Revelation - Official ILX Pet Shop Boys tracks poll results

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onM4cR7-DqM&feature=player_profilepage

Over the next few nights I'll be unveiling the results for the Pet Shop Boys tracks poll.

There were 32 voters, who voted for 136 tracks. Tonight I'll do 50-31, 30-16 tomorrow and finally the top 15 on Wednesday.

Hopefully, you'll find it as enjoyable to read as I did compiling it and relistening to their work. There's several gems I was blissfully unaware of so if nothing else it was worth doing it for that reason. There's a few surprises (to me anyway) and as you'll see some of the results are a bit nip and tuck.

going to miss this tonight because of US independence day festivities but have fun!

We don't even start with them...

50. I'm Not Scared (Eight Wonder). (1988, Collaboration. 69 Points, 4 votes, 0 number ones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3eEzLSlKY

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/6ffj9gcxAThomdhLW6HiNd

Random Internet Fact. #1 in Italy.

49. Do I Have To? (1987, B-Side, 76 points, 4 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arYohGJkyQI
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/1Wu8EqeV0JfLl3hcezx9bh
RIF:Inspired by Chris Lowe's frequent complaining when on a promo tour in Japan.

I forgot to mention at the start, if there are any ties they will be decided as follows; by number of number one votes, number of voters, which track gets the highest placing in individuals ballot, alphabetically.

Love that this thread has it's own PSB name. A good one too! The boys would approve.

48. To Face The Truth. (1990, Behaviour, 77 points, 3 votes, 0 number ones)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbdtlP0gt7w
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/78GoyurUrxm4X2kG6pnp5T

47. Liberation. (1993, Very, 81 points, 4 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtlM1F8guPc
Spotify:http://open.spotify.com/track/2DnvlQI1kYMTBaxJpfAMz8

46. A Red Letter Day (1996, Bilingual, 83 points, 4 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-2TaT8dPns

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3XQTpx2DHsBE3xuXZCFJdW

RIF: Single debuted at #9 in the UK, but fell to #42 the following week, at the time the largest drop in chart history.

probably beaten every week since

LOL at their clothes in that To Face The Truth screenshot.

Liberation made my "short"list of ~70 but that's the only one so far.

I'm feeling very sheepish, incidentally - I couldn't sing a note of these so far.

You'll definitely be able to sing this one..

45. Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You). (1991, standalone, 87 points, 4 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt2j79pca7c

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/2TNRmSMJzsweYzWXHi28r2

RIF: Following the release of the single, U2 issued a statement saying "What have we done to deserve this?"

I completely forgot to vote for Where The Streets Have No Name, one of the greatest cover versions of all time.

All good songs so far, I'm wondering if this maybe the first poll I like every song that places.

44. Love etc. (2009, Yes, 94 points, 5 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBiaRBUjUs

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/58aYg1HRp6muVAWaSPLLKD

Bono has ended a simmering feud with the Pet Shop Boys over their cover version of one of U2's best-loved songs.

He was appalled after they turned the 1987 hit "Where the Streets Have No Name" into an instant camp classic by adding their own vocals and a pumping disco beat.

The Irish rockers issued a statement soon after the Pet Shop Boys version was released, declaring: "What have we done to deserve this?" But speaking about the spat for the first time this week, singer Neil Tennant insisted he had managed at long last to patch things up with Bono.

Peace was declared after a bizarre encounter at Elton John's mansion in the south of France, which ended with Bono and the English pop duo jumping into the swimming pool from a first floor balcony.

Asked about claims that Bono and Edge had been gunning for him, Tennant told music magazine Q: "I'd read things in the press.

"Anyway, we met Bono at Elton's and he was a bit funny at the beginning but he was really friendly. It all ended with a competition. He kept saying, 'It's rock versus pop.' At the end of the meal he jumped into Elton's swimming pool from the terrace and to his evident surprise I jumped in as well. So he said, 'OK. Rock one -- Pop one.' It ended as a draw -- quite rightly so."

43. Some Speculation. (1993, B-Side, 4 votes, 0 number one votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBmAw9eoRJU

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3SiFFfmFac2OEM51SEKQbt

I was really underwhelmed with Love etc. when it came out but it grew on me so much and I love it now. It was the exact opposite of what happened with I'm With Stupid which I can't even listen to now.

Yeah, agree with that. 'Yes' has really grown on me as an album.

42. It Must Be Obvious. (1990, B-Side, 98 points, 5 votes, 0 number one votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO9tJlvC9ro

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/5zlTMICphPXPL9n7k585KV

Oh, only saw this thread now due to Gubke mentioning it in the nomination thread!

41. It Couldn't Happen Here. (1987, Actually, 105 points, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq72QbwOhoU

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/2QqPaaNdbpgNMot5WKw9y5

RIF:The title is borrowed from Sinclair Lewis's 1935 novel 'It Can't Happen Here'.

Love etc. is a solid track. The only thing I don't like is the melody in the first verse which follows the synth motif and totally doesn't work. Strange, considering how Neil Tennant described Xenomania as somewhat obsessed with finding the best melody for a song.

First of my picks to appear!

and here's your second:

40. Miserabilism. (1992, B-side, 106 points, 6 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPBmzTvKsmw&feature=related

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/20GBfHqwta4csdKTDVjZ9F

RIF: The song is sung from the viewpoint of cheeky chappy Morrissey.

Thought this one might be higher. I thought it would be the highest B-side to place.

39. Losing My Mind (Liza Minelli). (1989, Collaboration, 109 points, 0 number one votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtR_eyyrn9g Scroll to 8:45 to avoid Wogan.

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/2loMPlz3JWjFGF6fPoiSoo

RIF: Minelli's biggest chart hit in the UK, #6 in August 1989.

I've a big fan of "Some Speculation" - that galumphing Patrick Cowley bassline that comes in alongside the brisk percussion (esp. around the three minute mark), married to the dreamlike menace of the synths and Neil's vocal ... they've written some fantastic songs about gossip, but unlike the bitchiness of others this captures an ambient dread. "What's your game? What's his name?"

Love etc.: Enjoyed it greatly at the time and if anything it has grown on me. The space around those soft bass thumps is massive - it's like they found a whole new layer of sound to play with, using the same old tinkly stuff at the top to the super low bass. Miserabilism has a similar sonic palette but everything feels crammed into the midrange by comparison. The "Yes" bonus disc version of this is also solid.

Some Speculation: also voted for this, not exactly the biggest dancefloor banger in the world but I love the main riff, and the lyrics are about as biting as they come.

Miserabilism: I was expecting this to be in my top 10 but it ended up not even making the ballot. Not sure what's missing - maybe the verse is a bit weak, and the backing track too one-note. Can't take anything away from the chorus though.

The full length commentary they recorded for Yes was really funny and interesting too. Definitely made me enjoy the album more.

38. My October Symphony. (1990, Behaviour, 116 points, 5 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-c7A500Po0

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/23jXBMOpIlhh3yH4ySSBPC

Where can I find that? Didn't know it existed. (xpost)

So far, two Behaviour tracks I wasn't expecting to appear. I wonder if the "obvious" ones will show up too.

commentary on spotify here: http://open.spotify.com/track/7w9AsZpoehCjItgDZwJ7TG

My ballot was full of obviousness (only one thing I've voted for has shown up so far).

I really love the lower regions of these polls—especially for bands with which I'm not already a know-it-all—because I get a really good setting to check out songs I've only ever heard a couple times or not at all and appreciately them differently.

37. It's Alright. (1988, Introspective, 118 points, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r0pISqCDRw

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/5qhZObqAsOcnKWvknSPSfA

Thanks opplet.

Don't know if I've ever sat down and listened to this track closely. Very similar to a lot of the Release stuff that people love to slag on... [xpost to My October Symphony]

xxp
Should be 118 points, 4 votes, 0 number ones.

Was it news to anyone else that It's Alright is a cover?

Nope! I read the Discography liner notes when I got the tape in '93.

Most of these B-sides were on my ballot.

"Love Etc" and "Minimal" are the best of this their autumnal period.

Should have voted for It Couldn't Happen Here. Wonderful song.

Didn't vote for this, but pleasantly surprised how high it is.

36. The Truck Driver and his Mate. (1996, B-Side, 120 points, 6 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHI7OHqKzW8

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/2LHGm35sLk2yfQ6HdLjCKg

RIF: This is based on the slogan for 'Yorkie' chocolate bar, "Big enough for the truck driver and his mate."

^^^ one of mine. Love the guitar riff (played by Tennant).

great guitar line in this one. My #16.

35. One More Chance. (1984/1987, Actually, 123 points, 5 votes, 0 number ones.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-6gZExiOno

and the original Bobby O mix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vfszNwfGRE

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/28h0GZFHrgVZ0WWiOHSZCU

Truck Driver was my number 3, really happy to see it has other fans.

Truck Driver is an extremely complex song - goes from minor to major multiple times and has some seriously screwy chord progressions and seeming key changes. Somehow everything ties together but it has B-side written all over it. It kind of reminds me of "Cold Sweat" by James Brown, which is probably ridiculous but there you go.

34. Your Funny Uncle. (1988, B-side, 124 points, 6 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_uWqlbdOM

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/05ohJ9ImZinFRQt4ZBpSWm

RIF: The song is inspired by the funeral of Neil Tennant's friend Chris Dowell whose death also inspired their song 'Being Boring'.

the highest b-side on my ballot. kind of expected it to be higher, tbh.

