Neil, Chris & Fans come Full Circle ...

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dibdav

Neil, Chris & Fans come Full Circle ...

#1 Post by dibdav »

What a time to be a Pet Shop Boys fan I say !

As with all things there comes a time, after the experimentation, the doubting, the loss of enthusiasm, the identity crisis and the futility of it all that you come full circle and meet the point once more why you started to do what you do in the first place.

It's clear to me, from the music, the style (IMS single cover a great example) that Neil and Chris actually LOVE being the PET SHOP BOYS again, it's fun and exciting to be in a pop group in 2006.

...and for the fans, who for many have been through it all with them too, it's like meeting a long lost friend after all these years and it's as fresh and as silly as before.

Bill Shankley, for those who don't know was a Liverpool Football Manager who once said :
'football is not a matter of life and death, it's much more important than that.'

...POP MUSIC can be the same, it can be throw away, a way of 'marking time' - something I think Neil and Chris have been alittle guilty over the late 90's, or it can be the most important thing in the world, something to make our time memorable and fun.

Their obvious love for PopJustice.com shows they are in love with the pop process again, I think Neil especially sees it as the new 'smash hits' - what's a pop star's favourite food, what does your mum think etc...

...and for those hung-up about age. Look at it, the Pet Shop Boys are doing something that no pop group as ever done before, capable of creating wonderful YOUTHFUL POP music that spans the generations.

Simply put, the Pet Shop Boys Love Pop again, and what a wonderful thing it is :wink:

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!
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#2 Post by ! »

Well, I've only been a fan since Flamboyant so I don't know what you're going on about, lol :wink:

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#3 Post by Zog »

! wrote:Well, I've only been a fan since Flamboyant so I don't know what you're going on about, lol :wink:
Yes... but I do know exactly what he's talking about... and I agree.


-Zog

dibdav

#4 Post by dibdav »

The idea that you have only been a PSB fan since Flamboyant ... you have missed out on sooo much.

I don't mind admitting it Neil & Chris music 'fundamentally' influenced by teenage years, for the good!
They have inspired me to do what I do today.

It's cool that you have discovered them, but missing out on the 'imperial' phase, the 'behaviour/performance' phase, 'going down the dumper' slightly phase with 'was it worth it' (a good song though),
the 'glorious very' phase, me off to university 'being more into britpop than psb,' 'ignoring nightlife then a new interest only to be dissapointed with Release' phase, 'the hint of a return to form with popart' phase and here we are - back to where they started, fantastic pop imagery, great songs (we hope), finally joining up with Madonna (people of my generation 80's will understand why this was so significant & overdue) and loving pop again.

Fabolous :D

...now it's time for my 'going to bed phase' - i'm knackered.

David (dibcoo) :P

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#5 Post by ! »

dibdav wrote:The idea that you have only been a PSB fan since Flamboyant ... you have missed out on sooo much.

I don't mind admitting it Neil & Chris music 'fundamentally' influenced by teenage years, for the good!
They have inspired me to do what I do today.

It's cool that you have discovered them, but missing out on the 'imperial' phase, the 'behaviour/performance' phase, 'going down the dumper' slightly phase with 'was it worth it' (a good song though),
the 'glorious very' phase, me off to university 'being more into britpop than psb,' 'ignoring nightlife then a new interest only to be dissapointed with Release' phase, 'the hint of a return to form with popart' phase and here we are - back to where they started, fantastic pop imagery, great songs (we hope), finally joining up with Madonna (people of my generation 80's will understand why this was so significant & overdue) and loving pop again.

Fabolous :D

...now it's time for my 'going to bed phase' - i'm knackered.

David (dibcoo) :P
Well, I am only 17 o_O
I knew about songs like West End Girls and It's A Sin before tho :wink:
My brother has the Domino Dancing single too 8)

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#6 Post by Vicki »

I'm 18 years old an I couldn't possibly come through these 20 years of the PSBs success along with them but I've been a fan for 8 years now and it's so great to hear all these wonderful songs from the PSBs now! (though I haven't heard them yet...)

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Re: Neil, Chris & Fans come Full Circle ...

#7 Post by Chrispsb »

dibdav wrote: As with all things there comes a time, after the experimentation, the doubting, the loss of enthusiasm, the identity crisis and the futility of it all that you come full circle and meet the point once more why you started to do what you do in the first place.

It's clear to me, from the music, the style (IMS single cover a great example) that Neil and Chris actually LOVE being the PET SHOP BOYS again, it's fun and exciting to be in a pop group in 2006.

