New single „Dancing star“ (digital April 3rd / CD May 3rd)

[thomashenry]

The chorus uses the same chord progression of I-II-iii.

Almost.... it's VI-VII-i (like Up Against It, Miracles, Rent, many others I'm sure)

Thanks, I’m still trying to wrap my head around intervals!

You are basically right - but the lettering you've used is wrong. In all these songs, the progression ends on the root chord, which is denoted i (as it's minor). So for example in Rent, the chorus ends with F-G-Am, which is VI-V-i, as the song is in A minor. If the song was in F major, then F-G-Am would indeed be I-II-iii (although this would be more unusual chord sequence, as it would include a non diatonic chord... and it wouldn't have the same sense of bringing the musical passage to a close, as it wouldn't be ending on the root)

[Nickname]

NOTE: I don't want to get into politics, please don't do that. It's only a thought. I'm not saying it is good or wrong, it doesn't matter.

I think Neil and Chris are smart people. When Neil watched the docummentary about Nureyev, he realized there were a lot of elements you could consider very PSB (gayness, music, ballet, celebrities. Russia, etc). Nureyev was a gay rebel, someone who didn't want to accept the rules of the old Soviet Union and went to the west to fight for his own freedom.

Do you realize there is a sea sound at the beginning and at the end of the song "Dancing Star", like the beginning of "Go West"?. The meaning is clear, the one who goes to the west for his own freedom was Nureyev.

His reivindication (the main/lead single of "Nonetheless") is the best way to criticize the lack of freedom in Russia and against Putin in a very subtle way. I know we are talking about the past but we all know PSB think the situation in Russia about freedom hasn't changed too much.

They have another song "Bullet for Narcissus" against Trump to be less subtle, "Dancing Start" works fine on that object.

It's my opinion.

PET SHOP BOYS + RUDOLF NURÉYEV - THE MUPPETS : "DANCING STAR"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YWTfxuhqd8

[One of the crowd]

I kept trying to figure out what the chorus reminded me of...
The end of Up Against It.

Yes!

I mentioned this yesterday.

Now have Bilingual on repeat!!

[TallThinMan]

You are basically right - but the lettering you've used is wrong. In all these songs, the progression ends on the root chord, which is denoted i (as it's minor). So for example in Rent, the chorus ends with F-G-Am, which is VI-V-i, as the song is in A minor. If the song was in F major, then F-G-Am would indeed be I-II-iii (although this would be more unusual chord sequence, as it would include a non diatonic chord... and it wouldn't have the same sense of bringing the musical passage to a close, as it wouldn't be ending on the root)

Thank you, that does make sense to me. So Domino Dancing’s F-G-Em-Am would be VI-V—v-i, right? And by association the same for the chorus of Being Boring, Kings Cross etc. What they once referred to as “The Chord Change” in a Q Magazine interview.

[Harry]

For those stating "this forum is dragged down by a few utterly hysterical, irrational, depressed people shooting everything down" - firstly, you are correct

I recommend YouTube instead. The comments section for each song reflects the wider public far more than this forum does - and the upvoting system ensures popular comments are viewed first

The issue with this forum (and forums in general) is that the tiny minority of terminally online, depressed people without a positive word to say about anything flood the comments and there is no way of downvoting them - so these hyper-minority, excessive pessimistic views become the majority of posts, despite not representing wider opinion at all

there's a reason most forums died in the 00's

I realise I'm not practicing what I preach here, but honestly the best way to enjoy the forum is by ignoring the cyclical personal sniping between a small number of posters. Perhaps that's what they enjoy, leave them to it.

Instead, be the change and post the kind of thing you want to see. If I don't have anything constructive to say, I just read. I really enjoy this forum, and have done for 20 years. Drico's posts are wonderful, as are many others, as is the long chronological Please - Nonetheless thread, really happy reading. The forum is also a pretty good source of news.

If you come across arguments and sniping, it's boring, they should just message each other privately, but just skip past it.

[Harry]

I am finding real beauty in "If Jesus had a sister" on multiple listens today.

"Sense of time" is fast becoming my favourite Pets track in a long time.

[Spittingcat]

Both the b-sides sound better on headphones than on speakers. Great songs, but they don't sound as clear across all means of playing them as the b-sides to Loneliness do. Hang on... could be an iTunes mastering thing...

[Harry]

Both the b-sides sound better on headphones than on speakers. Great songs, but they don't sound as clear across all means of playing them as the b-sides to Loneliness do. Hang on... could be an iTunes mastering thing...

I'm looking forward to the CD for this reason. Spotify hooked up to my stereo is bringing a huge amount of bass into the bonus tracks, while "Dancing star" seems more balanced.

[The Pop Kid]

Interesting that James Ford dared them to strip their production back when I actually think Dancing Star could do with a bit more oomph and body. It sounds a bit thin and 2d in places.

[Spittingcat]

Fingers crossed for the CD mastering of those b-sides.

Oh, I'm loving the Superchumbo remix of Blitz... more remixes of B-sides please! They've had so many that would be ripe for it.

[Harry]

Oh, I'm loving the Superchumbo remix of Blitz... more remixes of B-sides please! They've had so many that would be ripe for it.

I hated the idea of it, and the sample, but I can't help liking it, it's been in my head since yesterday! I quite like the way they're pulling in friends to do things like this. Superchumbo and Princess Julia are both good friends of theirs.

[ChoonHound]

Isn’t Tom a boyfriend of Neil’s from 30 years ago?

[Native]

Think 'Dancing Star' is fabulous.
Read somewhere they'd made a direct attempt to keep space in the tracks and you get that; all the hallmark PSB classics - West End girls bass-line, claps, guitar bit, samples - but it is slightly more subtle. Could have thrown the kitchen sink at this track, and they decided all it needed was the taps. Brilliant. As mentioned here, really like the London 60s second verse.
'Sense of time' reminds me of Faithless and would have fitted perfectly on 'Nightlife'.

[g_m]

You're spot on with the Faithless reference. I couldn't think what the synth riff on 'Sense of time' reminded me of. Of course it's 'Salva Mea'!

Think 'Dancing Star' is fabulous.
Read somewhere they'd made a direct attempt to keep space in the tracks and you get that; all the hallmark PSB classics - West End girls bass-line, claps, guitar bit, samples - but it is slightly more subtle. Could have thrown the kitchen sink at this track, and they decided all it needed was the taps. Brilliant. As mentioned here, really like the London 60s second verse.
'Sense of time' reminds me of Faithless and would have fitted perfectly on 'Nightlife'.

[Tom Angel]

Fo some reason my itunes download has missed A sense of time from the EP that it has also called Nonetheless rather than Dancing Star EP. So not heard it yet.

I have to say I'm getting I don't wanna vibes from it along with that incensed Neil from A man could get arrested and that's my impression. I'm so pleased they've tapped into that early raw 80s sound. I agree that the lyrics do sound a little crammed in as an afterthought - there's a lack of smoothness to it, but it's what I like about it.

In some ways it's like B-side> actually it HAD been a b-side we'd have been saying how it should have been a single

Jesus sounds like a more refined version of how Release might have sounded had Neil not been so heartbroken, and misguided in his humour - yes, the night I fell in love I'm looking at you. Jesus is experimental without being locked in a corrugated iron warehouse. It's rather stately and beautiful and one of the more unusual songs in their catalogue.