33. I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More. (1999, Nightlife, 129 points, 6 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNAtsYFRRbM

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/5EBSLmkX5qsuCrWAooatKL

^^^^^ LOVE that tune.

Amazing single, was shocked at the time how badly it did. It's still their lowest charting lead single from an album which is tragic.

I go back and forth on whether Nightlife or Fundamental is their best post-Very album. Nightlife is one of those period albums whose importance in my life squelches its chart record.

32. Try It (I'm In Love with A Married Man). (2003, Disco 3, 136 points, 5 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F9yfAcnXk8

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/4y0OgNrR076xLFSZWSuCa9

RIF: This was debuted in their only session for John Peel in October 2002, which can be downloaded from here.

It's also a cover of a Bobby O production from 1984.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_rmlzgGX3A

Is "You Only Tell Me You Love Me..." going to outrank this? "Don't Know What You Want" is more profound both lyrically and musically. great track.

'It's Alright' higher than 'My October Symphony'? First WTF moment in this poll. 'My October Symphony' was my #02! Sheer pop perfection.

I voted for "Drunk". Might have even been top 10.

Both are career peaks: "I Don't Know What You Want..." has a marvelous disco vocal and "You Only Tell Me" is perfect acoustic singer-songwriter melancholy.

I go back and forth on whether Nightlife or Fundamental is their best post-Very album.

The Edge of Gloryhole (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)

That's exactly the same with me they are both really good records, easily ahead of the other three albums.

^ Oh I think I had to leave "Try It" out of my ballot. :( It's so great!

^ Oh I think I had to leave "Try It" out of my ballot. :( It's so great!

oops

31. We All Feel Better In The Dark. (1991, B-side, 138 points, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFylULoa70w

Spotify:http://open.spotify.com/track/2wqs78KoxpDHR0JgWA0bJx

RIF: The song is inspired by a tape titled 'The Secrets of Sexual Attraction'. which Chris Lowe bought at a health food store.

The Pitchfork review that forced me stop reading them for four years.

Going back to 'Try It', I wasn't aware it was a cover at the time, but they do a fantastic job of turning a fairly routine hi-nrg piece into something quite strange and magical.

not really feeling "Try It". nice production though.

I think of DJ Sprinkles when I hear "We All Feel Better in the Dark". And those have to be some of the most obviously 'dirty' lyrics in the PSB catalog.

Anyway, that's your lot for the night. 30-16 tomorrow.

Did everyone hear "Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man)" off Disco 3 - one of the best later PSB songs I've heard, very hypnotic and melancholy.
― Tom (Groke), Thursday, 14 August 2003 13:53 (7 years ago)

I'm always amazed at how terrible the Oh Romeo original is, considering how much er questionable Bobby 'O' productions I have time for (his James Brown ripoff, etc).

I find both Fundamental and Nightlife disappointing. A couple of very strong tracks but everything ranges from so-so to kind of awful.

*everything else

Glad "One More Chance" got some other votes - love the original mix to bits'n'pieces; Neil is still singing with a slight goblinoid/Almond sleaziness, and there's some fantastic synthesized "Streets Of Cairo"-esque public domain motifs garnishing the track.

I love "Your Funny Uncle" to pieces, though it always wrongfoots me - to me the title suggests it'll be about a black sheep in the family, the bachelor relation that "never married" etc; instead it's a straightlaced uncle in the military behaving decently at the funeral of his gay nephew.

... oh dear, it seems like one of Keane are covering it on YouTube.

god the 'admit you love me and you always did' part of Red Letter Day never gets old

Wow, a goodly chunk of my ballot was taken care of in the lower reaches (Liberation, It Must Be Obvious, It Couldn't Happen Here, Miserablism, My October Symphony).

Re post-Very records, I like both Nightlife and Fundamental a hell of a lot more than I did a week ago. I suspect that had something to do with relative under-exposure, so I have this poll to thank for rehabilitating them in my mind. On the other hand Bilingual and Release now still seem weaker than I had remembered.

Release has three songs and the rest is filler.

god the 'admit you love me and you always did' part of Red Letter Day never gets old

Elton John said this song saved his life (tonight).

I really should have voted for "Your Funny Uncle". The actual verse about the funny uncle is deeply affecting today.

Recap of 31-50.

31 We All Feel Better In The Dark B-side 138 6 1
32 Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man) Disco 3 136 5 0
33 I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore Nightlife 129 6 0
34 Your Funny Uncle B-side 124 6 0
35 One More Chance B-side 123 5 0
36 The Truck Driver and his Mate B-side 120 6 0
37 It's Alright Introspective 118 4 0
38 My October Symphony Behaviour 116 5 0
39 Losing My Mind (Liza Minelli) Collaboration 109 6 0
40 Miserabilism B-side 106 6 0
41 It Couldn't Happen Here Actually 105 5 0
42 It Must Be Obvious B-side 98 5 0
43 Some Speculation B-side 98 4 0
44 Love Etc Yes 94 5 0
45 Where The Streets Have No Name(I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You) Standalone 87 4 0
46 A Red Letter Day Bilingual 83 4 0
47 Liberation Very 81 4 0
48 To Face The Truth Behaviour 77 3 0
49 Do I Have To? B-Side 76 4 0
50 I'm Not Scared (Eighth Wonder) Collaboration 69 4 0

I remember playing my pop-hating grandma Your Funny Uncle when it came out and even she was moved. It might have been the lines from Revelation that did it.

lol, of course I was the only one to list "We All Feel Better In The Dark" as #1

I had it as my #3, and almost ranked it higher

I think I might have cut it from my last 25

Can we post our ballots when it's all done?

I don't know if I should be concerned that so much of my ballot is showing up or psyched that I am so clued into the ILX PSB hivemind

btw if "Domino Dancing" is the highest-placing single I will hate all of you all day all day

I was going to post a link to the google spreadsheet if no one objected, anyone who's keen and a bit more spreadsheet savvy could then have a play about with the figures.

btw thank you all for reminding me that "I Don't Know What You Want But This Song Title Just Isn't Long Enough" is fucking great, I often overlook it in the sea of "For Your Own Good"/"Closer To Heaven"/"New York City Boy" that surrounds it

The "For Your Own Good"-"Closer To Heaven"-"I Don't Know" sequence is so good that I stop listening at this point. I'm helped by the fact that "Happiness is an Option" is a fucking dog.

yeah, 4th track on that album is an instant fast-forward. But what a group of first three tracks.

What does everyone think of "In Denial"? I am kind of partial to it despite the obviousness, sentimentality etc.

Love In Denial. Almost voted for it. I may be in a minority there.

It's okay at best. I'm more taken with "Boy Strange."

I dig it's way-over-the-topness.

my favorite parts are the line "who in his pathetic own way denies he's gay" to describe the boyfriend and the turnaround at the end when the daughter asks if HE can still love HER. Very sad situation and thankfully increasingly less common.

On the later albums, I'm drawn to the more overt storytelling - I Get Along is another favourite. In Denial is such a wonderful, economical character study.

Running Spotify playlist here ppls: http://open.spotify.com/user/dalzinho/playlist/727ciD0cHSADIUd8tircRX

4 of mine so far (one more chance, losing my mind, i'm not scared, i don't know what you want etc). amazed there was only 32 ballots tho, thought that if there was one poll on ilm that would see a big turnout it would've been this.

Is "In Denial" the only PSB song that explicitly uses the word gay?

wow a lot of Nightlife love on here, i thought i was on my own with that. easily their best album after the early 90s i think. massively under-rated.

I agree with that; it certainly sticks in my head more than subsequent albums, which all contain songs I like but rarely go back to.

Yeah, expected a few more ballots, especially since Pavement got 60+. Nothing from Geir which surprised me.

Been listening to Actually today and struck by how great the rhythm programming is. The beats on Rent and What Have I Done to Deserve This are so unusual and distinctive. I think they lost something when the pumping 4/4 became their default setting. I voted for Was That What It Was not for the songwriting or Tennant's weird, out-of-tune vocal but the programming. I used to listen to that over and over. Giant drums! Orchestral stabs!

was THAT what it was?

what are ppl's guesses for highest-charting single/b-side/album track?

PANINARO OH-OH-OH-OHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Album track - King's Cross? Dreaming of the Queen? This Must Be the Place?
B-side - Paninaro
Single - I can see Being Boring being the consensus choice. Is there any PSBs fan who doesn't rate that?

I like "Being Boring" a ton but it didn't make my ballot

personally I'm hoping for "Rent"

I agree with "Paninaro" and "King's Cross"

people don't like Liberation?

I don't. Their first really bland song.

One moral I've drawn from this wretched record: don't have high expectations of pop stars. Despite their protestations, they'll never fail to let you down. Despite myself, I'll seek solace in my beloved Gay Dad album.

— Paul Cooper, November 2, 1999

I've learned to like it over the years. I love his falsetto and the line about his lover sleeping on his shoulder.

tbh I first "Liberation" as an excerpt from the E-Smoove remix on Disco 2 and have never been able to reconcile that monster stomper with the gentle album track

Wither Shameless?

I'm sure "Shameless" will pop up later (although I'm bummed that if it does appear, it will be higher than "We All Feel Better In The Dark", "It Must Be Obvious" and "Some Speculation")

really hoping others are as infatuated with "Don Juan", "Jack The Lad" and "You Know Where You Went Wrong" as I am

I ended up going for Absolutely Fabulous and Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend over Shameless, though neither of the latter two made my final ballot.

