The Pet Shop Boys' first twenty singles...

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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)

Depeche Mode's run of good singles halted with "Never Let Me Down Again" and definitely stopped with "I Feel You".
From "Barrell Of a Gun" onwards they have all been great again though.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

"Never Let Me Down Again" is utter genius because the chord progression makes the note used in the monotone vocal line play different roles in forming the chord, giving it a different character depending on where you are in the verse. It is seriously a genius bit of avant-garde pop songwriting. (Ditto "Behind The Wheel", only the end result isn't quite as effective because the accompanying music isn't as forceful.) (Also, how can you possibly deny "Strangelove", "Enjoy The Silence" and "Policy Of Truth"???)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I am not denying those three in any way, but two of them followed "Never Let Me Down", while "Strangelove" was their last perfect single (in a row, anyway)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, "I Feel You" rocks balls.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

IMO Depeche Mode have only released five weak singles: "Never Let Me Down Again", "Behind The Wheel", "I Feel You", "Condemnation" and "In Your Room". Everything else has been perfect!

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, "I Feel You" rocks balls.

Basically, that is my main problem about it. Same about "In Your Room".

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, "Condemnation" isn't the greatest song in the world. I completely concede that.

You are completely sleeping on "Never Let Me Down Again" for precisely the reasons I stated upthread.

(I'm not willing to argue about the others but I still like them, nyah nyah nyah.)

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say Depeche Mode had a pretty good run of two singles (from "Get the Balance Right" to "Everything Counts") - the rest I could mostly take or leave.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

You're fired. (But I love you.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Well that's nothing, let me see you find one dud in this list:

Hyper Hyper
Move Your Ass
Friends
Endless Summer
Back In The UK
Let Me Be Your Valentine
Rebel Yell
I'm Raving
Break It Up
Fire
The Age Of Love
No Fate
Now Much Is The Fish
We Are The Greatest
Call Me Manana
Faster Harder Scooter
Fuck The Millennium
I'm Your Pusher
She's The Sun
Posse (I Need You On The Floor)
Aiii Shot The DJ
The Logical Song
Nessaja
Weekend
Maria (I Like It Loud)
Jigga Jigga
Shake That
One (Always Hardcore)
Suavemente

― Siegbran (eofor), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha, nice.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Siegbran: I cannot find one classic in your list. Sorry.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

“It’s Alright” – The PSBs jump fully into house with a Sterling Void cover. I didn’t get it at the time, now I do, mostly because it’s a lovely song. House was in part the undoing of the Pets because while Tennant’s voice curdled Hi-NRG in interesting ways it never really got to grips with the deeper and more rigorous beats of house, and also remix culture meant the PSB’s mastery of the 12” format ebbed. But the sweetness of “It’s Alright” endures.

The 7" was hardly House at all.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 14 June 2005 22:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't understand how anyone who likes Depeche Mode could not like Never Let Me Down Again. I do understand if I Feel You and In Your Room are too rockist for your synth-pop-loving tastes, but Never Let Me Down Again is a contender for their single greatest moment, imho.

― John Hunter, Wednesday, 15 June 2005 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

"Never Let Me Down Again" is basically "Fly On The Windscreen" amped up to 11.

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Even if one dismisses the Vince Clarke years

I think a list of the first 20 or so Vince Clarke singles (DM, Yazoo, that one he did with Paul Quinn, Assembly, Erasure) would be pretty darn great.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 18:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't understand how anyone who likes Depeche Mode could not like Never Let Me Down Again.

One possible reason -- "Never Let Me Down Again" contains some of the blandest vocal melodies in the DM canon. As for the contrary opinion, (for those seeking the root of the song's awesomeness) look no further than Dan's comment.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 15 June 2005 18:18 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

“It’s Alright” – The PSBs jump fully into house with a Sterling Void cover.

This is unforgivable. If recording a cover version within 5 months after the original has come out isn't arrogant enough, then adding extra soppy "caring" lyrics and bastardizing the original (flawless) melody with SAW-style drum machines and campy backing singers definitely is! This is the only PSB song I have a gripe with, and the only one for which I would willingly disembowel myself and then eat my own insides never to hear EVER again......

― JTS (JTS), Sunday, 2 July 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

It's no "Domino Dancing"!

