Would you like any long-running song on the new album?

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Zeus On The Loose
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#76 Post by Zeus On The Loose »

jamie1978 wrote: They didn't cover it because of any AIDS subtext, that is post-rationalisation and the intellectualising of what is nothing more than a cheesy pop cover. Of course, the fans can't accept that, and attach all kind of grand themes and 'sub-texts'.

I mean, how dare anyone suspect that actually, they just covered it because Chris liked the original and they wanted a hit.

Which, actually, is exactly what Neil has said.
I have no problem admitting so, after all, I prefer PSB to release proper pop music than anything pseudo-meaningful.

However, it's not fan post-rationalisation because even before the release of Go West, in every magazine Very track-by-track interview, they explained all the subtext which is their own interpretation of the song. Which is far more to say than e.g What Have I Done To Deserve This, Heart, So Hard, Jealousy, Was It Worth It, Normally, Liberation, Before, Se A Vida E, in fact 90% of PSB's back catalogue all of which has *no subtext* and no intellectual post-rationalisation at all and is as cheesy as Go West, if one's to say Go West is cheesy (which is certainly not).

Still, even the original had gay connotations, it wasn't *just* another 70's disco stomper to begin with. I think your dislike about Go West probably has to do with cultural cringe over what is considered traditionally gay. Get over it. With metrosexuality around, you don't have to be embarassed, dear, and I doubt all wedding reception punters who still boogie with the sounds of YMCA and In The Navy around the world care about who they're by at all.

And as thomashenry pointed out, the original intention of the artist doesn't matter at all. Lots of records with no original meaning have taken a life of their own. Look at Better The Devil You Know, for example...
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Zeus On The Loose
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#77 Post by Zeus On The Loose »

jamie1978 wrote:Well, good points made by various people.

I'm still of the mind that its a cheesy pop cover, created because they wanted a hit and Chris liked the original. And thats it.

I guess I'll have to agree to disagree ;)
True, however, in pop music, there's a whole set of rules that apply a certain allure in records. PSB covering Go West made a completely different record to e.g Geri Halliwell covering it....
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jamie1978
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#78 Post by jamie1978 »

Zeus On The Loose wrote:
I think your dislike about Go West probably has to do with cultural cringe over what is considered traditionally gay. Get over it. With metrosexuality around, you don't have to be embarassed, dear, and I doubt all wedding reception punters who still boogie with the sounds of YMCA and In The Navy around the world care about who they're by at all.
I have to take exception to this rather ridiculous assumption. I'm perfectly comfortable with all things gay.

My issue with Go West is that it is a cover version, and an extremely OTT and cheesy cover version at that. I also think that they only did it to 'make a hit', which at that time they felt they needed.

The gay thing is not an issue. If they had covered a late sevenites Bee Gees track, I would be equally unenthusiastic.

You probably should try to refrain from making assumptions like that, because it spoils your otherwise very good posts.

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Zeus On The Loose
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#79 Post by Zeus On The Loose »

Yeah, well, I started my sentence with 'I think' which shows that it's an opinion formed by what you had written and you were more than welcome to argue against.

I don't see what's the difference between Go West, Streets and Always On My Mind, do you hate Always on my mind too? If anything, Streets is the lowest they've stooped to save their chart fortunes, Go West was much more of a proper release. Also, we have to more or less thank Go West for saving Very and giving PSB a boost of commercial success. We don't know if they would have been able to release as many singles and albums if they hadn't revived their career with it.
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jamie1978
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#80 Post by jamie1978 »

Well, I do think its a shame that in the 1990's, of their three top 5 hits, two were cover versions.

Not what one would hope for, from the winners of three Ivor Novello awards.

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Zeus On The Loose
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#81 Post by Zeus On The Loose »

I don't mind cover versions providing that whoever makes them does something creative and new with them. And PSB most certainly have done so.
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Niall
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#82 Post by Niall »

nickname wrote:
dVTB wrote:The brilliance of Go West is not its cheesy dance production, but it's the way Pet Shop Boys covered it. The subtle changes in the melody, the newly written bridge, the one tone up (before the final chorus) and the dance part after the final 'goooo weeeeest.'

Scatman John died a few years ago, by the way...
More or less in the middle of the song, the sound of the trumpets while Silvia is singing is amazing too.

I miss the sound of trumpets in a PSB song. Some people think it sounds very 80's but I don't think so. It's so ellegant.
In Suburbia the sound of the trumpet is brilliant (the last part of the song), in How can you expect to be taken seriously?? (extended mix) is amazing too and Westend Girls (but I know this sound is similar to a trumpet but it's not a trumpet really, it was made with the keyboards by Stephen Hague).
Also in You Know Where You Went Wrong and in Domino Dancing.
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