You know what track we missed at first?

"Decadence."

I cut Shameless, Don Juan and YKWYWW at the last minute, regrettably. Problem is PSBs have so many unfuckwithable singles that I didn't have enough space for B-sides.

I've said this before but I really really really really wish "Domino Dancing" and "Don Juan" had been flipped on the single

I mean not enough space for all the B-sides I love - I still voted for 5.

haha I voted for 9

My #1 is a B-side.

I'm glad someone else voted for "Was That What It Was?". Don't expect it to make it though. I'm still hoping the other "I'm Not Scared" charts though. The "cannons" sample intro is incredible.

My top predictions:

B-Side - Paninaro
Single - Being Boring
Album track - 2/0

surprised that no one is picking West End Girls for top single.

Paninaro was a single, wasn't it?

I think WEG IS their best single. But "Being Boring" has always been the fans' favourite.

xpost - Sort of. Paninaro '95 was.

TS: Paninaro '95 vs Freedom '90

The Paninaro I love was never a single.

I may be the only PSB fan who never wants to hear "West End Girls" again.

I always think that until I actually hear it.

I'd rank the Please singles "Love Comes Quickly" > "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)" > "West End Girls" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Suburbia (single remix)"

Had they used the album version of "Suburbia" as the single, that would have been my favorite.

I like it but for many years it was the only single I heard on the radio; when I finally heard the rest of their catalog I never returned. I prefer "Opportunities" and "Loves Comes Quickly." The latter I've criminally underrated over the years until it snuck up on me recently and just made me cry.

LQC is such an astonishing song, it angers me that it never took off in the US

"West End Girls" = best song ever recorded (by anyone)

Now I think, "This is how falling in love sounds like."

Hello I just got here. I'm glad some of my selections already showed up ("Do I Have To?", "Liberation", "Your Funny Uncle") and some cuts I really love but couldn't vote for made it as well ("A Red Letter Day", "Some Speculation", "IDKWYWBICGIA").
I voted for 7 B-Sides. I'm pretty sure the #1 will be a single. It's one of two choices.

30. In The Night. (1985, 157 points, 7 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aClPCqzVyFg&feature=player_detailpage#t=3s

http://open.spotify.com/track/5BCAYcnudrhGaasMSgfTqa

RIF: Written by Tennant after reading David Pryce-Jones' book about Paris during the German occupation of World War II and in particular 'les Zazous', the young non-conformist sub-culture who were inspired by jazz and swing music.

hott

lots of great remixes of this one.

For the full version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsuA3NAgK0c

This might be their sexiest song.

I love the version on Disco

29. Jealousy. (1990, Behaviour, 158 points, 9 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chq885RKXAI

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/2fllZbKFjKd2jSpsjsHnL6

RIF: This was the first song Tennant and Lowe wrote together.

For some reason I always thought In the night was a cover. Didn't make my ballot but came close.

man, these guys have a great great catalog

I am pretty certain only one song I detest will appear on this list

The uploader has not made this video available in your country.

first time I've seen that message on youtube

I see that all of the time, mostly because 90% of the official Cure videos throw it up

28. Flamboyant. (2003, Standalone, 161 points, 7 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYW6V4UrIo

http://open.spotify.com/track/7vo6qo8LPbxE1R4cijH2Dp

RIF: Is featured in the skiing film 'Turbo', (nope, me neither).

27. I Want To Wake Up. (1987, Actually, 162 points, 6 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj6zSmayyeQ

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3UVVJpL04BCkJhDY56NXwO

Yes! Didn't have room for it in my ballot, but I think it's great. Especially the Scissor Sisters remix. (x-post)

My friend was all "wtf" when he saw "I Want To Wake Up" on my ballot. Guess he was wrong.

26. I Want A Dog. (1988, B-Side/Introspective, 169 points, 7 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po5BsMNTwbY

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/7lu2tLkqGZe3lRAV1J6ZX1

RIF: Tennant's homage to Iggy Pop.

and Johnny Marr's favorite PSB song!

25. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing. (1993, Very, 189 points, 9 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnwREox5JrU

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/0drsf7gl9GaqXH9Ry5gv7s

RIF: The only video to feature the Boys running.

My #2. Such a great happy song. The album version is my favorite.

I had no idea I Want a Dog was so popular.

Good to see Flamboyant make it, I wonder if that will be the highest of the later Pet Shop songs? Maybe Minimal will make it, I'm hoping The Way it Used to be will be in here somewhere.

Next up, my number one.

I voted for quite a few later songs, including "The Way It Used To Be".

I'm still hoping Fugitive will make it.

24. Young Offender. (1993, Very, 194 points, 7 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNdfweCLbws

http://open.spotify.com/track/2mW9NoDYvVCz4wxixsGYjf

RIF: This pisses over the track with the same title by New Order.

This almost made my list, really love this song but I already had five songs from Very in my list.

So far, only 3 songs from my ballot.

I'll do what you want if you want me enough
I'll put down my book and start falling in love

Next up, a song we've already had.

23. I'm Not Scared. (1988, Introspective, 195 points, 8 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dj3ymyCl3s

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/1nBb2RD977IqXEY3yWxjBW

RIF: Written by Tennant after successfully overcoming his agoraphobia.

daavid, I put Fugitive high on my ballot so you never know.

Only paid attention to Young offender after people were hyping it for the poll. Like it a lot.

Awesome. I voted for most of this batch. But... inexplicably, I'm not sure I've ever even heard "Flamboyant" before!!!

xpost: would never have guessed there was this much love for "I'm Not Scared" in any of its incarnations.

I'm Not Scared my number 5, Young Offender my number 2.

xxpost fingers crossed!

"I'm Not Scared" so far my favourite song on the list

Dan, look away now.

22. Domino Dancing. (1988, Introspective, 195 points, 10 votes, 0 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik2YF05iX2w

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/2ttsl8yf9YJhlHEUKobmeJ

RIF: Their last US Top 40 single.

The version of "I'm Not Scared" on Introspective is majestic in the right way. Love the rising and falling sequencer line.

Lots of Introspective in the last few tracks. My favorite PSB album but I think I only voted for WEG and Domino Dancing.

omfg

it didn't make the top 20

really really really happy (because I knew it was going to show up; I was dreading a top 5 finish)

I didn't think DD would make it! Pleasantly surprised.

Domino Dancing is my favourite PSB video.

I wanna BE in that video!

21. Suburbia. (1986, Please, 205 points, 9 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VCqAjYO3NM

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/5pe3YdqFq6jUc4WardZgto

RIF: Inspired by the Penelope Spheeris film of the same name.

such pretty people

20. Se A Vida É (That's the Way Life Is) (1996, Bilingual, 215 points, 9 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6dV59MEc_o

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3CDWeAFgNs5lUsPCySDSxK

RIF: The translation is incorrect and should be 'If Life Is'.

can I just say the Deep Dish Liquid remix of this is FANTASTIC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exv_HdcnU6o

think I Want To Wake Up was my number one vote... TOO LOOOOW

Domino Dancing RIF (#2): Title inspired by Chris being upset from losing at dominoes. Never thought of this before but the line "...or are you just a bad loser" is probably a reference to that.

19. Home And Dry. (2002, Release, 216 points, 10 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ossii9Ipiv4

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/0ZlVW64JVzh7QXKAwfza1t

RIF: Chris's spoken "We're going home" near the end of the song is a conscious nod to Paul McCartney's matching spoken words at the end of the Beatles track "Two of Us."

3 mins into this deep dish rmx and...woah.

yeah! tbh this was the first version of "Se A Vida E" I heard and is what I always think of when I think of the song

At this point it seem very likely that all tracks on Introspective will chart.

Huh. Only three of my songs have placed so far. Seems to be the way with me and polls - my choices either make up most of the top 20 or don't appear at all.

18. Go West. (1993, Very, 223 points, 10 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBjMRvOB5M

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3kkwL9s48fjogUXKfbLgqx

RIF: This song is played whenever SSC Napoli win a home game.

Glad to see something from Bilingual show up. I never knew people rated "Se A Vida É". Was it it's inclusion on the last tour that helped it? (x-post)

Always loved it. Wasn't it their biggest Brit hit from the album?

Nice video too, filmed in Florida.

I rank Se A Vida E behind the first three songs on Bilingual but it's a solid track. Funny how closely the first few tracks on Bilingual mirror Nightlife, with #4 being a total dud.

IIRC ppl have been all about "Se A Vida E" since it came out (that was why I originally sought it out, which lead me to that Deep Dish remix)

"Home and Dry" was one of only 3 21st century choices for me. One-phrase-repeated choruses always have the potential to annoy but this keeps on giving. Hadn't seen this video until this week though. Fabulousness.

That's your lot for tonight. I'm up early tomorrow and need my beauty sleep. 17-1 tomorrow evening.

tbh I have never really "gotten" "Go West"

Se A Vida É is a lovely song and so much better than Before which is a contender for my least favourite single of theirs.

I really don't understand the appeal of Home & Dry, it's the first song in the list I'm pretty disappointed to see place.

This is worth checkinhg out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M10gkdP6tt4

who voted for "It Always Comes As a Surprise"?