― Jesus Dan (Dan Perry), Sunday, 2 July 2006 14:20 (nineteen years ago)

"Discoteca/Single" should've been a single.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Sunday, 2 July 2006 14:42 (nineteen years ago)

tom's first post=ultramegaclassick!!!

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 3 July 2006 03:27 (nineteen years ago)

I would willingly disembowel myself and then eat my own insides never to hear EVER again......

Well, what's stopping you? If you do disembowel yourself and eat your own insides I can guarantee you'll never hear the song again.

― Andrew (enneff), Monday, 3 July 2006 03:36 (nineteen years ago)

"Discoteca/Single" should've been a single

It was...?

(I've got the 2-part cd single set?)

― rentboy (rentboy), Monday, 3 July 2006 10:31 (nineteen years ago)

"Single-Bilingual" was released as a single with a video. "Discoteca" was the "B-Side". I thought it should have been the other way around too.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Monday, 3 July 2006 22:18 (nineteen years ago)

"Single-Bilingual" should never have been a single. That one and "Se a Vida e" are the two worst Pet Shop Boys singles ever.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 00:41 (nineteen years ago)

I prefer "Single-Bilingual" to "Before", which I thought was a total damp squib. "Se A Vida E" isn't fantastic but it does have the marvellous "How I Learned To Hate Rock'n'Roll" on the B-side.

When people say "Fundamental" is the best PSB album since "Very" they mean, "Well, it's got better songs on it than 'Bilingual'". (It is not, though, as good as 'Nightlife').

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 01:45 (nineteen years ago)

If "Minimal," "Luna Park," and "Numb" were on Nightlife instead of "Radiophonic" and "Happiness is an Option," it'd be the best album, ever, period.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 02:09 (nineteen years ago)

actually my least favorite PSB single ever is Liberation. And I actually liked the album version, but the single version was pap and the remixes are possibly the worst set of remixes I've ever heard of any song ever, period.

dreadful!

― rentboy (rentboy), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 13:56 (nineteen years ago)

The E-Smoove of "Liberation" is awesome!

― Jesus Dan (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 14:21 (nineteen years ago)

"Single-Bilingual" should never have been a single.

But the segue between "Discoteca" and "Single" is the best drumbeat ever!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

If "Minimal," "Luna Park," and "Numb" were on Nightlife instead of "Radiophonic" and "Happiness is an Option," it'd be the best album, ever, period.

Or the most boring. There are enough slow songs on Nightlife already. "Radiophonic" is great! "Vampires", "The Only One" and "Footsteps" are just ok. Nightlife is good but very uneven.
Fundamental is disapointing to me, I like all the songs that aren't on the album better than the ones that are. I don't like "Numb" at all.
Bilingual is their best since Very, followed by Release.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 21:46 (nineteen years ago)

"Radiophonic" is SO underrated. Any song with the line "like a sub dub sonic boombox beating bass under the bed," thereby mimicking the sound in a club that is also the sound of your heart as you fall in love, is in my book a work of genius by default.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 02:44 (nineteen years ago)

Bilingual is their best since Very

but it was their first album released after Very!

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

nothing from NIGHTLIFE in the live show.

― pisces (piscesx), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:30 (nineteen years ago)

"Bilingual" has way too many of those failed Latino attempts on it to be considered among their best. Some tracks such as "Red Letter Day" showed they were still able though.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 18:08 (nineteen years ago)

Let's put an end (or a beginning?) to this:

Actually > Introspective > Behaviour > Please > Very > Bilingual > Fundamental > Nightlife > Release

― daavid (daavid), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 19:32 (nineteen years ago)

Please > Very > Actually > Behaviour > Introspective > Nightlife > Fundamental > Bilingual > Release

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 21:20 (nineteen years ago)

actually > please > behaviour > introspective. the rest i'm equivocal about. i saw the psbs on sunday and i have to admit "rent" left me a little (very) teary.

― michael wells (michael w.), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

Bilingual = Behavior > Actually > Very > Please > Fundamental > Nightlife > Introspective > Release.

Maybe.

― brittle-lemon (brittle-lemon), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

Very > Behavior > Bilingual > Actually > Please > Release > Introspective > Nightlife > Fundamental

Hopefully I will change my mind about Fundamental.

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 22:56 (nineteen years ago)

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