The Police; Honorable mention: Talking Heads; Joe Jackson; Huey Lewis & The News; The Pretenders; The Cars; Squeeze. (New Wave is gonna be subjective in the comments!)
Despite their massive successes, I still think they've been highly underrated & underappreciated. No one puts them on the pedestal of greatness or acknowledge their influences.
I can’t say enough about how much I love this song and this band. Pet Shop Boys were an enormous influence in 80’s music, but they did it so subtly. No loud guitar, no crazy antics, just fantastic sound and meaningful lyrics.
The remix that starts out with the octave bouncing synth line is so badass. I think it was “Fascinated” by Company B I always mixed it with because they had similar synth lines in the same key that were a DJ’s dream 😂
In my mind, their song West End Girls is the very essence of the 80`s. There’s just something deeply stirring about it that takes me back to my favourite musical era. It has a haunting 80`s vibe that I can’t shake and will love far into the future.
I Love PSB! I've been a big fan since first hearing them in the early 80's. I've listened to them over and over again as a kid, on my Sony walkman and boom box. This is so cool to finally hear about the PSB. Thank you so much Professor for putting into words the way so many of us feel about the greatest decade of music, and one of the greatest duos ever. The Pet Shop Boys helped me relax in High School. Having to put up with the endless homework and a parent who didn't understand. Thankfully I had so many of their albums on cassette tape, and then CD in the 90's. Every PSB album deserved to get a Grammy. Thank you.
That Top Ten from '86 was fantastic. Pop had amazing creativity and quality in all genres. Those were instant classics. And yes, "West End Girls" was a big hit. It was everywhere, and sounds pretty well today. Amazing band and (as always), great episode
The Pet Shop Boys had so many great songs I would think that a number of them have yet to be discovered by the commenters. Here is a list of some of their songs and extended versions that you may have missed: 1) Domino Dancing (Extended Version) 7:47 min. 2) Heart 3) It's Alright 4) King's Cross 5) Miracles 6) So Hard 7) The Resurrectionist (Extended Mix) 5:41 min. 8) What Have I Done To Deserve This (With Dusty Springfield) 9) Did You See Me Coming (Great song!) 10) Was It Worth It (Great song!). Enjoy PSB fans!
I remember the first time I heard the song "West End Girls". I remember it coming on the radio and thinking "what is this?" I had never heard a song like this before. It truly was a "breakthrough" in my life. From that moment on, in 1986, this was one of my favorite singles of the decade. I even liked the "Lock-down version" that came out in 2020. Thanks for the video Professor.
They are my favorite band-- by far. Great sound, thoughtful lyrics and wonderful rhythms. Thanks to Neil and Chris for almost 40 years of fantastic music.
Thanks Prof for spotlighting one of the most brilliant bands ever. There are dozens of songs deep on their albums that would be hits in a more just music world (Burn, Up Against It, Flamboyant...).
Professor, this song, and your description of it, have one thing in common. They are *MUCH* more than the sum of their parts. Legendary. I was never a Pet Shop Boys fan, but this song deserves *every* kind word said about it. Many thanks for covering it, I need to add it to my playlist asap.
Axl Rose is a Pet Shop Boys fan... he attended one show from their US Tour in 1991, met the boys back stage and complained that Being Boring (his favourite song) was not included in the set. PSB then added it as an encore.
Everything about the re-recorded version is an improvement upon the original. The intro..the moody ambience and the overall feel..the beat/tempo. It caught the attention of this guy who doesn't consider himself a synth/dance music guy whatsoever.. their Complete Singles Collection CD is in my library..a testament to the quality of their music.
The Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, and Sade were the performers I watched on MTV. These performers inspired me to want to explore the world. So I did one year of college and I felt stifled so I joined the USAF. I got an opportunity to live in Greece and I absorbed the music scene of NATO countries in the early 90's. It was everything I could have imagined and much more. Pet Shop Boys is still on my playlist today and this song is one that will never leave my mind.
What a great accomplishment for PSB's considering the songs in that top 10 at the time. This remarkable song has so many layers leading up to its final success. You peeled the layers back like a professor of rock Adam. 👏👏👏 Looking forward to your next segment.
I miss 80s music. Chanel 33 on xm is my favorite. They play a lot of British style 80s music. But, I also thought 90s were a great decade. Then everything came to an end and the creativity and clever music stopped except for a once in awhile highlight as we went into the 2000s. Music kept going down down down as the 2000s have progressed
❤ Pet Shop Boys! Great music coming from those lads. It's A Sin that they aren't remembered more than they are. Thanks for this episode Professor! Keep on Keepin on!
One of my most favourite songs of all time! I first heard this song when I was 13 visiting Canada with my parents all the way from Australia, in their summer of 1986. My cousin Lesley and I sunbaking in the backyard and this song was all over the radio. Fell in love with it instantly. Love the video clip too. Whenever I hear this song it always brings me back to that time.
The first time I heard "West End Girls" by the Pet Shop Boys, I was immediately hooked. I was an instant fan and have been ever since. ALL of their songs are just SO good! Great vid! :)
The remake of this song is outstanding, the first didn't have all the layers on yhe first release. The Pet Shop Boys have a very distinct sound and i feel this song was a game changer, if anyone wanted to make sync pop they needed to up their game after West End Girls. Fantastic episode professor had no idea they were the UK top duo till today, well earned
Pet Shop Boys were one of the few highlights in an otherwise crappy year. Two years, really. It was a diving board to a new style of music that would stay with me my entire life. The song got overplayed for my liking but that album produced songs I could never get sick of. Primarily, Love Comes Quickly and Suburbia -possibly including Tonight Is Forever. This was a fantastic episode. I love how your storytelling is so hypnotic. Like your words are completely un-rehearsed and just coming from your passion for the subject matter. Thanks for a great class, Prof.