OK here goes my top 10 prediction and back to work:

10 - King's Cross
9 - What Have I Done To Deserve This
8 - Left To My Own Devices
7 - Love Comes Quickly
6 - Rent
5 - Always On My Mind
4 - Paninaro
3 - Can You Forgive Her?
2 - West End Girls
1 - Being Boring

The miners' choir in that vid is breathtaking. xpost

I really like "Se A Vida É", but it would probably come 7th or 8th for me on Bilingual. (x-post)

New York City Boy is a far superior take on the Go West theme.

^^^^ agreed!

"New York City Boy" got a fair amount of airplay here -- without checking I think it's their biggest American crossover hit since the early nineties -- but I know a lot of rong people who think it's rather tacky.

That would be me. I find it a bit PSB-by-numbers and much less moving than Go West.

I don't understand that at all. There really isn't anything about "Go West" that doesn't make me roll my eyes to the point of sprain.

As someone in a (superficially) similar life situation as the video's main character when the track came out, I don't have a problem with the tacky obvious parts of New York City Boy. But it sure isn't the most subtle thing in the world. With Go West, the listener does get to fill in the blanks a little.

(I hate the original too so it isn't totally PSB's fault)

You have to at least give them credit for taking a genuinely joyful and optimistic track and turning into something rather mournful without actually changing much.

I've never liked Bilingual, but look forward to pulling out Nightlife and Fundamental again.

Interesting fact: PSB one of the few bands my wife and I love equally, can listen to every day, any time. It's true!

Other true fact: PSB my cousin's fave act besides Pearl Jam and Rush (!).

You have to at least give them credit for taking a genuinely joyful and optimistic track and turning into something rather mournful without actually changing much.

I have never gotten "mournful" off of their version of "Go West", including the listen I just gave it to see if I'd changed my mind (I hadn't).

It was a really significant cultural moment here and I can't quite remember why.

if you don't like go west you don't get the pet shop boys

Didn't it accompany their official coming out? That was how it was pitched over here, anyway.

also jabba is completely OffTM

I definitely detect a tinge of sadness/hopeful melancholy in "Go West."

;)

I definitely detect a tinge of sadness/hopeful melancholy in "Go West."

that is largely because of what Neil Tennant's voice sounds like, IMO

I can buy that. But not everything he sings is steeped in melancholy. Compare this song to something like Se a Vida, for example.

Nice run tonight! Bit bummed that "I Want To Wake Up" placed so low though.

xxpost It's not super obvious, context is an important part of it: The gay utopia thing gone sour because of AIDS and the fall of the Soviet Union and communism... but I sort of agree with jabba hands, it's all in Tennant's voice really.

wait, how did the fall of the Soviet Union make gay utopia go sour

(I do remember subtext around HIV/AIDS now that you mention it)

wait, how did the fall of the Soviet Union make gay utopia go sour

It made English departments in American universities the only places to fuck self-avowed communists.

Unrelated. They thought of it in the context of AIDS, but then they thought it could also apply to the demise of the communism, which was happening at the time. They went with that idea for the video.

I wish allmusic could find a better intro to the PSBs than this:

Postmodern ironists cloaked behind a veil of buoyantly melodic and lushly romantic synth pop confections…

fuck adverbs

okay which ILXor wrote that

yeah, I don't hear much of anything mournful in Go West, either.

I guess you could interpret it as an impossible fantasy of escape from a shitty situation.

Translated into English, "Postmodern ironists cloaked behind a veil of buoyantly melodic and lushly romantic synth pop confections" means "English faggots."

"Satiric and irreverent -- yet somehow strangely affecting -- Pet Shop Boys transcended the seeming disposability of their craft, offering wry and thoughtful cultural commentary communicated by the Morse code of au courant synth washes and drum-machine rhythms."

Please stop ("yet somehow strangely affecting "!). btw that AMG profile is at least ten years o.d

"Go West" absolutely has a mournful side to it, a lot of it stemming from it being a cover. The original was about pre-AIDS San Francisco, and their 1993 cover is a kind of bookend. In a deeply ironic and moving way, it's like they're angels of death singing this song. My #1.

They're basically doing a gay version of Randy Newman's "Sail Away."

(And I can't stand synth-horns, but "Go West" and Jane Wiedlin's Fur get around that.)

Hear a song
That's the bomb
If you don't get the mix
It's gone eighty-six

These lines in NYCBoy make me cringe a bit, like Neal is reaching for, but not grasping, some sort of "authentic youth culture."

I prefer "Go West," but regardless of preference they're very different songs. NYCB is a coming of age song, it celebrates individual freedom. GW is about solidarity, community, a collective freedom.

You know what other song I missed that I wish some of you mentioned? "Was It Worth It." It gets better with each listen.

Didn't they leave that off PopArt because it was their first single not to make the Top 20? Amazingly, only two subsequent singles (Numb and Did You See Me Coming?) have missed the Top 20 and both did better than Was It Worth It?

Recap 50-18.

18 Go West Very 223 10 1
19 Home and Dry Release 216 10 0
20 Se A Vida E (That's The Way Life Is) Bilingual 215 9 1
21 Suburbia Please 205 9 0
22 I'm Not Scared B-side 195 8 0
23 Domino Dancing Introspective 195 10 0
24 Young Offender Very 194 7 1
25 I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing Very 189 9 1
26 I Want A Dog Introspective 169 7 0
27 I Want To Wake Up Actually 162 6 1
28 Flamboyant Standalone 161 7 1
29 Jealousy Behaviour 158 9 0
30 In The Night B-side 157 7 0
31 We All Feel Better In The Dark B-side 138 6 1
32 Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man) Disco 3 136 5 0
33 I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore Nightlife 129 6 0
34 Your Funny Uncle B-side 124 6 0
35 One More Chance B-side 123 5 0
36 The Truck Driver and his Mate B-side 120 6 0
37 It's Alright Introspective 118 4 0
38 My October Symphony Behaviour 116 5 0
39 Losing My Mind (Liza Minelli) Collaboration 109 6 0
40 Miserabilism B-side 106 6 0
41 It Couldn't Happen Here Actually 105 5 0
42 It Must Be Obvious B-side 98 5 0
43 Some Speculation B-side 98 4 0
44 Love Etc Yes 94 5 0
45 Where The Streets Have No Name(I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You) Standalone 87 4 0
46 A Red Letter Day Bilingual 83 4 0
47 Liberation Very 81 4 0
48 To Face The Truth Behaviour 77 3 0
49 Do I Have To? B-Side 76 4 0
50 I'm Not Scared (Eighth Wonder) Collaboration 69 4 0

17-1 coming up soon. If you want to try predicting the top 10, now's the time to do it.

OK then. No particular order:

Being Boring
West End Girls
Rent
What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Always on My Mind
Left to My Own Devices
It's a Sin
Paninaro
So Hard
Can You Forgive Her?

Further down: Drunk, Dreaming of the Queen, Zero, King's Cross, This Must Be the Place… and some other stuff

I am still holding out hope for appearances by at least one of "Don Juan", "Jack The Lad" and "You Know Where You Went Wrong"

I'll add Opportunities and Shameless to the predictions list for the full 17.

in order: West End Girls - Left To My Own Devices - Being Boring - Rent - What Have I Done To Deserve This? - King's Cross - So Hard - Can You Forgive Her? - Paninaro - It's A Sin

gah, that's practically the same ten

Funny that Fundamental has been rated higher than Release and Yes and yet it doesn't look to be represented in this poll.

It's a much stronger album but it doesn't have a standout track - I could have voted for Integral, Indefinite Leave, Casanova in Hell, Sodom and Gomorrah or Minimal but ended up choosing none of them - whereas Release and Yes have obvious highlights and a fair few duds.

17. So Hard. (1990, Behaviour, 223 points, 10 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFAA6Z_YIEM

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/7imWD2KFgk54awjfjmK3cJ

RIF: The track contains a sample from a porno movie featuring a woman moaning the title.

I voted for "Minimal", as I think that's one of their strongest singles in a while. I was tempted to vote "Casanova in Hell" for the Rufus Wainwright version, but I don't guess that would have gathered much steam.

xpost

Aah, I didn't vote for it, and I didn't expect to see it here, but it's always been one of my favourite singles by them. I think the "so whose matches are those" line is what made me realize I really loved the band back when I was first listening to them.

Also, isn't that Gazza's daughter in the video?

Me too. I also love the contrast between all the different elements in the arrangement - it's almost too cluttered but it works.

I didn't end up voting for "So Hard" but it is a great, great song

This was in my head for days while making the poll. Very scattershot track but every part of the chorus is seriously catchy and the bass line is awesome.

while making my top 20 I mean

16. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk. (1999, Nightlife, 235 points, 10 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHVMCugvrMg

Spotify:http://open.spotify.com/track/0lu6VJmIZSC5hPAfpLo4Xp

RIF:The godlike BJ Cole provides the pedal steel on this track.

^^^^^^ can imagine Merle Haggard covering it.

Listened to this a lot recently and seriously considered it for my #1. I think my love for Joe Meek swayed me towards it as much as the song itself.

"What a performance tonight" - "dissing him like a punk" - sorry, I can't see Merle singing those line. I'm always reminded of this bar in Atlanta that has line dancing - it's like the theme song for the queeny country boy.

This is the kind of song that means I get angry when people call them post-modern ironists. There's a mile-wide streak of emotional vulnerability in their songs. I think Disappointed is one of Tennant's quintessential titles. His heartbreak songs are rarely angry or vengeful or melodramatic - they're disappointed.

OTM. It's just a beautiful song.

xpost

Yes, absolutely. There's a vein of pomo irony in some tracks, one coming up soon, but 'Drunk' is cards on the table, heartbreakingly honest.

