Your Instant Classics

[Drico One]

One of the great joys of a new Pet Shop Boys album is the presence of an “instant classic” – that track that you absolutely adore on first contact which immediately becomes a permanent new entry in the hackneyed but hallowed “soundtrack of your life”. Not every long player has one, of course. That’s what makes the instant classic such a euphoric thrill. It’s not to be taken for granted.

As we wait for Nonetheless (“I’m always waiting…”) – and the possibility of another instant classic – what songs from previous records meet your definition? To kick off the thread, I will start with my first choice – because there can be many more than one. Feel free to add yours. As things develop, let’s go into more detail about the selections…

Picture it. 1996. Saint Etienne’s Too Young To Die and Dubstar’s Disgraceful have accompanied me on my last year at college as an undergraduate. The expectations augmented aggregate demand curve never sounded so happening. I have just completed my degree from the London School of Economics, but I am at a crossroads: would I write a book or should I take to the stage? Well, not quite, but I was at a point where I had achieved something tangible and yet had absolutely no idea what I was going to do next. Ah, youth. And then came Bilingual. A red letter day jumped out at me…

Some instant classics are thus because they are utterly thrilling. Others are because they speak directly to you. I think that coincidental serendipity is another reason we take them immediately to our hearts. A red letter day combined both qualities. Its melancholic optimism, delivered from the perspective of an outwardly successful protagonist suffering an inner emptiness, combined with the muscular impact of the male-voice choir, presented a hymn to a better future.

The line “hang the fruits of your labour on the wall” seemed to speak directly to me. This banal, almost vulgar, ritual of framing a scroll spoke volumes. The sheer mundanity of “success.” The “precision and care” that has led to this moment, “the years perfecting a stance”, are effectively encased in glass, preserved like Lenin in his mausoleum, relics of the past. This minor act of self-aggrandisement is put in its place. Achievement as an ephemeral, insignificant, thing: “What on earth does it profit a man?”

I like the sheer romance of the song and the idea that true happiness is to be found, not in socially prestigious or beautiful things (“the flowers in the garden, the wine”, visits to the theatre or academic qualifications), but in love. “For something special, somehow new, someone saying ‘I love you’” is one of the most touchingly beautiful and joyously hopeful Pet Shop Boys moments ever. And it can happen to anyone. It's not exclusive or the preserve of any social class.

For me, the “instant classic” is a bit like falling in love. You remember it forever – and if you’re really lucky that love stays with you for the rest of your life.

Drico.

[Old Soak]

I'd say the three that made the most impression and have stayed are:

Domino dancing
Can your forgive her?
The way it used to be

Plenty bubbling under, but these immediately hit home, no growth required, just straight to the top of the pile.. Can you forgive her? I knew was something special by the 5th note.

[Drico One]

I'd say the three that made the most impression and have stayed are:

Domino dancing
Can your forgive her?
The way it used to be

Plenty bubbling under, but these immediately hit home, no growth required, just straight to the top of the pile.. Can you forgive her? I knew was something special by the 5th note.

All classics and, yes, instant classics in my book, too.

The way it used to be is a great example of the species. I thought it was head and shoulders above anything else on Yes. I still do. I felt that so much of their personality and character was washed out by Brian Higgins, who seemed to treat them as he would empty vessels like Girls Aloud with inevitably inferior results. Yet, the best tracks were co-writes with Xenomania. This one reminded me of late-period Abba. I got goosebumps when I heard it for the first time. Only an "instant classic" can provoke that kind of reaction. I love the way it builds to a storming crescendo, reflecting the state of the relationship it recounts, aching with regret. Imagine following this with Legacy.

Drico.

[Nickname]

I think with the new album, we'll find a song similar to Saint Etienne’s Too Good To Die. I don't know why.

[Ghost within this house]

Hoping for a miracle

[misterme]

According to you criteria, here are those songs that have been thrilling for me from day one, and that I would put in the instant classics list:
- I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing
- Being boring
- Left to my own devices
- Here
- Inside a dream

[leesmapman]

Recent:

Burn
Bolshy
Intergal
Love etc.

[Tom Angel]

An instant classic was A face like that on Elysium. It starts with a sweltering pounding baseline, those elegant and decisive bells, before sweeping into a wistful vocal and summons up the images of Domino dancing and a tropical storm was passing through /and so were you

It was a hark back to the hope and surrender of Please and a million miles from the syrupy Hold on. Let go is more appropriate.

[stopthecar]

Vocal

Leaving

[PSBForTheMasses]

Suburbia- The first time I fell in love with the Boys. The opening notes made me jump out of my seat and run to the casette player to hit the "record button" without any conscious thinking.

Always On My Mind- I had already heard the news about it, I was expecting to love it but I was not expecting to be blown by it. This is the song that a friend of mine made a joke that it was upon its release that I was "married" to the Boys, because for nearly one month, I probably listened to nothing else.

Hit and Miss- As no singles are released in my country, I only knew the Bilingual album but no B-sides or remixes etc. It was only after YouTube that I was able to have full access to their backcatalogue and this song helped me appreciate the reasons why they were arguably one of the best acts in the world. So simple but so captivating.

Fugitive- Fundamental was a big disappointment for me. At least thanks to this song, I was able to find a gem along with Minimal and Integral.

Will-o-the-Wisp- I was sure that certain songs from Electric and Brick England were their last and final great tracks but I was happily wrong.

[Xakrij]

Here

One of my all time favorites

A face like that

What a bass line

Burn
Bolshy

Sometimes these don't get enough love

[Nicholas]

You only tell me you love me when you're drunk was absolutely this on my enjoyable but slightly bewildering first listen to Nightlife. Such a relief when it appeared tbh.

Integral was also this. And Fluorescent was maybe the thisiest this ever.

PS: The Saint Etienne compilation is Too Young To Die, my darling Drico and nubile Nickname.

[daveid]

This is hard, because the memory plays tricks on you. Some of those that sounded like instant classics at the time got a bit dull later.

Will-o-the-wisp was fantastic on first listen but it doesn't do much for me now. Monkey business sounded generic on first listen but is now a absolute stomper.

Memory of the future is one of the most sneakily brilliant songs they've done and I never get bored of it.

Most of Fundamental sounded classic on first listen and still does. Integral and Minimal are pretty much perfect pop songs.

Going back further, Can you forgive her is an undeniably clever, catchy and classic song and Young offender is one of the best things they've ever recorded.

Being boring is one of the seven wonders of the pop world, but for years I did indeed find it boring. I can't imagine putting it outside their top five now.

B-sides - After the event still sounds as brilliant to me today as it did in 2009.

[FormerEnfantTerrible]

Leaving and Vocal are their two instant classics from the 2010s albums for me!

[daveid]

Yeah Leaving's brilliant but it took three listens to really love it