I loved this song when I first heard it in 1986. I was in between grad school and my first real, full time job. The whole sense of being between worlds resonated. It brings back so many memories.
The pet shop boy, a total guilty pleasure for someone raised on hair metal. All their songs are very relatable, especially with the addition of Dusty Springfield (rip)
All my friends that are metal heads (my first love) they don't know what I love about The Pet Shop Boys. I just love them . I love Neil's voice as well. West End Girls is definitely my favorite
This song is definitely a musical time machine! I was immediately transported back in time just listening to this video. This is a fantastic song and I also love the song with Dusty Springfield...What have I done to deserve this. ❤
You've done two wonderful videos on Pet Shop Boys but both are about their 80s beginnings and given that they're celebrating the 40th anniversary of their first record and have remained steadily active throughout the last four decades with few periods of inactivity and are enjoying huge success with their current releases, I think at least another video is due regarding PSB post 80s.
I don't think it was just the music or even the lyrics that alone propelled this song. The lead singer's VOICE just has a captivating tone, and of course, the English accent adds to that effect, for listeners in other countries anyway. Very unique song and sound all together. I remember watching MTV in early 80's, kind of in its infancy really, joining the military in 1983, serving over-seas, then coming back to the U. S. in 1986 and seeing this video and others, and all the changes that occurred in music for 3 years during my absence. I was a lead trumpet player in college, before I joined the military, dabbled in the piano, saved money while I was in the military, had eye surgery to correct my vision when I returned home, grew my hair long, improved my keyboard skills, and joined a hair band playing local clubs in the college scene in Richmond and Lexington, Kentucky. I remember seeing an interview years later with Def Leppard. They said "MTV made us... and we made them." Before MTV, many people did not even know what their favorite bands looked like. What an amazing transition.
The singer sounds a lot like Al Stewart -- so much that I wasn't sure it wasn't Stewart the first time I heard this song. (Great song, too. I don't like tons of synth pop but this one is super catchy and well made.)
Pet Shop Boys literally started it all for me-- they were the first act that I felt was mine- my discovery on the radio that my parents didn't know anything about and I got to follow since first hearing that first opening snare, brooding synth pad, and double kick drum. Until then I only owned cassettes but 'Opportunities' would be the first of many many12" singles, a UK import that started me down a very expensive path of collecting remixes and b-sides that continues to this day. PSB in 1986 had such a slick, worldly sound that made you feel cooler vicariously, just by having them playing in your headphones. After almost forty years they have not slowed a step Neil's voice is immaculate and Chris still has his ears on the pulse of the UK club music scene. See them live if you can-- you will not regret it.
Love love love Pet Shop Boys. Such distinctive music. West End Girls is superb but so many great songs over the years. Love comes quickly is one of my faves & also What have I done to deserve this with Dusty Springfield. Their songs sound as good today as they did in the 80’s!
This video could have not come out a better time. I was listening to Pet Shop Boys so much these last few days! West End Girls, Rent, Go West, It's A Sin, Domino Dancing, Home And Dry, Being Boring and To Speak Is A Sin are my favorites
I also remember the first time I heard this song. I was 15, and I was sitting in my dad's car with him as he drove into an unfamiliar (to me) quasi-industrial area to pick up a check for a job I'm pretty sure he'd just lost. It wasn't the most comfortable drive. And then this song (the re-recorded version) came on the radio, and I was hooked right from the intro. Those opening chords, that beat and bass line... and then that unique and striking voice, not making the slightest attempt to hide its Britishness on the rap verse. And then it got to the chorus, and it turned out that the guy could *sing*. I was an instant fan. Over the next several years I spent hours in record stores tracking down every release I could get my hands on, including dozens of imports for singles that weren't released domestically in the US. I remember making my way through another unfamiliar area to the one local art-house movie theater I could find that was showing their movie, "It Couldn't Happen Here". And I remember when they committed the ultimate sin of making a music video that had homoerotic overtones in it... and paid for it by never having another one of their singles hit the US Top 40 again, despite continuing, to this day, to make some of the catchiest (as well as the smartest) dance music that's ever been written. Pet Shop Boys are legends. Thanks for giving them their due, Professor.
It was night, the only light was from a dim television, I was watching Moonlighting, David Addison is walking into a bar, suddenly the most amazing music comes on. I was instantly captured and became obsessed with finding out who had made that song so I could get a copy. That album pleased me very much. Still love to listen to it all the way through. One of the best debut albums of all time.
I didn't realize Pet Shop Boys had so many hits, but to my mind they never did a bad song. I recently heard "Left to my Own Devices" and that is epic. You mentioned at the start whether I could recall the first record, cassette or 8-track I bought with my own money. I am a bit too young for 8-tracks but my first 45 record was "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons, and I think my first cassettes were "True Blue" by Madonna and "Give Me the Reason" by Luther Vandross.
Avid Pet shop boys fan here, absolutely love their songs, I have as many of their albums I can get plus a movie they did, I’m yet to see them in concert
FINALLY someone acknowledges the Bobcat release! LOL - we played it at the club I was working at in Atlanta. When the new version came out I was like “they slowed it down so much! What the hell?” About 126 bpm to 115 bpm if I recall. The production was tons better for sure. That Bobby O version was anemic and muddy. They came through in an American tour in 1991 and played ClubLand Detroit when I was working there. 2 guys, a lot of dancers and I believe 2 semis of wardrobe. Great show. These guys were pretty special. Still touring! Also to be acknowledged: Shep Pettibone’s remixes (he was riding high before Stock Aiken Waterman took up all the oxygen in the room). Thanks for telling this story, Prof.
I don't know where My pet shop boy's Vinyl albums end...plenty great songs......i saw them LIVE 6 years ago...amazing...and My daughter came with me ...liked and enjoyed SO much....