"What a performance tonight" - "dissing him like a punk" - sorry, I can't see Merle singing those line.

this is the guy who sang "Footlights" and "How Did You Find Me Here." Drop the "g" in "dissing" and he's in business.

15. Opportunities (Let's Maker Lots of Money). (1985, Please, 237 points, 11 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di60NYGu03Y

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/31gybC6HkcvWvHHaAckY9K

RIF: Chris Lowe came up with the hookline "I've got the brains, you've got the looks, let's make lots of money."

Guys, check out this live version from 1986 – both Neil and Chris play!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzKR_5aaYck

this was my #2, seems low. Then again I didn't grow up with it and haven't heard it played to death.

I bet this song gets on the PSBs' nerves sometimes. I remember this and Shopping being hugely misunderstood by people who only listened to the choruses. Meanwhile half the people who did understand them tagged them as postmodern ironists for ever more.

Another fun fact: the only hit that charted higher in America (#10) than England (#11).

I never heard it as much as "West End Girls," which might explain why I always perform it at karaoke.

This is the first song I ever knowingly heard by them, and even then I didn't catch their name and it was months before I figured out who it was. I saw the video when MTV2 premiered.

Big jump in points from now on.

14. Can You Forgive Her? (1993, Very, 253 points, 12 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me4AhOi6LYE

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3NIX0G2ajYENIRQzhLQ4Ua

RIF: The title is borrowed from Anthony Trollope's 1865 novel of the same name.

Wasn't going to vote for it, but the "cricket pavilion" line is just too good.

Opportunities and Shopping are great political songs. Also, Integral. Not I'm with stupid though.

I've come to really like "I'm With Stupid" over the past few weeks, after years of really disliking it.

I've gone the other way. Liked it first time around, but relistening to Fundamental this week it was one of the weakest tracks.

Whatever Tennant-Lowe say, I still hear "I'm With Stupid" as a love song, not a "political commentary" (yes yes love is politics).

a sequel to "Young Offender" or "Boy Strange."

Can You Forgive Her is too low

xp When they'd done the political-alliance-as-love-affair thing so well with I Get Along I don't know how they could have done it so lamely with I'm With Stupid. And the Little Britain video too - ugh.

top 13 and 13 left of my list still to show up. guessing viva le vida/domino dancing and miracles are gonna be the let downs. still holding out hope for the way it used to be tho.

xp. i want to wake up is FAR too low.

13. Two Divided By Zero. (1986, Please, 266 points, 11 votes, 1 number one)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oDhGiNKsyM&feature=fvsr

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/64MccFRFPz3xAxwwTLp1hu

RIF:The 'computer' voice is sample from a talking calculator Tennant bought for his father.

TOO LOW

Sometimes I think "Two Divided By Zero" is all one needs of the Pet Shop Boys.

It's got everything: compelling synth pattern, awesome percussion, great Tennant vocal, and a pocket calculator sample.

Chris Lowe is pretty hunky on the Please cover huh?

12. Heart. (1987, Actually, 272 points, 10 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aucIfj7VFcg&feature=fvsr

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/6N5n6vJeOGNAoVXEMW833i

RIF: Was originally intended to be used in the Spielberg produced film 'Innerspace'.

this is one of the few remixed singles of this era where I didn't despise the single version as compared to the original

Lowe was at his hunkiest in this period:

http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/PSB_Love_Comes_Quickly.jpg/220px-PSB_Love_Comes_Quickly.jpg

Rowr.

i have no idea how 2/0 didn't make my cut tbh. was in my final 25 or so and then... i don't know. how did Heart not make the top 10? one of their most perfect pop moments and one of neal's best vocals.

11. This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave. (1990, Behaviour, 287 points, 13 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Roca7FVAIEs

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/5vFdU5glHeNZQ9pchLzBGG

RIF: The backing track was originally used when trying to do the theme tune to the 1987 Bond film, 'The Loving Daylights'.

neil wtf (xp)

Hell yes. Used to be my favourite Behaviour track until I got older and Being Boring sunk its teeth into me.

Even when it came out and I was a total PSB stan I thought Heart was too lightweight, especially compared to the three Actually singles that preceded it.

Behaviour is getting a ton of love.

I thought Behaviour always got a ton of love

Heart was never one of my favourites at the time but it's really grown on me recently.

Heart does seem a bit lightweight in comparison to these other tracks but it's so damn catchy

The bit in Heart where the song LITERALLY SKIPS A BEAT is one of my favourite PSB moments.

Ha, not sure why I never thought of the full stop as skipping a beat. Those clever Boys!

Behaviour is getting a ton of love.

― skip, Wednesday, July 6, 2011 9:32 PM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark

And it should! Nearly all songs on that album could place in a top 50 imho

I like these surprising songs popping up, or rather, at surprising places. If this top 50 were a tracklist, from front to back it would be A+.

10. It's A Sin. (1987, Actually, 296 points, 14 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRHetRTOD1Q

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/6vYK729O29XnvQqPWyLPfe

RIF: The Latin text Tennant says at the end of the song translates as "I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, act, and omission, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault."

Behaviour has so many great songs. I was hoping "Nervously" would make it, but it's unlikely now. (xpost)

We're going to be pretty firmly in Singles territory now, right?

"King's Cross" still has a shot

Nervously was in my top 10 iirc

xxp

I predict at least two non-singles coming up.

"King's Cross" still has a shot

― DJP, Wednesday, July 6, 2011 9:48 PM (19 seconds ago) Bookmark

"Still has a shot"? King's cross damn well be top 5 ffs!

hoping King's Cross flys the flag for the album tracks. ha xxp.

What about "Dreaming Of The Queen"? It has to show up too, doesn't it?

I wonder why wasn't King's Cross a single? Or anything else on Actually. After a no. 1 it's pretty much a no brainer to release another single from the album.

I don't think DOTQ will show up.

Massive jump in points here.

9. Love Comes Quickly. (1986, Please, 355 points, 14 votes, 0 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHaA1beOwrY

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/7ARLgcWkYVvngfkKHxgXQq

RIF: Roxy Music's Andy MacKay plays saxophone at the end of the song.

<4

such a fantastic song, that competes with "Rent" as my favorite of their singles

"Heart" was the album's FOURTH single (and it hit #1, to their and everyone's surprise).

Tom Ewing's take last year: http://freakytrigger.co.uk/popular/2010/06/pet-shop-boys-heart/

My number three... all time favourite

Next, the highest placed b-side.

8. Paninaro. (1986, B-side/Disco, 396 points, 17 votes, 2 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAf0_UftBNI

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/6dQr87kRxbz2ZLwQSyFemr

RIF: Dylan Jones writing for i-D magazine mistakenly stated that the Boys had written a song called 'Paninaro', when in fact he'd mistaken what he read in a 'Rolling Stone' article about them. When Tennant and Lowe read the article they realised it would be a great idea and using a previous backing track penned this homage to the Italian youth cult.

yay but ;_;

y'all should relisten to "Don Juan" and "Jack The Lad"

Very surprised "Shameless" didn't even place.

I'm not, tbh; the problem with doing a song like that is that people will go "yup, that song is totally shameless" and move on to other, more nuanced fare (like "Go West", lol)

POM-POM-PORORUM, POM-POM-PORORUM = BEST. INTRO. EVER.

Next, the highest placed album track.

7. King's Cross. (1987, Actually, 409 points, 15 votes, 2 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fv8YiZXlOQ

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/7gRWAZMjr7uk4Eqic9MGPO

RIF: Following the King's Cross underground fire in November 1987 there was a suggestion that the song be released as a charity single, which the Boys resisted. Some funds were raised when Smash Hits created a premium cost phone line for people to listen to the song.

xp So Dylan Jones made himself useful for once.

xxp I used to be able to recite the Latin bit from It's a Sin. The remixed live version on the last tour was astounding.

Paninaro was my number one. What an amazing intro, and you get a real sense of how the group's sound changed from the early version and moving through the remixes. '95 should be played at every gay club every night.

(xp) Oooh-ah-ah, Oooh-ah-ah, Oooh-ah-Oooh is also GREAT.

Some funds were raised when Smash Hits created a premium cost phone line for people to listen to the song.

classic

King's Cross is one of the great 80s protest songs.

armani, armani, ah ah armani

Not sure how anyone can listen to the original "Paninaro" and not get up to dance.

6. Left To My Own Devices. (1988, Introspective, 411 points, 15 votes, 2 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed1tv_gCOUA

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/3IV99EaS0TrwHdjgjlnlFz

RIF: The 'party animal' referred to is English music journalist Jon Savage.

well done plucky King's Cross :)

the way this song stretches out on Introspective is so good - it's like you're hanging out with some spoiled, pretty guy, slightly bored, slightly drunk, shooting the shit and trying to sound smart. Neil's spoken vocals are perfect.

looks like no surprises in the top 5.

Next, one of the greatest cover versions ever done.

5. Always On My Mind. (1987, Standalone, 525 points, 20 votes, 1 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDe60CbIagg

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/6ZCX3XnzYWsqqQKg9pVts9

RIF: Their best selling single in the UK.

What's left? West End Girls, What Have I Done to Deserve This, Always on My Mind, New York City Boy, Being Boring?

Next, one of the greatest cover versions ever done.

Fixed.

it'll be Rent instead of NYCB.

