Pet Shop Boys: A Life In Pop Documentary - Discussion

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canveyboy · #61 Post by **canveyboy** » Thu 25 May 2006, 9:11 am

another great moment was Neil's demo from 1980, some acoustic guitar thing! classic photo too!!

CBA · #62 Post by **CBA** » Thu 25 May 2006, 9:13 am

One of the crowd wrote:From an outsiders look, it appears they didnt release anything between Introspective and Nightlife

Actually, Behaviour was discussed at length.

One of the crowd · Thu 25 May 2006, 9:17 am

CBA wrote:
One of the crowd wrote:From an outsiders look, it appears they didnt release anything between Introspective and Nightlife
Actually, Behaviour was discussed at length.

Oops, that what I meant.

Thanks.

bobblekat · #64 Post by **bobblekat** » Thu 25 May 2006, 9:25 am

Having slept on it, here are my thoughts...

as everyone else it was too short, and rather random in content, I indeed kept thinking last night, 'What about Very?, but I live in hope that the DVD will contain it all.

Wow @ geowayne being featured, it made me realise that we, as online community, are actually quite a nice 'little' group, call me elitist, but I actually like that.

I am proud to be a PSB fan. Watching last night I realised that being a PSB fan is one of the defining parts of my actual being. I wouldn't have done certain things, wouldn't have felt certain things in a particular way, if it wasn't for Neil and Chris and that Jac lead!

Worth feeling very sleepy for today!

stoo · #65 Post by **stoo** » Thu 25 May 2006, 9:47 am

fell asleep and woke up at 12:10

all in all good to see they are flavour of the month just now, i just hope it lasts. They concentrated on certain things for ages, and missed out huge gaps, will there be a dvd?

rashomon · #66 Post by **rashomon** » Thu 25 May 2006, 9:51 am

This is what the Metro had to say about the programme - lots of praise for the boys - as if we expected anything less.

"Bouncing high with a hot new LP and a Little Britain video (they still 'boing' effortlessly with the zeitgist), Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are back in favour.
Pleasant documentary Pet Shop Boys - A Life In Pop proved that - and revealed the secret of their survival.
'This is the Literacy and Philosophical Society in Newcastle' explained Neil (the one who sings), retracing his roots. 'I joined it when I was 16 - and so did all of my friends.' Somehow you can't imagine Girls Aloud saying that in 20 years time.
With an intelligent and artful talent for re-invention that makes Madonna look like a tizzed-up tart, the fey dance duo's infectious beats, plus their quintessentially British approach (witty, deadpan, with lyrics expressing genuine melancholy that reaches out to pat your heart) has won a whole new generation of fans. Like Robbie Williams. 'Are they gay?' he grinned innocently. Little Minx."

Love the comment about Madge

bookshopboy · #67 Post by **bookshopboy** » Thu 25 May 2006, 10:05 am

The "About" documentary on Radio 1 lasted two hours, and that was made about 10 years ago, so a 1 hour documentary was never going to be enough to cover their whole career.

It's a shame that the whole of Very was missed out, especially as this was when PSB were at their most visually stunning. I guess it will be included on the extended version of the documentary. I wonder how long that will be??

kimphilby · #68 Post by **kimphilby** » Thu 25 May 2006, 10:30 am

A really great show. My other-half, who I've had to educate re. PSB, said "I love PSB" after the programme.
Neil's remark about them being "depth through surface" is so true.

jmh · #69 Post by **jmh** » Thu 25 May 2006, 10:34 am

overall i thought it was a good effort; whilst it was never going to wholly satisfy us, i imagine that non fans or the casual observer would've found quite informative. and i thought it was a masterstroke to open with chris playing the organ (!), hopefully dispelling any notion that he's just there to make up the numbers.

the use of archive footage was excellent, especially jarman from bbc2's late show feature. the closer to heaven stuff clearly looked like a video of a rehearsal, certainly not anything that could be released.

bookshopboy · #70 Post by **bookshopboy** » Thu 25 May 2006, 10:36 am

I think the "Closer to heaven" footage was filmed for promotion of the shows. I remember when BBC London or London Tonight commented on the shows, they used the same footage of Frances Barber singing.

stew · #71 Post by **stew** » Thu 25 May 2006, 10:44 am

that was good stuff but was shoert so cant wait for DVD now thats more money out me pocket!!!!

kimphilby · #72 Post by **kimphilby** » Thu 25 May 2006, 11:02 am

The contributors citing the boys as an influence:

Keane
Scissor Sisters
Killers

All had the biggest selling albums of the past 2 years!
Plus Robbie who shifts the odd unit or 2!

Loved it when the guy from Keane said 'Being Boring' is the benchmark as far as pop songs are concerned.

Jareth · #73 Post by **Jareth** » Thu 25 May 2006, 11:26 am

One of the crowd wrote:and WTF was New York city boy doing there?!!!

Probably thrown in for the sake of the American contributors.

psb-freak · #74 Post by **psb-freak** » Thu 25 May 2006, 11:39 am

So who recorded it then ???

One of the crowd · Thu 25 May 2006, 12:41 pm

psb-freak wrote:So who recorded it then ???

I did on VHS which I am unable to transfer onto anything else at present!