It's funny because you're opening line about "if you remember the first 8-Track, Album, CD you ever brought.." "Please" was the third album I ever brought after "Duran Duran Arena" and Wham's "Make It Big." Love the Pet Shop Boys to this day with my personal favorite being "What've I Done to Deserve This?"
Groovy coverage per usual, Professor 🎙️I was, however, surprised to hear no mention of a fantastic homage to "West End Girls", "Inner City Pressure" by Flight of the Conchords 🥝
Thank you, I was also waiting for a mention of "Inner City Pressure". It's a great song in it's own right, but to PSB fans the tribute is unmistakable.
Yes! And given that it was in the very first episode, it's kind of how they established the show, their music-video-within-the-show format, and their tribute/spoof songs. It was a seminal moment for Flight of the Conchords. I heard their version long before I became familiar with the original, but immediately recognized that "Inner City Pressure" was based on "West End Girls" when I did finally hear it. The boys from New Zealand did such a great job paying tribute to Pet Shop Boys the connection was impossible not to hear.
@professorofrock I grew up an Army (U.S.) brat and my sad got stationed in Northern Germany. When I first heard this song, I was 7 and we were visiting the city of Hamburg and Frankfurt. That night, I happened to see the video on England's version of MTV back then called the Skybox on their Sky Channel... I was hooked on them, along with Depeche Mode, because that's when I first heard them too (People Are People) on the very same day, from that forward!
Incredible band, fantastic songs, and still do wonderful music in the 10's to the present. They have a discography with songs and lyrics...They found a unique formula. I was a fan from minute 1.
I was stationed in Germany at the time and met my wife. This song was played so often in the German disco techs and even me being a rocker absolutely love this song.
I watch a RUclips channel that uploads top of the pops videos and such like. The guy has started uploading the top 200 hits of each year of the 80s. I couldn't believe how many songs the pet shop boys had in the top 200 from quite a few year's in the mid to late 80s. They basically ruled the charts. It's quite a feat they achieved.
They are one of the iconic sounds of the 80s. I hear any one of their popular songs and I'm nostalgic. Wouldn't it be great if we could live through the 80s again :)
Neil was a Smash Hits editor when the UK pop scene was at its peak. 'Fletch', 'Desperately Seeking Susan' - the video is a genuine time capsule. Pet Shop Boys were one of the last truly great 80's acts - along with another synth pop classic act 'Erasure'. Both still going. Good times.
"You know, if you remember Smash Hits magazine... you're gonna dig this channel..." I grew up in Maine, Professor... and I would wait all month to be able to buy Smash Hits and Star Hits at the one bookstore in Bangor that carried them. A special memory today for me for sure!
PSB was my favorite band in the 80s. I would argue that 'Please' and 'Actually' are one of the best 'freshman/sophomore' albums ever put out by a band.
Not a bad joke at *all,* Professor. No need to apologize. You know, I just told a co-worker about this song less than a week ago. I sincerely hope she seeks it out. Next time I see her, if she hasn't, I'll refer her to *this* video. My salute to you *and* PSB, of course.
When this song was first released (the first version) I heard it here in Canada on a cassette that my girlfriend had received from her British uncle who was a club DJ. I definitely remember hearing it for the first time. And then I remember hearing the re-recorded version about a year later. Such a great time of my life.
I remember hearing "West End Girls" when I'd just moved to Dallas in 1985. At the time, George Gimarc, one of the most learned and well-known DJs of the day, who had brought back a ton of new music from Europe, played it on his "Rock and Roll Alternative" program, and prophesied that it would become a monster hit in short order. He was right! It was YUGE, played everywhere!
Neil Tennant really understood the essence of great pop music of all genres. Smash Hits was great and never took itself or the artists too seriously unlike the rest of the UK music press. Their imperial phase in the eighties and early nineties really did produce sublime music- Suburbia and Rent are probably my two favourites. I knew Chris Lowe studied architecture but not that he was at the University of Liverpool, down the road from where I live. What Have I Done To Deserve This? with Dusty Springfield was a stroke of genius that brought her back to deserved prominence. Losing My Mind with Liza Minnelli is also on another level as a pop masterpiece, such a powerful song. The Brit Awards 1988 performance with Dusty and BBC1 Wogan interview with Liza (both on You Tube) in 1989 are clearly celebrations of the art of both women. You can tell how much respect PSB had for them as female singers/ performers.
Great episode, really enjoyed it! West End Girls, still sounds so good, such a cool song! The second version was definitely the one I heard first and it's much better than the first version. Pet Shop Boys are still going strong and are releasing excellent and exciting music! Their hooks, baselines, synth work in general and Neil's voice is just such a magical combination!
I used to read Star Hits (the American version of Smash Hits)all through jr high and high school. I remember reading articles by Neil Tennent, I always enjoyed reading his articles. So when I started hearing about The Pet Shop Boys, I recognized Tennent’s name. Been a fan of PSB ever since… my Fav PSB song has always been Being Boring. I led an… UNUSUAL lifestyle when I moved to DC and Being Boring had ALWAYS reminded me of my friends from my early 20’s…
Can't tell you how much I appreciate that, in spite of being mostly focussed on Rock (I mean, obviously 😄) you can appreciate Pet Shop Boys for their brilliance like this! As someone who grew up in more of a "Doors-and-Bob-Dylan-household" (who I'm using as examples for my parents being mostly into 60s music, of course (though also loving Nirvana and other early 90s Alternative Rock as what I agree to be something that brought that spirit back in a way) which they definitely passed on to me (the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Doors, Dylan and many others are the greatest imo ) I used to treat them as kind of a guilty pleasure and not take them particularly seriously until I came to the conclusion that they genuinely, unironically belong to the greatest. Neil Tennants voice, his sophisticated charme and particular type of "Britishness" (not to mention the often dark sense of humor) plays, as others have pointed out, an important part of course, but also the perfect arrangements to go with it and their ability to come up with one absolutely gorgeous melody after another!...
