both popart and discography are DEAD CHEAP, so there's little in it. pop art gives you a taste of the later stuff - which might be of use to someone who'd heard v little. i do prefer discography cos i'm not taken with the later stuff all that much :-(
― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 13:45 (nineteen years ago) link
― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 13:46 (nineteen years ago) link
― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 11 November 2004 13:46 (nineteen years ago) link
― Chris Hill (Chris Hill), Thursday, 11 November 2004 14:26 (nineteen years ago) link
― ambrose (ambrose), Thursday, 11 November 2004 14:50 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 14:52 (nineteen years ago) link
Specifically: Se A Vida E (pure concentrated joy in a can), A Red Letter Day (it GETS me, man), I Don't Know What You Want..., You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk (dissing, punk, hee!), Home And Dry (makes me cry), I Get Along (it's about Blair-n-Mandy u kno).
And also because Discography's strictly chronological timeline gets a bit wearing; the "pop"/"art" split may border on the arbitrary at times, but the track sequencing is still intelligently done.
Most glaring omission from Alternative: the swing version of "Can You Forgive Her", re-recorded with a full swing band arrangement, and at least 98% as good as the original.
― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:05 (nineteen years ago) link
(oh and check the INGA 1990 cover of DO I HAVE TO? if u haven't).
― piscesboy, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:05 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:06 (nineteen years ago) link
― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:10 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:12 (nineteen years ago) link
It's odd because I really adore most of their stuff (I loved _Release_, for example, and think "Home And Dry" is genius) but there are certain things that really, really aggravate me, like "Domino Dancing", "Always On My Mind", "Can You Forgive Her?", and "Go West", but those things are greatly overshadowed by the fact that most of their tracks are as great as "Se A Vida E (Deep Dish Mix)" or "The Boy Who Couldn't Keep His Clothes On" or every version of "I Want A Dog" that doesn't appear on _Introspective_.
(xpost RAISE YOUR STANDARDS, PSB FANS)
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:15 (nineteen years ago) link
― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:17 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:18 (nineteen years ago) link
(xpost HONOR THE FEY! Er.)
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:20 (nineteen years ago) link
other favourites-"Love Comes Quickly""So Hard""West End Girls" (obviously)"Kings Cross"
I could go on, and on. best band ever.
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:21 (nineteen years ago) link
WHAAAATTT??? This is madness. Holy shit, that track is so utterly great.
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:22 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:23 (nineteen years ago) link
― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:24 (nineteen years ago) link
I also know that part of my issue with _Introspective_ is the super-heavy hand of Shep Pettibone.
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:25 (nineteen years ago) link
― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:25 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:26 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:28 (nineteen years ago) link
I have to hurt you now.
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:31 (nineteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:33 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:35 (nineteen years ago) link
― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:37 (nineteen years ago) link
i smell heavy handed ILX racism at work
― rentboy (rentboy), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:38 (nineteen years ago) link
Six if you count me. Play With Me is a superb metapop album.
― Acid Alliteration, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:39 (nineteen years ago) link
― Marcello "Acid Alliteration" Carlin, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:41 (nineteen years ago) link
Is anyone else happy like I am that they've released the DVD of their Behaviour tour? Especially since I missed it. When they played LA. In 1991. When I was out of town that week. And couldn't catch them. WHEN THEY PLAYED WHAT WAS APPARENTLY ONE OF THEIR BEST SHOWS ON THE TOUR ACCORDING TO PET SHOP BOYS VERSUS AMERICA. But I digress.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:41 (nineteen years ago) link
― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:42 (nineteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:43 (nineteen years ago) link
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:44 (nineteen years ago) link
― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:44 (nineteen years ago) link
But Marcello, we close our eyes.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:45 (nineteen years ago) link
― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:46 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:47 (nineteen years ago) link
Taking Sides:Go West vs. Wang Chung
So come on Pinefox, what *do* you see in Go West?
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:49 (nineteen years ago) link
Don't try it!
― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:50 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:51 (nineteen years ago) link
It's still my favorite. Though the older I grow, Behavior is starting to sorta creep into my psyche and wedge itself in at a close #1.5
― rentboy (rentboy), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:54 (nineteen years ago) link
this is pure insanity. There's a desperation in neil's voice that is particularly sad. The only quibble I *may* be able to come up with is the sax solo.
whoa. xposts out the wazoo.
― john'n'chicago, Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:58 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 16:02 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 16:34 (nineteen years ago) link
― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 16:35 (nineteen years ago) link
Fine fine, go ahead and nitpick. ;-)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 16:46 (nineteen years ago) link
Cardi B, here is all of my money, please re-record "Shopping"
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 16:47 (three years ago) link
thought for sure you'd say "Domino Dancing," then corrected myself. You'd say, "Cardi B, here is all of my money, please destroy the masters of 'Domino Dancing.'"
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 March 2021 16:55 (three years ago) link
xpost -- It must happen.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 16:56 (three years ago) link
Thought this would be on here: "Opportunities" achieves "new dance chart high" while in Allstate commercial: https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9527827/super-bowl-pet-shop-boys-opportunities-dance-charts (hood ornament smiling and singing along is shit, and reminds me that Consumer Reports concluded, citing reader surveys, that some of the worst car insurance providers have the most elaborate commericals, because they have to replace so many customers every year)(do like the dsert drive being all into the song tho)
― dow, Monday, 22 March 2021 17:12 (three years ago) link
I'd been waiting for that article since seeing the commercial at least five times last week.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 March 2021 17:14 (three years ago) link
I have a dance party every time that commercial comes on
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 17:16 (three years ago) link
it's airing constantly during the ncaa tournament (the bettors seem to have latched onto the chorus lyric)
― voodoo chili, Monday, 22 March 2021 17:17 (three years ago) link
also lmao that article says "sorry, only for Billboard pros!" when I click on it
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 17:17 (three years ago) link
"The 1986 classic sold 1,000 downloads"Incredible stuff. Neil and Chris certainly are making lots of money, amirite?
