What is really now the situation with 'Integral'?

[Riikka]

We have read discussions about 'Integral' for quite a while, but I would like to know some definite info about it. I've been around in the forums for such a short time now that I haven't followed all the earlier discussions. But I just can't help thinking.....

Why wasn't 'Integral' released as a single?

Is that really the decision of the record company? Or was it, at the end, the decision of Neil and Chris, which songs they wanted to be singles from Fundamental?

And if it's the record company deciding that 'Integral' can't be the single, why is that? What's wrong with the song?

I'm asking this because I feel it's a big injustice. The song is, in my opinion, probably the best song composed in this century so far, and it surely would catch the attention of radio listeners too. I'm really angry about it being hidden on the album.

Secondly, why aren't there any remixes of the song? When there are remixes of so many PSB songs, why not of one of their best ones? I'm waiting for the day when I will hear a good extended version of 'Integral'!!

Can we have some official info about this subject one day?

[Pet Shop Girl]

THis is a question that keeps coming up, its doubtful that "Integral" will be released as a single. Not a year out.

[singysingysingy]

When I first listened to this song I didn't know it, it was on their tour and I thought this MUST GOT HAS to be the new single and when I bought the album it was a BIG surprise this song isn't released. WHY? I'm new here and also want to know, but I guess the most weird decisions are made by the recordcompanies, fans never will understand! Same for Sodom and Gommorah Show!

[dVTB]

It's no longer doubtful that Integral will be single, it's totally out of the question. The final chance to release it was when they started the European leg of their current tour. Integral could have coincided with the release of Cubism. The latter is already out; a 4th single more than a year after Fundamental is now irrelevant, unfortunately. Yet another PSB album where the potential wasn't used.

[Dog]

Singles are obviously released to sell albums; they don't make money in their own right any more. A fourth single release wouldn't sell enough further copies of the album to justify its release.

[DJAMIX]

What is really now the situation with 'Integral'?

It's on Fundamental.

[Radiophonic]

Will the potential singles that aren't released be on a future <i>Disco</i> compilation? As was the case with <i>Release</i>?

[Fugitive1979]

It's not going to happen. Let's put it to bed.

[DJAMIX]

The only late release I remember (and not that late) was Here, but on Disco 3.

[chrisbor]

...god ...this subject has been talked about so much !!!!!

The truth is that I do not like this song that much ...its probably one of my least favourite track on the album! ( good its the last one )
Whether you like a song or not is purely subjective ...it seems for me a bit pretentious to call a song the best of the century !!!!....but please certainly not INTEGRAL ...for me its in the same bag than GO WEST , overtly commercial and it loses its appeal after a few listens...eventhough i must admit GO WEST works very well live ( better than on record) .

FUGITIVE deserved to be a single much more than INTEGRAL ...I also prefer Sodom AGS...Its very good remix on FUNDAMENTALISM proves it is a very good dance track ready to be remixed ...somehow I cant imagined INTEGRAL being remixed ( remember those dreadful remixes of GO WEST ! ). I am also convinced INTEGRAL will have never been such a big hit either ...too camp and over the top for the buying public nowadays...and elsewhere than in the UK its subject matter would have been irrelevant .

[PopArt]

Hearing Integral at the Hammersmith gig was one of the highlights. I always thought it should've been a single but I came away from there thinking that actually it should have been the lead single from Fundamental. It is just so catchy and clever.

They should have released Integral, followed by Im with Stupid and then Minimal as the final single. It would have got the album more attention but as to how much it would have affected sales is anyone's guess. Last year was (in my opinion) PSB's best chance at a commercial revival in a very long time. It didnt really come off and whilst the choice of lead single wasn't the best, it wasn't bad either. I personally would have expected both I'm with Stupid and Fundamental to have done better than they did. The fact that they didn't suggests that a true significant commercial revival is not likely to happen for the forseeable future at least.