Pet Shop Boys fans have been dubbed as Pet Heads by Neil Tennant. as a massive Pet Head, i welcome another great video from the Professor about my favourite synth pop duo.
From the first listen, I’ve always loved that song, and I still say to this day, the greatest English babd synth ear best of collections are the Pet Shop Boys Discography, and New Order Substance. And until I saw that clip. I’d completely forgot I used to play that Ghostbusters game too on my Commodore 64!
I am a new subscriber and I'm enjoying your content. West End Girls, Always on my mind and Domino Dancing are my favorite songs by the Pet Shop Boys. It would be nice to see a story on the band Electronic. Thanks for sharing.
I have been a Pet Shop Boys fan from the jump and of their more recent albums Yes, Electric and Hotspot rank among their best. They will be releasing their 15th album soon. They are the pop masters and have influenced many artists over the last 40.years.
I remember buying the Pet Shop Boys cassette Please when I heard Suburbia playing at the local music store (man I miss those stores) when I was living in Southern California. Kind of forgotten about them until may be 10-years ago I heard West End Girls on the 'Oldies' station here in Arizona. It was a moment that I had the realization with West End Girls playing on the 'oldies station' I was 'old' (for the record born in May 1975I making me about a year older than "The Professor".
Seen them plenty times live in Manchester and Blackpool where Chris Lowe is from, West End Girls must have the most remixes of any track in the 80s. Back then we copied them by not looking at the camera pose 😅
Several years later, Scottish actor David John McDonald was told that he needed a stage name in order to work in the States. He leafed through a music magazine and decided to name himself after the lead singer of the Pet Shop Boys.
I remember driving home one night and on the radio they paid the album Please from the Pet Shop Boys. I never heard of them and never had a whole album of an artist that I like every song from but this one was it and I bought it the next day.
Across all of your videos I disagree with 50 percent of your commentary BUT your RUclips channel is a blessing and a joy to watch. (Sometimes I wonder if sometimes you say things just to get the reactions)
I love PSB, the first song I knew about was Opportunities. I do love West End Girls, but I’ve heard it so many times now that I tend to skip it when it comes on. I’ve been a huge fan since, and I have almost their entire catalog on vinyl. I have everything they have been involved with in one form or another. Thanx for this episode ❤️
Poll: Who is your pick for the greatest new wave act of the 80s?
Talking Heads
Adam Ant
Blow Monkeys
Cutting Crew
Midnight Oil
The Outfield
Sigue Sigue Sputnik
Simple Minds
Duran duran
The Police;
Honorable mention: Talking Heads; Joe Jackson; Huey Lewis & The News; The Pretenders; The Cars; Squeeze.
(New Wave is gonna be subjective in the comments!)
Information society would be my pick
The Pet Shop Boys are one of my 80s favorites. Their music is absolutely infectious. Their rendition of 'Always on My Mind' is simply incredible.
Despite their massive successes, I still think they've been highly underrated & underappreciated. No one puts them on the pedestal of greatness or acknowledge their influences.
agreed
I can’t say enough about how much I love this song and this band. Pet Shop Boys were an enormous influence in 80’s music, but they did it so subtly. No loud guitar, no crazy antics, just fantastic sound and meaningful lyrics.
Neil and Chris are proper modern music legends. These guys are still putting out amazing music today, excellent episode Professor!
I've always said that "Opportunities" should be the "official" song of the 1980s. It sums up that decade better than any other song I can think of.
@moumblade1066.... 🤔 Possibly but I'd also make a case for Queen's "I Want It All" and "Big Time" by Peter Gabriel
@@williamwilkinson6665 "Big Time" is a great song; absolutely love Peter Gabriel. Can't stand Queen, though.
It is a good representation of “super 80s”
The remix that starts out with the octave bouncing synth line is so badass. I think it was “Fascinated” by Company B I always mixed it with because they had similar synth lines in the same key that were a DJ’s dream 😂
Their discography is superb, one of my favorite bands/duos ever! “Love comes quickly” is one of my most loved Pet Shop Boys songs
Great song! Love it!
That one’s a gem!
In my mind, their song West End Girls is the very essence of the 80`s. There’s just something deeply stirring about it that takes me back to my favourite musical era. It has a haunting 80`s vibe that I can’t shake and will love far into the future.
I Love PSB! I've been a big fan since first hearing them in the early 80's. I've listened to them over and over again as a kid, on my Sony walkman and boom box. This is so cool to finally hear about the PSB. Thank you so much Professor for putting into words the way so many of us feel about the greatest decade of music, and one of the greatest duos ever. The Pet Shop Boys helped me relax in High School. Having to put up with the endless homework and a parent who didn't understand. Thankfully I had so many of their albums on cassette tape, and then CD in the 90's. Every PSB album deserved to get a Grammy. Thank you.
That Top Ten from '86 was fantastic. Pop had amazing creativity and quality in all genres. Those were instant classics. And yes, "West End Girls" was a big hit. It was everywhere, and sounds pretty well today. Amazing band and (as always), great episode
The Pet Shop Boys had so many great songs I would think that a number of them have yet to be discovered by the commenters. Here is a list of some of their
songs and extended versions that you may have missed: 1) Domino Dancing (Extended Version) 7:47 min. 2) Heart 3) It's Alright 4) King's Cross 5) Miracles
6) So Hard 7) The Resurrectionist (Extended Mix) 5:41 min. 8) What Have I Done To Deserve This (With Dusty Springfield) 9) Did You See Me Coming (Great song!)