― I Advance Masked (Vast Halo), Monday, 22 March 2021 17:22 (three years ago) link
Huh, hadn't even realized this ad existed.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 17:24 (three years ago) link
it is one of the two best ads on television right now
obv #1 is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDAg3VkZPg8
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 17:26 (three years ago) link
Indeed! You saw that Undefeated article about it, yes?
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 17:28 (three years ago) link
I did!
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 17:29 (three years ago) link
Separately, so this "Opportunities" talk is making me think of a hilarious little-talked-about moment from their imperial phase. So there was that Billionaire Boys Club movie with Kevin Spacey a few years back, but well before that there was a 1987 NBC miniseries about the same case, starring Judd Nelson. It is VERY 1987 network TV on all fronts. Thankfully the full thing is available on YouTube.
Anyway, I remember watching it at the time, and I distinctly remember there was a montage on it where our non-hero gets himself all made over to be a power player by his fellow assholes. (Again, how perfectly 1987.) As you can see here -- the link should hopefully start at the right place; if not, skip ahead to 21 minutes into the video and let it play from there -- it is soundtracked by a terrible cover of "Opportunities" which is spectacularly missing the point, clearly because the music supervisor or producer or whoever was just all "Wow a song about money, perfect!" I kinda want to know who the guilty party who did this cover is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQOTcBbZQU4
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 17:37 (three years ago) link
omigod that "Opportunities" montage
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:01 (three years ago) link
It's AMAZING. What a fucking artifact.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 18:04 (three years ago) link
More movie montages should consist mainly of stills.
― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:14 (three years ago) link
https://imgur.com/a/13YdC?nc=1
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:16 (three years ago) link
https://i.imgur.com/erKzudV.jpg
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:19 (three years ago) link
As long as we're talking about "Woot!", leave us not forget Downey's brill use of "Everybody Everybody":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRNawm7F9fw
― dow, Monday, 22 March 2021 18:21 (three years ago) link
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYxi5e9SSkqH35b6b3BsytKI2fCuz7ValoMtlMMY8e7_yE93cKjrgsdrhRip4&usqp=CAc
― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:21 (three years ago) link
xpost my fave (the Downy's that is)
― dow, Monday, 22 March 2021 18:22 (three years ago) link
A further update on that terrible cover -- Nate Patrin remembered the ad for the miniseries using it. You will note, how you say, a creative edit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4R_C2L4Wmk
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 18:22 (three years ago) link
Re: That Downy ad. I submit for consideration LG selling washing machines by reinterpreting "Got Your Money":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEwxtg35BUo
― "what are you DOING to fleetwood mac??" (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:33 (three years ago) link
why are there so many street signs in that montage
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:47 (three years ago) link
Billionaire Boys Club was nominated for four Emmys: Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Directing in a Miniseries or Special, Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Special, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special for Ron Silver
lol
― Dana Jel Pey (DJP), Monday, 22 March 2021 18:50 (three years ago) link
Really speaks to the sheer paucity of quality around then. "It MUST be important, it's about wannabe rich assholes in LA like us!"
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 18:55 (three years ago) link
Whenever I think of the Pet Shop Boys in pop culture I always think of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW8TIAHyAE0
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 22 March 2021 19:37 (three years ago) link
YES! on the Tag Team Geico ad being the #1 ad of the moment. I crack myself up inserting "Sprinkles!" mentally into conversations. The expression on the son's?/daughter's? faces are great, too.
― the body of a spider... (scampering alpaca), Monday, 22 March 2021 19:42 (three years ago) link
One thing I like about the Tag Team commercial is that I (and I assume a lot of people) had idea what the guys looked like, and even if I did, it's kind of taken on faith that these are the same guys. And yeah, "Sprinkles!"
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 22 March 2021 19:52 (three years ago) link
the tag team commercial also underscores the fact that "whoomp there it is" is a truly excellent song that we've taken for granted
― voodoo chili, Monday, 22 March 2021 20:04 (three years ago) link
I mentioned this piece briefly but it is worth a read
https://theundefeated.com/features/behind-the-delightful-success-of-tag-team-hit-commercial-with-geico/
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 22 March 2021 20:11 (three years ago) link
AD WARS - tag team's "whoomp there it is" vs. pet shop boys' "opportunities"
― voodoo chili, Monday, 22 March 2021 22:13 (three years ago) link
bilingual then backwards and anything after bilingual is crap!
― xzanfar, Monday, 22 March 2021 22:59 (three years ago) link
nah
― Vinnie, Tuesday, 23 March 2021 11:55 (three years ago) link
Geico wins Mad Men Ace Award because visuals of Allstate spoiled by shitty singing hood ornament, looking like a sweetened-up Wicked Witch, but musically I find "Opportunities" more exciting.
― dow, Tuesday, 23 March 2021 17:57 (three years ago) link
I can't recall many good covers of PSB songs, except by Liza/Dusty etc, but this a lovely and summery, found by accident on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4clr0ehfzrEKvLepw4WffW?si=9c65ffc509534d5c
― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 1 July 2022 13:30 (one year ago) link