It's a Sin is Neil Tennant's reflections on growing up outside the percieved norm, being taught by priests at the same all-boys Catholic, St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle, UK, that I went to. 15 years earlier, when he was there, it was a stricter school with more orthodox teachings, but even in the '80s, in my time, the priests and teachers were still eating the altar. And it was definitely not a place where you could be different. Being straight and excelling in sports or science were the pinnacle, being gay and into arts and music were frowned upon. Our headmaster at the time, 1987, complained in the local press about the school being vilified in It's a Sin. Personally, I pissed myself laughing, glad that someone wrote an actual song about the same thing I went through. Hats off to Neil Tennant and Sting - both former alumni of this narrow-minded, elitist Catholic school - for being the complete opposite of how this school wanted them to be.
Haha epic, iconic brilliant Pet Shop Boys! Some excellent insights by Jake and John...i was nervous with you Clint. But Jake's leg was bopping early on and i thought.. there's hope. Great discussion guys!
In this song, Tennant describes some impressions he took from his time at the Catholic St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He ended up feeling that everything he had done or was going to do was a sin. Tennant has said that he wrote the lyrics purging his emotions in a moment of frustration and anger. But the local parish priest in Newcastle delivered a sermon on it, and reflected on how the Church changed from the promise of a ghastly hell to the message of love. Tennant is a homosexual, by the way...
I’d like to suggest you guys take a listen to/watch “Getting Away With It” by Electronic, since it was a supergroup composed of Bernard Sumner from New Order, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, and guest starring Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe from Pet Shop Boys.
Following Westend Girls earlier success this album just blew up in Australia. They seemed to just keep pulling songs off it through the year. Definitely a snapshot of the time musically.
The era, the mood are also things to consider. The song challenged some people and made them think, maybe even change their minds about some things. I mean, to me at least it is quite clear that as a young gay man Neil Tennant didn’t enjoy Catholic School right ? But like all things in life it always teaches you something. Great balanced reaction, again.
That's how I've always interpreted it, tho Jake and John's point of view expanded on that to envelope it with all enjoyment..where as I always had the narrow view of it.
Like everyone else has mentioned, it is a criticism of his Catholic school upbringing, where he was lead to believe that pretty much his existence was a Sin. Now to the song itself.... This is not "early" PSB, this is them at their peak! This song went to #1 pretty much everywhere! They are the masters of layering! Just listen to the song very carefully. Listen to each bar as they progress. The layering is just unbelievable! It's one sound on top of the other and they just melt together! Pet Shop Boys is the #1 Synth Pop band in history. Not my opinion, just a fact!
The song is about Neil Tennants time growing up in a strict Catholic school, where he ended up feeling lije everything he had done or was going to do was a sin
Toe tapper.?!? LOL… this was huge in the dance clubs along with the other singles released from this album. The 12 inch versions were usually played in the clubs. They were hugely popular in the gay clubs.
In a way I thought this song was of someone about to end it all; he tells us about how he is blamed for everything, for not conforming, asks his father for forgiveness and says “I tried not to do it” and in the end we hear him barely say “it’s over” followed by the explosive boom. Am I the only one who caught that?
The point missed a bit here . . . as an adult gay man in the 80's,,,,,,, your mere existence was deemed a sin. Who you were was a sin. And look at 'all the right people dying'. Nothing about your contributions to society. I was pretty darn well behaved in those years. Saved lives daily working in healthcare. But my existence was deemed a sin. You think that doesn't leave a mark on your psyche ?!
I'm Gay it's called sticks & stones. You give as good as you get back. I found many unexpected friends for standing up for myself. Unfortunately these days some people think they can use these things for "special treatment". Which has contributed to division now too. That's MY view 👍🏻
@@jamesmorrison4581 welp, not really sticks and stones..in my day gay bashings and murders were prevalent.. including by the police...a little more than standing up for oneself!
Too much analysis. It was meant to be ironic. Not to be taken word for word. And the song was misinterpreted. He does not think everything he does is a Sin. He is stating that he was TOLD everything he wants to do is a Sin. But states clearly that he never bought in to that belief. Again, is irony. Plays into the same idea that everything we do is "against the law"...... It really isn't. Just feels that way sometimes.
As a gay man myself, and one who understands the gay perspective from the Pet Shop Boys, it’s really funny for me to see the three of you completely missed the point of this song. This is a uniquely gay perspective narrative. From a gay man (Neil) who is ostracized by the church and society as a whole. This is very much a statement from the gay community in the era of the aids epidemic. Neil Tennant famously said once when asked if his music was subversively gay, he said “you haven’t been paying attention.” Now go back and listen to it again with those thoughts in mind . Cheers!
Oh I agree that's how I've always viewed it, however Jake and John's interpretation was great and most artists will want people to get their own meaning from their art based on their own experiences. Though I think they got the message and just put a more broader view on it.
The beauty of music (and lyrics) is that everyone takes their own meaning from it, regardless of the what the song is actually about. For this song your empathetic to the singer because you understand what the song is actually about. Thats cool, but sometimes it's nice to have your own spin on things, especially if you find an emotional connection. Thats what I love about music, it can speak to you on such a personal level...its purely subjective, even if you might be way of the mark regarding what the song is actually about!
It's a Sin is Neil Tennant's reflections on growing up outside the percieved norm, being taught by priests at the same all-boys Catholic, St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle, UK, that I went to. 15 years earlier, when he was there, it was a stricter school with more orthodox teachings, but even in the '80s, in my time, the priests and teachers were still eating the altar. And it was definitely not a place where you could be different. Being straight and excelling in sports or science were the pinnacle, being gay and into arts and music were frowned upon. Our headmaster at the time, 1987, complained in the local press about the school being vilified in It's a Sin. Personally, I pissed myself laughing, glad that someone wrote an actual song about the same thing I went through. Hats off to Neil Tennant and Sting - both former alumni of this narrow-minded, elitist Catholic school - for being the complete opposite of how this school wanted them to be.
