The Pet Shop Boys' first twenty singles...

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Best video? The ones with decadent people behaving decadently in black and white. Rent, Jealously and, best of all, Being Boring. Herb Ritts. Black-and-white. A decadent party. The guy falling on the stairs. Gorgeous models pretending to pretend to goof spontaneously.

They tried to reprise the magic with Se A Vida E (which had its moments) and one of the last videos on PopArt whose name I forget (and which didn't).

― davidsim (davidsim), Thursday, 24 February 2005 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that several of the First Twenty are underrated, but the most overrated is certainly "Being Boring".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 24 February 2005 05:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Hm, why so, Barry?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 05:32 (twenty-one years ago)

It's one of their most highly regarded singles -- probably one of their four or five best. There are four or five better songs than "Being Boring" on "Behaviour" alone.

It's not a very dynamic song, as I find the vocals flat and monotonous, with the melody lacking in punch and sparkle -- unlike, "Rent" for example. That's a similarly reserved-sounding song, but the melody is irresistably playful. Yeah, I know, "Rent" is a sardonically-told little love story, while "Being Boring" tackles far more serious issues, and a playful song would detract from that message. But the even-keeled melody they left behind doesn't emote at me in the least.

Pet Shop Boys have made great ballads ("Jealousy") and they can do the preachy, didactic thing ("It's a Sin"), but it needs to be *huge* and over the top.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 24 February 2005 05:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Whereas when they try to communicate seriousness by being laid-back (like on "Being Boring"), I don't think it works, at least not for them.

Maybe being over-the-top isn't the most appropriate way to communicate a message like the one in "Being Boring". I certainly wouldn't object to that statement, but if that sort of melody is what's necessary for putting forth that message, then that sort of song doesn't necessarily make for interesting listening. At least not compared to what the PSB are otherwise capable of.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 24 February 2005 05:58 (twenty-one years ago)

most overrated is "opportunities"

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 24 February 2005 06:02 (twenty-one years ago)

“It’s A Sin” – Hi-NRG Catholic guilt trip invents the London Boys sound! Complete disco juggernaut, also the best Erasure single EVER MADE and still one of the weaker PSB number ones.
well detailed and nearly accurate review.
i disagree - it's their best - many i've spoken to love this and aren't psb fans.
did the group who parodied pop parody themselves - the spinal tap of balearic beats

― neil lowe and chris tennant, Thursday, 24 February 2005 07:16 (twenty-one years ago)

i love the big buxom brunette in domino dancing...

― neil lowe and chris tennant, Thursday, 24 February 2005 07:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Best video?

Definitely, Domino Dancing. I also think this is their most underrated single because it is a good example of how, as Momus would argue, you can get something fresh and original by not getting things 'right'. Clearly the PSB, by choosing to record this during the over-produced, synthesized late eighties, 'failed' to make it sound genuinely latin. Instead they created something a bit camp that sounded truly unique. When they did get it 'right' (Bilingual) it wasn't as good.

― daavid (daavid), Thursday, 24 February 2005 07:58 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't know, "domino dancing" sounds genuinely freestyle enough to me

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 24 February 2005 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

'Domino Dancing' is the most under-rated

my favourite video is either 'Heart' (not just for stupid hottt bride) or 'Can You Forgive Her' for all the madcap gimmicky CGI

they should've produced a Kylie song

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Thursday, 24 February 2005 11:23 (twenty-one years ago)

(i say that because 'Your Disco Needs You' really sounds like a Chris Lowe production to me right now)

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Thursday, 24 February 2005 11:23 (twenty-one years ago)

The extended version of "Domino Dancing" – coming after the fabulous backbeats of "I Want A Dog" on Introspective – might be the most powerful PSB boys ever.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 24 February 2005 14:22 (twenty-one years ago)

(I'm waiting for Dan to read that and imagining the steam coming out of his ears.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 14:59 (twenty-one years ago)

And the "Domino Dancing" video is fabulous: probably the video that best captures their gay subtext.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 24 February 2005 15:06 (twenty-one years ago)

"subtext"

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 24 February 2005 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I like how in the commentary on the DVD Neil says something like "Well this was our allegedly homoerotic video..." or something to that effect.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The DVD commentary is worth it for Lowe's continuous hat comments alone.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 24 February 2005 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Listening to the version of "I Want A Dog" on Introspective is the aural equivalent of watching the Huns molest your daughter while you are being gored by bulls.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

That image doesn't actually even com e close to capturing the level of loathing I have for that version of "I Want A Dog" OR for "Domino Dancing", which I maintain is easily the worst song PSB ever recorded and a top candidate for one of the worst songs ever recorded in the history of mankind.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, now I KNOW we've talked about it before, but what is it about "Domino Dancing" that causes the hate -- is it individual parts or the sum total?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't understand the "Dog" loathing either. That deep-house backbeat is fucking incredible - the toughest of their career.

As for "Domino," it surpasses (just barely though) anything Lewis Martinee did with Exposé or the Cover Girls.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

1. The music is a sub-par Expose/Miami Sound Machine pastiche.
2. The chorus, particularly the "all day, all day" or whatever it is that's being chirped by the zombie backup singers, is one of the most irritating things ever recorded.
3. Much of the production seems to revel in all of the things they did wrong with the single mix of "Suburbia", mainly in highlighting the tenuous, reedy, unpleasant qualities in Neil Tennant's voice and reducing the rhythm section to something that sounds like it should be playing during one of the car chase scenes in "Mannequin".
4. It's too mid-tempo to pull of its Expose/Miami Sound Machine pastiche and ends up sounding like a tired, plodding mess.
5. It was the first thing they released after Actually and is so much worse than everything on that album (including "Shopping") that they should be embarrassed.