...and for the fans, who for many have been through it all with them too, it's like meeting a long lost friend after all these years and it's as fresh and as silly as before.
Actually, I don't know what you are talking about. Just because of a new single and some new artwork you think it's all fine again? But then: What was wrong in the past? Me and many other fans enjoyed Release as well as Nightlife and Bilingual. If Fundamental is just a new version of Actually and / or Please I am not really going to like it for sure. I've always liked Neil and Chris to try and experiment and I'm quite sure that also Fundamental will be slightly different to the releases during the past 20 years. And I haven't been through anything - with or without them. Can't say there was a crises. But it's just my view while you are trying to say that every fan feels the same about it.

dibdav

#8 Post by dibdav »

Get a grip Chrispsb.

If you thought Release was good then this thread is not for you.

London has to be the worst song they have ever written. They tackled 'London' 18 years earlier to
much greater effect with West End Girls. Release was lazy, 'treading water.'

Much better to drown, kickin' & screaming :lol:

stew

#9 Post by stew »

im 21 cant remember a time not liking them as all my family forced me into listening to it 24 / 7!

when i wanted to start playing football the basturds went and released VERY and that was it I was hooked!!!

T-SHIRTS,BOOKS,VIDEOS,BADGES had to have everything!!!

then they released RELEASE and yeh I liked it but couldnt make anyone listen to it with pride as they were 2 blokeswho jeans and black tops!!!!


now yeh...they are the PSB again they have that look and feel to the music just like in the VERY era!

seriously it is a time to be a fan and everyone i know has now the song


I love the BOYSagain!!!!!

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#10 Post by Dog »

dibdav wrote:Get a grip Chrispsb.

If you thought Release was good then this thread is not for you.

London has to be the worst song they have ever written. They tackled 'London' 18 years earlier to
much greater effect with West End Girls. Release was lazy, 'treading water.'

Much better to drown, kickin' & screaming :lol:
Bilge.
Woof.

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#11 Post by Chrispsb »

Dog wrote:
dibdav wrote:Get a grip Chrispsb.

If you thought Release was good then this thread is not for you.

London has to be the worst song they have ever written. They tackled 'London' 18 years earlier to
much greater effect with West End Girls. Release was lazy, 'treading water.'

Much better to drown, kickin' & screaming :lol:
Bilge.
Exactly.

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#12 Post by Ghost within this house »

While your sentiment strikes a chord with me, Dibdav, I prefer to take a different line. Their waning as mainstream pop stars (which started, in a way, in the week in '88 when Domino Dancing entered the UK chart at #7) was certainly disappointing (and I'm not entirely convinced Fundamental will make a great deal of difference to this), but, as song writers, they've developed, explored and diversified. Not everything from Bilingual, Nightlife or Release is top quality, but there are some fantastic songs in there.. I love London, Email, It always comes as a surprise, etc..
Not only that, but I didn't ever find Very a 'glorious' album: it was pure pop, but not, to me, the quintessence of PSB.

If their exploratory songwriting in the 90s has improved them so that they return with a devastating pop album in May that hits all the notes of their heyday but with greater subtlety and wisdom, then I'll be in clover.

and if Fundamental really is the nearest to Behaviour, then I'll be in an enormous field of clover :wink:
Firing verbal shots.......like a Tommy Gun

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Re: Neil, Chris & Fans come Full Circle ...

#13 Post by ArseSpanker »

dibdav wrote:As with all things there comes a time, after the experimentation, the doubting, the loss of enthusiasm, the identity crisis and the futility of it all that you come full circle and meet the point once more why you started to do what you do in the first place.
I'm sorry, friend, but I really don't understand a word you're saying. Have you discovered an unified theory of physics, or something?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect or represent those of its author.

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#14 Post by Monty-- »

I thought Bilingual was a highlight of their ongoing career. That is a very strong album (with the exception of Before and Saturday Night Forever..why didn't they put Delusions Of Grandeur and The Calm Before The Storm on the album instead?) Out of all their albums, I'd say Nighlife was the only weak one. Release showed that they were constantly trying out new stuff to them, which I find fresh and appealing. But yeah...thinking about it, it's not realy great in my opinion.

I don't think they've been treading water. I think they always been there, experimenting, pushing themselves. I just hope Fundamental is their best since Bilingual (a very underated album).

Technotrancemix

#15 Post by Technotrancemix »

Very well said Monty

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