10) Was It Worth It (Great song!). Enjoy PSB fans!
#8 - highly recommend, easily one of the best songs of the decade.
I remember the first time I heard the song "West End Girls". I remember it coming on the radio and thinking "what is this?" I had never heard a song like this before. It truly was a "breakthrough" in my life. From that moment on, in 1986, this was one of my favorite singles of the decade. I even liked the "Lock-down version" that came out in 2020. Thanks for the video Professor.
A more appropriate PSBs song to play during lockdown would have been 'What have I done to deserve this'......🤣
The pandemic version was pretty cool too! Nothing can stop these guys.
I like this song so much that when my neighbors crank it up, I throw a rock through their window so that I can hear it better.
That comment was hilarious…I was laughing all through lunch…
totally epic! LOL
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂
Love it!
That's a new one.😂
They are my favorite band-- by far. Great sound, thoughtful lyrics and wonderful rhythms. Thanks to Neil and Chris for almost 40 years of fantastic music.
Thanks Prof for spotlighting one of the most brilliant bands ever. There are dozens of songs deep on their albums that would be hits in a more just music world (Burn, Up Against It, Flamboyant...).
Heard it for the first time in West Germany in 1987 while in the US Army. The driving beat and thick soundscape was so alluring. Instant classic.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
It’s one hell of a hook.
Professor, this song, and your description of it, have one thing in common. They are *MUCH* more than the sum of their parts. Legendary. I was never a Pet Shop Boys fan, but this song deserves *every* kind word said about it. Many thanks for covering it, I need to add it to my playlist asap.
Being a Rocker, not A Pet Shop Boys fan but there is no denying their great success.
Understood!
I'm a 57 year old punk/metalhead from England and I have always loved them. Genius crosses genres.
@dansharpe2364 me too! Except the England part
Axl Rose is a Pet Shop Boys fan... he attended one show from their US Tour in 1991, met the boys back stage and complained that Being Boring (his favourite song) was not included in the set. PSB then added it as an encore.
They did make lots of money.
So many of us who were proud rockers who finally had to give way to this back in the days of our youth! this was a fun one
Everything about the re-recorded version is an improvement upon the original. The intro..the moody ambience and the overall feel..the beat/tempo. It caught the attention of this guy who doesn't consider himself a synth/dance music guy whatsoever.. their Complete Singles Collection CD is in my library..a testament to the quality of their music.
Where can one hear the original version of this song that didn’t do so well?
@@illiteratealphabetagency9716 Have you thought about typing the song title and "original version" into the search bar?
most likely right here on RUclips.............@@illiteratealphabetagency9716
Definitely a huge step up from the tinny demo.
@@illiteratealphabetagency9716it's on youtube. Just look up west end girls original and it'll come up.
The Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran, and Sade were the performers I watched on MTV. These performers inspired me to want to explore the world. So I did one year of college and I felt stifled so I joined the USAF. I got an opportunity to live in Greece and I absorbed the music scene of NATO countries in the early 90's. It was everything I could have imagined and much more. Pet Shop Boys is still on my playlist today and this song is one that will never leave my mind.
I can't believe the BO version of WEG beat out "The Reflex" in Belgium.....
What a great accomplishment for PSB's considering the songs in that top 10 at the time.
This remarkable song has so many layers leading up to its final success. You peeled the layers back like a professor of rock Adam. 👏👏👏
Looking forward to your next segment.
Thanks!
Greatest, best and the longest running duo in history. They rock they are awesome
The 80’s was the peak of all music. I miss those days!!!! Still love the music
I miss 80s music. Chanel 33 on xm is my favorite. They play a lot of British style 80s music.
But, I also thought 90s were a great decade.
Then everything came to an end and the creativity and clever music stopped except for a once in awhile highlight as we went into the 2000s. Music kept going down down down as the 2000s have progressed
❤
Pet Shop Boys!
Great music coming from those lads. It's A Sin that they aren't remembered more than they are.
Thanks for this episode Professor! Keep on Keepin on!
Love that song.
One of my most favourite songs of all time! I first heard this song when I was 13 visiting Canada with my parents all the way from Australia, in their summer of 1986. My cousin Lesley and I sunbaking in the backyard and this song was all over the radio. Fell in love with it instantly. Love the video clip too. Whenever I hear this song it always brings me back to that time.
This song makes my chest tighten even 38 years later. I am in love with this song.
The first time I heard "West End Girls" by the Pet Shop Boys, I was immediately hooked. I was an instant fan and have been ever since. ALL of their songs are just SO good! Great vid! :)
Thanks my friend!
My mom introduced it to me, and I have not looked back since.
The remake of this song is outstanding, the first didn't have all the layers on yhe first release. The Pet Shop Boys have a very distinct sound and i feel this song was a game changer, if anyone wanted to make sync pop they needed to up their game after West End Girls. Fantastic episode professor had no idea they were the UK top duo till today, well earned
TBH, the first version sounds like a demo......
One of the songs that laid a foundation.
@@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398 I agree
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 it definitely was
I think you mean synth-pop.
The Pet Shop Boys are in my pantheon of musical gods. Utterly fantastic and unique. Pure brilliance.
Lol…musical gods??? Lmao. Ok then.
@@mikepalmer1971 OK! We agree! Your response wasn't worthless and a waste of both of our time.
@@britishrocklovingyank3491 neither was yours. Lol
They’re so awesome.
Love ❤their way cool music! Saw them live in concert with Frankie Goes To Hollywood in 1986 in L.A.
One of my favorite duo's too! Love their entire catalog of music... absolutely timeless.
Pet Shop Boys were one of the few highlights in an otherwise crappy year. Two years, really. It was a diving board to a new style of music that would stay with me my entire life.
The song got overplayed for my liking but that album produced songs I could never get sick of.