Also, the original b-side version of "I Want A Dog" on the "Rent" single is so infinitely superior to the Introspective version that it isn't even funny.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I've always really liked Domino Dancing! Am I crazy or is Dan crazy? I will let ILM be the judge.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The Introspective version of "I Want A Dog" leeches out all of the wistfulness and pathos of the original version and replaces it with lacklustre shit which most certainly DOESN'T feature the toughest beat of their career, not when "Yesterday When I Was Mad", "So Hard", "We All Feel Better In The Dark", "Music For Boys", "Some Speculation", "Euroboy", "Two Divided By Zero", "Opportunities", "One More Chance", "End Of The World", and the various remixes of "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing" are out there.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I've always really liked Domino Dancing! Am I crazy or is Dan crazy?

Dan is crazy! It's one of my favorite PSB singles.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:28 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost: It's well-documented that hardly anyone on ILM agrees with me on this, Scott. As far as I'm concerned, the only redeemable qualities about "Domino Dancing" are 1) its b-side was "Don Juan"; 2) the song is not of infinite length so even though it feels like it will go on forever and ever in this giant vortex of painful suckiness, it does eventually stop.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually (heh), the Introspective singles feature some of the most exposed, tenuous singing of Neil Tennant's career.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to love you but I'm not sure now.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I actually hate Introspective more than I hate Strangeways, Here We Come and solo Morrissey.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:32 (twenty-one years ago)

See, and the earlier version of "Dog" sounds like a demo to these ears.

I do agree that "Introspective" marks the point where Tennant starts to loosen up his singing. I love how his voice rides the synth-orchestra swells on "I'm Not Scared" (a lovely song that flirts with camp and succeeds).

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

"more than I hate Strangeways, Here We Come"

ahhhhhh, that's right, you are the meat is murder absolutist. well, i can certainly relate to having non-poopular opinions about music. but you ARE crazy for not loving strangeways. as long as we both agree that an hour spent watching the amazing race is an hour well-spent then we will have no problems.

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 24 February 2005 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

The extended version of "Domino Dancing" is one of my all time favorite tracks. The breakdown is unbelievable, especially turned all the way up in a car that can do low bass - the freestyle consumes you! The video is amazing too. Dan is way off the mark on this one.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 18:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I tried to listen to the extended version of "Domino Dancing" not too long ago and just couldn't do it. I turned it off three minutes into it and played "Let Me Be The One" instead.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I would listen to that in addition!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan you vex me - but in an intriguijng way: we like many of the same groups, but then completely disagree on favorite tracks by said groups! I'm wondering where we're wired differently.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha Spencer, think about how I feel about everyone! It's like everyone is speaking idomatic Dutch and I'm speaking idiomatic Afrikaans.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

That must be TERRIFYING!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Dan's vowels are more liquid.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess that's just the way the xylophone trembles.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Den Pellie, Velkum to Rodeezhah.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Domino Dancing is the song that got me into the PSB, so yes, love it.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Thursday, 24 February 2005 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

5. It was the first thing they released after Actually and is so much worse than everything on that album (including "Shopping") that they should be embarrassed.

But surely it's better than "Hit Music," innit?

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Friday, 25 February 2005 02:28 (twenty-one years ago)

And the "Domino Dancing" video is fabulous: probably the video that best captures their gay subtext.

I think "What Have I Done To Deserve This?" deserves that honour.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 25 February 2005 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)

But surely it's better than "Hit Music," innit?

BITE YOUR TONGUE

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 25 February 2005 03:20 (twenty-one years ago)

....*IN STEREOOWOWOWOOOO*...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 25 February 2005 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

For the greatest run of singles ever, I'd submit:

Dreaming of Me
New Life
Just Can't Get Enough
See You
The Meaning of Love
Leave in Silence
Get the Balance Right
Everything Counts
Love in Itself
People Are People
Master and Servant
Blasphemous Rumours
Shake the Disease
It's Called a Heart
Stripped
A Question of Lust
A Question of Time
But Not Tonight
Strangelove
Never Let Me Down Again
Behind the Wheel
Personal Jesus
Enjoy the Silence
Policy of Truth
World in My Eyes
I Feel You
Walking in My Shoes
Condemnation
In Your Room

Even if one dismisses the Vince Clarke years, there is still a run of 23 unbeatable singles in a row from Get the Balance Right to In Your Room, with Condemnation the only real turkey in the bunch. Depeche Mode's albums were not consistently strong, but what a run of singles. I also share the love for the Smith's run from Hand in Glove to Ask and New Order's from Ceremony to Regret.

― John Hunter, Tuesday, 14 June 2005 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Wasn't "Route 66" in there somewhere? And that's kind of a turkey.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

"See You" is not the greatest song in the world, either.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

After that they made “Liberation” which was the first single I really disliked and kept disliking by them

They released "I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing" before that (plus I quite like "Liberation" anyway). You also forgot about the Bobby O produced "One More Chance" single, which was released between the two versions of "West End Girls"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

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