Love that well over half of us voted for "Paninaro", more than any of the big hits so far.

xpost: except AOMM!

Voted for On my mind/in my house version, in a moment of bravado/lunacy.

Possible controversial placing, which I'll throw open for discussion. Their were two votes and 49 points given to Always On My Mind/In My House, which would have given a total of 574 points and 4th place. However using the same logic for Viva La Vida/Domino Dancing I marked it seperately.

Ewing's take

My number 1.

"In My House" isn't really a song, is it? I would've just counted it as a remix. It doesn't make a big difference anyway.

yeah, I would have counted those votes with Always on My Mind. No biggie though!

My favourite review of AOMM by Tanya Headon.

Speaking of reviews this is what Melody Maker wrote about it:

"The lousiest, most ham-fisted idea that Pet Shop Boys will ever have... they sound like they want to get it all over and done with so Neil can fit in his X-mas shopping."

Anyway, moving on.

4. West End Girls. (1985, Please, 541 points, 20 votes, 4 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3j2NYZ8FKs

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/0By5MDC5oK9gYHy8Qe0MZz

RIF:The only UK and US number one to be inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Wasteland'.

hey sound like they want to get it all over and done with so Neil can fit in his X-mas shopping."

how is this a bad thing?

What? Was not expecting that at all!

re WEG

More proof that I'm out of touch: "King's Cross" is great, I voted for it, but I had no expectation of it being that high.

xpost: A full three songs did better than WEG! Also surprising.

gonna be boring when "Being Boring" wins this but yay "Rent" getting top 3

not sure how you can leave this out of the top 20 PSB songs but #4 is still a high placement.

I said it before, but having been pretty tired of that track for a number of years, I heard it again this past week and it is just too unfuckwithable not to vote for.

maybe not surprised West End Girls wasn't top as some seem tired of it now. i never could be, it was the first and it'll be the last, my number 1.

lol I didn't vote for WEG even though I love it

that's just contrarianism gone mad.

I didn't vote for it either.

(a) I'm not that wowed by it (b) 98% of voters would have voted for it anyway.

Next up the top 3 and there's not a lot in it.

WEG is a great song but I can absolutely name 20 PSB songs I like more, especially when you factor in Alternative.

I would have picked "Opportunities" before I picked WEG (though in practice I picked neither; did vote for "Love Comes Quickly" tho)

Genuinely quite excited. Come on Rent.

Now I'm rooting for WHIDTDT to beat "Rent" though it probably won't happe

hope Rent wins now yeah.

nonono come on WHIDTDT?, "Rent" should be #2

(since it's a given "Being Boring" is #1)

I didn't vote for WEG either and now I feel I should have really.

I feel more of you should have voted for "Don Juan"

I dunno, i find "Rent" a little bland tbh. Great track and all but not a top 3 for me.

still hoping "Comrades!" might sneak in ftw

I've got this sinking feeling
I'm not dreaming
We'll be sorry soon

3. Being Boring. (1990, Behaviour, 607 points, 22 votes, 4 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnvFOaBoieE

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/6K7uuzEC4I4BCEDNIcS8ky

RIF:Originally started as an attempt to write a Stock, Aitken and Waterman style pop song.

wait WAHT

omg I love you guys

So I see what's happened here. A lot of people didn't bother with WEG assuming it wouldn't need any more votes. See what you've done?

Originally started as an attempt to write a Stock, Aitken and Waterman style pop song.

Wow, did not know that, It doesn't sound like SAW at all!

Genuine shock here.

RENT FOR #1

I now feel like anything is possible

i don't get this mentality of not voting for something because you assume others will. it's a poll!

I didn't vote for Rent, and WHIDTDT was my number one so am buzzin' right now.

Being Shocking

Pretty sure "What Keeps Mankind Alive?" won't make it at this point.

Think of it like voting in a safe liberal district.

I lost some of my love for "WHIDTDT" over time so I didn't vote for it. "Rent" was my #3.

and look what happens. xp.

oops, at work and forgot that video has a bunch of naked guys in it.

"Rent" was my highest single; I had 3 b-sides and an album track above it

Struggled for a moment to remember what this other contender was besides "Rent"? What's this "WHIDTDT"? Oh yes, that... Didn't even occur to me to vote for it. You know, hating fun as I do.

Are you ready for the top 2? There was virtually nothing in it with the top spot swapping a number of times.

Cue...Sound of the atom splitting.

2. Rent. (1987, Actually, 617 points, 23 votes, 4 number ones)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d0GARTk_Nk

An infamous appearance on UK TV from 1987:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6HIsJg2wGY

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/track/112ksLSxzrJ3yZoVfWaA5s

RIF: Covered by Liza Minelli and less successfully Carter USM

1. What Have I Done To Deserve This? (1987, Actually, 624 points, 23 votes, 3 number ones)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn9E5i7l-Eg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8nN7Ecrj7E

Spotify:http://open.spotify.com/track/3noCRXN06iyXDyWL3MhW3T

RIF: Originally Parlophone wanted Tina Turner to do the duet.

Deserve is a total jam, deserved #1.

YES!

Ah, so close! Can't complain though - great work Billy, many thanks!

<3 that performance at the Brits. Neil looks really nervous.

DAMMIT A FEW PLACES UP AND RENT WOULD HAVE BEEN #1

I wouldn't have bumped any of the songs above it tho

Yes, thanks Billy! Great job!

damn

if anything, this track sounds a bit too perfect. Did they have help in the songwriting?

thanks Billy!

50-1 for your pleasure, note the points for #1, not that it makes much difference.

1 What Have I Done To Deserve This? Actually 634 23 3
2 Rent Actually 617 23 4
3 Being Boring Behaviour 607 22 4
4 West End Girls Please 541 20 4
5 Always On My Mind Standalone 525 20 1
6 Left To My Own Devices Introspective 411 15 2
7 King's Cross Actually 409 15 2
8 Paninaro B-side 398 17 2
9 Love Comes Quickly Please 355 14 0
10 It's A Sin Actually 296 14 0
11 This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave Behaviour 287 13 0
12 Heart Actually 272 10 0
13 Two Divided By Zero Please 266 11 1
14 Can You Forgive Her? Very 253 12 0
15 Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) Please 237 11 0
16 You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk Nightlife 235 10 1
17 So Hard Behaviour 231 11 0
18 Go West Very 223 10 1
19 Home and Dry Release 216 10 0
20 Se A Vida E (That's The Way Life Is) Bilingual 215 9 1
21 Suburbia Please 205 9 0
22 I'm Not Scared B-side 195 8 0
23 Domino Dancing Introspective 195 10 0
24 Young Offender Very 194 7 1
25 I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing Very 189 9 1
26 I Want A Dog Introspective 169 7 0
27 I Want To Wake Up Actually 162 6 1
28 Flamboyant Standalone 161 7 1
29 Jealousy Behaviour 158 9 0
30 In The Night B-side 157 7 0
31 We All Feel Better In The Dark B-side 138 6 1
32 Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man) Disco 3 136 5 0
33 I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore Nightlife 129 6 0
34 Your Funny Uncle B-side 124 6 0
35 One More Chance B-side 123 5 0
36 The Truck Driver and his Mate B-side 120 6 0
37 It's Alright Introspective 118 4 0
38 My October Symphony Behaviour 116 5 0
39 Losing My Mind (Liza Minelli) Collaboration 109 6 0
40 Miserabilism B-side 106 6 0
41 It Couldn't Happen Here Actually 105 5 0
42 It Must Be Obvious B-side 98 5 0
43 Some Speculation B-side 98 4 0
44 Love Etc Yes 94 5 0
45 Where The Streets Have No Name(I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You) Standalone 87 4 0
46 A Red Letter Day Bilingual 83 4 0
47 Liberation Very 81 4 0
48 To Face The Truth Behaviour 77 3 0
49 Do I Have To? B-Side 76 4 0
50 I'm Not Scared (Eighth Wonder) Collaboration 69 4 0

fancied it for top 5 but not ftw. was my 13, Rent ws 3.

My favorite poll yet. Thanks, guys!

Yeah, great job Billy. I've had an absolute blast.

Did they have help in the songwriting?

Yes, Allee Willis is credited as co-writer. She wrote the 'Since you went away...' part.

Great poll. Every song a hit. Thanks Billy. Phew.

Thanks for the kind words. It was a blast doing it, rediscovered my love for them and discovered a lot of new stuff. If no one has any objection I'll post a link to the google spreadsheet.

no objection :)

nice work billy. 17 0f my 20 charted, canonical boring taste obv. think so many are absolute gold that they simply had to be there tho. shame about The Way It Used To Be.

Go for it, I want to see if Battleship Potemkin got any other votes.

'The Way It Used To Be' nearly made it:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqP5CgmgGL00dC13Wm5pSkI3TF9qNGhqajhiMEhYWVE&hl=en_US#gid=0

Wow kind of unexpected no? It's a great song though. Thanks Billy, that was fun!

14 of mine charted. The fallen six: in private, bet she's not your girlfriend, one of the crowd, that's my impression, on my mind/in my house, and fugitive.