It's a sin ... ❤ ... what's not to love 😊
Still one of my faves.
Haha epic, iconic brilliant Pet Shop Boys!
Some excellent insights by Jake and John...i was nervous with you Clint. But Jake's leg was bopping early on and i thought.. there's hope.
Great discussion guys!
Pet Shop Boys were big here in Australia. This took me back to my teens and clubing days.
I think Jake nailed the point of the song and the cynicism about waht he was told when he was growing up.
Yeah jake is the man, such a cool guy, wow 😉😅
In this song, Tennant describes some impressions he took from his time at the Catholic St Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He ended up feeling that everything he had done or was going to do was a sin. Tennant has said that he wrote the lyrics purging his emotions in a moment of frustration and anger. But the local parish priest in Newcastle delivered a sermon on it, and reflected on how the Church changed from the promise of a ghastly hell to the message of love.
Tennant is a homosexual, by the way...
I’d like to suggest you guys take a listen to/watch “Getting Away With It” by Electronic, since it was a supergroup composed of Bernard Sumner from New Order, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, and guest starring Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe from Pet Shop Boys.
Following Westend Girls earlier success this album just blew up in Australia. They seemed to just keep pulling songs off it through the year.
Definitely a snapshot of the time musically.
❤petshopboys ❤
The era, the mood are also things to consider. The song challenged some people and made them think, maybe even change their minds about some things. I mean, to me at least it is quite clear that as a young gay man Neil Tennant didn’t enjoy Catholic School right ? But like all things in life it always teaches you something. Great balanced reaction, again.
That's how I've always interpreted it, tho Jake and John's point of view expanded on that to envelope it with all enjoyment..where as I always had the narrow view of it.
@@jemxs isn’t music wonderful ! We all get something good from it.
@@coachtomas most definitely 👍
Like everyone else has mentioned, it is a criticism of his Catholic school upbringing, where he was lead to believe that pretty much his existence was a Sin. Now to the song itself.... This is not "early" PSB, this is them at their peak! This song went to #1 pretty much everywhere! They are the masters of layering! Just listen to the song very carefully. Listen to each bar as they progress. The layering is just unbelievable! It's one sound on top of the other and they just melt together! Pet Shop Boys is the #1 Synth Pop band in history. Not my opinion, just a fact!
The song is about Neil Tennants time growing up in a strict Catholic school, where he ended up feeling lije everything he had done or was going to do was a sin
Dad you have to sing for us..your voice sounds 100% Steven Tyler ❤🎉😅 i must hear it🎉
Toe tapper.?!? LOL… this was huge in the dance clubs along with the other singles released from this album. The 12 inch versions were usually played in the clubs. They were hugely popular in the gay clubs.
This was a lot of people's coming out song in the UK.
In a way I thought this song was of someone about to end it all; he tells us about how he is blamed for everything, for not conforming, asks his father for forgiveness and says “I tried not to do it” and in the end we hear him barely say “it’s over” followed by the explosive boom. Am I the only one who caught that?
The point missed a bit here . . . as an adult gay man in the 80's,,,,,,, your mere existence was deemed a sin. Who you were was a sin. And look at 'all the right people dying'. Nothing about your contributions to society. I was pretty darn well behaved in those years. Saved lives daily working in healthcare. But my existence was deemed a sin. You think that doesn't leave a mark on your psyche ?!
It certainly does leave a mark, many damaged minds out there🤗
Hear, hear!
I'm Gay it's called sticks & stones. You give as good as you get back. I found many unexpected friends for standing up for myself. Unfortunately these days some people think they can use these things for "special treatment". Which has contributed to division now too. That's MY view 👍🏻
@@jamesmorrison4581 welp, not really sticks and stones..in my day gay bashings and murders were prevalent.. including by the police...a little more than standing up for oneself!
@jemxs Well I never needed the police. Cos I punched them back. Depends in the world you were I guess.
The Americans find it hard to understand irony! 😮😊😮😅
Too much analysis. It was meant to be ironic. Not to be taken word for word. And the song was misinterpreted. He does not think everything he does is a Sin. He is stating that he was TOLD everything he wants to do is a Sin. But states clearly that he never bought in to that belief. Again, is irony. Plays into the same idea that everything we do is "against the law"...... It really isn't. Just feels that way sometimes.
The singer talks about the song here to give you a big insight into this songs meanings. Hope you enjoy. ruclips.net/video/NLwBXLqypys/видео.html
As a gay man myself, and one who understands the gay perspective from the Pet Shop Boys, it’s really funny for me to see the three of you completely missed the point of this song. This is a uniquely gay perspective narrative. From a gay man (Neil) who is ostracized by the church and society as a whole. This is very much a statement from the gay community in the era of the aids epidemic.
Neil Tennant famously said once when asked if his music was subversively gay, he said “you haven’t been paying attention.”
Now go back and listen to it again with those thoughts in mind . Cheers!
Oh I agree that's how I've always viewed it, however Jake and John's interpretation was great and most artists will want people to get their own meaning from their art based on their own experiences. Though I think they got the message and just put a more broader view on it.
The beauty of music (and lyrics) is that everyone takes their own meaning from it, regardless of the what the song is actually about. For this song your empathetic to the singer because you understand what the song is actually about. Thats cool, but sometimes it's nice to have your own spin on things, especially if you find an emotional connection. Thats what I love about music, it can speak to you on such a personal level...its purely subjective, even if you might be way of the mark regarding what the song is actually about!