes a somber look at the divided city.
Originally written by Drafi Deutscher for singer Marcia Barrett in the early 1970s, the song was titled “Londonderry.” When Boney M. needed material for their debut album, “Love for Sale,” they revisited the track, renaming it “Belfast” to directly address the ongoing conflict.
With Marcia Barrett on lead vocals, the song became their first single to feature a female lead and their fourth consecutive German chart-topper. Interestingly, due to the song’s political nature, it was never released in the US and Canada, replaced by “Daddy Cool” on their album.
Despite its catchy Eurodisco beat, the lyrics paint a stark picture. Lines like “Belfast, Belfast, Belfast / Got to have a believin’ / Cause the people are leavin'” highlight the displacement and despair caused by the violence. The song calls for hope and unity, urging people to believe in a better future: “When the people believin’ / When the children believin’ / All the people cause the people are leavin'”
“Belfast” stands out in Boney M.’s discography for its seriousness. It serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict, wrapped in a surprisingly danceable package.