[Kris]

They should have released Integral, followed by Im with Stupid and then Minimal as the final single. It would have got the album more attention but as to how much it would have affected sales is anyone's guess. Last year was (in my opinion) PSB's best chance at a commercial revival in a very long time. It didnt really come off and whilst the choice of lead single wasn't the best, it wasn't bad either. I personally would have expected both I'm with Stupid and Fundamental to have done better than they did. The fact that they didn't suggests that a true significant commercial revival is not likely to happen for the forseeable future at least.

I'm With Stupid was PSB's biggest hit for 10 years and Fundamental has sold more copies than Nightlife and Release put together (in the UK). I really don't see how you could have expected either to perform better in an era where PSB are now well outside the main record-buying bracket.

Integral is a decent but unspectacular song. In retrospect it should have been the second single rather than Minimal, which is a great tune but lacks the significant hooks needed to become a big hit. Ultimately, however, I don't think releasing Integral would have made any difference to Fundamental sales as I don't think it would have appealed significantly enough beyond the fanbase.

[andifeel]

The subject matter of Integral would have generated much needed press inches over its mild controversy and easily have helped Fundamental shifted a few more units.

Sadly, Im With Stupid and Minimal have met with lacklustre reactions at the gigs ive seen, whereas Integral and Sodom have the place jumping, even people who dont know the new album have found themselves jumping and remembering Integral and Sodom, whereas they have glossed over Stupid and Minimal.

Stupid achieved its chart position as it was the lead single, and there was interest in a new PSB record, not on its merits as a song. Any track would have had equal airplay etc.

Mega, mega mistake with the singles. They will have to remain on our own personal PSB Best Of CD compilations I guess.

[Joemoz]

My advice is to do a search on the forum and read through the 75 (no, now 76) topics that have already been started on this topic.

Integral was not a single - most people agree that it is strange. It won't be now. End of story.

[Kris]

The subject matter of Integral would have generated much needed press inches over its mild controversy and easily have helped Fundamental shifted a few more units.

I'm still not convinced it would. Integral is a catchy tune, sure, but it's also a typical PSB song that, while lapped up by the fanbase, really isn't going to have that much impact elsewhere. And bearing in mind the vast majority of fans would have already owned Fundamental, I don't think Integral would have shifted many more copies. The song itself would probably have sat comfortably in the UK top 20 but I doubt any station other than Radio 2 would have played it, reducing its chances of having a bigger chart impact.

Sadly, Im With Stupid and Minimal have met with lacklustre reactions at the gigs ive seen, whereas Integral and Sodom have the place jumping, even people who dont know the new album have found themselves jumping and remembering Integral and Sodom, whereas they have glossed over Stupid and Minimal.

Some songs do work well live but that doesn't mean they have the same impact on record. For example, New York City Boy sounds really good live and always gets a good reception but a lot of people - including myself - think it is one of their poorest songs. I dare say Integral and Sodom do sound great live (I'll find out myself on Wednesday ) but that doesn't necessarily make them ideal singles. Sodom, in particular, is a pretty average tune in my opinion.

Stupid achieved its chart position as it was the lead single, and there was interest in a new PSB record, not on its merits as a song. Any track would have had equal airplay etc.

No, I'm with stupid achieved its chart position through being a great song and the perfect lead single. Remember that the lead singles from the previous two studio albums missed the top 10 by a fair distance so it's not as if PSB are guaranteed a #8 single with every new release. I'm with stupid also sold unusually well throughout that first week, not just on Monday, which suggests that it wasn't just the fanbase that snapped it up.

Mega, mega mistake with the singles. They will have to remain on our own personal PSB Best Of CD compilations I guess.

I'd have swapped Minimal for Integral but that's hindsight for you. Not many people at the time complained about Minimal being the second single and some thought it was going to be a huge hit, particularly as it got a surprising amount of airplay.

Ultimately, as I said in my previous post, I think Fundamental sold as well as could be expected for an act that the major record-buying demographic largely forgot over a decade ago. Consequently, I really don't believe releasing Integral would have made a difference.