2 Rent Actually 617 23 4
7 King's Cross Actually 409 15 2
8 Paninaro B-side 398 17 2
9 Love Comes Quickly Please 355 14 0
13 Two Divided By Zero Please 266 11 1
19 Home and Dry Release 216 10 0
25 I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing Very 189 9 1
26 I Want A Dog Introspective 169 7 0
30 In The Night B-side 157 7 0
31 We All Feel Better In The Dark B-side 138 6 1
35 One More Chance B-side 123 5 0
42 It Must Be Obvious B-side 98 5 0
43 Some Speculation B-side 98 4 0

songs I voted for

saddest about "Don Juan", "You Know Where You Went Wrong", "Jack The Lad", "Why Don't We Live Together?" and "Yesterday, When I Was Mad" not making it

So nothing from Fundamental... and only 4 tracks from the 00s. Still think Fugitive should have been top 50.

Thomas, I hadn't heard that version of 'In Private' before, a really great collaboration with Elton John. Sadly not available on youtube, otherwise I'd have linked it.

(my other two tracks were "For Your Own Good" and "One and One Make Five"

I don't really mind but there are people's real names on that spreadsheet. Just thought I should mention it.

I voted for 11 of the top 13. And yes, every Battleship Potemkin vote was mine.

xps In Private w/ Elton is ridiculously overblown and great, and yeah not available on youtube or spotify. Might not have made my ballot either if skip hadn't sent it over to me.

xp

If it's a problem, I can make it private and email it to anyone who's interested.

Nice work Billy!

Rightly or wrongly, "WHIDTDT" felt like lesser PSB to me from the outset, along with "Heart", so this comes as a surprise. (I also live under a rock.) Such a halting melody and a somewhat dinky-sounding arrangement to these ears. Always got much more mileage out of the somber bits of Actually. "Rent" was my #1.

My ballot:

1.Why Don't We Live Together?
2. Paninaro
3. Young Offender
4. What Have I Done to Deserve This?
5. Two Divided by Zero
6. Being Boring
7. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
8. The End of the World
9. I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)
10. Suburbia
11. Shopping
12. Always On My Mind
13. Se a Vida E
14. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
15. Rent
16. This Must Be The Place I Waited Years to Leave
17. I'm Not Scared
18. A Man Could Get Arrested
19. Can You Forgive Her
20. Do I Have To

forgot about "To Step Aside", that's a really solid track.

I think two of us voted for it. It's my longtime Bilingual fav.

1. We All Feel Better in the Dark
2. I Want A Dog
3. Some Speculation
4. Two Divided By Zero
5. Rent
6. One More Chance
7. Jack the Lad
8. Don Juan
9. In The Night
10. Paninaro
11. Yesterday, When I Was Mad
12. You Know Where You Went Wrong
13. It Must Be Obvious
14. Love Comes Quickly
15. King's Cross
16. One and One Make Five
17. For Your Own Good
18. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing
19. Why Don't We Live Together
20. Home and Dry

My top 20:

Paninaro
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
*Absolutely Fabulous
So Hard
West End Girls
Left To My Own Devices
Love Etc
*New York City Boy
Always On My Mind
Heart
I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore
*Euroboy
Some Speculation
In The Night
What Have I Done To Deserve This?
The Truck Driver and his Mate
*Discoteca
Home and Dry
Domino Dancing
I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing

Stars didn't make the top 50. I had the only vote for Euroboy and Absolutely Fabulous, ouch!

I almost voted for Absolutely Fabulous (was my no. 23) :/

My ballot:

1 - West End Girls
2 - Always On My Mind
3 - Paninaro
4 - Two Divided By Zero
5 - King's Cross
6 - The Crying Game (Boy George)
7 - Opportunities
8 - I'm Not Scared
9 - A Man Could Get Arrested
10 - In The Night
11 - Domino Dancing
12 - It's A Sin
13 - Go West
14 - What Have I Done To Deserve This?
15 - Hallo Spaceboy (David Bowie)
16 - Was That What It Was?
17 - Can You Forgive Her?
18 - I'm Not Scared (Eighth Wonder)
19 - Losing My MInd (Liza Minnelli)
20 - Fugitive

1. west end girls
2. king's cross
3. heart
4. rent
5. i want to wake up
6. love comes quickly
7. left to my own devices
8. the way it used to be
9. always on my mind
10. being boring
11. one more chance
12. paninaro
13. what have i done to deserve this
14. losing my mind (liza minelli)
15. i'm not scared (eighth wonder)
16. viva le vida/domino dancing
17. go west
18. so hard
19. i don't know what you want but i can't give it anymore
20. miracles (eric prydz mix)

20. West End Girls
19. King's Cross
18. Rent
17. Can You Forgive Her?
16. Minimal
15. The Truck Driver and His Mate
14. Flamboyant
13. I Want to Wake Up
12. Yesterday, When I Was Mad
11. Losing My Mind (PSB Version)
10. Being Boring
09. To Step Aside
08. Jealousy
07. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
06. It Couldn't Happen Here
05. I'm Not Scared (PSB Version)
04. Your Funny Uncle
03. Home and Dry
02. Young Offender
01. Always On My Mind

My selections that missed out:

A Man Could Get Arrested (pleased to see that this only missed by a whisker)
The Theatre
Twentieth Century (sole vote)
Did You See Me Coming (sole vote)

Wow. Totally thought "The Night I Fell in Love" or "Dreaming of the Queen" would place high. What are y'all's stance on those?

I like them both; neither one in my top twenty.

Yeah, they're both good, though "Dreaming" is not really one of my favourites. "The Theatre", otoh (despite not voting for it), is amazing.

1. "Flamboyant"
2. "The Samurai in Autumn"
3. "What Have I Done to Deserve This?"
4. "West End Girls"
5. "It's Alright"
6. "A Different Point of View"
7. "Nothing Has Been Proved" (Dusty Springfield)
8. "Left to My Own Devices"
9. "Always on My Mind"
10. "Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You)"
11. "Being Boring"
12. "Later Tonight"

Made my list quickly, no re-listening, stopped at a point where I'd start to list songs that I think are just pretty good.

1) Being Boring

2) I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing

3) Rent

4) Dreaming Of The Queen

5) The Survivors

6) The Way It Used To Be

7) Miracles

8) Nervously

9) Always On My Mind

10) Discoteca

11) Do I Have To

12) Liberation

13) We're The Pet Shop Boys

14) Your Funny Uncle

15) Shameless

16) Fugitive (Richard X Extended Mix)

17) One In A Million

18) Opportunities

19) Decadence

20) Hit And Miss

Happy to see another "The Samurai in Autumn" up there!

1. King's Cross
2. What Have I Done to Deserve This?
3. Always on my Mind
4. Integral
5. Rent
6. Being Boring
7. Legacy
8. Se A Vida É (That's the Way Life Is)
9. I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give it Anymore
10. Viva la Vida / Domino Dancing
11. Flamboyant
12. It's a Sin
13. Suburbia
14. The Samurai in Autumn
15. Can You Forgive Her?
16. West End Girls
17. I Get Along
18. Jealousy
19. A Red Letter Day
20. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk

My list - 16/20

1. Rent
2. Always on My Mind
3. Left to My Own Devices
4. It’s a Sin
5. Being Boring
6. King’s Cross
7. Do I Have To?
8. What Have I Done to Deserve This?
9. In the Night
10. Dreaming of the Queen
11. Paninaro
12. So Hard
13. This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave
14. West End Girls
15. Your Funny Uncle
16. Two Divided By Zero
17. I Get Along
18. You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk
19. Was That What It Was?
20. Later Tonight

Thanks Billy. Very enjoyable.

sad Miracles didn't make it :-(

Huh?! Missed the final part of the countdown.... "What Have I..."? Really?! o_O

Anyway, great work Billy!

My ballot:

1. Being Boring
2. My October Symphony
3. Love Comes Quickly
4. King's Cross
5. I Want To Wake Up
6. Paninaro
7. Rent
8. Domino Dancing
9. Left To My Own Devices
10. Only The Wind
11. To Face The Truth
12. Suburbia
13. Nervously
14. This Must Be The Place I Waited Years To Leave
15. Jealousy
16. What Have I Done To Deserve This?
17. It Couldn't Happen Here
18. It's A Sin
19. The Theatre
20. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing

There are only one or two placing songs I wouldn't want to hear right now, and at least a dozen or more I love equally. Man, these guys. You guys.

Oh, so glad WHIDTDT? won - as Tom said years ago on ILx, successful incorporation of divas into the PSB sound. Pristine designer regret and the possibility of glorious redemption. Hook after hook after hook. Tennant’s “at night the people…” verse is sublime. Best duet EVER MADE!.

Surprised Heart placed so low - I find it, er, classic/uncluttered rather than lightweight.

My ballot:

01. What Have I Done To Deserve This?
02. Heart
03. Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend
04. Some Speculation
05. Left To My Own Devices
06. Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man)
07. Domino Dancing
08. One Of The Crowd
09. Rent
10. The Sound Of The Atom Splitting
11. Love Comes Quickly
12. I Want A Dog [/Alternative/ version]
13. I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)
14. We're The Pet Shop Boys
15. A New Life
16. Jack The Lad
17. One More Chance [1984/Bobby 'O' version]
18. You Know Where You Went Wrong
19. Dry Heroin [Bumtschak bootleg, Superpitcher vs Pet Shop Boys]
20. Party Song

I was one of three people to vote for Jack The Lad, We're The Pet Shop Boys, and Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend; one of two people to vote for Party Song, You Know Where You Went Wrong, A New Life, I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too), The Sound Of The Atom Splitting, and One Of The Crowd, and the only vote for Dry Heroin (which didn't get folded within the Home & Dry votes).