Primarily, Love Comes Quickly and Suburbia -possibly including Tonight Is Forever.
This was a fantastic episode. I love how your storytelling is so hypnotic. Like your words are completely un-rehearsed and just coming from your passion for the subject matter.
Thanks for a great class, Prof.
I loved this song when I first heard it in 1986. I was in between grad school and my first real, full time job. The whole sense of being between worlds resonated. It brings back so many memories.
The pet shop boy, a total guilty pleasure for someone raised on hair metal. All their songs are very relatable, especially with the addition of Dusty Springfield (rip)
That song with Dusty will remain a classic.
All my friends that are metal heads (my first love) they don't know what I love about The Pet Shop Boys. I just love them . I love Neil's voice as well. West End Girls is definitely my favorite
This song is definitely a musical time machine! I was immediately transported back in time just listening to this video. This is a fantastic song and I also love the song with Dusty Springfield...What have I done to deserve this. ❤
Dusty killed it on that verse!
Time machine is right.
You've done two wonderful videos on Pet Shop Boys but both are about their 80s beginnings and given that they're celebrating the 40th anniversary of their first record and have remained steadily active throughout the last four decades with few periods of inactivity and are enjoying huge success with their current releases, I think at least another video is due regarding PSB post 80s.
I don't think it was just the music or even the lyrics that alone propelled this song. The lead singer's VOICE just has a captivating tone, and of course, the English accent adds to that effect, for listeners in other countries anyway. Very unique song and sound all together. I remember watching MTV in early 80's, kind of in its infancy really, joining the military in 1983, serving over-seas, then coming back to the U. S. in 1986 and seeing this video and others, and all the changes that occurred in music for 3 years during my absence. I was a lead trumpet player in college, before I joined the military, dabbled in the piano, saved money while I was in the military, had eye surgery to correct my vision when I returned home, grew my hair long, improved my keyboard skills, and joined a hair band playing local clubs in the college scene in Richmond and Lexington, Kentucky. I remember seeing an interview years later with Def Leppard. They said "MTV made us... and we made them." Before MTV, many people did not even know what their favorite bands looked like. What an amazing transition.
It’s like Men at Work, where you can hear in their singing voice that they’re Australian.
The singer sounds a lot like Al Stewart -- so much that I wasn't sure it wasn't Stewart the first time I heard this song. (Great song, too. I don't like tons of synth pop but this one is super catchy and well made.)
Pet Shop Boys literally started it all for me-- they were the first act that I felt was mine- my discovery on the radio that my parents didn't know anything about and I got to follow since first hearing that first opening snare, brooding synth pad, and double kick drum. Until then I only owned cassettes but 'Opportunities' would be the first of many many12" singles, a UK import that started me down a very expensive path of collecting remixes and b-sides that continues to this day. PSB in 1986 had such a slick, worldly sound that made you feel cooler vicariously, just by having them playing in your headphones. After almost forty years they have not slowed a step Neil's voice is immaculate and Chris still has his ears on the pulse of the UK club music scene. See them live if you can-- you will not regret it.
Love love love Pet Shop Boys. Such distinctive music. West End Girls is superb but so many great songs over the years. Love comes quickly is one of my faves & also What have I done to deserve this with Dusty Springfield. Their songs sound as good today as they did in the 80’s!
This video could have not come out a better time. I was listening to Pet Shop Boys so much these last few days! West End Girls, Rent, Go West, It's A Sin, Domino Dancing, Home And Dry, Being Boring and To Speak Is A Sin are my favorites
"Tonight is forever."
"Go West" was a Village People cover.
Great songs from a great duo.
cover of "always on my mind" is very good.
This song is perfection. Absolutely love it.
I also remember the first time I heard this song. I was 15, and I was sitting in my dad's car with him as he drove into an unfamiliar (to me) quasi-industrial area to pick up a check for a job I'm pretty sure he'd just lost. It wasn't the most comfortable drive. And then this song (the re-recorded version) came on the radio, and I was hooked right from the intro. Those opening chords, that beat and bass line... and then that unique and striking voice, not making the slightest attempt to hide its Britishness on the rap verse. And then it got to the chorus, and it turned out that the guy could *sing*. I was an instant fan. Over the next several years I spent hours in record stores tracking down every release I could get my hands on, including dozens of imports for singles that weren't released domestically in the US. I remember making my way through another unfamiliar area to the one local art-house movie theater I could find that was showing their movie, "It Couldn't Happen Here". And I remember when they committed the ultimate sin of making a music video that had homoerotic overtones in it... and paid for it by never having another one of their singles hit the US Top 40 again, despite continuing, to this day, to make some of the catchiest (as well as the smartest) dance music that's ever been written. Pet Shop Boys are legends. Thanks for giving them their due, Professor.
This is why I love your channel! Thank you!❤❤❤
A funny story indeed haha. Music is not an easy industry, but when you pull it of it's just fantastic, especially when you get the last laugh!
Great lesson today, RC32.
It was night, the only light was from a dim television, I was watching Moonlighting, David Addison is walking into a bar, suddenly the most amazing music comes on. I was instantly captured and became obsessed with finding out who had made that song so I could get a copy. That album pleased me very much. Still love to listen to it all the way through. One of the best debut albums of all time.
I didn't realize Pet Shop Boys had so many hits, but to my mind they never did a bad song. I recently heard "Left to my Own Devices" and that is epic. You mentioned at the start whether I could recall the first record, cassette or 8-track I bought with my own money. I am a bit too young for 8-tracks but my first 45 record was "Can You Feel It" by The Jacksons, and I think my first cassettes were "True Blue" by Madonna and "Give Me the Reason" by Luther Vandross.
