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Pet Shop Boys
Hey Emo Kid, tired of crying yourself to sleep listening to the downward crooning of Dashboard Confessional? Looking for a new scene? Wanna be completely rebellious? Choose happiness. Take the disco drug the good folks of England have been taking for decades! Try a little PSB! Pet Shop Boys (or “Pets” as they call themselves collectively) formed in 1982 after a chance meeting in an electronics shop. What started as an after work project became a full-fledged career after then music journalist Neil Tennant had lunch with NYC record producer Bobby ‘O.’ While the Pets time spent with the legendary producer was ill fated it did bring light to the electric keyboard stylings of Chris Lowe and the stainless voice of Neil Tennant to the dance hall masses of Europe. Under new management the band had a long awaited hit with the infamous track “West End Girls.” Americans, Europeans, Australians, Japanese, the collective of South America and even Dusty Springfield hopped onto the Pet Shop Boys bandwagon. Or at least they had until the dark love ballads of the Hair Metal era blocked out the sunlight of dance. Those who stayed to the Boys knew why. Pet Shop Boys were more than just “West End Girls” and “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots Of Money.)” They were a symbol of happiness and passive satire. Tracks such as “Happiness is an Option” speak this truth for it’s self. With it’s chorus of “Don’t give up now/Happiness is an option” it proves that unlike their frowning peers Pet Shop Boys encourage their fans to dream and be more than just the record buying masses. Having started late in their lives as pop stars (Lowe was in his late-twenties and Tennant in his early thirties) Pet Shop Boys attempt to relay not only a message of hope but one of humanity. Though perhaps not the most cheerful video, “Red Letter Day” serves as a prime example of Pet Shop Boys relatable nature. Aside from walking out on stage in cubic-get-up there is nothing anti-human about Pet Shop Boys. They aren’t afraid to put into music topics that most would shun. Pain plays out to 122.7 BPM in “Hit and Miss,” a danceable ballad about an untrue lover. The story of a ‘kept woman’ is sang in “Rent.” A sexual encounter with an Emeniem-esce rapper is the basis of “The Night I Fell in Love,” and most dangerous of all, the reality of a cruel woman causing a man to embrace closeted homosexuality is implied in “Can You Forgive Her?” Behind every track, no matter how “shallow” there is a heartbeat. That’s the way of true disco. To up lift, get the heart racing and force the body to dance without the crash of depression. And that is why it’s such a crime to be a Pet Shop Boys fan. In this era of modern music based on break-ups and over doses topping the charts it is a sin to listen to someone with a positive or humorous message. So, Mister and Missus Scenester, you wanna be a rebel? Pick up a Pet Shop Boys album.
Tracks:
"Opportuniries (Let's Make Lots of Money) US" "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" "Don't Know What You Want, But I can't Give it Anymore" "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk"
Related Groups:
Daily Music Dose
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Where is Kasper? He will go nuts over this.
And yes, where is Kasper? I swear, his taste in music is fantastic.
They're fantastic live. I trekked all the way across the country to see them. the only down side was ticket cost, but considering the performance put on, it was a steal.
cheer's!
Thank you! :^D Pet Shop Boys changed my life. I don't exaggerate. Definately delve into to world of the Boys. You won't regret it.