Pet Shop Boys

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)

(xpost HONOR THE FEY! Er.)

other favourites-
"Love Comes Quickly"
"So Hard"
"West End Girls" (obviously)
"Kings Cross"

I could go on, and on. best band ever.

WHAAAATTT??? This is madness. Holy shit, that track is so utterly great.

I also know that part of my issue with _Introspective_ is the super-heavy hand of Shep Pettibone.

(xpost HONOR THE FEY! Er.)

I have to hurt you now.

i smell heavy handed ILX racism at work

Six if you count me. Play With Me is a superb metapop album.

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.

But Marcello, we close our eyes.

Taking Sides:Go West vs. Wang Chung

So come on Pinefox, what *do* you see in Go West?

Don't try it!

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

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.

Fine fine, go ahead and nitpick. ;-)

I am deliriously happy about this, as it was recorded at the very same Birmingham NEC concert that I attended in 1991.

they still wouldn't let them use 'cant take my eyes off you' though it says it's on the disc on the box, it actually isnt on the disc. if u get me.

Oh dear. "Love etc" is on the internet.

It's a stinker.

"A stinker's" a bit too much. I'd say it's good some good bits and some parts that really don't work. Like the first verse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7879322.stm

it's great. it wipes the floor with BEFORE or I'M WITH STUPID as a first single off an album to name two. lovely artwork too.

it's good I think, not a stinker by any means. agree with daavid that the start/first verse doesn't quite work but after that I think it's pretty great

"I remember on Pop Idol, Pete Waterman told someone, very sympathetically, 'The thing is, you're more of a Depeche Mode kind of artist.' In other words, 'What are you doing here, pet?'

He's so right. I wish they'd kick Simon Cowell's ass.

Gui Boratto and the Pet Shop Boys have hit twice with the German Film Star mix and now this Love Etc. remix. Would be great to hear Disco 5 or whatever they're on completely remixed by Boratto.

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Just because they named their new CD "Yes," does not mean that British electro-pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, will agree to just about anything.

PETA has asked the Pet Shop Boys to change the band's name to Rescue Shelter Boys.

The band has turned down a request from an animal rights group to rename itself the Rescue Shelter Boys.

The organization, the People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA), sent a letter to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe acknowledging that its request, at first blush, might appear "bizarre."

But, by changing its name, the band could raise awareness at every tour stop of the "cramped, filthy conditions" that breeders keep animals in before selling them to pet stores, PETA said in its letter. Read how the Pet Shop Boys got their name

The duo, which has performed under its current name for more than 20 years, reproduced PETA's written request in full on its Web site.

The musicians said they were "unable to agree" to the request "but nonetheless think (it) raises an issue worth thinking about."

The animal rights group said it was pleased the Pet Shop Boys had drawn attention to the issue by posting its letter so prominently on the band's site. Talking about its campaign on a blog entry, a PETA staffer wrote:

"I think I may have to stick "West End Girls" on my iPod right now to celebrate."

"West End Girls" is one of the many hits the group has had in its long career.

PETA is no stranger to oddball campaigns. A recent one was aimed to re-christen fish as "sea kittens" because "who could possibly want to put a hook through a sea kitten?"

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/10/peta.pet.shop.boys/index.html

it is one of the two best ads on television right now

obv #1 is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDAg3VkZPg8

Indeed! You saw that Undefeated article about it, yes?

I did!

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

omigod that "Opportunities" montage

It's AMAZING. What a fucking artifact.

More movie montages should consist mainly of stills.

https://imgur.com/a/13YdC?nc=1

https://i.imgur.com/erKzudV.jpg

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

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTYxi5e9SSkqH35b6b3BsytKI2fCuz7ValoMtlMMY8e7_yE93cKjrgsdrhRip4&usqp=CAc

xpost my fave (the Downy's that is)

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

Re: That Downy ad. I submit for consideration LG selling washing machines by reinterpreting "Got Your Money":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEwxtg35BUo

why are there so many street signs in that montage

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

Really speaks to the sheer paucity of quality around then. "It MUST be important, it's about wannabe rich assholes in LA like us!"

Whenever I think of the Pet Shop Boys in pop culture I always think of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW8TIAHyAE0

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.

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!"

the tag team commercial also underscores the fact that "whoomp there it is" is a truly excellent song that we've taken for granted

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/

AD WARS - tag team's "whoomp there it is" vs. pet shop boys' "opportunities"

bilingual then backwards and anything after bilingual is crap!

nah

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.

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