Avid Pet shop boys fan here, absolutely love their songs, I have as many of their albums I can get plus a movie they did, I’m yet to see them in concert
If this song was released this week it would be hit. It still sounds as fresh as it did 37 years ago.
And i still love it just as much.
FINALLY someone acknowledges the Bobcat release! LOL - we played it at the club I was working at in Atlanta. When the new version came out I was like “they slowed it down so much! What the hell?” About 126 bpm to 115 bpm if I recall.
The production was tons better for sure. That Bobby O version was anemic and muddy.
They came through in an American tour in 1991 and played ClubLand Detroit when I was working there. 2 guys, a lot of dancers and I believe 2 semis of wardrobe. Great show. These guys were pretty special. Still touring!
Also to be acknowledged: Shep Pettibone’s remixes (he was riding high before Stock Aiken Waterman took up all the oxygen in the room).
Thanks for telling this story, Prof.
this is one of those jams that I will never get tired of hearing. when it pops on my radio I smash the volume knob.
I don't know where My pet shop boy's Vinyl albums end...plenty great songs......i saw them LIVE 6 years ago...amazing...and My daughter came with me ...liked and enjoyed SO much....
It's funny because you're opening line about "if you remember the first 8-Track, Album, CD you ever brought.." "Please" was the third album I ever brought after "Duran Duran Arena" and Wham's "Make It Big." Love the Pet Shop Boys to this day with my personal favorite being "What've I Done to Deserve This?"
Groovy coverage per usual, Professor 🎙️I was, however, surprised to hear no mention of a fantastic homage to "West End Girls", "Inner City Pressure" by Flight of the Conchords 🥝
Thank you, I was also waiting for a mention of "Inner City Pressure". It's a great song in it's own right, but to PSB fans the tribute is unmistakable.
Yes! And given that it was in the very first episode, it's kind of how they established the show, their music-video-within-the-show format, and their tribute/spoof songs. It was a seminal moment for Flight of the Conchords. I heard their version long before I became familiar with the original, but immediately recognized that "Inner City Pressure" was based on "West End Girls" when I did finally hear it. The boys from New Zealand did such a great job paying tribute to Pet Shop Boys the connection was impossible not to hear.
@professorofrock I grew up an Army (U.S.) brat and my sad got stationed in Northern Germany. When I first heard this song, I was 7 and we were visiting the city of Hamburg and Frankfurt. That night, I happened to see the video on England's version of MTV back then called the Skybox on their Sky Channel... I was hooked on them, along with Depeche Mode, because that's when I first heard them too (People Are People) on the very same day, from that forward!
Incredible band, fantastic songs, and still do wonderful music in the 10's to the present. They have a discography with songs and lyrics...They found a unique formula. I was a fan from minute 1.
I was stationed in Germany at the time and met my wife. This song was played so often in the German disco techs and even me being a rocker absolutely love this song.
I watch a RUclips channel that uploads top of the pops videos and such like.
The guy has started uploading the top 200 hits of each year of the 80s.
I couldn't believe how many songs the pet shop boys had in the top 200 from quite a few year's in the mid to late 80s. They basically ruled the charts.
It's quite a feat they achieved.
What’s the name of the channel?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Steveh31.👍
They are one of the iconic sounds of the 80s. I hear any one of their popular songs and I'm nostalgic. Wouldn't it be great if we could live through the 80s again :)
Neil was a Smash Hits editor when the UK pop scene was at its peak. 'Fletch', 'Desperately Seeking Susan' - the video is a genuine time capsule. Pet Shop Boys were one of the last truly great 80's acts - along with another synth pop classic act 'Erasure'. Both still going. Good times.
Love "West End Girls"-Still sounds great to this day.
IMHO, "Discography" is definitely a candidate for the list of items to have while stranded on a desert island.
"You know, if you remember Smash Hits magazine... you're gonna dig this channel..."
I grew up in Maine, Professor... and I would wait all month to be able to buy Smash Hits and Star Hits at the one bookstore in Bangor that carried them. A special memory today for me for sure!
Actually is still one of my favourite albums. Saw them live in Melbourne in 1994. They were awesome.
PSB was my favorite band in the 80s. I would argue that 'Please' and 'Actually' are one of the best 'freshman/sophomore' albums ever put out by a band.
East meets West through synthesized grandeur. Excellent exposé, Professor!
I've been a massive PSB fan since they broke in 1983!❤❤
Thanks so much Professor for this video ❤
I remember hearing it everywhere, at every hip place u would wanna go, What a wonderful time! It was great being a teenager in the 80s!
Not a bad joke at *all,* Professor. No need to apologize. You know, I just told a co-worker about this song less than a week ago. I sincerely hope she seeks it out. Next time I see her, if she hasn't, I'll refer her to *this* video. My salute to you *and* PSB, of course.
When this song was first released (the first version) I heard it here in Canada on a cassette that my girlfriend had received from her British uncle who was a club DJ. I definitely remember hearing it for the first time. And then I remember hearing the re-recorded version about a year later. Such a great time of my life.
I remember hearing "West End Girls" when I'd just moved to Dallas in 1985. At the time, George Gimarc, one of the most learned and well-known DJs of the day, who had brought back a ton of new music from Europe, played it on his "Rock and Roll Alternative" program, and prophesied that it would become a monster hit in short order. He was right! It was YUGE, played everywhere!
Dallas in the mid 80s was great.
Neil Tennant really understood the essence of great pop music of all genres. Smash Hits was great and never took itself or the artists too seriously unlike the rest of the UK music press. Their imperial phase in the eighties and early nineties really did produce sublime music- Suburbia and Rent are probably my two favourites. I knew Chris Lowe studied architecture but not that he was at the University of Liverpool, down the road from where I live. What Have I Done To Deserve This? with Dusty Springfield was a stroke of genius that brought her back to deserved prominence. Losing My Mind with Liza Minnelli is also on another level as a pop masterpiece, such a powerful song. The Brit Awards 1988 performance with Dusty and BBC1 Wogan interview with Liza (both on You Tube) in 1989 are clearly celebrations of the art of both women. You can tell how much respect PSB had for them as female singers/ performers.