Was hoping Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend would place - was my #1 until the last minute, one of Neil's most acrobatic vocal performances (the way the lyrics scan!), and a successful mesh of house and hi-NRG tropes in the production - those strings, and what sounds like Chris through a vocoder!

A question for all you guys who bought their singles and albums in their heyday: did you flip those singles over and say, for example, "Wow! 'I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)' is a marvelous tune!" or did it take Alternative and the reissues to notice?

This thread is quickly becoming "people who read pitchfork are dumb"

A question for all you guys who bought their singles and albums in their heyday: did you flip those singles over and say, for example, "Wow! 'I Get Excited (You Get Excited Too)' is a marvelous tune!" or did it take /Alternative/ and the reissues to notice?

I loved "A Man Could Get Arrested", "Jack The Lad", "You Know Where You Went Wrong", "I Want A Dog", "We All Feel Better In The Dark", "It Must Be Obvious" and "Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend" when I heard them on the singles. Alternative just reaffirmed what I suspected; PSB B-sides pwn.

This thread is quickly becoming "people who read pitchfork are dumb"

do you mean this thread is a rebuke to Pitchfork?

It makes a big difference, I imagine, to hear all those b-sides in the context of "Alternative" at once, rather than scattered across various formats. That came out in, what, 95? Back then it took some doing to compile your own comprehensive collections. In the pre-downloading era, I think the impact of "Alternative" was more ... impactful? I readily admit that until the comp I had little to know idea about ANY of the PSB b-sides!

Ha, little to no.

Little to Know would make a great album title.

Just been catching on up on the final results, it made such an exciting read. Thanks so much for doing this Billy.

A bit gutted that four of my votes were in the 50-60 part of the list. I voted for A Different Point Of view (51) The Way It Used To Be (52) Dreaming Of The Queen (56) Yesterday When I Was Mad (57) Still it was a great list overall.

For anyone not bored with this sort of thing, I wrote blurbs for my picks.

I heard selected 80s b-sides at the time but, having been in possession of only a few of the singles, and having failed to keep a tape dub of the B-sides of a friend's copies of others, there are several even from that era that I've only heard a few times ("Do I Have To?", "You Know Where You Went Wrong"). I was distracted by Sebadoh or something when Alternative was finally released, such that I only bought my first (dirt cheap) copy just this week, for the convenience.

At the very least I think it's unlikely I would have given 36 points to "A Man Could Get Arrested" if I hadn't listened to both sides of the "WEG" single a zillion times as a pre-pubescent circa 1986. I mean, is it that good? I can't be even vaguely objective.

Didn't do homework, so stopped at 10:

If it's not too late. -Eazy

1. Go West
2. Try It (I'm in Love with a Married Man)
3. Positive Role Model
4. Two Divided by Zero
5. London
6. Rent
7. Love Etc.
8. Party Song
9. Love Comes Quickly
10. Home and Dry

(Oops-"If it's not too late" was part of my e-mail.)

Alfred, I had no idea it was you that wrote that Stylus write-up of "Young Offender". It's one of my favourite PSB write-ups.

My top 20,. My biggest disappointment, that I was the only one to vote for 'Nothing Has Been Proved' which I think's a highlight of both artists careers.

Incidentally has anyone seen 'It Couldn't Happen Here'? It looks like a rum piece of work. I remember it getting slammed at the time as indulgent and pretentious, but the clips I've seen have wetted my appetite.

Young Offender
You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Love Comes Quickly
So Hard
West End Girls
Nothing Has Been Proved (Dusty Springfield)
I'm Not Scared (Eighth Wonder)
Suburbia
The Crying Game (Boy George)
Always On My Mind
One In A Million
Se A Vida E
Try It (I'm In Love With A Married Man)
It's A Sin
Love Etc
This Must Be The Place I Waited Years to Leave
We All Feel Better In The Dark
Love is Everywhere (Cicero)
Your Funny Uncle

Yep, saw it in the cinema. It is rum and pretentious and indulgent, and fun.

I was tempted to vote "Casanova in Hell" for the Rufus Wainwright version, but I don't guess that would have gathered much steam.

Rufus version >>> Tennant version IMO. Concrete is pretty fantastic overall.

I wonder why wasn't King's Cross a single? Or anything else on Actually. After a no. 1 it's pretty much a no brainer to release another single from the album.

It had already been a backwards step to release another [fourth!] single off the album after a stand-alone single; presumably Heart was delayed due to the unplannedness of the Always single after the TV cover version. Since Introspective was probably close to finished around then, they could have been wearing on peoples’ familiarity by releasing a FIFTH old song as a single when they had two magnificent new ones to get out before the end of the year, PLUS a feature film spun off from the old album to get into cinemas as well!

The remixed live version on the last tour was astounding.

All the live arrangements from the Pandaemonium/Glasto sets were done with or by Jacques Lu Cont iirc?

"In My House" isn't really a song, is it? I would've just counted it as a remix. It doesn't make a big difference anyway.

It’s as much of a song as Music For Boys, or We All Feel Better In The Dark, and more of one than anything on Relentless

Wow. Totally thought "The Night I Fell in Love" or "Dreaming of the Queen" would place high. What are y'all's stance on those?

I wish The Night I Fell In Love was any good, but it’s clunky and hamfisted in so very many ways. Dreaming Of The Queen worked great pacing-wise on the Cubism tour (at full shows) as a gather your breath / go to the bar song, and also became the first time I’d ever paid any attention to it at all.

Idly thinking of a best-covers-of-the-PSB poll – do people have any favourites others of us might not be familiar with? (or particular favourites from Results or the WEG catalogue)
eg

Carter USM – Rent
Merril Bainbridge – Being Boring
Robbie Williams – I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing
Splendid – You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You’re Drunk
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axym3dOvCY4 )

For info, I've left the spreadsheet public but have anonymised the names.

My ballot:

Being Boring
Always On My Mind
Left To My Own Devices
What Have I Done To Deserve This?
Go West
Home And Dry
Se A Vida E (That's The Way Life Is)
* Too Many People
So Hard
Rent
Can You Forgive Her?
Losing My Mind (Liza Minnelli)
A Red Letter Day
I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing
Heart
Love Etc
Where The Streets Have No Name
* Love Is Everywhere (Cicero)
* In Private (Dusty Springfield)
The Truck Driver And His Mate

* = didn't place in the 50

Billy: I voted for "Nothing Has Been Proved" too. Almost voted for it twice--I love the Strings of Love version even more than Dusty's, but I wasn't sure if Tenant/Lowe had anything to do with it beyond writing the song, so I skipped it. I was surprised it didn't make the Top 50 too.

xp I bought every single on seven and twelve from Please through Behaviour so every song on that first disc of Alternative means something to me, to the point where I can't really be objective about them. I remember trying to transcribe and decipher the lyrics to Don Juan. With Very they stopped doing vinyl singles so I drifted away from the B-sides. Even though many of the later ones are utterly fantastic, I discovered them en masse on Alternative so I didn't devote as much time to them.

In case anyone hasn't heard this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zErjqOlHWqU&feature=related

There's a longer and better version on the 12-inch. Being right from the Black Box moment, I have to wonder if the gorgeous woman in the video is even doing the singing.

Billy: I voted for "Nothing Has Been Proved" too.

Yes, you did, my mistake. Don't worry, it was counted.

Loses a little something of the Profumo story, that version

Alfred, I had no idea it was you that wrote that Stylus write-up of "Young Offender". It's one of my favourite PSB write-ups.

aww thanks!

Yeah, that was a great piece. I am curious about something, though. I grew up listening to the Pet Shop Boys without ever thinking of them as gay. Not as straight, either - for some reason, sexuality never came into my appreciation of them (or at least I was too unsophisticated to recognize it). But when "Very" came out, I was suddenly very aware of the band's sexuality, as well as the album's place in the AIDS/post-AIDS era. It was like a little light bulb that went off that cast all their previous material in a different, more illuminating light. Sort of the same thing with the Magnetic Fields' "Holiday," which I believe came out the same year.

Anyway, for those of you back in the '80s who understand what being gay was (or were gay yourselves), how did that affect your appreciation of the Pet Shop Boys? Did they seem more daring? Subversive? Like a well-kept secret that went deeper than strictly great pop? Or as strictly great pop, with the layers of politics and sexuality only revealing themselves later?

When I bought Behaviour in early '91, there was already a lot of snickering from friends about their sexuality; it wasn't lost on anyone that "Getting Away With It" was a duet between two men. As a sixteen-year-old closeted teenager, I didn't know the language of homosexuality yet, but I sensed the oddness of the point of view in "The End of the World" (its detachment) and "Being Boring" (subject and object blur).

Anyway, for those of you back in the '80s who understand what being gay was (or were gay yourselves), how did that affect your appreciation of the Pet Shop Boys? Did they seem more daring? Subversive? Like a well-kept secret that went deeper than strictly great pop? Or as strictly great pop, with the layers of politics and sexuality only revealing themselves later?

as a pre-pubescent, I felt cheated when I clocked that NT's lyrics were dancing around gender so pointedly. be bold! why hide! I thought. your songs are so wonderful, they must be universally respected and beloved - to engage gendered pronouns would rip scales from eyes, and show the ludicrousity of homophobically languaged abuse to thousands, I thought.

later, I couldn't remember the one "she" or "her" that had tipped me towards briefly reading their songs in a heteronormative context, and became aware of how little dancing there actually was, if you didn't approach the songs in a standard pop context, and that bullies were irrational and fuckwits anyway.