You know your stuff!
I think that is an excellent comment, except you misspelled Liza Minnelli's last name. Have a nice day.
Two of the greatest female personalities of the 20th century.
I love PSB ❤
I was very lucky to watch them live twice in 2014 and it was amazing! Thank you for this great video, love from Guatemala 🇬🇹💙
Great episode, really enjoyed it!
West End Girls, still sounds so good, such a cool song! The second version was definitely the one I heard first and it's much better than the first version.
Pet Shop Boys are still going strong and are releasing excellent and exciting music! Their hooks, baselines, synth work in general and Neil's voice is just such a magical combination!
I used to read Star Hits (the American version of Smash Hits)all through jr high and high school. I remember reading articles by Neil Tennent, I always enjoyed reading his articles. So when I started hearing about The Pet Shop Boys, I recognized Tennent’s name. Been a fan of PSB ever since… my Fav PSB song has always been Being Boring. I led an… UNUSUAL lifestyle when I moved to DC and Being Boring had ALWAYS reminded me of my friends from my early 20’s…
I remember! I miss those mags!
I love Being Boring!
A true professor of Rock. You are a joy to listen to and your knowledge and research are the top...Great job each time. Thank you.
Can't tell you how much I appreciate that, in spite of being mostly focussed on Rock (I mean, obviously 😄) you can appreciate Pet Shop Boys for their brilliance like this! As someone who grew up in more of a "Doors-and-Bob-Dylan-household" (who I'm using as examples for my parents being mostly into 60s music, of course (though also loving Nirvana and other early 90s Alternative Rock as what I agree to be something that brought that spirit back in a way) which they definitely passed on to me (the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Doors, Dylan and many others are the greatest imo ) I used to treat them as kind of a guilty pleasure and not take them particularly seriously until I came to the conclusion that they genuinely, unironically belong to the greatest. Neil Tennants voice, his sophisticated charme and particular type of "Britishness" (not to mention the often dark sense of humor) plays, as others have pointed out, an important part of course, but also the perfect arrangements to go with it and their ability to come up with one absolutely gorgeous melody after another!...
Brilliant analysis from a music anthropologist. Top stuff Professor.
So happy to see a feature on PSB. My all-time favorite band.
Pet Shop Boys was certainly Top-of - the - Heap👌 very timely episode. I did a deep-dive into Pet Shop Boys last night on my Spotify. Love them! 😀
Pet Shop Boys fans have been dubbed as Pet Heads by Neil Tennant. as a massive Pet Head, i welcome another great video from the Professor about my favourite synth pop duo.
From the first listen, I’ve always loved that song, and I still say to this day, the greatest English babd synth ear best of collections are the Pet Shop Boys Discography, and New Order Substance. And until I saw that clip. I’d completely forgot I used to play that Ghostbusters game too on my Commodore 64!
I am a new subscriber and I'm enjoying your content. West End Girls, Always on my mind and Domino Dancing are my favorite songs by the Pet Shop Boys. It would be nice to see a story on the band Electronic. Thanks for sharing.
Also if they're touring anywhere around you, do yrself a favour and go see them, their shows are 🔥
I have been a Pet Shop Boys fan from the jump and of their more recent albums Yes, Electric and Hotspot rank among their best. They will be releasing their 15th album soon. They are the pop masters and have influenced many artists over the last 40.years.
Wow West End girls, never knew what it was about, but just the music without the voices is so awesome.
Good job on this review as per usual Professor. You nailed it.🎉
Still jamming out to this song in 2023!!! 👏👏👏
I remember buying the Pet Shop Boys cassette Please when I heard Suburbia playing at the local music store (man I miss those stores) when I was living in Southern California. Kind of forgotten about them until may be 10-years ago I heard West End Girls on the 'Oldies' station here in Arizona. It was a moment that I had the realization with West End Girls playing on the 'oldies station' I was 'old' (for the record born in May 1975I making me about a year older than "The Professor".
This was such a well-produced video, great job.
Great synth rhythm on this song. One of those songs you could put on repeat
That bassline.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yes, so catchy! :)
Another great video Adam!! Almost 1 million subscribers....what are you going to do when you hit that milestone???
Seen them plenty times live in Manchester and Blackpool where Chris Lowe is from, West End Girls must have the most remixes of any track in the 80s. Back then we copied them by not looking at the camera pose 😅
Several years later, Scottish actor David John McDonald was told that he needed a stage name in order to work in the States. He leafed through a music magazine and decided to name himself after the lead singer of the Pet Shop Boys.
Wow cool behind the scenes info on this one! I never knew !
I remember driving home one night and on the radio they paid the album Please from the Pet Shop Boys. I never heard of them and never had a whole album of an artist that I like every song from but this one was it and I bought it the next day.
Very cool!
Actually was my favorite album cover of theirs, just so hilarious!
Only British group in music history who can say they're bigger than the Beatles, and show receipts to prove it!
Across all of your videos I disagree with 50 percent of your commentary BUT your RUclips channel is a blessing and a joy to watch. (Sometimes I wonder if sometimes you say things just to get the reactions)
One of my all time favorite songs, Domino Dancing.
Mine too..."all day all day.. watch them all fall down"
I love PSB, the first song I knew about was Opportunities. I do love West End Girls, but I’ve heard it so many times now that I tend to skip it when it comes on. I’ve been a huge fan since, and I have almost their entire catalog on vinyl. I have everything they have been involved with in one form or another. Thanx for this episode ❤️